2007 MAZDA MX-5 GRAND TOURING VIN JM1NC25F770132611

The Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring described here left the factory in 2007. Power comes from a 2.0-litre petrol engine with four cylinders, rated at 163 hp. The drivetrain combines an automatic gearbox with rear-wheel drive. Details for this car come from a single data source and may differ from its documents.

The record gives the mileage as 122,272 miles. The instruments count in miles; the same distance in kilometres is about 1.6 times the figure. Turning back an odometer takes little skill and leaves no visible trace, which is why earlier figures matter more than the display. Service invoices and inspection reports each carry a mileage figure, and lined up in order they show whether the clock tells the truth.

No damage entry is on file for this car, and the bodywork still needs checking in person. Paint depth, panel gaps and the underbody show whether the body has been repaired.

A car that does not run has to be moved on a trailer, and its real condition is known only after a thorough assessment. The engine did not start. A key is on file for the car. A condition note describes the car at one moment; months of standing or later work on the car can change the picture in either direction.

Title status in the record: clean. Such a title means no salvage, flood or similar mark was recorded against the car; it does not rule out damage repaired without a claim.

Every car builds up a history from the day it is first registered: owners come and go, inspections are passed or failed, and repairs are paid for. The paperwork is kept by different bodies – registries, workshops, insurance companies and lenders – so the history of one car is spread across many places. From the outside, a car with a repaired accident and a car without one can look identical.

For the engine, the service history matters most: oil changes, filters and the timing belt or chain are the entries to look for. On a petrol engine, spark plugs, ignition coils and the cooling system are the routine items a service history should cover. With no test drive possible, the automatic gearbox has to be assessed on a lift and with diagnostic equipment.

Every modern car carries a 17-character VIN, and no two cars share one. The record gives the VIN as JM1NC25F770132611.

A VIN report gathers what different sources know about a car, such as the number of owners, mileage readings, damage and any branded title. However complete the paperwork, only an inspection shows the condition of the body, suspension, brakes and electrics today. Before any decision, check what is known about VIN JM1NC25F770132611.