Should I buy an MX5?
Discussion
I know asking this question here the answer is always "yes" and honestly this is the answer I think I want to hear but I do none the less have questions that I hope you can help me with.
First up some details. I'll be 60 next year and live in France. Apart from a year with a TT a few years ago I've driven a hugely dull collection of family cars, recently mostly Renaults. I've always wanted something more interesting and enjoyable to drive - something to make me smile rather than something to terrify me. I've recently had an unexpected windfall that puts me in the extremely fortunate position where I could go and buy a new MX5. Second hand prices are generally higher here than in the UK so I don't see a particular advantage to buying second hand unless I buy something old/high miles and I want the car to be reliable which probably rules that out.
Couple of questions. Are there options/trim levels that I should take or avoid? I know a lot of it is just preference. I plan to use it on my daily commute which is only short and mostly use it for fun driving and weekends away. What's the ground clearance like? We have a lot of bumps in our village and our drive has a steep slope that some vehicles can ground out on as they go up. Could this be an issue? And the last one (purists may want to look away) - should I be considering any other cars that offer similar reliability/satisfaction at a similar price point?
Any other advice or guidance will be very welcome.
First up some details. I'll be 60 next year and live in France. Apart from a year with a TT a few years ago I've driven a hugely dull collection of family cars, recently mostly Renaults. I've always wanted something more interesting and enjoyable to drive - something to make me smile rather than something to terrify me. I've recently had an unexpected windfall that puts me in the extremely fortunate position where I could go and buy a new MX5. Second hand prices are generally higher here than in the UK so I don't see a particular advantage to buying second hand unless I buy something old/high miles and I want the car to be reliable which probably rules that out.
Couple of questions. Are there options/trim levels that I should take or avoid? I know a lot of it is just preference. I plan to use it on my daily commute which is only short and mostly use it for fun driving and weekends away. What's the ground clearance like? We have a lot of bumps in our village and our drive has a steep slope that some vehicles can ground out on as they go up. Could this be an issue? And the last one (purists may want to look away) - should I be considering any other cars that offer similar reliability/satisfaction at a similar price point?
Any other advice or guidance will be very welcome.
I am 67 and have owned my 2019 2.0 RF ND2 for 2 years now
I haven't had a 2 seater sports car since my Corvette C4 in 1997 ( though Camaros and Mustang followed).
Buying new is all very well until you decide it's not for you. Personally, I bought a car with 40k on the clock for a lower price to find out if it was for me.
Overall, it's hard to get in and out of, the window regulator cables like to corroded, fray and jam and the interior storage is lamentably bad by which I mean shallow or non- existent. Sure you have the boot but it's not a practical car. I have a couple of Fiat Pandas I drive more.
Yes, it's a great driver's car but the gruff direct injection engine note is pretty disappointing when you're used to a V8.
Ultimately, I would try and get an extended test drive. People rave about them as sports cars and rightly so but they do lack outright power. I suspect I will sell mine next year. For me, my Fiesta ST Mk 7 was a better overall car though nothing like as pretty.
I haven't had a 2 seater sports car since my Corvette C4 in 1997 ( though Camaros and Mustang followed).
Buying new is all very well until you decide it's not for you. Personally, I bought a car with 40k on the clock for a lower price to find out if it was for me.
Overall, it's hard to get in and out of, the window regulator cables like to corroded, fray and jam and the interior storage is lamentably bad by which I mean shallow or non- existent. Sure you have the boot but it's not a practical car. I have a couple of Fiat Pandas I drive more.
Yes, it's a great driver's car but the gruff direct injection engine note is pretty disappointing when you're used to a V8.
Ultimately, I would try and get an extended test drive. People rave about them as sports cars and rightly so but they do lack outright power. I suspect I will sell mine next year. For me, my Fiesta ST Mk 7 was a better overall car though nothing like as pretty.
LuS1fer said:
I am 67 and have owned my 2019 2.0 RF ND2 for 2 years now
I haven't had a 2 seater sports car since my Corvette C4 in 1997 ( though Camaros and Mustang followed).
Buying new is all very well until you decide it's not for you. Personally, I bought a car with 40k on the clock for a lower price to find out if it was for me.
Overall, it's hard to get in and out of, the window regulator cables like to corroded, fray and jam and the interior storage is lamentably bad by which I mean shallow or non- existent. Sure you have the boot but it's not a practical car. I have a couple of Fiat Pandas I drive more.
Yes, it's a great driver's car but the gruff direct injection engine note is pretty disappointing when you're used to a V8.
Ultimately, I would try and get an extended test drive. People rave about them as sports cars and rightly so but they do lack outright power. I suspect I will sell mine next year. For me, my Fiesta ST Mk 7 was a better overall car though nothing like as pretty.
Thanks LuS1fer. All good points and I definitely hear the point about less power but I'm hoping that as 95% of my past cars have been 2l at most and generally a lot heavier I won't miss it too much. I also get the comment about buying new but Googling here suggests for a car like yours I'd be looking at 25-30k (similar would be closer to 20k in the UK) for a 3 year old car with 50k km against 40k for a new one.I haven't had a 2 seater sports car since my Corvette C4 in 1997 ( though Camaros and Mustang followed).
Buying new is all very well until you decide it's not for you. Personally, I bought a car with 40k on the clock for a lower price to find out if it was for me.
Overall, it's hard to get in and out of, the window regulator cables like to corroded, fray and jam and the interior storage is lamentably bad by which I mean shallow or non- existent. Sure you have the boot but it's not a practical car. I have a couple of Fiat Pandas I drive more.
Yes, it's a great driver's car but the gruff direct injection engine note is pretty disappointing when you're used to a V8.
Ultimately, I would try and get an extended test drive. People rave about them as sports cars and rightly so but they do lack outright power. I suspect I will sell mine next year. For me, my Fiesta ST Mk 7 was a better overall car though nothing like as pretty.
I think the extended test drive is a really good point. I'd thought that it made sense but I'll push for it now.
I have a NBFL as a sprint and hill climb car and it is outstanding in that discipline.
The wife has a 2.0 ND which is a lovely drive,I have never felt it underpowered on the road and if I wanted more I go racing.
With the ND we haven t had a single issue with it during the 3 years we have owned it, it is now on 35k miles and has proven ultra reliable. We have other cars so it doesn t get used for days at a time. If I know we are driving it for a while I put it on a trickle charge.
The boot is big enough for a couple of decent squashie bags and other bits and bobs for a week or so away touring. The interior storage is poor however.
The seating is perfect for us, I am 5 10 but I suspect if you were much taller it might feel tight as it might if you were larger.
The ride is comfortable and not at all crashie or harsh.
We haven t found getting in and out an issue for us, insurance and economics decent.
Ground clearance has not been an issue for us, we live up a long track to the house and it’s fine. And I can get it on and off my trailer without any issues.
.
I struggle to thing of an alternative at it’s price/reliability/handling point, maybe an MR2?
The wife has a 2.0 ND which is a lovely drive,I have never felt it underpowered on the road and if I wanted more I go racing.
With the ND we haven t had a single issue with it during the 3 years we have owned it, it is now on 35k miles and has proven ultra reliable. We have other cars so it doesn t get used for days at a time. If I know we are driving it for a while I put it on a trickle charge.
The boot is big enough for a couple of decent squashie bags and other bits and bobs for a week or so away touring. The interior storage is poor however.
The seating is perfect for us, I am 5 10 but I suspect if you were much taller it might feel tight as it might if you were larger.
The ride is comfortable and not at all crashie or harsh.
We haven t found getting in and out an issue for us, insurance and economics decent.
Ground clearance has not been an issue for us, we live up a long track to the house and it’s fine. And I can get it on and off my trailer without any issues.
.
I struggle to thing of an alternative at it’s price/reliability/handling point, maybe an MR2?
Edited by skeeterm5 on Friday 7th August 13:10
My son has had a 2021 ND 184 for 3 years now. Astonishingly good car. He has done 40,000 miles in it as his daily driver. I have done all the maintenance on it for him. He is 6" 1 and no problem with comfort. We live out in the country and it is more comfortable over rough roads than my BMW which has adaptive dampers. It has short overhangs so no problems with slopes etc.
Nothing has gone wrong with it and it is easy to work on for servicing as everything is well thought out and logical.
If you get the 184 2.0l and you find it slow then I would be surprised. If I am following him in my 911 I am having to peddle hard to keep up.
It is not a motorway car and more than a hour on there is enough for me.
Personally I would say the 184 bhp ND2 with the matrix headlight option is the one to go for. My sons is a straight soft top which is superb, up and down in less than 5 seconds and you can drop it at traffic lights without getting out.
Ask me anything you want to know if it helps.
There is also a 911 and a 600bhp BMW in our house and I would genuinely take my sons MX5 if it is free.
Gratuitous photo
Nothing has gone wrong with it and it is easy to work on for servicing as everything is well thought out and logical.
If you get the 184 2.0l and you find it slow then I would be surprised. If I am following him in my 911 I am having to peddle hard to keep up.
It is not a motorway car and more than a hour on there is enough for me.
Personally I would say the 184 bhp ND2 with the matrix headlight option is the one to go for. My sons is a straight soft top which is superb, up and down in less than 5 seconds and you can drop it at traffic lights without getting out.
Ask me anything you want to know if it helps.
There is also a 911 and a 600bhp BMW in our house and I would genuinely take my sons MX5 if it is free.
Gratuitous photo
I would have no concerns about running one without a warranty. Having done a lot of work on ours and also a lot of miles I have come to the conclusion that things are only going to wear out they’re not gonna break.
It looks to me as if the sweet spot is roundabout 2 to 3 years old depending on whether you are super fussed about having wireless CarPlay from factory. On the slightly earlier cars say, 2023 Ish you get wired CarPlay and it’s a cheap little dongle just to make it wireless if you wish.
Very addictive little cars. I can’t see our house being without one for the foreseeable.
It looks to me as if the sweet spot is roundabout 2 to 3 years old depending on whether you are super fussed about having wireless CarPlay from factory. On the slightly earlier cars say, 2023 Ish you get wired CarPlay and it’s a cheap little dongle just to make it wireless if you wish.
Very addictive little cars. I can’t see our house being without one for the foreseeable.
Here's my totally unmarked 2010 20th anniversary edition.
I bought it eight years ago with 22k on, and have added 10k to that total.
It's only used on nice days, never sees rain and has never given a moments trouble.
Insurance is peanuts and it has a full service every two years.
The hood can be put up or down in literally five seconds.
They are a bit like "E" types, if you get a bad one they can be a money pit.
I bought it eight years ago with 22k on, and have added 10k to that total.
It's only used on nice days, never sees rain and has never given a moments trouble.
Insurance is peanuts and it has a full service every two years.
The hood can be put up or down in literally five seconds.
They are a bit like "E" types, if you get a bad one they can be a money pit.
I'm a recent convert to the MX5 and bought a 2022 low mileage one last summer. Bear in mind that I have run a TVR Griffith for the past 29 years and so am used to ballistically fast cars and my daily drivers have been a succession of Toyota GT86's, Jags, MR2 GT T Bar etc.
The 2.0 litre MX5 ND2 has genuinely shocked me with how quick it is. It feels significantly quicker than my GT86's did and is a lot more torquey in the midband. I did get a 1.5 MX5 as a courtesy car once and that felt a lot slower, to the point where for a sports car I found it a bit gutless. The 2 litre by contrast feels really quick and I believe hits 0-60mph in 5.7 secs which is only about 1 second down on my 4.0 litre TVR Griffith and faster than an early 1980's Lotus Esprit Turbo!
Combine that with the truly superb driving position, fabulous 45mpg+ fuel economy, glorious handling, the best hood design in the business and pretty sexy looks and Japanese reliability and it really is an unbeatable package. There's a reason why Mazda shifted 1.5 million of them and it's pretty much last man standing in the roadster world - because they absolutely nailed it!
If you want to see just how and why this car is so special (in all its guises) then watch the superbly done Savage Geese reviews and tributes to it on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr-mTF1DFa-...
Then watch the best video they have ever made:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CA8BzgbE-A&t=...
The level of engineering thought put into this car is truly astonishing. By the way I'm 6ft 1 and broad in the beam and I fit comfortably in the convertible but not the RF. Crucially the cockpit feels like a very special place to be and that's important at least to me. The only other serious contender is the Toyota GT86/GR86 which is of course not convertible but is more practical and has a better warranty. It isn't in my view as much fun to drive though.
Hope that helps,
Saxon
The 2.0 litre MX5 ND2 has genuinely shocked me with how quick it is. It feels significantly quicker than my GT86's did and is a lot more torquey in the midband. I did get a 1.5 MX5 as a courtesy car once and that felt a lot slower, to the point where for a sports car I found it a bit gutless. The 2 litre by contrast feels really quick and I believe hits 0-60mph in 5.7 secs which is only about 1 second down on my 4.0 litre TVR Griffith and faster than an early 1980's Lotus Esprit Turbo!
Combine that with the truly superb driving position, fabulous 45mpg+ fuel economy, glorious handling, the best hood design in the business and pretty sexy looks and Japanese reliability and it really is an unbeatable package. There's a reason why Mazda shifted 1.5 million of them and it's pretty much last man standing in the roadster world - because they absolutely nailed it!
If you want to see just how and why this car is so special (in all its guises) then watch the superbly done Savage Geese reviews and tributes to it on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr-mTF1DFa-...
Then watch the best video they have ever made:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CA8BzgbE-A&t=...
The level of engineering thought put into this car is truly astonishing. By the way I'm 6ft 1 and broad in the beam and I fit comfortably in the convertible but not the RF. Crucially the cockpit feels like a very special place to be and that's important at least to me. The only other serious contender is the Toyota GT86/GR86 which is of course not convertible but is more practical and has a better warranty. It isn't in my view as much fun to drive though.
Hope that helps,
Saxon
saxon said:
The 2 litre by contrast feels really quick and I believe hits 0-60mph in 5.7 secs
Saxon
I've seen 5.7 secs quoted on other sites too, yet Mazda, Autotrader and others sites say 6.5. Have you timed it? Perhaps quicker than on paper. Saxon
Although 5.7 seems very fast for a car with ~180bhp per ton.
Just jumping in to say that the MX5 was never on my radar.
I had a Boxster back in 2005 which I loved, then kids meant sensible choices.
In the past 5 years I've had an Abarth 695 Competizione, great fun but awkward driving position and it's rock hard suspension not great on the mess that are UK roads, so that went and I bought an Alpine A110.
Amazing little car, very quick and quite rare. Had a great road trip from London to Tenerife via France and Spain. The bucket seats were the most comfortable I've ever had.
That was sold when I lost my job and I panicked about having cash sitting out on the street.
I do regret that decision.
I bought a sensible auto hybrid SUV.
Useful, comfortable, easy..... in fact too easy to drive.
I yearned to be back in something interesting and spent a while looking at the Emira, but £60k for a car just out of warranty. £60k, mmmm, maybe I should get another Alpine.
Then I started reading forums and watching YouTube videos about the MX5. I was hooked.
Last June I bought a new ND3 Homura (£31700) and have not regretted it at all. Not sure why people think it isn't quick, not that long ago 180bhp was considered pretty good in a much heavier saloon. This little car weighs barely a ton.
It's definitely smiles for miles and I look forward to slotting myself into it whether for a trip to Lidl, a needless 60 mile hoon around Surrey or a 300 mile return trip with only half an hour at my destination.
And best of all I'm not hankering for my Alpine as the Mazda has a gearstick and a proper handbrake
It's my only car and used daily
I had a Boxster back in 2005 which I loved, then kids meant sensible choices.
In the past 5 years I've had an Abarth 695 Competizione, great fun but awkward driving position and it's rock hard suspension not great on the mess that are UK roads, so that went and I bought an Alpine A110.
Amazing little car, very quick and quite rare. Had a great road trip from London to Tenerife via France and Spain. The bucket seats were the most comfortable I've ever had.
That was sold when I lost my job and I panicked about having cash sitting out on the street.
I do regret that decision.
I bought a sensible auto hybrid SUV.
Useful, comfortable, easy..... in fact too easy to drive.
I yearned to be back in something interesting and spent a while looking at the Emira, but £60k for a car just out of warranty. £60k, mmmm, maybe I should get another Alpine.
Then I started reading forums and watching YouTube videos about the MX5. I was hooked.
Last June I bought a new ND3 Homura (£31700) and have not regretted it at all. Not sure why people think it isn't quick, not that long ago 180bhp was considered pretty good in a much heavier saloon. This little car weighs barely a ton.
It's definitely smiles for miles and I look forward to slotting myself into it whether for a trip to Lidl, a needless 60 mile hoon around Surrey or a 300 mile return trip with only half an hour at my destination.
And best of all I'm not hankering for my Alpine as the Mazda has a gearstick and a proper handbrake
It's my only car and used daily
Hello and sorry to hijack the OPs thread. I’m very tempted by an ND MX5 but am wobbling a bit as it would be a daily driver. I’ve seen all the videos by Americans in nice warm states saying you can do it, but I’ve not seen so many from the uk in the depths of winter. I’ve had a MK1 about 20 years ago and dailyed it quite happily but 5 miles then is a lot different to my 60miles now (although maybe only a couple of times a week). I’m trying desperately not to buy an ND 2L….
Siko said:
Hello and sorry to hijack the OPs thread. I m very tempted by an ND MX5 but am wobbling a bit as it would be a daily driver. I ve seen all the videos by Americans in nice warm states saying you can do it, but I ve not seen so many from the uk in the depths of winter. I ve had a MK1 about 20 years ago and dailyed it quite happily but 5 miles then is a lot different to my 60miles now (although maybe only a couple of times a week). I m trying desperately not to buy an ND 2L .
It's a perfectly good car for winter although the RF might be more practical. The air con is good, the heated seats are good.I am selling mine, after 2 years in it. Why? Well, my partner has never been keen getting in and out, the window regulators like to snap, interior storage is fairly lamentable, I put the keys in the door handle and sunglasses in the shallow console and that's it, full up unless you can pivot to access the little locker between the seats.
Overall, the engine is meant to be bulletproof but 5w30 seems to quieten the tappy sound of the direct injection. My main gripe is that it just seems very flimsy. the paint will chip faster than a potato at McDonalds, the bootlid is very tinny and you don't get any spare, just a can of goop. So, for me, it has been a slight disappointment though I am sure many will disagree and will say it is worth it just for the mini supercar styling.
Thanks for the reply….that’s what I was fearing. I have uniform to carry aswell and whilst it will go in the boot it’s much better to have it hung up on a door handle. I absolutely adored my MK1 but my commute was 5 miles of twisty B roads and I’m not sure 60 miles of mainly dual carriageway will even be that fun….maybe a R5 or Alpine A290 electric
Thing might be better for me.
Thing might be better for me.
Siko said:
Thanks for the reply .that s what I was fearing. I have uniform to carry aswell and whilst it will go in the boot it s much better to have it hung up on a door handle. I absolutely adored my MK1 but my commute was 5 miles of twisty B roads and I m not sure 60 miles of mainly dual carriageway will even be that fun .maybe a R5 or Alpine A290 electric
Thing might be better for me.
I have had many cars but not an EV. Thing might be better for me.
My "ideal" car was a Fiesta ST Mk 7 and I may go for the Mk 8.5 ST. Good performance and handling, heated screen and seats and plenty of room without being oversized.
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