I had a 05 Mazda MX for less than 24 hours and returned it to the garage from whence it came, admittedly it was a poor example and I being a tart was swayed by the bright red shiny bodywork (Oh! shiny shiny),
But underneath it was a disaster zone it had yellow crayon marks all around the back, in the chassis and the floor pan areas, also yellow crayon along the length of the chassis and in the front chassis in the engine bay. the garage had MOT tested it to get shot of it, I took legal advice and returned it the following with a full refund and a promise from the garage that they would scrap the vehicle.
MOT testers often mark chassis with coloured crayon where there is significant rust likely to cause an MOT failure.
After picking up the MX I popped around to a friends house to show my new pride and joy off. he dropped to the floor stuck his big fat head underneath and his response was 'what the fuck have you done you twat, look at this, he then proceeded to push his thumb through the chassis in several places.
A quick drive down to my solicitors and was given sound sound advice at a few sound bytes to quote and the next day around 10-30 in the morning my £3900 was transferred back to my bank.
so how does the MX handle? I don't know (Mr J Clarkson loves them, but he is a twat to).
But I can speak for the MR2 mines a Y reg (2001) 80,000 clicks on the dial, there is no rust what-so-ever anywhere on the body work or chassis area, it is Mid engined so very well balanced, rear wheel drive so it is a spirited drive, limited slip diff so handle very very well on dry roads, piece of shit on frosty or snowy roads, your better off going every where in reverse.
Toyota say its good for 139 mph, I have never managed that as yet and don't think I ever will but its eager up to 130 and will strain out a few more clicks than that, but certainly not 9 more.
drive it hard 38 mpg, drive it easy 44 mpg, high revving nippy little lump in the middle, and if you want because of the balance of the car more than the power donuts come easy.
And me thinks that is why Joe only get 4K out of a set of Toyos donuts in the MX. I also think the MR2 looks better than the MX, even with my hard top on.
And it's SILVER just like the really really fast FZS600's