Which Mazda MX5 edition?
Discussion
Am looking for something with a high spec and ideally a special edition, to add a little bit of rarity. Anything from about 2009 onwards. Would appreciate views from present and past MX5 owners.
Is the auto desirable? Part of me enjoys the auto, so there is a reason for asking too. Ideally folding hardtop, but not essential
Thanks in advance.
Is the auto desirable? Part of me enjoys the auto, so there is a reason for asking too. Ideally folding hardtop, but not essential
Thanks in advance.
If you’re looking into the 2009-on NC, then there really aren’t any editions that are particularly ‘special’. 2005 to 2009 gives plenty of nice choices, but by the first facelift the NC was already old news and special editions were launched to try and keep the car fresh. A shame as the face lifted cars were dynamically much better than the early cars. There’s the sportblack, the Kuro, and the Venture, but really all they added were different colours for interior leather and exterior finish over the ‘standard’ sport-tech, or a different stereo.
There were a handful of sport-tech Recaro cars with nice seats, but they were very rare. (30ish cars)
I’d go with the best standard 2.0 RC car of any edition you can find, and go as a late as possible. The second facelift in 2013 added a more aggressive looking front end and a few other engine and chassis tweaks that are worth having.
After that, go to BBR and have the 190 or 200 package fitted as it totally transforms the engine response. Lots of extra torque, and with the restrictive stock exhaust manifold exchanged for BBR’s very sexy stainless one, you got a decent helping of nice noises too. I sold mine 18 months ago and bought an S3, and while das Audi is ludicrously quick and well screwed together, it’s nothing like as nice to drive as my old MX5.
Folding hardtop adds only a few kgs to the car, adds ‘slightly’ more headroom, and looks nice. Has absolutely zero effect on luggage space either, and when mated with a ‘mods4cars’ box it’s a joy to use at it becomes a one button operation to raise or lower it, even when on the move.
Auto gearbox is horrible. Avoid. The manual is one of the best you’ll ever use anyway, so ‘stick’ with that.
There were a handful of sport-tech Recaro cars with nice seats, but they were very rare. (30ish cars)
I’d go with the best standard 2.0 RC car of any edition you can find, and go as a late as possible. The second facelift in 2013 added a more aggressive looking front end and a few other engine and chassis tweaks that are worth having.
After that, go to BBR and have the 190 or 200 package fitted as it totally transforms the engine response. Lots of extra torque, and with the restrictive stock exhaust manifold exchanged for BBR’s very sexy stainless one, you got a decent helping of nice noises too. I sold mine 18 months ago and bought an S3, and while das Audi is ludicrously quick and well screwed together, it’s nothing like as nice to drive as my old MX5.
Folding hardtop adds only a few kgs to the car, adds ‘slightly’ more headroom, and looks nice. Has absolutely zero effect on luggage space either, and when mated with a ‘mods4cars’ box it’s a joy to use at it becomes a one button operation to raise or lower it, even when on the move.
Auto gearbox is horrible. Avoid. The manual is one of the best you’ll ever use anyway, so ‘stick’ with that.
Edited by Nothing Ventured on Thursday 24th May 15:24
Brilliant
That’s super-helpful, just what I needed.
I have come across BBR mentioned on Top Gear and also looked their website a few times in the past.
I have a Golf R estate, which has been modified to 370bhp, so the MX5 would be more of a fun daily drive, or when the sun is out on the weekends and I am rattling around the lanes near my village.
I appreciate the tips on the model to go for, awewome !!
That’s super-helpful, just what I needed.
I have come across BBR mentioned on Top Gear and also looked their website a few times in the past.
I have a Golf R estate, which has been modified to 370bhp, so the MX5 would be more of a fun daily drive, or when the sun is out on the weekends and I am rattling around the lanes near my village.
I appreciate the tips on the model to go for, awewome !!
) and it was built to celebrate Mazda's involvement in the British GT Championship.
Nothing Ventured said:
Auto gearbox is horrible. Avoid. The manual is one of the best you’ll ever use anyway, so ‘stick’ with that.
While the manual will be the one most people go for, i don't believe the automatic option in the MX5 to be horrible, per se. It's the Ford PowerShift gearbox, so it's a dual-clutch as apposed to a traditional torque-converter. I'm probably in the minority here but i reckon it could suit the car quite well.The only issues would be the reliability, as i have no idea how tough the Ford units are. I think they're made by Getrag anyway. Not many people buy them so they are quite rare too. I still maintain that they could be fun, especially with the paddles. The manual is very good in the little Mazda, i'm led to believe.
You want a 2009/10 onwards facelift 3.5 if possible, stronger engine.
I have had both soft & hard & would go soft as prefer the way they look. 37kgs lighter as well.
Buy on condition & read up on death knock. Any cars with low oil may be worth passing as not good sign. If you remember one thing keep the oil on the max line & use good quality oil they are bomb proof.
I did about 45 track days in mine & never had a problem.
The manuals can be notchy esp from cold, the auto is better than most think. Cannot be as bad as now found in the 124 with flappy paddles.
Meant to be a hoot with autoblip on down shifts.
Just got a deal on 124 Abarth so trying that next, turbo torque should be fun!
I have had both soft & hard & would go soft as prefer the way they look. 37kgs lighter as well.
Buy on condition & read up on death knock. Any cars with low oil may be worth passing as not good sign. If you remember one thing keep the oil on the max line & use good quality oil they are bomb proof.
I did about 45 track days in mine & never had a problem.
The manuals can be notchy esp from cold, the auto is better than most think. Cannot be as bad as now found in the 124 with flappy paddles.
Meant to be a hoot with autoblip on down shifts.
Just got a deal on 124 Abarth so trying that next, turbo torque should be fun!
culpz said:
While the manual will be the one most people go for, i don't believe the automatic option in the MX5 to be horrible, per se. It's the Ford PowerShift gearbox, so it's a dual-clutch as apposed to a traditional torque-converter. I'm probably in the minority here but i reckon it could suit the car quite well.
The only issues would be the reliability, as i have no idea how tough the Ford units are. I think they're made by Getrag anyway. Not many people buy them so they are quite rare too. I still maintain that they could be fun, especially with the paddles. The manual is very good in the little Mazda, i'm led to believe.
Pretty sure the gearbox is an Aisin unit. Torque converter based, valve driven, planetary gears and brakes. No double clutch goodness in the NC MX5 I’m afraid. I don’t even think it gets a lock up torque converter, and I think you lost the limited slip diff you get with the manual. The only issues would be the reliability, as i have no idea how tough the Ford units are. I think they're made by Getrag anyway. Not many people buy them so they are quite rare too. I still maintain that they could be fun, especially with the paddles. The manual is very good in the little Mazda, i'm led to believe.
Nothing Ventured said:
Pretty sure the gearbox is an Aisin unit. Torque converter based, valve driven, planetary gears and brakes. No double clutch goodness in the NC MX5 I’m afraid. I don’t even think it gets a lock up torque converter, and I think you lost the limited slip diff you get with the manual.
+1 I've driven an auto NC MX-5 pre-facelift (hire car in Japan), and it certainly felt like a traditional slushbox as you describe. When you lift off it 'decouples', so you don't get engine braking, my pet hate with autos. A pretty poor match to the car IMHO. Unless the facelift got an improved auto box then I think it's old-school.seadragon said:
Thanks all so far, so changes mainly cosmetic, so nothing with a step up in spec etc?
What's the Niseko like, or the Miyako?
I have a 2008 Niseko here in Austria which I'm selling at the moment as I now need something bigger.What's the Niseko like, or the Miyako?
Edited by seadragon on Friday 25th May 10:07
I cant really compare with other MX5 models as this was the only one I have owned so far, but I like it.
I think the differences with it are mainly cosmetic however, brown leather interior with brown soft top and some light blue stiching on door cards etc.
Its the 2.0 model with 5 speed manual, not had any issues with it during my time owning it (Roughly 3 years now).
As said, the special editions don't really mean much other than offering different trim and colour options. A personal favourite is the "sport graphite" edition which was available in this gorgeous shade of blue:
This guide to the different models looks fairly comprehensive and handy. Note that not all of the special editions had the LSD and 6 speed box, so choose carefully if those are important to you.
http://www.roadster.blog/2014/03/uk-mx-5-model-gui...
This guide to the different models looks fairly comprehensive and handy. Note that not all of the special editions had the LSD and 6 speed box, so choose carefully if those are important to you.
http://www.roadster.blog/2014/03/uk-mx-5-model-gui...
Great, thanks so far.
That link showing all the editions and the spec for each, is pretty awesome.
I am looking at a Sports Recaro, 17 plate, but not sure on the white. It says Ceramic White, but not sure what that means. Too many white cars about, too fashionable at the moment.
There is a Recaro Coupe I saw for sale, but a deposit has been taken. I really like that and also the Jota, but guess they are pretty impossible to find.
I might wait and hang on until I can get a Recaro Coupe, I am in love
That link showing all the editions and the spec for each, is pretty awesome.
I am looking at a Sports Recaro, 17 plate, but not sure on the white. It says Ceramic White, but not sure what that means. Too many white cars about, too fashionable at the moment.
There is a Recaro Coupe I saw for sale, but a deposit has been taken. I really like that and also the Jota, but guess they are pretty impossible to find.
I might wait and hang on until I can get a Recaro Coupe, I am in love
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