Mazda MX5 NC Sport Tech 2.0 - still the answer!

[ShortShift811]

The idea of a convertible, RWD, manual sports car for high days and holidays has been in the back of my mind for some time.

I won t say I manifested this, but I did constantly peruse AutoTrader and slowly drip feed the idea into Mrs SS brain over a few months. So when I came across this 2013 NC Sport Tech which looked to be very clean, with 24K miles and loads of history it there was only one thing to be done: a trip from Leeds to Brum yesterday morning to test, check it all stacked up and do the deal.

First impressions are that it is an absolute hoot and will fit the bill of a weekend summer / dry days car perfectly. It ll also benefit from a few choice mods, for which I ve been reading the Jap Cars MX5 forum and am planning the following:

- Meister coilovers
- Upgraded Anti roll bars
- 4 x new Uniroyal Rainsports to replace the mixed budget tyres it currently sports
- Some form of matte black / gunmetal Oz racing alloys (not always a fan of black wheels but think the contrast will work well here)
- Current Alpine double din head unit will be replaced for something with CarPlay
- Rustproofing treatment (including removal of rear bumper) before the winter, albeit it ll live in the garage by then.
- Possibly a little BBR fettling if the budget allows and I m using it enough

I know the NC is sometimes seen as the slightly bloated, less pure version of the MX-5 range, but for our needs it s perfect. Such a fizzy engine that loves being revved, great balance and once I have some trustworthy tyres on I m looking forward to exploring the cornering capabilities.

Obligatory first drive and driveway pics below. It is also a very different beast to my daily M3 Touring - I was a little worried about justifying owning both but those fears have definitely been allayed. Now roll on the continued great summer!





Edit: pics didn t upload properly the first time.

Edited by ShortShift811 on Sunday 19th July 18:39

[Nuisance]

Very nice. I went NC3.75 > ND 30 AE > NC1 (with some BMW M cars in between). I actually prefer the Mk3.

Yours will be ace with those mods.

[Jester86]

I am a fan of the final Mk3 facelift. It is a nice car!

Happy modding and motoring!

[sawman]

Looks ace, and nice job list.

I keep looking at these, and then i noticed that E85 z4s seem good value these days…. Conflicted…

[Shappers24]

sawman said:

Looks ace, and nice job list.

I keep looking at these, and then i noticed that E85 z4s seem good value these days . Conflicted

Z4 isn’t as sharp a drive as the mx5, but I preferred the Z4, especially with the 6 cylinder engines.

[ShortShift811]

Cheers all. Commuted to work today and even on busy A-roads it induces a grin :-)

The Z4 6-cyl was on my list too, but based on one drive of a 2.3i, I think that's more of a touring convertible. I wanted something a bit more raw and moddable in this instance so the MX-5 was the only choice really.

A colleague has an NB that is now turning into a complete rust-bucket and has spent more time at the welders than on the road this year. Hoping I can avoid a similar fate...