Homura-Is it worth it?

[ack0]

Looking at the current model and wondering if the people that have gone for the Homura spec are happy and think it is worth the money?
Thx

[scz4]

Which year are you talking about? There are two different spec Homura's, late ND2 with BBS wheels & Brembos and the current ND3 which adds the facelift changes plus Recaro seats.

Debating the same to replace my NC2 next year potentially.

ND2 which is of course cheaper to buy, tuneable & none of the annoying EU "safety aids". But the ND3 has massively updated entertainment system improved steering, uprated diff, along with some some cosmetic tweaks including beautiful Recaro seats.

Higher ratio of 2023 cars suffer from gearbox issues though, which puts me off. I would love the BBR 220 kit one day, but then I'd be up at ND3 costs.

Edited by scz4 on Monday 27th April 19:55

[ack0]

Sorry-current model

[doogal]

I'm only 400 miles into mine but I absolutely love it. Really like the wider nav screen, the recaros were a must have for me and the BBS wheels a bonus.

WRT the ADAS stuff, I press the mute button and start / stop when I get in, and the lane change bits haven't caused me any issues at all so far, so I just leave that on.

I paid less than 30k for a pre-reg car with 20 miles on it and it feels decent value at that price. Only thing I wish it had was the lowered suspension as the arch gaps look a little silly... Easily fixed in due course.

[Gassmi]

Skip it if you're modding wrap the roof, swap wheels, save cash. Only buy it if you must have the BBS, Brembos, and Recaros from factory with a decent ride.

[Riff Raff]

doogal said:

I'm only 400 miles into mine but I absolutely love it. Really like the wider nav screen, the recaros were a must have for me and the BBS wheels a bonus.

WRT the ADAS stuff, I press the mute button and start / stop when I get in, and the lane change bits haven't caused me any issues at all so far, so I just leave that on.

I paid less than 30k for a pre-reg car with 20 miles on it and it feels decent value at that price. Only thing I wish it had was the lowered suspension as the arch gaps look a little silly... Easily fixed in due course.

I'm the same, except I bought a new one at a decent discount. The selling points for me were the Recaros and the 6 year warranty (just sold a 4 year old BMW Z4 where the extended warranty cost was about £800 a year).

I'm about 179cm tall and near enough 90Kg and I fit in the Recaros. Just. Midriff wise they are tight, bum wise a bit tighter, but not uncomfortable. I prefer sitting on Alcantara to leather. I've had NBs and NCs before and the interior fit and finish on the NDs is much much better IMHO. I'm happy with the buy.

[ack0]

Did not realise that the warranty was 6 years now-thanks

[OPC100]

I'd also be interested in owners thoughts here. For me, an nd3 homura spec car seems just about perfect. I like the general nd3 upgrades, not interested in modifying the engine so nd3 makes perfect sense to me and love the extras that the homura adds.

Question re. Recaros vs standard mx5 seats. How do people find them? What is their real comfort levels and chance of back pain? I drive a gr86 and find the seats really comfortable over long journeys with no back pain. My wife's cx5, not so good. So happy with a firmer, more side bolstered seat.

[doogal]

The recaros are definitely more firm than the GR86 seats. I'd say narrower and more bolstered in the back rest too, but it's been a couple of years since I owned my GR86 to accurately remember.

No back pain in either seat for me.

[OPC100]

doogal said:

The recaros are definitely more firm than the GR86 seats. I'd say narrower and more bolstered in the back rest too, but it's been a couple of years since I owned my GR86 to accurately remember.

No back pain in either seat for me.

Cheers. I must go and have a look at one properly and test drive it. Only been in a GT Sport Tech a few years ago.

[wildoliver]

I'd definitely suggest going to see and try to get an extended drive in a car with/without the recaros. I'd been considering trying to get a set for my NC and making them fit as the NC recaros are like hens teeth but they are a bit less rare on NDs. Then a customers car came in with them and I had to spend some time sat in it to fault find, nice seats, recaros always are, but they weren't game changing for me. So if recaros are the main reason for wanting a late Homura make sure the seats are the big upgrade you would want them to be (it's all down to body shape, my S1 Elise seats are one of the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in, I guarantee I'm in a minority there).

[scz4]

wildoliver said:

I'd definitely suggest going to see and try to get an extended drive in a car with/without the recaros. I'd been considering trying to get a set for my NC and making them fit as the NC recaros are like hens teeth but they are a bit less rare on NDs. Then a customers car came in with them and I had to spend some time sat in it to fault find, nice seats, recaros always are, but they weren't game changing for me. So if recaros are the main reason for wanting a late Homura make sure the seats are the big upgrade you would want them to be (it's all down to body shape, my S1 Elise seats are one of the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in, I guarantee I'm in a minority there).

I'd agree with that, I recently sat in a Homura at my local dealer and whilst they were comfortable, they didn't offer as much lateral support (especially shoulders) or thigh support as I was expecting. They do look nice though! It should be noted I can only compare with my standard NC2 seats, not sat in standard ND seats.

Leaning towards a ND2 again. Entertainment screen can be upgraded to an Android headunit with a better aspect ratio.

Edited by scz4 on Thursday 7th May 10:02

[iaingolf]

I decided not - to be honest wasn't planning on changing car so any cash in was a surprise to better half. I went exclusive line as I found seats just fine for me, and prefer full leather (dust in open top). Preferred the look of BBS wheels, but my exclusive line ones will go dark silver (like a 35th edition) when scuffed, brakes seem fine as are. I got a good deal on a new one, and a Homura would have been ~3k more.....

[croyde]

doogal said:

I'm only 400 miles into mine but I absolutely love it. Really like the wider nav screen, the recaros were a must have for me and the BBS wheels a bonus.

WRT the ADAS stuff, I press the mute button and start / stop when I get in, and the lane change bits haven't caused me any issues at all so far, so I just leave that on.

I paid less than 30k for a pre-reg car with 20 miles on it and it feels decent value at that price. Only thing I wish it had was the lowered suspension as the arch gaps look a little silly... Easily fixed in due course.

Is it easy to get discounts with Mazda then?

Looking on Autotrader the lowest priced Homuras are £32k with a few hundred miles on, but there are a few brand new ones down to £34k.

[doogal]

Mine was just listed on Autotrader at £29,990. I didn't expect the car to actually exist tbh, so was surprised when they said it was available. Ex-showroom car they needed rid of so maybe I just got lucky.

[croyde]

Nice

Is it a soft top or RF.

I sold my Alpine last year and still regret it

Feel that I need a 2 seater manual in my life so I was looking at Emiras for ages but £60k for a 3 year old is just too much for me.

These have always been under my radar until reading threads on here.

Half the money for a new/nearly new is very very tempting

[doogal]

Had to be the soft top for me

For the price of my GT4 I got a brand new Golf GTI to cover all the family stuff and a new MX5 for everything else. Love it and don't regret the move at all

[croyde]

Thanks for the reply.

Yep, I've got a Bigster new last Sept and it's too blooming useful and comfortable (as well as 60mpg in town) to part ex, so a new sports car totaling my spend at £60k (same as a '23 Lotus) sounds very sensible man maths

I'd prefer the soft top too. Had a 987 Boxster 21 years ago.

ETA

Just sat in one, a new Exclusive 2.0, much tighter cockpit than my Alpine. Liked it though, felt very fighter pilot

I was thinking that it was much easier to get in and out of compared to the A110, but it's just hit me....the roof was down

Need to arrange a test drive.

Edited by croyde on Tuesday 26th May 14:16

[iaingolf]

Discounts - yes available, though perhaps less good than year end deals in March, that I took advantage of and the sun is out.....

Roof up access - honestly I find it fine (and I'm nether young nor lithe...), I similarly realised (after ordering) that myself and wife hadn't tried it with roof up. Getting in and out is fine/no different - it's low and you have to go sideways and up - roof up or down. Driving with roof up OK, but much less preferable down.

My son considered an RF and we both drove it - I much prefer the roadster (so got one), but if street parking or you prefer the RF look (both were true for him) then go for it...

[Riff Raff]

FWIW, as I said before i'm a bit chunky - 90 kilos or so and in my seventies. Getting in or out is fine with the roof up or down, as long as I can get the door open a bit past the first detent particularly if the kerb is on the high side if you're parking facing the wrong way.

It is a tight fit inside, but that's OK for going round corners, as you're effectively wedged against the transmission tunnel, especially with the bulge below the gear lever that your left leg presses against.

The roof is brilliant. Up or down in seconds, no water leaks even after washing with a pressure washer, and no motor to worry about.

Mines Soul Red and off to be ceramic coated next week to really make it sparkle.