MX5 NC PRHT 2009
Discussion
Having owned a very clean MX5 ND with a few tweaks for 2 years, a great car which I miss, I had been faffing for some time about selling due to lack of use (Covid, having a more practical family car and having a cheap track day car/run-around).
A few weeks ago I advertised the car for a highish price (current Covid market in Aus is strong) as a speculative punt. After a few tyre kicker viewings, I was offered more than I paid for it 2 years ago – MX5 ND sold.
I had always been concerned about taking the ND on track due to its value, gearbox concerns and the fact that it was in such good condition.
The brief for the replacement was: cheaper, still fun, trackable and 4 seats. I ticked off 3 of the requirements ….
Having test driven a few possibilities (GT86, Golf GTI, Fiesta ST) I ended up with another MX5, this time a 2009 NC which a few nice modifications: 949 racing wheels (lighter & 17x8), Good-win racing axel back exhaust, Progressive technologies sway bars, AEM induction kit and uprated discs/pads/braided lines.
Plans are to perform a few maintenance items then book a track day.
A few weeks ago I advertised the car for a highish price (current Covid market in Aus is strong) as a speculative punt. After a few tyre kicker viewings, I was offered more than I paid for it 2 years ago – MX5 ND sold.
I had always been concerned about taking the ND on track due to its value, gearbox concerns and the fact that it was in such good condition.
The brief for the replacement was: cheaper, still fun, trackable and 4 seats. I ticked off 3 of the requirements ….
Having test driven a few possibilities (GT86, Golf GTI, Fiesta ST) I ended up with another MX5, this time a 2009 NC which a few nice modifications: 949 racing wheels (lighter & 17x8), Good-win racing axel back exhaust, Progressive technologies sway bars, AEM induction kit and uprated discs/pads/braided lines.
Plans are to perform a few maintenance items then book a track day.
Edited by rigsey on Thursday 4th February 03:49
Maintenance time and a good look around.
Car came with a good history and a recent oil change.
January 28th 2021 - First service in my ownership.
-Oil (Penrite HPR5 5w/40) and filter
-Spark plugs NGK Iridium - no record of when they were last changed so makes sence to change now
-Thermostat - I connected up my Ultra Guage OBD2 reader not long after collecting the car and noticed that the car was taking a long time to reach 90c and would only do so if left idling or stuck in traffic (30c day), fans worked fine with no overheatng. Assume the thermostat was stuck open therefore replaced - behaves perfectly now
-Coolant change
-K&N air filter clean and re-oil - AEM intake on the NC sits behind the lower grill therefore needed a clean
-Cleaned throttle body - taken off to access the thermostat so made sense to clean
Car looks really clean underneath, rust issues in Aus are pretty rare unless the car has been outside by the coast for a long period of time.
Car came with a good history and a recent oil change.
January 28th 2021 - First service in my ownership.
-Oil (Penrite HPR5 5w/40) and filter
-Spark plugs NGK Iridium - no record of when they were last changed so makes sence to change now
-Thermostat - I connected up my Ultra Guage OBD2 reader not long after collecting the car and noticed that the car was taking a long time to reach 90c and would only do so if left idling or stuck in traffic (30c day), fans worked fine with no overheatng. Assume the thermostat was stuck open therefore replaced - behaves perfectly now
-Coolant change
-K&N air filter clean and re-oil - AEM intake on the NC sits behind the lower grill therefore needed a clean
-Cleaned throttle body - taken off to access the thermostat so made sense to clean
Car looks really clean underneath, rust issues in Aus are pretty rare unless the car has been outside by the coast for a long period of time.
ChrisCh86 said:
Looks like a great car. My parents have got a 2008 NC, but I've never driven it. How's it compare to the ND?
Though I'm mostly jealous of your Australian sunshine
ND a better all round car IMO especially if you daily drive it, loved my one but did not use enough to justify + it was to clean to take on track.Though I'm mostly jealous of your Australian sunshine
NC is not a million miles behind but is missing some of the creature comforts, they both have the MX5 feel.
This NC with the uprated sway bars and wider wheels feels more planted.
Aus certainly is a pleasant place to live; moved out here just over 3 years ago
aka_kerrly said:
The later NC Mx5 is really starting to appeal to me.
yours looks good in red with the red hardtop and the 8" wide wheels fill the arches out a bit more.
They are not bad looking, I think the folding hardtop version look pretty good with the roof up.yours looks good in red with the red hardtop and the 8" wide wheels fill the arches out a bit more.
Red is not a normal colour choice for me but it looks pretty good on the NC.
Coilovers maybe on the cards in the future but I want to see how the sway bars and wider tyres perform on track first.
First proper fun drive recently in the NC, it’s certainly got more mechanical grip than the ND, suspect this is the sway bars and 0.5 inch wider wheels and tyres. If anything it’s got too much grip, I’ve lost and miss the playfulness of the rear end ... oh er 😐
Looking at the paperwork that came with the car the alignment was done 3 months ago and numbers look good but are pretty neutral, I would normally add a bit more negative camber all round. The question is, do I try on track before fiddling with the setup as I think it maybe quicker as it is?
Only item to look at is an occasional slight ticking noise when warm (mainly heard in the cabin) at low revs - I think it may be the tensioner pully or belt. Definitely not engine knock maybe injector noise or tappet noise (seems to be a lot of posts about this MX5 forums)?
I’ve change the gear knob to my Voodoo Magnum (smaller and heavier) and replaced the shift boot a leather item as the original had a small rip.
Also given the car a decent clean and wax + repaired a few leather seat wear marks.
Looking at the paperwork that came with the car the alignment was done 3 months ago and numbers look good but are pretty neutral, I would normally add a bit more negative camber all round. The question is, do I try on track before fiddling with the setup as I think it maybe quicker as it is?
Only item to look at is an occasional slight ticking noise when warm (mainly heard in the cabin) at low revs - I think it may be the tensioner pully or belt. Definitely not engine knock maybe injector noise or tappet noise (seems to be a lot of posts about this MX5 forums)?
I’ve change the gear knob to my Voodoo Magnum (smaller and heavier) and replaced the shift boot a leather item as the original had a small rip.
Also given the car a decent clean and wax + repaired a few leather seat wear marks.
Great purchase, the NC are such good value fun cars. We've actually got both the ND Recarro and a NC 2.0 Sport tech. The NC is on wider tyres and also on lowering springs and fees much more planted than the ND. I've taken the NC on track and it goes well considering the spec. I wouldn't take the ND on track as it just feels a bit more fragile and I'm also worried about the gearbox issues. The NC i feel is the better car for me, more spacious than the ND and in my opinion feels more bullet proof. 
Edited by toby-w8jtf on Thursday 18th February 14:37
toby-w8jtf said:
Great purchase, the NC are such good value fun cars. We've actually got both the ND Recarro and a NC 2.0 Sport tech. The NC is on wider tyres and also on lowering springs and fees much more planted than the ND. I've taken the NC on track and it goes well considering the spec. I wouldn't take the ND on track as it just feels a bit more fragile and I'm also worried about the gearbox issues. The NC i feel is the better car for me, more spacious than the ND and in my opinion feels more bullet proof.
Nice pair Edited by toby-w8jtf on Thursday 18th February 14:37
NC should be good fun on track I suspect; need to book its first track day.
I loved my ND with a few modifications (GWR axel back and 6 pot Wilwoods) but was too worried to take on track; the ND makes a great fun daily driver IMO. The gearbox concern would always be in the back of my mind if I tracked.
Not a great deal to report, found my annoying tapping noise (mainly heard in the cabin) which turned out to be the solinoid for the Fuel Vapor purge valve.
Nothing wrong with the part and have managed to silence a little with some insulation.
Relived as expected it was something more mechanical i.e. tappet noise, tensioner noise, etc.
Also fitted a fire extinguisher using Kap Industries bracket:
Nothing wrong with the part and have managed to silence a little with some insulation.
Relived as expected it was something more mechanical i.e. tappet noise, tensioner noise, etc.
Also fitted a fire extinguisher using Kap Industries bracket:
Recently completed a few maintenance items including refilling the gearbox turret with oil, mine was pretty dry and one of the covers was disintegrating into the shifter mechanism which is not ideal. Now all cleaned out, refilled and feeling much smoother to shift with. If you have an NC I would strongly suggest checking this.
Out for a drive at the weekend and experienced a small disaster, I think I hit a rock which I did not see that punctured the edge of the tyre and bent one of the rear rims.
|https://thumbsnap.com/jTUnJn59[/url]
Sunset was nice while I waited for the recovery truck
|https://thumbsnap.com/QdXzqK4p[/url]
The wheels are 949 racing 17x8 which are no longer made, I cannot find any in the current colour (tungsten) - one supplier in Aus and only one available in the US, therefore have brought 4 in bronze. Will keep the 3 good wheels as spares ....
As you see I also need a new PS4 ...
No other damage as far as I can tell but will arrange an alignment once the new wheels are on.[url][url]
Out for a drive at the weekend and experienced a small disaster, I think I hit a rock which I did not see that punctured the edge of the tyre and bent one of the rear rims.
|https://thumbsnap.com/jTUnJn59[/url]Sunset was nice while I waited for the recovery truck
|https://thumbsnap.com/QdXzqK4p[/url]The wheels are 949 racing 17x8 which are no longer made, I cannot find any in the current colour (tungsten) - one supplier in Aus and only one available in the US, therefore have brought 4 in bronze. Will keep the 3 good wheels as spares ....
As you see I also need a new PS4 ...
No other damage as far as I can tell but will arrange an alignment once the new wheels are on.[url][url]
Nice car! Cool photos! They are a few NCs around here on Reader's cars, and cool to have one in another continent!
You didn't say what was your feeling with the other cars you hesitated with at the beginning? Why you took the NC finally (except because Front engine - RWD is cooooool
) ? 
Have fun!
You didn't say what was your feeling with the other cars you hesitated with at the beginning? Why you took the NC finally (except because Front engine - RWD is cooooool
) ? Have fun!
cedrichn said:
Nice car! Cool photos! They are a few NCs around here on Reader's cars, and cool to have one in another continent!
You didn't say what was your feeling with the other cars you hesitated with at the beginning? Why you took the NC finally (except because Front engine - RWD is cooooool) ?
Have fun!
Good point.You didn't say what was your feeling with the other cars you hesitated with at the beginning? Why you took the NC finally (except because Front engine - RWD is cooooool
) ? Have fun!
In terms of the other cars:
-Liked the GT86 but it felt big compared to the MX5 + several I looked at were in a complete state (cheapish P plate car in Aus so often thrashed and crashed)
-Liked the Golf GTI and Fiesta ST but reliability of European cars here is not great and the availability of parts in Aus can be problematic + as you suggest I like RWD and front engined cars
The problem for me is I compare everything back to the MX5s I've owned - for a fun, cheap run around taken on track occasionally they are ideal.
First track day in the MX5 NC on June 25th at the The Bend (International Circuit), booked the GT circuit in August which should be fun.
Great day, car behaved itself perfectly and new alignment felt good. My lap times gradually improved as I became more confident in the car.
Day started off damp but dried out by the second session.
Lots of nice cars on track and a few MX5 friends
Also took the opportunity to weigh the MX5; 1165kg without the driver and a full tank of fuel
Some videos:
Lovely GT3 RS flyby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3EJ2BGZ_Ro
Nice MX5 track toy (tweaked 1.5 turbo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV5vDdZ-6Bs
Great day, car behaved itself perfectly and new alignment felt good. My lap times gradually improved as I became more confident in the car.
Day started off damp but dried out by the second session.
Lots of nice cars on track and a few MX5 friends
Also took the opportunity to weigh the MX5; 1165kg without the driver and a full tank of fuel
Some videos:
Lovely GT3 RS flyby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3EJ2BGZ_Ro
Nice MX5 track toy (tweaked 1.5 turbo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV5vDdZ-6Bs
Gilhooligan said:
Any plans to sort the comedy ride height 
.
At some point I suspect, roads here are fairly shocking and coilovers need to be inspected/engineered ... genius considering we have no MOT equivalent here .
The upgraded sway bars limit roll significantly but lowering the centre of gravity would certainly help.
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