NC3.5 VS ND

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So next year when I turn 55 I am thinking of cashing in one of my piddling pension pots and getting a weekend toy. Life is too short and all that. Near the top of my shortlist of candidates is the venerable MX5 (The GT86 is in there too, the Japanese do know how to make an involving RWD affordable sporty car). What I am not sure of is whether to get a 2 litre NC3.5, or splash out more for an ND. The NCs are probably £4-5K cheaper that early NDs and the unloved MX5 if you believe the motoring press, but I am not sure about that. As I recall, in 2009, EVO gave the facelift 3.5 model a full 5 stars but have only ever given the ND 4 or 4.5 stars so clearly they aren't that bad. However, the ND is a pretty thing and I believe in 2 litre form a fair bit faster as well as being about 100KG lighter I believe. Just after opinions from those who have owned either or both...what would you do?

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Scotter said:

greenarrow said:

So next year when I turn 55 I am thinking of cashing in one of my piddling pension pots and getting a weekend toy. Life is too short and all that. Near the top of my shortlist of candidates is the venerable MX5 (The GT86 is in there too, the Japanese do know how to make an involving RWD affordable sporty car). What I am not sure of is whether to get a 2 litre NC3.5, or splash out more for an ND. The NCs are probably £4-5K cheaper that early NDs and the unloved MX5 if you believe the motoring press, but I am not sure about that. As I recall, in 2009, EVO gave the facelift 3.5 model a full 5 stars but have only ever given the ND 4 or 4.5 stars so clearly they aren't that bad. However, the ND is a pretty thing and I believe in 2 litre form a fair bit faster as well as being about 100KG lighter I believe. Just after opinions from those who have owned either or both...what would you do?

I went from an NC 3.5 2.0 to an ND2. 2.0.
I haven’t driven an ND1 but my thinking when changing was I couldn’t justify spending the money for like for like performance and driving the ND2 when looking to buy was enough to convince me to go with that model.
Both great cars but I’d go for the ND2 if looking at an ND.

Ahh interesting, so that is the 184 BHP model. Yes that is a fair bit more cash but I understand your rationale, although I've seen comments online that suggest 1) the ND1 is quite a bit quicker than the NC3.5 2.0 despite similar BHP and that 2) the 184 model actually doesn't feel much quicker than the ND1 model. I guess as the first poster on here suggests, I need to drive them to find out!! I do feel the NC3.5 is now looking very affordable which I guess it should be given that earliest models of it are coming up to 14 years old. Car prices are crazy right now. I only paid £1200 for my then 14 year old NB in 2015. Equivalent age NCs now are sooo much pricier!! I would have another NB in a heartbeat if they didn't rust so badly......

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Some interesting replies and everyone so far owning an ND has driven the 2 litre. Just wondered what the 1.5 is like? Some journos at launch said it was the purists MX5 and I've just noticed that AutoTrader has a 25000 mile 2016 model just 10 miles away from my house for £12995. That seems good value to me compared with the £18-19k plus being asked for the cheapest 184 models, which I appreciate are three years newer.

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Not a Diesel said:

This is what I mean about colour. The wheel arches and bonnet on the NC design really show off the soul red.

That is a pretty thing. Underneath looks amazing too. I read somewhere that the NC isn't as bad on rust as the NB (equal rustiest car I have owned in 30 years along with a MK1 Ford Ka!) But I guess as even the newer ones are getting on for 10 years old now, they may be getting corrosion.

Also I believe the ND amazingly lacks proper rust proofing underneath so even they may have issues in the forthcoming years!

The NC3.5 to my eyes is a much better looking car than the original 2006 NC......Mazda did well with the mid-life refresh. I understand they also fixed the sometimes spiky handling too. I think its fair to say the original NC was the first MX5 generation that was less than friendly on the limit.....

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Yes I am sure NCs are rusting now but don't appear half as bad as the NB. For example, I was looking at an advert for a 10 Place Sport Tech 2 litre model yesterday, so its coming up to 13 years. The only rust advisory was for a rear anti-roll bar and that's the first advisory on the MOT history mentioning rust of any kind. My old NB however, by 12 years old had corrosion warnings to the sub frame all the suspension arms and from memory I am sure I remember seeing a receipt for welding of the sills in the service history, when it was only about 10 or 11 years old..........so things are better than they were!!

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stickleback123 said:

Slothly said:

I daily my ND2 about 8 or 9 times a month for a 134 mile round trip to London and back for work. Even though I've an autobox Ford Focus estate too the mx remains the car of choice!

I used my nd2 as a daily for a very similar commute for the first two years I had it, and it was great.

Yes, my intended purchase will be a weekend/second car. However, I have no qualms about using an MX5 for a long journey. When working as a contractor 6 years ago several times I used my even then 16 year old NB to get from Bournemouth to Dorking (200 mile round trip) using the M27,M3, M25, or A3 on occasions. They're really comfortable in my opinion. The only thing I didn't like was in winter, you felt a little vulnerable amongst the SUVs and lorries in such a low car in the dark. Other than that, they really are amazing daily drivers aren't they.