RE: Mazda MX-5 (NC) | PH Used Review
Discussion
Petrolsmasher said:
, i feel like the connection is not there that i want but i feel like id miss the 280lb ft of torque.
Torque is good for lazy driving. Nice for a daily but sad in a sports car. That said, the NC 2L needs fettling for more fizz. Add in the fact that NC is way lighter that a fist and 190bhp is a great package.
NC rust seems to be an improvement on the NB. A colleague is going through the usual inner/outer sill and chassis rail repairs on his 60k 2005 NB. My 120k 2006 NC has a few tiny bubbles on the inside of the rear arches and the rear subframe and suspension arms look quite crusty but it's only surface corrosion.
If I was buying a later model NC or an ND I'd factor in spending £3-400 on getting someone to underseal it, you'd hopefully then be able to forget about corrosion.
If I was buying a later model NC or an ND I'd factor in spending £3-400 on getting someone to underseal it, you'd hopefully then be able to forget about corrosion.
Accelebrate said:
NC rust seems to be an improvement on the NB. A colleague is going through the usual inner/outer sill and chassis rail repairs on his 60k 2005 NB. My 120k 2006 NC has a few tiny bubbles on the inside of the rear arches and the rear subframe and suspension arms look quite crusty but it's only surface corrosion.
If I was buying a later model NC or an ND I'd factor in spending £3-400 on getting someone to underseal it, you'd hopefully then be able to forget about corrosion.
I think the rust issues are overstated. Ther first reports of sill rust on NA MX5s started appearing in around 1998/9 when the oldest cars were rusty at a decade old - most cars from 1989 were at a decade old. Same with people commenting on rusty 2005 NCs - these cars are 14 years old and are no rustier than a contemporary E46 BMW, a Focus, or a Mercedes.If I was buying a later model NC or an ND I'd factor in spending £3-400 on getting someone to underseal it, you'd hopefully then be able to forget about corrosion.
I don't think they rust any sooner or any worse than many similarly priced (remember these are really very cheap new) mass market cars, we just care more about it because they are still fun and have appeal at the age where you don't care about scrapping a crinkly Focus or 318i. How many other cars from the early/mid 90s do you still see tooling around in such numbers?
Yes compared to a Volvo or a Saab or an Audi (before they became s
t) and they rust badly. Compared to a Honda, or a Ford, or a VW, or a Mercedes and they don't.Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 24th September 15:49
Accelebrate said:
NC rust seems to be an improvement on the NB. A colleague is going through the usual inner/outer sill and chassis rail repairs on his 60k 2005 NB. My 120k 2006 NC has a few tiny bubbles on the inside of the rear arches and the rear subframe and suspension arms look quite crusty but it's only surface corrosion.
If I was buying a later model NC or an ND I'd factor in spending £3-400 on getting someone to underseal it, you'd hopefully then be able to forget about corrosion.
I've no doubt I would have gone MX5 long before now if it weren't for all the rust horror stories. I had my old BMW E36 undersealed by a very reputable company and it didn't stop it all bubbling through a few years later. So I'm still skeptical of what can be done to keep them nice without a full and very expensive strip down.If I was buying a later model NC or an ND I'd factor in spending £3-400 on getting someone to underseal it, you'd hopefully then be able to forget about corrosion.
I'm happy to do the mechanicals on my car but don't like being at the mercy of bodyshops to keep it nice. Hence we have VWAG cars as although they might not be the most reliable things going, they do at least know what galvanising is.
Under seal jobs can vary quite a lot, have seen a waxoyl job which looked like it was applied with a spade at distance. It was all over the wrong places and you can bet it wasn't cleaned first do trapping mud against the body.
Have heard very good things about these guys though:
https://www.themx5restorer.co.uk/services/rust-pre...
Have heard very good things about these guys though:
https://www.themx5restorer.co.uk/services/rust-pre...
Had a 2007 2.0 Sport NC, a 2015 2.0 Sport ND and now a Lotus Elise 220 Sport. The NC was the only one with interior storage and a 1/2 decent boot. Heating, roof down, was fantastic. Lovely to drive and even then a bargain. Bought for £16k, drove all summer and moved it on for £14k. Great cars for the real world..
Petrolsmasher said:
Whats annoying is ive just spent 400 quid on my car and im booked in to spend more next week lol, i feel like the connection is not there that i want but i feel like id miss the 280lb ft of torque.
You'll only miss the torque if straight line speed and ease of use is the main thing you care about.I came to my NC from a 380lb ft V8, and enjoy the fact that I can use the entire rev range when the mood takes me.
It's easily quick enough when pootling in traffic too. You won't be beating rep mobiles away from the lights, but I really don't care about that (and I've got my bike if I want to go quicker).
Any MX5 owners had issues with vandalism? I've always gone for more discreet cars after my 350Z which sadly used to attract unwanted attention. I've also heard they get backed into a lot now everyone's driving big SUVs.
...hmm, actually I think I'm now just going through decision confirmation having almost gone for an NC. I know I probably would have loved one really
...hmm, actually I think I'm now just going through decision confirmation having almost gone for an NC. I know I probably would have loved one really
CABC said:
Petrolsmasher said:
, i feel like the connection is not there that i want but i feel like id miss the 280lb ft of torque.
Torque is good for lazy driving. Nice for a daily but sad in a sports car. That said, the NC 2L needs fettling for more fizz. Add in the fact that NC is way lighter that a fist and 190bhp is a great package.
Petrolsmasher said:
But buying an mx5 and then having to buy a tuning package aswell kind of makes it a costly endevour (id want a newish 3.5 facelift one), and weight wise the ST is only 1160kg so not that heavy really.
I own a Fiesta ST and would love an mx5 (Nd) but would 'have' to get the Litchfield 220 and suspension. All of a sudden it's an expensive car.VeeFource said:
Any MX5 owners had issues with vandalism? I've always gone for more discreet cars after my 350Z which sadly used to attract unwanted attention. I've also heard they get backed into a lot now everyone's driving big SUVs.
...hmm, actually I think I'm now just going through decision confirmation having almost gone for an NC. I know I probably would have loved one really
No vandalism for me (and my house isn't exactly in the nicest area). ...hmm, actually I think I'm now just going through decision confirmation having almost gone for an NC. I know I probably would have loved one really
Related to your SUV comment though... people pull out on you LOTS. I cover my brake when passing T junctions by default now. Even if I have my lights on and am well below the speed limit.
bazza white said:
Once the house is done I'm tempted with a 3.5,would love a kuro. I had a short lived experience with a 2.5 which turned out to be a lemon rust wise.
Seems to be a Japanese thing, bloke in work has a 2012 crv which is rusty as hell underneath.
Is it because they don't salt the roads in Japan so don't need as much rustproofing and they don't make any special concession for non Japan cars? Or is that now a bit of an old wives tale?Seems to be a Japanese thing, bloke in work has a 2012 crv which is rusty as hell underneath.
Blayney said:
No vandalism for me (and my house isn't exactly in the nicest area).
Related to your SUV comment though... people pull out on you LOTS. I cover my brake when passing T junctions by default now. Even if I have my lights on and am well below the speed limit.
Being low down and small I feel a bit more vulnerable in it when being passed/passing by SUV's (which seems to be every sodding vehicle on the road nowadays!)Related to your SUV comment though... people pull out on you LOTS. I cover my brake when passing T junctions by default now. Even if I have my lights on and am well below the speed limit.
mooseracer said:
I own a Fiesta ST and would love an mx5 (Nd) but would 'have' to get the Litchfield 220 and suspension. All of a sudden it's an expensive car.
but once you've invested in those mods, what car would compete? i get the ST, i really do. having lost my NA track car i'm looking at Mini/Clio/FiST to replace it and add some practicality, in order to combine 2 cars into 1. i'm finding it difficult as i know what a modified 5 is capable of. the mods depreciate to near zero instantly, but once hooked...
very few cars fulfil their potential out of the box.
I had a super low mileage 13 plate Mk3.75 NC for about 18 months. I sold it in January this year because I convinced myself I needed something quicker, so I bought a manual LCI BMW M2.
Whilst I enjoyed the M2, I very quickly realised I wasn't having anywhere near as much fun in it than I did in the MX5 (which I had fitted coilovers to, Tillet
B5 aftermarket seats, proper Hunter fast road alignment, slightly wider/lower offset OZ wheels).
The M2 was a proper hooligan, and very quick on back roads, but I kept finding myself wishing I was back in an MX5.
When the first ND 30th Anniversary cars started being delivered to customers, I sold the M2 and ordered a 30AE soft top, which has just arrived.
MX5s are great. I'd have another NC for certain. If anyone's considering an NC, just do it.
Whilst I enjoyed the M2, I very quickly realised I wasn't having anywhere near as much fun in it than I did in the MX5 (which I had fitted coilovers to, Tillet
B5 aftermarket seats, proper Hunter fast road alignment, slightly wider/lower offset OZ wheels).
The M2 was a proper hooligan, and very quick on back roads, but I kept finding myself wishing I was back in an MX5.
When the first ND 30th Anniversary cars started being delivered to customers, I sold the M2 and ordered a 30AE soft top, which has just arrived.
MX5s are great. I'd have another NC for certain. If anyone's considering an NC, just do it.
mooseracer said:
Petrolsmasher said:
But buying an mx5 and then having to buy a tuning package aswell kind of makes it a costly endevour (id want a newish 3.5 facelift one), and weight wise the ST is only 1160kg so not that heavy really.
I own a Fiesta ST and would love an mx5 (Nd) but would 'have' to get the Litchfield 220 and suspension. All of a sudden it's an expensive car.Petrolsmasher said:
CABC said:
Petrolsmasher said:
, i feel like the connection is not there that i want but i feel like id miss the 280lb ft of torque.
Torque is good for lazy driving. Nice for a daily but sad in a sports car. That said, the NC 2L needs fettling for more fizz. Add in the fact that NC is way lighter that a fist and 190bhp is a great package.
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