2006 Mazda MX-5 1.8L Petrol · SM56 TYX

The 2006 Mazda MX-5 holds a valid MOT certificate issued on 18 May 2026 at 105,114 miles, following a failure just eleven days earlier on 7 May 2026. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but punctuated by recurring minor faults rather than a clear pattern of deterioration. The most recent test still recorded advisories for a binding offside front service brake, worn front and rear brake discs, and multiple deteriorated rear suspension arm ball joint dust covers. These are not new failures but persistent items that have appeared across successive tests without escalating into dangerous defects. The car passed its January 2025 test at 101,466 miles, yet that same test flagged corroded rear coil springs, binding brakes on both axles, and worn rear brake discs, indicating that braking and suspension wear have been ongoing characteristics rather than sudden failures. The mileage profile is notably low for a twenty-year-old sports car. At 105,114 miles, the annualised average sits at roughly 5,256 miles per year. The record shows 97,465 miles in January 2024, 101,466 miles in January 2025, and 105,114 miles by May 2026, which equates to approximately 3,650 miles over the most recent sixteen-month period. This suggests light, consistent use rather than long periods of inactivity, though the possibility of extended standing cannot be ruled out entirely. The MOT history itself is reasonably well documented across recent years, with no glaring gaps that would suggest the car has been off the road for prolonged stretches. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on three areas where the MOT record repeatedly surfaces concerns. First, the rear suspension ball joint dust covers have been flagged as severely deteriorated or no longer preventing dirt ingress in every test from January 2024 onward, covering both upper and lower arms on both sides. Degraded covers accelerate joint wear and contamination, so the condition of the joints themselves, not just the rubber, needs checking. Second, the braking system shows a persistent pattern of binding and disc wear. The offside front brake has been noted as binding in three consecutive tests, and both front and rear discs have been recorded as worn. A road test should evaluate whether the car pulls under braking or if any caliper is dragging, and the discs and pads should be measured for remaining thickness and condition. Third, corrosion appears repeatedly around the rear subframe mounting areas and sills. The May 2026 failure cited excessive corrosion significantly reducing structural strength at both rear subframe mounting prescribed areas, yet the May 2026 pass recorded only outer sill covers fitted without repeating that structural corrosion item. This discrepancy warrants a close visual inspection underneath the car, particularly at the rear subframe mounts and inner sills, to confirm whether the corrosion was repaired, covered, or simply assessed differently. The corroded rear coil springs noted in January 2025 also deserve attention, as spring corrosion can precede fatigue failure, especially on a vehicle that may see spirited driving.