Mazda MX-5 Miata — the 13 years we've written up

Manual gearbox refuses third gear and whines loudly — $2,500–$4,500 for a replacement manual gearbox

Manual gearbox synchronisers grind or lock you out of second, third and fourth — $2,500–$4,500 for a replacement manual gearbox

Six-speed manual synchronisers fail — grinding, baulking, or no gear at all — $2,500–$4,500 for a replacement manual gearbox

Clutch can be cooked by hard use — burning smell and loss of drive — $1,200–$2,200 for a clutch replacement

Airbag module recall 24V695000 is open on many cars and dealers have struggled to close it — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

Electric power steering assist drops out while driving — $900–$2,200 for an electric power steering column or motor

Low-pressure fuel pump impeller can crack and stall the engine (recall 21V875000) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

Power steering warning, then the steering goes heavy at speed — $900–$2,200 for an electric power steering column or motor

Roof drains silt up and the water ends up under the carpet — $150–$400 to clear and reseal the drains

Thin paint chips readily, and the transmission crossmember can rot on salted roads — $400–$1,000 for a transmission crossmember; $150–$600 for chip and touch-up work

Blocked roof drains put water in the cabin, and the soft top's rear window seam lets go — $150–$400 for clearing and resealing the drains; $900–$2,400 for a replacement soft top

One owner stalled at speed and was told the engine needed replacing — $2,800–$7,500 for a used or rebuilt engine fitted, if it ever came to that

Blocked roof drains putting water in the footwells and the boot — $120–$900 from clearing the drains and drying the interior up to replacing carpet and a soaked module