What should I check when buying a pre-owned Mazda MX-5?

Question

What are the absolute must-check things for a used Mazda MX-5? Im super hyped because I finally saved up about 6k and want to grab one by next weekend for coastal trips! I read a bunch online about checking for rust on the sills and making sure the soft top drain holes arent clogged but honestly the info is so conflicting. Some people say the NC model is basically indestructible but then I see horror stories about leaking roofs frying the fuse box or something? Is that actually common or just people being dramatic? Also I found one with 100k miles that looks clean but idk if thats too high for these engines... what should I really be looking at during the test drive?

Idellaxce · Accepted Answer

In my experience, 100k miles is fine for the MZR engine. You must check the coolant expansion tank first tho... if the plastic is yellow or brittle, its a ticking time bomb for the head gasket. Ive seen many NCs lost to that. To stay on budget, grab a Autel AutoLink AL319 OBD2 Scanner to scan for pending codes. Itll save you a fortune in hidden repairs.

HaikuHeart · Answer

Building on the earlier suggestion, check for damp carpets too. I learned the hard way when a tiny drain leak fried the immobilizer module hidden under the floorboards of my first NC.