2000 Mazda MX5 1.8iS from UK and Ireland - Comments

Utterly reliable.

This is now my third MX-5 and what can I say? Until someone builds a better affordable sports car, I'll just keep buying the things.

Much is made of the series 2 being a softer car than the original series 1 but it's still one of the most fluid and enjoyable handling cars on the road at any price, with almost telepathic steering. It grips strongly, and then communicates everything through the wheel rim and through your backside. You can slide it around and play with it, without ever feeling like it's going to bite you. Power oversteer, drifts, doughnuts - whatever takes your fancy. Nothing else at this price comes close as a package.

Performance is good, although this 1.8 engine really likes to be worked hard. It doesn't deliver all of its 146 bhp until 7,000 RPM meaning you have to row the gearbox hard, but it's no hardship when the gear lever is a tiny 4" long thing which plugs directly into the tail of the gearbox right underneath it. Front engine and RWD = no gear linkage to speak of. Knife through butter quality and a lovely short gate.

Fuel economy is poor for a small car (26-28 mpg) and insurance is expensive despite a lowish group. Build quality, dealers and driving experience however are all first class. At this price, it's unbeatable.

Both my brothers have Mazda MX5s and if I were to believe all the stories of utter reliability, I'd be immensely disappointed. They leak (yes, really - one of the cars will gush about a pint to a pint and a half of rainwater from the rubber seals that line the top of the windows in a heavy downpour - all of which lands on the occupants), they rattle and knock like hell when started up (even when warm).

The heat shields on the exhaust work their way loose and rattle like mad when you accelerate.

The interior looks and feels like it's made out of crisp packets and will rattle like mad.

And then there's the brakes. These cars will use brakes like no other. Both now need new discs and go through pads like they're going out of fashion.

Fuel consumption is woeful too.

And in case you think that these cars are a million years old with loads of miles on them, they're not.

They're good fun, but don't believe all the stuff you hear of bulletproof reliability. If you do, prepare yourself for a shock.

Looking for a replacement then get a Fiat Coupe 20vt, will out perform this car any day of the week with mid range acceleration to match "real" sportscars.

The Fiat is quick and very capable, but it's front wheel drive.

To the commenter 17th Nov 04 - your comments are the direct opposite of my experiences.

I'm now on MX-5 no 3 (a 2004 1.8iS), after a 2000 1.8iS and a 1997 1.8i. Never had a single fault or warranty claim on any of them, and the first two were both past 60,000 miles when sold. Build and engineering quality shames anything German in my opinion, although I do accept that the dash is somewhat plasticky.

My first (1997) car developed a little squeak from the column shround from about 50,000 miles which I fixed in about 10 minutes one Sunday afternoon. Apart from that, not a single rattle on any of them. As for leaking hoods, this again is not typical. I've never had so much as a drop of water leak inside either, and neither has anyone I know through the owners club.

The only weakness I'm aware of is a clutch fault that affects some 2002/2003 six speed cars.

The lowest the MX-5 has ever placed in any customer satisfaction survey in the UK is tenth out of every model of car on sale in the UK. Not bad in 15 years production.

I have a 2000 MX5 California and it's the second MX5 I've had. Overall a brilliant car and even with the 1600 engine it's a great all rounder, but I have a problem that I can't get an answer to so far; On start up and sometimes on pulling away (before the wheels start turning) there is a clonk from the back, sounds like a loose exhaust, but it's been checked and there's nothing loose. Been on a lift, been on a pit and been swung on by different mechanics and they can't find anything amiss. It is something that doesn't always happen either to make it more frustrating and it also is a clonk that doesn't seem to appear if there is a mechanic there to listen to it! Anyone got any ideas?

How on earth anyone can compare a Fiat Coupe to an MX-5 is beyond me. Why are you comparing them? Would a Porsche 911 Turbo driver ever say to a Coupe Turbo driver: "you should get a 911 Turbo, mate, it'll out perform the Coupe in every gear, like a real performance car"? OK it's an extreme example, but you get my drift (?). I've heard of very high running costs on Coupe's, the MX5 I supposed to be a small, cheap and fun sports car. SPORTS car, not PERFORMANCE car.

Also, to the poster on 17th Nov '04, reliability to me is how reliable a car is! How can a cheap feeling interior make a car unreliable!? Who really cares if it feels cheap, as long as it isn't actually built cheap and doesn't fall out the car or snap in half when going round a tight bend, who cares? It's like these people who go on about VW's being reliable based on the fact that the dash boards look expensive. It's all perceived build quality, and it's amazing how many people fall for it.

OK I don't know why I started ranting, must be in one of those moods!

I have owned a 1.8 MX5 Nevada for 4 years now and have had the same knocking or clonk from the rear. I also have had the exhaust checked and tightened etc, the most logical answer I have been offered so far is that at low speed/revs the exhaust vibrates on its mountings to the point where it comes into contact with the bodywork. I would like to try fitting an after-market twin exhaust to see if this cures the problem, but to be honest it happens so rarely now that it does not bother me.

I have a Mazda Eunos v special 1990 with 26000 miles on the clock --must be the lowest in UK, but it has one particular problem which no mechanic seems to be able to solve --a dreadul rattle from the front brakes. It goes away as soon as the brake pedal is pressed and its just awful on a road that is not so smooth. I have tried different brake pads, but all no use. All I can think of is replacing the front brakes calipers for brand new ones, but that would cost a fortune. Any ideas!!!???I love the car, but for this one problem. It is not suspension as there is no sound going over speed bumps.

The Eunos V special is sometimes mistaken for a special edition and if you can get one now from 1990 in 3 years they will be subject to lower insurance and values will increase--getting a good one means paying a bit over the odds but there are some real heaps out there so be careful. The good thing about the imported cars are that they have not experienced 17 British winters as the roads in Japan are not salted. So if you do buy one get it undersealed and try to use it outwith winter months.

Hi, I have a three year old MX5 Nevada 1.8. The car has only covered about 9k miles, but over this period I have experienced engine rattle about four times. Sounds like back in the old days of non-returning oil filters when the oil was allowed to drain right back overnight. It only lasts for a couple of seconds, but is causing concern nonetheless. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

To the comment from the nevada owner:

I've got a Nevada and had that same problem, though for me it was more of a vibrational sound. It turned out to the baffles in the exhaust silencer which had knocked loose. A new box at the back sorted out the problem.

Good Luck.

To the chap with the brake rattle issue (I have a Mazda Eunos v special 1990 with 26000 miles on the clock), do your pads have the anti-rattle clips installed? They are thin spring metal clips that are installed on the factory pads. I have a friend who had a brake job done at a shop and they "forgot" to reinstall them. His brakes rattled until he had the brakes checked by another shop.

I have a mark three Mazda mx5. It has been back to the dealer 4 times, for a leak that comes through the retaining bolt on the passenger seat. The car is only 5 months old. Has anybody else experienced this problem?

I have a new MX5 2007 model, which is also leaking and have had water collecting on the passenger side under the seat. It has been to the garage twice - to replace the drainage ducts (Mazda had advised of a fault in the originals) and to replace the seals around the passenger door. On the third visit to the garage they have decided to remove the seats and carpets to try and find the fault. Water was even found sitting in the storage box behind the seat! So far it has been found that the roof was not fitted properly and another problem near the drainage ducts with water coming over the rubber ridges and into the car when it rains heavily. I am now waiting to get the car back and hoping the problem is solved.

Check rubber wireboot in doors for water leaks.

I have had leaks too. They finally put in new rubber seals around the top of the driver door where the window meets the 1/4 light. I have dried out the carpet, but I fear the underfelt is still damp.