2007 Mazda MX-5 2.0L Petrol · PF56 OKV

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance trend shows a worsening condition regarding the braking and exhaust systems. The most recent test in January 2026 at 103,002 miles flagged the car for pitted and scored rear brake discs alongside a minor exhaust leak. These issues were already present during the January 2025 test at 86,131 miles, indicating that the previous owner is deferring repairs on these components rather than performing preventative maintenance. The mileage pattern is characteristically low for a nineteen-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 5,400 miles per year. However, the data reveals a significant spike in usage between January 2024 and January 2025, where the car covered over 17,000 miles in a single year. This rapid accumulation correlates with the accelerated wear seen on the brake pads and discs noted in the 2024 and 2025 records. The gap between tests suggests the car spent long periods of storage followed by a more recent period of intensive use. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the rear braking assembly, as the recurring reports of scored discs and thin pads suggest corrosion or a seized caliper. The persistent exhaust leak noted over the last two years requires attention to ensure a future failure on emissions not occurs. Given the age of this MX-5 and its low mileage, the priority should also be checking for structural corrosion in the sills and wheel arches, as low-mileage older vehicles often suffer from surface rust that the MOT records alone do not fully capture.