RE: Mazda MX-5 (NB) | Spotted
Discussion
MightyBadger said:
Tried a few ncs when buying my nb, preferred the way the nb felt when driving and also the looks.
Same. With the money I've now put into my NBFL, could have happily bought an NC.The problem is that the NC always looked a bit "fat" to me, and is clearly a heavier car. I prefer both the look and feel of the NB.
I worked at a Mazda dealership between 2006 and 2012 and demo'd many NB and NC MX-5s. I prefer the look of the NB, but one thing I remember is the smile any MX-5 put on the faces of most that test drove one.
I recently became the owner of an ND2, probably the last of the all-petrol powered MX-5s which is just great fun. Rumour has it the MX-5 "NE" with be either hybrid or all electric!
I recently became the owner of an ND2, probably the last of the all-petrol powered MX-5s which is just great fun. Rumour has it the MX-5 "NE" with be either hybrid or all electric!
Been a while since I posted on here but this thread has made me make the effort.
I had a 1.8 Euphonic Edition (Mk2 facelift) about 10 years ago now, Kept it for around 3 years, did 50k lovely miles in the thing.
Loved how it drove - the basic chassis is a Mk1 but stiffer, and supposedly a bit safer (Hence why the rear arches go like the MK1 and why the chassis rails rust, they're double skinned on the MK2 for crash regs and trap water in between)
Spent £1000 to properly sort the arch rust but by then fell out of love with it a bit especially the engine, which although was a VVT just couldnt hide its mid 80s origins, I also needed a more practical car as the Mrs had a Daihatsu Copen at the time.
I was then after a DC2 Integra which I couldnt quite afford (Or the ones I could were rusty and I couldnt be arsed with rust again) so ended up with a Civic EP3 which I still have 7 years later. (Incidentally the chassis features and benefits on that is the polar opposite to the MX5 but just as fun tbh - lift off oversteer ahoy!)
I keep an eye on my old cars with MOT checks and last year it failed with chassis rail rust. I do hope that it hasnt been scrapped and is SORN instead waiting for fixing as it was a well kept car. My guess however is that its been parted out by now.
Another thing is that 1.8s withh 53 plates or later have a Fuji clutch pack diff that breaks easily and turns into an open diff.
I put a type 1 torsen LSD in my car from a 1994 Jap special edition which was great fun.
I’ve scratched the MX5 itch but I wouldn't mind trying out a mk3 MR2, or as I see them, the poor mans (thats me) Elise.
I had a 1.8 Euphonic Edition (Mk2 facelift) about 10 years ago now, Kept it for around 3 years, did 50k lovely miles in the thing.
Loved how it drove - the basic chassis is a Mk1 but stiffer, and supposedly a bit safer (Hence why the rear arches go like the MK1 and why the chassis rails rust, they're double skinned on the MK2 for crash regs and trap water in between)
Spent £1000 to properly sort the arch rust but by then fell out of love with it a bit especially the engine, which although was a VVT just couldnt hide its mid 80s origins, I also needed a more practical car as the Mrs had a Daihatsu Copen at the time.
I was then after a DC2 Integra which I couldnt quite afford (Or the ones I could were rusty and I couldnt be arsed with rust again) so ended up with a Civic EP3 which I still have 7 years later. (Incidentally the chassis features and benefits on that is the polar opposite to the MX5 but just as fun tbh - lift off oversteer ahoy!)
I keep an eye on my old cars with MOT checks and last year it failed with chassis rail rust. I do hope that it hasnt been scrapped and is SORN instead waiting for fixing as it was a well kept car. My guess however is that its been parted out by now.
Another thing is that 1.8s withh 53 plates or later have a Fuji clutch pack diff that breaks easily and turns into an open diff.
I put a type 1 torsen LSD in my car from a 1994 Jap special edition which was great fun.
I’ve scratched the MX5 itch but I wouldn't mind trying out a mk3 MR2, or as I see them, the poor mans (thats me) Elise.
p1stonhead said:
Do miles really matter that much to people? They certainly don’t to me. Certainly not to pay triple for a car against one with more miles but still reasonable.
This isn’t a rare limited edition Ferrari, it’s an MX5. Do people really cherish them? I’m on my fourth and have always just seen them as cheap fun. They aren’t rare or particularly desirable, especially the NB.
I cherish my 97 NA with no special packs 1.8.This isn’t a rare limited edition Ferrari, it’s an MX5. Do people really cherish them? I’m on my fourth and have always just seen them as cheap fun. They aren’t rare or particularly desirable, especially the NB.
Edited by p1stonhead on Wednesday 9th September 09:18
It's my second, it's not perfect, it has had rust fixed on it and it lives in the garage over the other more expensive cars. I probably paid too much for it and don't drive it enough but I love it.
Is mileage important to me... Mine has done just over 50,000 miles and because of the way it has been looked after still feels fairly tight and original (came from an owners club). My first had done just shy of 100,000 and although it was "looked after" it was reactive rather than preventative maintenance and everything was feeling a bit saggy and sloppy when it got traded in. Still loved it, but it was quite sad really.
So lower miles on a model of car that has some very fond memories for me that I can preventatively maintain and enjoy with minimal fuss is very important to me.
Even though I love them, I must admit I struggle understanding the price of spotted.
p1stonhead said:
bristolracer said:
p1stonhead said:
I just added an easy as pie Bluetooth connection to my NC. Took ten minutes, looks completely OEM and cost £17 for the bits. These cars are amazing to work on
MX5parts is also an amazing supplier
Do you have a link for that please?MX5parts is also an amazing supplier
Edited by p1stonhead on Thursday 10th September 10:23
Picked up my new to me NC on Thursday, go to say I'm absolutely smitten with it, cannot believe what a great drive they are. Haven't felt as connected to a car since my 924S, the MX5 is awesome.
Went for the NC in the end, found a clean FSH car always been garaged and prized by the previous owners.
Looked at NBs but the constant rust issue put me off, think the only way if consider one is as a short term car buy cheap hope for 2 years before the rust does for it.
I decided to up the budget and go for a tidy NC which will get Dinitrol treatment this winter.
The NC is unfairly maligned I feel, and if you want a car to enjoy without headaches it's a much better choice than an NB with their hidden rust issues.
A couple of grand on an early NC, another grand refreshing the suspension and uprating it if that's your thing, and you have a brilliant car to just pour fuel into and enjoy.
A couple of grand on an early NC, another grand refreshing the suspension and uprating it if that's your thing, and you have a brilliant car to just pour fuel into and enjoy.
I have a 2004 maxda mx5 nb arctic 1800 in razor blue owned from new. 8700 true miles on the clock.
Garaged in my own garages throughout it's life and only been in the rain twice and hardly ever washed.
No rust whatsoever. Looks almost brand new. Tyres replaced. Battery replaced. Additional cassette player, blue leather interior, air conditioning, heated seats. Brake discs, wheels and and hubs look brand new. The bolts under the bonnet are still that yellow colour when brand new. The washer bottle fluid is still the same as when the car was sold. Only taken out rarely for MOT's and dry sunny days very rarely but moved and engine run regularly. The exhaust is original and silver shiny still. Sorned at the moment.
Garaged in my own garages throughout it's life and only been in the rain twice and hardly ever washed.
No rust whatsoever. Looks almost brand new. Tyres replaced. Battery replaced. Additional cassette player, blue leather interior, air conditioning, heated seats. Brake discs, wheels and and hubs look brand new. The bolts under the bonnet are still that yellow colour when brand new. The washer bottle fluid is still the same as when the car was sold. Only taken out rarely for MOT's and dry sunny days very rarely but moved and engine run regularly. The exhaust is original and silver shiny still. Sorned at the moment.
Bowman99 said:
I have a 2004 maxda mx5 nb arctic 1800 in razor blue owned from new. 8700 true miles on the clock.
Garaged in my own garages throughout it's life and only been in the rain twice and hardly ever washed.
No rust whatsoever. Looks almost brand new. Tyres replaced. Battery replaced. Additional cassette player, blue leather interior, air conditioning, heated seats. Brake discs, wheels and and hubs look brand new. The bolts under the bonnet are still that yellow colour when brand new. The washer bottle fluid is still the same as when the car was sold. Only taken out rarely for MOT's and dry sunny days very rarely but moved and engine run regularly. The exhaust is original and silver shiny still. Sorned at the moment.
I'm sure it's in lovely condition... But what is the point in owning it?Garaged in my own garages throughout it's life and only been in the rain twice and hardly ever washed.
No rust whatsoever. Looks almost brand new. Tyres replaced. Battery replaced. Additional cassette player, blue leather interior, air conditioning, heated seats. Brake discs, wheels and and hubs look brand new. The bolts under the bonnet are still that yellow colour when brand new. The washer bottle fluid is still the same as when the car was sold. Only taken out rarely for MOT's and dry sunny days very rarely but moved and engine run regularly. The exhaust is original and silver shiny still. Sorned at the moment.
I have had my 2002 VVT Sport for 19 years now ,at every MOT ( always carried out by the same guy ) we have a through look at all the rust weaknesses ,the chassis rails get a good poking , and I get a chance to look closely at sills , these suffered surface rust a few years ago due to road chips and thin stone chip paint , so were replaced and with thicker stone chip finish.
The failures have been one rear road spring snapped , both front callipers , front ABS sensors , most likely due to heat from failing callipers , O2 sensor and both drop links , which we found at the last MOT will need changing again in the future ,even the exhaust is unchanged , not even an advisory .Not bad for a car of this age and 57k miles .
The car has had no mods , save changing the double din radio to a single din DAB unit with a dedicated amplified twig .
Someone asked what is the point in owning one , simply the pleasure of DRIVING a car after the fully automated family hack .
The only problem is , at my age, 3 score and ten plus discount , the bones are now a bit stiff to wind myself into the driving seat , but I have no intention of giving up .
As an aside , I was in the dealer yesterday getting some touch up paint for the OEM hardtop , and found out it was the father of one of the sales staff who dealt with the original purchase
The failures have been one rear road spring snapped , both front callipers , front ABS sensors , most likely due to heat from failing callipers , O2 sensor and both drop links , which we found at the last MOT will need changing again in the future ,even the exhaust is unchanged , not even an advisory .Not bad for a car of this age and 57k miles .
The car has had no mods , save changing the double din radio to a single din DAB unit with a dedicated amplified twig .
Someone asked what is the point in owning one , simply the pleasure of DRIVING a car after the fully automated family hack .
The only problem is , at my age, 3 score and ten plus discount , the bones are now a bit stiff to wind myself into the driving seat , but I have no intention of giving up .
As an aside , I was in the dealer yesterday getting some touch up paint for the OEM hardtop , and found out it was the father of one of the sales staff who dealt with the original purchase
MXRod said:
Someone asked what is the point in owning one
I think the question was directed at Bowman99 who has a 17 year old MX5 with 8700 miles that is "only taken out rarely for MOT's and dry sunny days very rarely".MX5s are great fun... but there's no point owning one if it's not going to be used!
38911 said:
MXRod said:
Someone asked what is the point in owning one
I think the question was directed at Bowman99 who has a 17 year old MX5 with 8700 miles that is "only taken out rarely for MOT's and dry sunny days very rarely".MX5s are great fun... but there's no point owning one if it's not going to be used!
Let me give some background to my low mileage MX5. Firstly I bought the car because I liked the look of it but it never really took me away from my main passion cycle racing, I have been cycle racing and training nearly all my life and still compete at club level, I am 62 now and still have an ftp of 266 over a full hour. Although the car hasn't done many miles, I have. Several years after I bought it, I priced what I would get for it and to tell you the truth it wasn't worth selling for the poultry sum I would get. I now have other interests and cars like a motorbike, E Class Mercedes, lwb campervan and an electric car.
I was told by a car salesman across the road that it was the worst thing I could do to a car, keeping it garaged up all the time. A few years later because of my cycling I was still ultra fit, thin and very healthy as is my MX5 to this day. The man I got advice from however wasn't, he suffered a heart attack and died because of his sedentary lifestyle. My car will probably be passed on to my son in the end, I am told that after the NA getting in short supply my nb will be the next to rise in value. Who cares, my health is the most important thing to me, money isn't. I am not short of a bob or two as I get older, time is the thing in short supply now.
I was told by a car salesman across the road that it was the worst thing I could do to a car, keeping it garaged up all the time. A few years later because of my cycling I was still ultra fit, thin and very healthy as is my MX5 to this day. The man I got advice from however wasn't, he suffered a heart attack and died because of his sedentary lifestyle. My car will probably be passed on to my son in the end, I am told that after the NA getting in short supply my nb will be the next to rise in value. Who cares, my health is the most important thing to me, money isn't. I am not short of a bob or two as I get older, time is the thing in short supply now.
Bowman99 said:
Let me give some background to my low mileage MX5. Firstly I bought the car because I liked the look of it but it never really took me away from my main passion cycle racing, I have been cycle racing and training nearly all my life and still compete at club level, I am 62 now and still have an ftp of 266 over a full hour. Although the car hasn't done many miles, I have. Several years after I bought it, I priced what I would get for it and to tell you the truth it wasn't worth selling for the poultry sum I would get. I now have other interests and cars like a motorbike, E Class Mercedes, lwb campervan and an electric car.
I was told by a car salesman across the road that it was the worst thing I could do to a car, keeping it garaged up all the time. A few years later because of my cycling I was still ultra fit, thin and very healthy as is my MX5 to this day. The man I got advice from however wasn't, he suffered a heart attack and died because of his sedentary lifestyle. My car will probably be passed on to my son in the end, I am told that after the NA getting in short supply my nb will be the next to rise in value. Who cares, my health is the most important thing to me, money isn't. I am not short of a bob or two as I get older, time is the thing in short supply now.
Good for you man, you should never feel the need to justify what and when you drive. Sounds like a cracker I was told by a car salesman across the road that it was the worst thing I could do to a car, keeping it garaged up all the time. A few years later because of my cycling I was still ultra fit, thin and very healthy as is my MX5 to this day. The man I got advice from however wasn't, he suffered a heart attack and died because of his sedentary lifestyle. My car will probably be passed on to my son in the end, I am told that after the NA getting in short supply my nb will be the next to rise in value. Who cares, my health is the most important thing to me, money isn't. I am not short of a bob or two as I get older, time is the thing in short supply now.
I’ve had four MX-5s and the mk2.5 sport was by far the most enjoyable. The handling was amazing on a open country road.
The NC and ND were noticeably bigger and heavier, like comparing a professional darts player to Mo Farah.
The only criticism I had of MX-5s was they always felt underpowered. And now embarrassed by hot hatches.
The NC and ND were noticeably bigger and heavier, like comparing a professional darts player to Mo Farah.
The only criticism I had of MX-5s was they always felt underpowered. And now embarrassed by hot hatches.
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