Mazda MX-5 Problems

The MX-5 is a great little sports car for someone looking for some fun on the road.

The earliest ones are getting a little long in the tooth and are looking a little tired.

Go for an NC model, that's from 2005-on, and you shouldn't go wrong. They're reliable, user-friendly, they look good, and they're great fun to drive.

Look for a low-mileage example and avoid any that look like they might have been used in competition.

The easiest question on record. Get an MX-5 and you'll have all the sunshine and fun you want. The only problem will be choosing between the 1.6 and 2.0-litre engines. Most prefer the "big-bore" engine but I like the engagement you get with the smaller one.

If you don’t want a convertible, which rules out the MX-5 as my easy first pick, then the 86 is the car for driving enjoyment on a reasonable budget. But don’t overlook its Subaru twin, the BRZ, which is my choice of the two. Both get The Tick, having shared our Car of the Year award.

Wow, that is a major change of direction. Before you make such a change I would suggest you actually test drive each of the cars you're thinking of to see if they really suit you. The Mazda MX-5 is a two-seater and not very practical for instance. It's hard to advise you because we don't anything about what you want from the car you buy. If it was me I would probably buy the MX-5, I would have no problem with a two-seater.

The limited competition provided by Ford-Holden-Toyota is having little if any effect on parts prices and that won't change. Is the headlight price on the MX-5 just an excuse to get the car you really want?

I was also a bit shocked to see the fitted price is $2609.75, but that's likely to be similar to most of the other new LED systems. LED lamps give better light intensity and control, drain less energy, and allow more flexibility in front-end design and styling, so they're not technology just for the sake of it.

For road use I'd be happy with the 1.5 but, since you're going to be hitting racetracks, I'd definitely get the "big banger" 2-litre engine as it will be more rewarding to drive in those conditions.

If the body repairs are done well and are not clearly visible the affect on a car's value is minimal, but it does depend on how rare the car is. If a car is very rare it will have little affect, but if a car isn't so rare it is likely to have a greater affect. The cars you list aren't terribly old and they are still relatively common in classic terms, so I would be buying the car in the best condition possible. I would be very careful about buying the cars you list, as I reckon you'll be waiting a long time for the values to appreciate substantially.