So talk me out of this

[Chewitt13]

So I've hit 50 and thinking of a mx5 for a toy - any feedback on the newish ones 1.5 vrs 2L etc

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[Qatar-wol]

Nope. Not going to.



I bought my 2016 2.0ltr nine months ago, and I love it to bits. I'm thrilled every time I drive it, and spend most of the time with the roof down. It's warm and comfortable and economical, and while I can keep it, I will. (Even considering a BBR200 conversion!) It's economical, nippy and manoeuvrable.

The boot is small, the cabin is snug and lacks storage space. That's it, really.

I test-drove a 1.5, and thought it was great, but preferred the 2.0 - the bigger engine revs a little less, but makes a bit more power, and is a bit more flexible/forgiving.

I effectively swapped a Merc C63 for it. I prefer the Mazda. The Merc was just too much.

[walkerwek1958]

I preferred the earlier style, the latest model looks like a miniaturised late 60s Corvette and not in a good way, I don’t doubt its merits but I think they got the styling wrong. Sports cars should be small and nimble in my view for British roads, not the big wide bloated offerings that prevail nowadays, so the MX5 still ticks that box........but I still prefer the previous one.

[Qatar-wol]

The dimensions are a little odd, I know, but I've come to love them! And you're right -

NA - 1040kg
NB - 1100kg
NC - 1150kg
ND - 1060kg!

1060kg with 160kg makes it nippy - it's a fast slow car, if that makes sense, rather than a fast car like my old C63.

[jukeboxs]

...

1060kg with 160bhp makes it nippy ...

Fixed that for you (unless you were meaning to throw in there that you're a big lad!). A lovely looking car - I'd consider that when I'm older.

[Chewitt13]

Test drove the 1.5l, it was good but I think I would prefer the 2L. Plan is to keep it in the garage and use it when we don't have to do kid logistics. Had a lotus exige pre kids, not sure my back would manage one now



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[Qatar-wol]

Fixed that for you (unless you were meaning to throw in there that you're a big lad!). A lovely looking car - I'd consider that when I'm older.

Thank you! Not that big yet!

Mine is part of a two-car garage - the family bus is the Jogger, and I use the MX-5 when I'm on my own.

[SimonH]

i bought an ND2 in 2021, and stupidly sold it last year, as my work had stated they expected us to go back in 5 days a week by the end of the year. They have since completely backtracked and got rid of two thirds of the building 郎

Completely disagree with walkerwek1958, I think they nailed the styling, making it modern but retaining the essence of the old car.

If you can run to an ND2 the extra 20 bhp is really worthwhile but more importantly the engine revs higher and more keenly than the 160bhp motor.

I doubt very much they actually make money on these cars, check out the savagegesse video, there's some expensive materials to make it light, the gearbox is bespoke (and a bit fragile on early models), etc etc.

Anyway recommended from me, sad to sell my ND2 but I managed to console myself with this:

[higham5]

We have the latest version ND , same as Qata-Wol except ours is the 1.5. We have had it four years and keep saying "why didn't we buy one before".

plus's
Handling is sublime, we live in N.Wales lots of windy lanes, you rarely if ever need to brake for a corner, just put it in and turn in and it literally feels like its on rails.
Fuel consumption, we ran it down to France & Spain to watch the TDF. On long motorway runs at 70 mph it was doing low 50's mpg.
Roof down performance is great, Mazda have some provenance on rag tops. we even drive through light rain as it just wizzes over the top.
Its licence friendly , you can wring its neck, feels like 80mph look down to see you are doing 55!
Parking, it feels like a tardis, when you come to park you think the bonnet is stuck out only to realise you can see each corner and space abounds

Cons Its not at its best on long motorway runs in bad weather, you are down and dirty in the spray, the noise of the other vehicles is particularly noticeable.
That's it.

Steve

[RobDad]

I’ve never driven an MX-5, my mum had a mk1 (when she was in her late 60’s) that took a bit of wiggling to cram my 6 feet 2 , 16 stone into - let alone think about driving it. The latest versions look really small in comparison even to the original one. I’d definitely consider one if I had a hope of fitting inside - weirdly I could have worn a top hat in my sons VW up but these seem a lot smaller inside. I must admit I haven’t really warmed to the styling of the latest version - especially the folding hard top which looks awful imho - or am I alone in thinking that?

[JonRA]

I had a ND 1.5 (975kg IIRC) and loved it. All the power I wanted but so light and responsive. I had the base model so also light on some safety features so no automatic braking if it sensed a collision was imminent and no automatic lights or automatic windscreen wipers. It felt really old school but none the worse for that. If I'd had garage space I would have kept it.

[ELD1970]

Bought this for my 50th birthday, great little cars and will never sell it. The ND2 would be my choice if I was in your shoes.






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[pete-r]

I considered replacing my track toy vx220 with an mx5 a while back and spoke to a few specialists and tested the bbr supercharged NC and the Rocketeer NB V6.

Their cumulative advice was:
NA is great but values have pushed them too far and they are more raw than a lot of people think they will be.
NB possibly the best chassis they said, but hard to find good ones.
NC best power train reliability, bit starting to see heavy corrosion so seek out the later versions and get them sealed. Folding hard top adds a noticeable weight. Best value proposition.
BD "Gearboxes made of cheese' was the phrase one specialist used so doubt like modification, but best interior by miles. Plus, again factor in underseal as they are also rusting from the inside out.

It all put me off, but while the V6 sounded like an M3 CSL (if you know, you know), it still wasn't that fast, while the SC NC was excellent and would have been my choice

[snowman]

I drove a current model MX5.

At the time I had an RX-8 and the MX5 felt very similar to drive, just a bit slower.

Obviously a lot more economical than the rotary though.

All in all, a great drive that will put a smile on your face every time.

M

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[Dynam0humm]

I test drove a couple of NC's, then a ND1 and the electric steering was quite vague in the later car and slightly more cramped inside, although at 5' 8" that wouldn't have put me off. The biggest issue for me at the time was that it much more expensive so I ended up with this -



It's the heaviest version of the lot, but the folding hard top is made of plastic and adds only 40kg vs the NC soft top, so a decent trade-off for the increased practicality and refinement.

For best results they need to be lowered - Mazda engineers built the best car they could, then jacked it up by over 30mm to satisfy pedestrian collision regulations, hence Eibach/Mazdaspeed lowering springs being a dealer fit option.

Rust is the killer of them so if buying an NC or earlier get it thoroughly checked and be wary of cars covered in underseal potentially hiding problems. I've seen the 'rust proofing' on an almost new ND and those will go the same way, so factor getting the underbody treated if going for any version.

I've owned mine for over three years now and have no intention of changing it. It's a brilliant little car that's cheap to run, reliable and great fun to drive.

It could really do with a supercharger though...

[andy tims]

We have a 2015 2.0l ND. It’s got a remap to 185 bhp but it’s still nippy rather than fast. The 1.5 needs to be revved very hard and if you’re driving anywhere on crowded roads it would be frustrating trying to overtake with so little mid range shove.

Ours has also been lowered slightly and has unrated ARBs. The handling is improved. It’s good, but still no Lotus.

The EPAS is is quick, with not enough feel for my taste and that’s the least satisfying aspect is terms of driving pleasure, although the engine sounds a bit coarse towards the top of the rev range.

Steering aside, the ND is better in every respect than the 2.0l NC we had previously.

They are a lot of fun to drive roof down, even on a cold crisp day with heated seats and the heating turned up. They are also comfortable enough to drive long distances as long you’ve realistic with your expectations - it’s not a Continental GT after all.

[Robsmck]

I have a 2006 1.8 and have found it a cracking drive, not a ball of fire by any means but lots of fun. Especially with the roof down. When weather is good, and I have no more than one child to transport, I will always take it over my daily driver (gen 3 Macan GTS), unless the bride has taken it first.

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[stiglet]

Anyway recommended from me, sad to sell my ND2 but I managed to console myself with this:

Ours says hello.



One of two presently residing at Siglet towers the other being a Mk2.5 used for sprints and hillclimbs. Would not talk the OP out of one

[nick67]

I had a ND second gen 2 Ltr soft top for just over 3 years, as it didn’t arrive in time I had the dealer’s 1.5lyr RF

I felt the 1,5 you had to rev this to get any enjoyment out of it, we did nearly 1k miles in it

Now have another ND with lowering springs, feels a lot different to the previous one

Would happily run one as a daily.

[Dave+63]

It’s also worth remembering that the Fiat 124 is an MX5 in pretty clothes!

[nick67]

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[reggie747]

Go for it !!!
Sorry, not the newish one but I hit 51yo and just after a 28yr marriage ended in divorce I picked this beauty up. It was a great move then and still is now.
This is an '07 model NC1 that I've tastefully modified since ownership.
Smiles per mile, I doubt there's much more out there that could do it for the very modest entry fee.
It serves double duty as an excellent weekend trolley and an even better track day toy.
The retractable hard top is seldom up when we're out in it. Heater is nuclear and there's little to no wind issues due to clever design.

[hilly10]

For a weekend toy other than a Classic you have always wanted, go for it great cars

[Dynam0humm]

It’s also worth remembering that the Fiat 124 is an MX5 in pretty clothes!

...And a totally different 1.4 turbo engine in the Fiat.

[Chris_in_the_UK]

...And a totally different 1.4 turbo engine in the Fiat.

And a very different drive because of this.

[JGJG]

Loving those shields Reggie :)

[Stuno1]

My folks had a couple. If you can stretch to a decent boxster 987 I would do that but the mx5’s are superb cars.

[reggie747]

Loving those shields Reggie :)

👍

[Chewitt13]

My folks had a couple. If you can stretch to a decent boxster 987 I would do that but the mx5’s are superb cars.

We had a yellow 987 before and it was great, that was pre kids and we could get away as a couple for weekends

Not sure I want to stick that much money into a toy that will get limited use

Before kids we had

987
2 Elise's
1 exige
Rx8
Z4m

Fancy something fun that I don't feel guilty about having to use it

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[Stuno1]

We had a yellow 987 before and it was great, that was pre kids and we could get away as a couple for weekends

Not sure I want to stick that much money into a toy that will get limited use

Before kids we had

987
2 Elise's
1 exige
Rx8
Z4m

Fancy something fun that I don't feel guilty about having to use it

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Makes sense. Mx5’s are great cars.

[Chewitt13]

And to close it out, a wee trip to Edinburgh yesterday saw me return with new toy

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[higham5]

Creme leather beautiful. We have done about 120 miles on windy Welsh roads today including the “ Evo Triangle” favoured by Top Gear. Greasy salty roads and it tracked faultlessly all day. Ps 4 deg C and roof down all day, heated seats on and heater turned right up.

[Stuno1]

Congratulations. I hope you get many enjoyable miles out of it.

[FrontierGibberish]

Creme leather beautiful. We have done about 120 miles on windy Welsh roads today including the “ Evo Triangle” favoured by Top Gear. Greasy salty roads and it tracked faultlessly all day. Ps 4 deg C and roof down all day, heated seats on and heater turned right up.

The EVO Triangle is favoured by...EVO. Or was, they tend to hit Oxfordshire these days thanks to fewer speed cameras. Congrats on your purchase - they're wonderful things and for evidence you only need to look at the number of auto journalists who have one they've bought with their own hard earned.

[higham5]

The EVO Triangle is favoured by...EVO. Or was, they tend to hit Oxfordshire these days thanks to fewer speed cameras..

Thanks for that explanation, we have only been in the area three years so have been misinformed. You are right about the speed cameras, they are everywhere. However I would be pleased to “ average 60 mph” on some of those sections in our MX5 :)

[Qatar-wol]

Excellent - a good choice! I hope you'll be very happy with it!

[Highroller1]

Go for it !!!
Sorry, not the newish one but I hit 51yo and just after a 28yr marriage ended in divorce I picked this beauty up. It was a great move then and still is now.
This is an '07 model NC1 that I've tastefully modified since ownership.
Smiles per mile, I doubt there's much more out there that could do it for the very modest entry fee.
It serves double duty as an excellent weekend trolley and an even better track day toy.
The retractable hard top is seldom up when we're out in it. Heater is nuclear and there's little to no wind issues due to clever design.

This is my favourite era of MX5 especially the 2.0 …. Handles like it on rails and plenty enough poke for whizzing round the leafy narrow lanes of Hampshire.

[MartynJC (UK)]

Excellent choice! We had the MK3 before and still mourn that we had to sell to move country (import tax made it impracticable)