1990 Mazda MX5 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Common crankshaft fault appeared at 129000miles.

New radiator at 132000miles.

It now needs a new battery.

This car is a rust bucket!

This car is very well put together no oil leaks.

Everything works as it should.

Great handling and great fun.

This car has been thrashed and is now in a tired state.

It is a credit to Mazda that they put the car together so well and has lasted the abuse that it has been given without too much going wrong.

- but -

The body steel is crap. this car now needs a new body shell as all enclosed sections such as sills, rockers, are shot, wings are rotten also.

Be afraid be very afraid!, if you own an old one.

Be afraid?

I own a 1990 model and it has no rust at all.

It all depends on maintenance. If you never bother cleaning it, well, your car will rust.

I also have a 1990 roadster which looks and sounds better than my girlfriends 2 year old car, no rattles or rust anywhere.

I think you may have been unlucky as I have NEVER seen a rusty mx5 or roadster in the uk.

Don't be put of this car is a great smile generator for both the driver and passenger.

I had a 1990 mx5 they rarely rust yours must have had poor maintenance and due to high mileage they are not rust bucket I feel this comments totally wrong and know one else has theses problems apart from minor rust on sills.

I live in Canada, and I own a 1990 miata with 185.000 km. Due to salt on roads and long winters in Canada, my miata needed a body reconstruction. I replaced driver side floor panel, both front fenders, rebuild quarter panels. Miata is not a rust fulproof car, if you're not doing an annual oil body spray. This is not a stainless steel body.