MX5 NC1 or NC2?

[narbles]

Looking for a reasonably cheap track car to tide me over while we complete on our house. It needs to be usable for the odd road trip so I won't be stripping it out or anything. I keep coming back to the MX5 NC due to it being relatively modern, quick enough, aftermarket support etc.

I've looked at MR2 Mk3s (and have had one before) but really needs a 2zz conversion at fair expense compared with the car's value. Also, the MX5 power can be increased much more cheaply.

I particularly like the NC2 facelift, they just seem more "grown up" and are just more pleasing to my eye. However, I'm looking at up to around 10k for a good one. Whereas if I go for an NC1 I could be looking at 3-4k.

I'm going to put coilovers on it and then look to improve the power e.g. BBR etc.

Question is: is it a false economy going for the NC2 just because I think it looks nicer? Are the engine upgrades (and other updates) in the NC2 worth it to justify doubling what I spend on the base car?

[CABC]

if prices are that different (really?) then NC1 every time. you're switching out suspension anyway.
if you got one without seat airbags you could fit a bucket seat and still pass the mot.
buy on condition - check engine as these could be neglected and were ran low on oil.

[narbles]

CABC said:

if prices are that different (really?) then NC1 every time. you're switching out suspension anyway.
if you got one without seat airbags you could fit a bucket seat and still pass the mot.
buy on condition - check engine as these could be neglected and were ran low on oil.

Prices seem vastly different on average. Why do you say NC1 every time? I hear the NC2 has uprated engine etc. etc. or are the 'gains' not that noticeable or beneficial in reality?

[CABC]

narbles said:

Prices seem vastly different on average. Why do you say NC1 every time? I hear the NC2 has uprated engine etc. etc. or are the 'gains' not that noticeable or beneficial in reality?

purely on what you said on price. nc2 twice as expensive!! same car really. (ND2 really is different to ND1, but NC?)

nc1 had suv ride height, so Meistrs . what engine differences are there in nc2?? new set of piper cams would help what is a horrible engine!

I ran one on a few trackways before going back to an NA.

[mOrtt]

I bought an NC1 towards the end of last year, it was £1000 and apart from rough bodywork it was perfect for a track car. Only problem was that on the second drive out the engine blew. It had been ran low on oil in the past it seemed.

So things escalated quickly. Full engine rebuild, 4-1 manifold, EcuTek remap (185hp), decat exhaust, track friendly backbox, MeisterR ClubRace, new brakes, braided lines, wheel hubs, clutch, wheels, tyres, GCFab rollbar, Cobra bucket seats and 6 point harnesses.

It quickly adds up. Still a few grand below the top end of your budget though so if you're looking around for a track spec one you should easily be getting one for a couple of grand under your budget limit. If I was doing it again I'd either wait for one that's already built for under £8k (I don't have the patience) or grab a dirt cheap one (that isn't a rust bucket) and get the engine refreshed so you know it's sound for hammering round a track. Cheaper to refresh it than rebuild it!

I didn't see the point going NC2 over NC1 if it was meant to be another (cheap) track car. But I didn't expect the engine to go bang before it had even been out on track!

[RussNC]

I had an NC1 track car for a long time, did lots of days in it, eventually the engine let go on track (at only 70k). If I was to do it again, I'd buy the healthiest engine I could, most likely NC2 for the strengthened crank or a blown engine and do a 2.5 swap from Mazda6 and some cams to make it rev better.

[ncjones]

I bought a 2006 nc1? last Feb cheap as it was burning oil. Chap near Leeds who specialises in just MX5 / duratec engines rebuilt it for not much money. It’s a relatively easy fix but an engine out job, but pretty quick if you do them regularly. Runs really well now. Next track day booked in April and off to the Spa Classic in May with some track time there booked. If it is still alive then it’ll be treated to some new coil overs afterwards.

It’d had a new mohair hood just before I bought it. Underneath and arches all good, Will still just about have change from £3k after the coil overs are fitted. Cheap enough to not cry for that long if it did get wrecked on a track.

Edited by ncjones on Friday 21st January 20:47