Mazda MX-5 Mk1 review

Back in its day, the MX-5 started at under £15,000 new, making it impressively good value. These days, they can obviously be had for a lot less. Avoid the real dross in the sub £1,000 zone, but good road-worthy cars can be found from as little as £2k. Expect to pay around £10k for tip-top condition ones.

As expected with a 30-year-old car, the majority of first-gen MX-5s will have done six-figure mileages. But that’s nothing to be worried about; both engine and gearbox have proven to be hugely reliable, and should (provided they’ve been serviced regularly), offer many miles of trouble-free motoring.

The main enemy, as with every older vehicle, is corrosion, primarily to the sills and rear wheel arches. Before buying any example it’s essential to check for this, and to factor in any potential repair costs, as these can quickly spiral. Worth taking a good look at the fabric roof, too, to ensure it’s in good condition and, crucially, watertight.

Otherwise, it should be relatively plain sailing. Expect around 30mpg (unless, of course, you’re being very heavy footed) and an annual road tax bill (at time of writing) of £280. A small price to pay when it comes to having this much fun.