mx5 buying advice

There are enough mx5s around (even early ones) to completely ignore anything with rust around the rear arches and rear ends of the sills. They tend to rot out the rear sills if the hood drainage holes have blocked. If kept clean there should be no reason for the sills to rot. Front edges of the wings can rust, but are cheap and easy to replace. There really isn't much to worry about on an mx5 mechanically.
They are pretty much bombproof. The gear change can be stiff (normally down to worn shift boots or old gear oil (both cheap fixes)). The clutch release bearing can rattle, but is nothing to worry about) Cambelt isn't critical, as the engines are non-interference, so even if it does snap, it doesn't cause damage. Waterpumps can leak. Cambelt has to be removed to fix this, so ideally, do both at the same time.
In std unmolested form, mx5s are truely reliable and will easilly cover 200k, providing the body doesn't rust away first! Buy on condition not mileage! Buying a rusty low miler will just open up an exxpensive can of worms.
Imports are worth looking at of you like extra toys, as they often come with higher spec interiors, limited slip diffs, nicer wheels, sportier suspension and various other goodies.
My mx5 is knocking on the door of 180k and the only major mechanical work has been a clutch, cambelt and water-pump change. I use it every day, it has never ever let me down (kiss of death!)

Thanks folks, v useful info. I'm not fussed about getting the welder out, pretty much a definite with the budget anyway.
What's the availability a fit of repair panels like?
Thanks