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.
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff