£3000 Which MX5?

[caelite]

Got £3k to play with. Decided fk being sensible (for those of you who seen my '£5k, which wagon' thread literally a week ago). I have a little wiggle room on the budget but really looking to spend less than £3k, had a pretty big change in circumstance so funds are rather tight.

Anywho I've decided to bite the bullet and deal with that 'mx5 itch' I'm sure we all get at some point. In my price range I seem to be able to pick up a very neat NB or a clean-ish NC. And honestly I don't know which to really go for. The car will be a daily driver and I like a 'bit' of gadgetry so the slightly heavier, newer, less rust ridden NC really is tempting. But I keep thinking to myself a NB is more of a 'real' mx5 being as the NC is the heaviest of the 4 generations, also with the money saved going for an NB I will most likely be able to afford a much needed fibreglass hard top (I'm in northern-ish Scotland), a fancy modern-ish head unit and a cruise control retrofit (because A9).

Honestly I have no idea which one to go for and am looking for some input to mull over what to pick up.

Other side of my brain is screaming 'get another Impreza' but I'd rather not bankrupt myself, RX8 is a similar want .

[caelite]

Krikkit said:

Why not an NA? Original and best.

I'll be honest, I'm not a massive fan. The NB seems to be everything they NA was and then some (minus pop up headlights), better engine, better gearbox, slightly less rusty chassis, the NA was definetily a fantastic classic but from what I have read the NB is a positive iteration on it, because of this my biggest point of contention is the price premium clean NA's attract nowadays. I would rather spend less and get a NB, or spend an equivalent amount and get a 'modern' NC. It really is only the latter two I am splitting hairs over. I love the ND the most but for obvious reasons that one is out of my reach.

[caelite]

CABC said:

NA with appropriate mods every time. Better driver's car.
search the forums... the truth lies within.

I have read owners forums, and group reviews. That is where I have formulated the opinion that the NB is a positive iteration on the NA for day to day use. Also I am aware of the double layerd front chassis legs being a trap for rust, on a whole they seem to be a whole lot less rusty than the NAs to particularly on the sills.

I've heard the NC is the worst generation, but I am wondering if its worth picking up simply for the increase in age related reliability and comfort.

[caelite]

kuro said:

Worst in what respect?

Based on what I've read its the 'least mx5-like' Mx5, with softer, more GT style handling and heavier frame, it also seems the most expensive to convert to a hardtop, unless you splash out for the sport tech model with the folding hard top, but I've seen none of these in my price range.

Think I'm going to look at a late model NB (mk2.5), during the week, a trader is stocking a clean looking example for £1800 locally, the 1.8vvt seems like it would be the nicest engine. I'll have a peak at NAs too but without driving one I really can't see the attraction (and demanded price).

[caelite]

£1700 later and I am the proud owner of a late model '04 NB2 1.8 VT Sport in British racing green. 100k miles and a little rough around the edges but thats the way I like them! Bit of surface rust, so next on the list is some oil based treatment on the sills, inner arches and chassis legs. Then some bronze 16" rota grids, a nice set of RS3's and a hard top!

Job jobbed.