MX-5 NC alternatives?

[TNurburgring]

I am at the point of buying a NC and test drove a few yesterday. So, I just wanted to be sure I considered all alternatives before actually buying one. It's my first car and I spend a lot of money on it, so I don't want to regret it.

What alternatives shouldn't I forget to consider?

[Mannginger]

What's your budget and planned usage?

[anonymous-user]

TNurburgring said:

I am at the point of buying a NC and test drove a few yesterday. So, I just wanted to be sure I considered all alternatives before actually buying one. It's my first car and I spend a lot of money on it, so I don't want to regret it.

What alternatives shouldn't I forget to consider?

IMHO you really don't want to be spending a lot of money on your first car. There is a very, very high chance you will smack it on bollards, kerbs, posts, other cars, kerb the wheels, bang into tow bars parking and everything else. The further people get away from when they started driving the less they remember about just how inept you really are for the first year or two. Get something cheap that won't break your heart when you damage it. If you want an MX5 get a £1500 Mk1 and treat it as disposable until you have some experience.

[Patch888]

dme123 said:

TNurburgring said:

I am at the point of buying a NC and test drove a few yesterday. So, I just wanted to be sure I considered all alternatives before actually buying one. It's my first car and I spend a lot of money on it, so I don't want to regret it.

What alternatives shouldn't I forget to consider?

IMHO you really don't want to be spending a lot of money on your first car. There is a very, very high chance you will smack it on bollards, kerbs, posts, other cars, kerb the wheels, bang into tow bars parking and everything else. The further people get away from when they started driving the less they remember about just how inept you really are for the first year or two. Get something cheap that won't break your heart when you damage it. If you want an MX5 get a £1500 Mk1 and treat it as disposable until you have some experience.

A point well presented but not always the case. I splashed out on my first car and enjoyed every day of it. Alternatives really are Z3/4, MR2, S2000 (crazy on insurance for a first car) any mk MX5. Fiat barcetta is also an interesting choice.

[anonymous-user]

Patch888 said:

dme123 said:

TNurburgring said:

I am at the point of buying a NC and test drove a few yesterday. So, I just wanted to be sure I considered all alternatives before actually buying one. It's my first car and I spend a lot of money on it, so I don't want to regret it.

What alternatives shouldn't I forget to consider?

IMHO you really don't want to be spending a lot of money on your first car. There is a very, very high chance you will smack it on bollards, kerbs, posts, other cars, kerb the wheels, bang into tow bars parking and everything else. The further people get away from when they started driving the less they remember about just how inept you really are for the first year or two. Get something cheap that won't break your heart when you damage it. If you want an MX5 get a £1500 Mk1 and treat it as disposable until you have some experience.

A point well presented but not always the case. I splashed out on my first car and enjoyed every day of it. Alternatives really are Z3/4, MR2, S2000 (crazy on insurance for a first car) any mk MX5. Fiat barcetta is also an interesting choice.

I'm not saying it's 100% certain you'll damage it, but you only have to see most peoples first cars after 6 months to see the likelihood is much higher. Also there is no shame in it, anyone who claims to have never accidentally smacked a kerb, bollard, rock or post by mistake has probably not done a lot of driving and parking

[anonymous-user]

dme123 said:

There is a very, very high chance you will smack it on bollards, kerbs, posts, other cars, kerb the wheels, bang into tow bars parking and everything else. The further people get away from when they started driving the less they remember about just how inept you really are for the first year or two.

Speak for yourself buddy - were you really this bad a driver when you passed your test? Is this really the expected norm?

OP, if you want a reliable fun car you could do a lot worse than the MX-5, others in the class may be faster, sound better, nicer to look at but IMO thr MX-5 is the great all-rounder.

[Antracer]

1st car?. Most people's first car is cheap & practical. 2 seater sports are neither.

If you dont want to get raped by the insurance company dont bother.

[TNurburgring]

Thanks for the replies!

My budget is €10.000 (in the Netherlands) and I just want to use it for fun, so no highway or daily drives.

I have been using the car of my parents for about 1-2 years now, so I am not a bad driver (anymore).

Insurance isn't a very big deal (maybe it's different in the UK).

All the alternatives that are named so far have passed my consideration, so I think I made the right choice! Most are either too expensive to buy or to expensive to run...

[Mannginger]

Having had an NC and now an NA MX5 I'd recommend getting an older MX5. You'll get a very good one for that money and still have a bucket load left for the savings. In the meantime the older MX5s are purer than the NC and are the better drive.

You can get an NC to be a good drive with Eibachs and lowering / balancing etc but the NAs are better out of the box. Cheaper to sort if they go wrong as well.

[kambites]

If I was after a car in that sort of market, I'd get a mk3 Toyota MR2. The difference is primarily down to whether you prefer front- or mid-engined cars, though.

[Garvin]

kambites said:

If I was after a car in that sort of market, I'd get a mk3 Toyota MR2. The difference is primarily down to whether you prefer front- or mid-engined cars, though.

Technically the MX5 is mid engined - the engine sits behind the front axle line. It's just a front, mid engined car rather than a rear, mid engined car!

OP, the MX5 is a fun car that rewards good driving and will put a smile on your face. Not so good for long distance and motorway jaunts but as you say it will not be used for such antics then it seems an ideal choice.

[TNurburgring]

I considered the MR2, but I just don't like the looks. But that's just me, I don't want to to mean.

The older MX-5 might be better to drive, but the NC is just a bit more refined and I fit in it... The older ones are too small unfortunately. Also, as you said, I will be installing a Eibach Pro-kit to sharpen up the handling a bit and get rid of the 4x4 look.

[anonymous-user]

kambites said:

If I was after a car in that sort of market, I'd get a mk3 Toyota MR2. The difference is primarily down to whether you prefer front- or mid-engined cars, though.

...and luggage space, the mk.3 mr2 is woeful whereas for the class of car the MX-5 has a decent enough boot for some shopping or a couple of holdalls.

[kambites]

yellowbentines said:

kambites said:

If I was after a car in that sort of market, I'd get a mk3 Toyota MR2. The difference is primarily down to whether you prefer front- or mid-engined cars, though.

...and luggage space, the mk.3 mr2 is woeful whereas for the class of car the MX-5 has a decent enough boot for some shopping or a couple of holdalls.

Yeah they're not great for luggage. I suspect overall luggage capacity is similar but the MR2's is awkwardly shaped and split up.

[TNurburgring]

Sounds like it can't go wrong with the NC.