RE: Mazda MX-5 (NC) | PH Used Review
Discussion
the roof is composite not metal. i'm not sure it weighs 35kg extra, the RC came with AC as std which i think accounts for the weight.
an mx5 soft top mechanism weighs around 40kg alone.
great buy. add coilovers and fettle the engine not only for extra omph, but liven the character as std 158hp lump is leaden and characterless.
5k car and 4k mods give a serious driver's car, no doubt.
an mx5 soft top mechanism weighs around 40kg alone.
great buy. add coilovers and fettle the engine not only for extra omph, but liven the character as std 158hp lump is leaden and characterless.
5k car and 4k mods give a serious driver's car, no doubt.
We had a mk3 folding hard roof one for 8 years. Wobbly on poor surfaces, but due to it being so reliable and cheap to maintain I eventually fitted MeisterR coilovers and it came alive.
I sold it when rust crossed the line.
I bought a BRZ recently and I don't find it as much fun, though admittedly it's standard.
There are other bucket-list cars I'd like to try but the fun, ease of running and low maintenance make 'MX-5' my first search when I hit the ads.
I sold it when rust crossed the line.
I bought a BRZ recently and I don't find it as much fun, though admittedly it's standard.
There are other bucket-list cars I'd like to try but the fun, ease of running and low maintenance make 'MX-5' my first search when I hit the ads.
I've had my mk3.5 for almost 7 years. It's the 2.0 sport tech with the 6 speed 'box and powered hard top.
Can't really fault it. Use it as a daily driver for 7 months of the year and apart from routine servicing and normal consumables it hasn't needed anything.
I'll probably keep if for another 2 years and then get a ND facelift. I think they are great value for money.
Can't really fault it. Use it as a daily driver for 7 months of the year and apart from routine servicing and normal consumables it hasn't needed anything.
I'll probably keep if for another 2 years and then get a ND facelift. I think they are great value for money.
Another one here with an 06 2.0 soft top. Bought in 2016 for £3k as a stopgap, it’s stayed in the garage as a fun run around - never have to worry about where I drive or park it and it feels fast and relatively sensible speeds.
I did look at NA and NBs but the extra refinement of the NC and the woeful rust of the NB swung it for me.
And at the back of my mind, £1k depreciation in 3.5 years is less than one of my other cars did in a month!
I did look at NA and NBs but the extra refinement of the NC and the woeful rust of the NB swung it for me.
And at the back of my mind, £1k depreciation in 3.5 years is less than one of my other cars did in a month!
Had an NC and had it lowered and geometry sorted and it transformed the car. Brilliant fun. Sold it for a gt86. Preferred the looks of the 86 and it was much more practical but still think the mx5 was the better steer.
Mine was a gorgeous red with cream leather interior. Not seen the interior before or after and wasn’t offered as a colour from factory so not sure how the spec came about.
Mine was a gorgeous red with cream leather interior. Not seen the interior before or after and wasn’t offered as a colour from factory so not sure how the spec came about.
I have a 25th year edition. Looks good but I have never bonded with the handling - probably because I was also running a Lotus and so comparing the 2 was inevitable. On initial turn into a corner the Mazda rolls almost alarmingly. But after a while you realise that after the initial roll it settles on its springs and is predictable. Steering feel is OK but not brilliant. Overall I can't think of a better value car that offers fun and still needs some skill to drive swiftly. But it's no Lotus!
I see these and feel guilt. I bought a new Miyako edition in 2011. I sold it pretty quickly. There was just something I couldn't bond with. There was nothing wrong with it. Nothing at all.
I saw a Miyako last week. Just like mine. It looked superb in its red Paint. Maybe I should have given it a longer chance.
I saw a Miyako last week. Just like mine. It looked superb in its red Paint. Maybe I should have given it a longer chance.
Petrolsmasher said:
Funny this thread has come up as ive been tempted to swap my current fiesta st for one but i just cannot decide what to do.
Is a NC mx5 really going to be loads more fun that a mk7 fiesta st?
Start with a test drive. I tried a fiesta ST before buying the NC.Is a NC mx5 really going to be loads more fun that a mk7 fiesta st?
Fiesta was nice, I enjoyed the turbo noises and pull, and having a shopping friendly hatchback.
But I bought the mx5 because for me, the suspension felt more sorted, steering was nicer (weight and feel), gear shift action was better, low down seating position, and because I just like top down motoring.
Fiesta is probably a better on the limit car, but I don't drive on the limit on the road.
My main gripe with the mx5 is the engine. Not a lack of power (it's more than sufficient for overtakes, making progress etc), it's the noise is utterly soulless (but that's a problem with most 4 pots IME)
Trevor450 said:
MK3s still rust. I've just had the subframes and suspension off our '07 2.0 Sport for refurbishment and all the underbody and wheel arches reshulzted. It wasn't a cheap exercise but the car was worth saving.
Yep. I've recently viewed several NCs and have been shocked at how rusty some were given the age of the car. The factory underseal seems to be pretty poor. I came close to buying a 3.5 with the folding roof but bottled it at the last minute. The problem is, however much the NC makes sense, it just doesn't tug at my heartstrings the way my 1990 Eunos did. Now I'm back to looking at Mk1s and trying to guess how rotten they are...
(If anyone in the South West is looking to sell a nice clean Eunos with minimal mods, message me...)
Codswallop said:
Petrolsmasher said:
Funny this thread has come up as ive been tempted to swap my current fiesta st for one but i just cannot decide what to do.
Is a NC mx5 really going to be loads more fun that a mk7 fiesta st?
Start with a test drive. I tried a fiesta ST before buying the NC.Is a NC mx5 really going to be loads more fun that a mk7 fiesta st?
Fiesta was nice, I enjoyed the turbo noises and pull, and having a shopping friendly hatchback.
But I bought the mx5 because for me, the suspension felt more sorted, steering was nicer (weight and feel), gear shift action was better, low down seating position, and because I just like top down motoring.
Fiesta is probably a better on the limit car, but I don't drive on the limit on the road.
My main gripe with the mx5 is the engine. Not a lack of power (it's more than sufficient for overtakes, making progress etc), it's the noise is utterly soulless (but that's a problem with most 4 pots IME)
Petrolsmasher said:
Funny this thread has come up as ive been tempted to swap my current fiesta st for one but i just cannot decide what to do.
Is a NC mx5 really going to be loads more fun that a mk7 fiesta st?
Yes. In my opinion, of course, but yes.Is a NC mx5 really going to be loads more fun that a mk7 fiesta st?
It'll feel special from the moment you sit in it, with the low slung position and transmission tunnel.
...and that's before you get the roof down or change gear!
The Fiesta is fun when you're pressing on a bit, otherwise it's just another hatchback.
Edited by TheJimi on Tuesday 24th September 11:48
Petrolsmasher said:
Whats the difference in sound between a mx5 and a fiesta st, both 4 pots but ones turboed, did the mx5 or st sound better.
For me, the fiesta sounded marginally better. A bit more induction noise overlayed with some turbo noises (car I tried had a mountune air box though, so not comparing stock for stock).Air box changes to the NC though don't add a great deal of noise according to the mx5 forums.
But overall, mx5 felt more special for me as the poster above mentioned.
It starts with getting into something low, sitting low, the view down the bonnet you can actually see.
One bad thing about the NC I rarely see mentioned though, is the pedals are slightly offset to the right.
Packaging constraint of a small car with a longitudinal front mid engine though.
Go try one. It's the only way you'll decide if you want to try running one
Roncee said:
I had - 2.0 nc.
I had h&r springs
Fast road geo
Then h&r anti roll bars
Then bought that bolt on brace kit from mx5 parts - by god what a revelation!
Prob the best car i had to date. So well suited to british b roads. Right of passage for any petrol head.
Please do tell me more about the bracing, I've been wondering about the benefits of a bit of extra stiffness in the chassis (vs the weight gain). How easy was it to do?I had h&r springs
Fast road geo
Then h&r anti roll bars
Then bought that bolt on brace kit from mx5 parts - by god what a revelation!
Prob the best car i had to date. So well suited to british b roads. Right of passage for any petrol head.
Koenigsegg test driver Robert Serwanski doing a 7:37 in his NC at the Nurburgring. Stunning! Shows what can be done with only an additional 30bhp & brakes & suspension upgrades.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&...
Codswallop said:
Petrolsmasher said:
Whats the difference in sound between a mx5 and a fiesta st, both 4 pots but ones turboed, did the mx5 or st sound better.
For me, the fiesta sounded marginally better. A bit more induction noise overlayed with some turbo noises (car I tried had a mountune air box though, so not comparing stock for stock).Air box changes to the NC though don't add a great deal of noise according to the mx5 forums.
But overall, mx5 felt more special for me as the poster above mentioned.
It starts with getting into something low, sitting low, the view down the bonnet you can actually see.
One bad thing about the NC I rarely see mentioned though, is the pedals are slightly offset to the right.
Packaging constraint of a small car with a longitudinal front mid engine though.
Go try one. It's the only way you'll decide if you want to try running one
Got mine in February. It's been a joy. Commutes 250 miles a week and makes me smile on the weekend. Practical enough for a weekend away. Lovely.
NC by blayney1989, on Flickr
NC by blayney1989, on FlickrGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff