Miata NC owner here. Do not listen to the haters. This is an absolutely amazing Miata - better than the 1st and 2nd gen from an objective standpoint, really. Also: I'm 6'3.5", and I fit in the stock seats, comfortably! "IT'S SO BOATY!" Then put in some sway bars for 300 bucks, problem solved.
Stigma comes from people that haven't driven one. As soon as I got out of the car on a fun run at autocross in a 1st gen model, I instantly "got" what a miata was about.
I own a 2010 MX-5 5spd and LOVE it. The more I drive it and the more I drive other cars, the more I find out just how much better the Miata is from the rest. It's an $18,000 car that has anti-reflective coatings on the gauges for goodness sake. If I'm able to, I'm keeping this car for the rest of my life. It's that special to me.
I was just at a mazda dealer where they had a 2015 and 2016 on the lot. Drove both, chose the 2015 due to the lesser price point of $5k less, and the classic look of it. Yea, lack of bells and whistles and tech but feels more like the old roadsters I drove in my 20's. The new Miata did not do it for me style wise. This one was perfect, and I saved quite a bit of cash. GREAT car.
One of the better MX-5 reviews I have seen. This car truly is a gem once you get past the "stigma". I bought my 2015 MX5 as a second car, and for the money, I'm not sure there is a better car to have as a weekend/toy car. Not sure I could deal with its small quirks and lack of technology as a daily driver though. This car is truly fun to drive and is as close to a four wheel motorcycle as you can find out there.
I had the MX5 NC1 with manual transmission and NC2 with automatic transmission and Recaro seats. They both are great. Love this little roadster so much.
I'd recommend anyone interested in purchasing a used Miata to look seriously at the NC generation featured in this video. I live in Philadelphia, and I daily my 2013 Club hard top. I'm also 6'1" tall, and most likely wouldn't fit in the new generation (or the first gen, for that matter). I'm surprised to not hear about the FOUR cup holders in this car though. Seriously, it has FOUR cup holders for two passengers. You can probably pick up a gently used MX-5 NC Club for ~20K USD these days. It has a shock tower brace in the engine bay, bigger (more attractive) rims, better tires, Billstein shocks, and a limited slip differential. That said, buy the MANUAL. Not only would an automatic go against the spirit of the car, but Mazda actually tuned away TEN horsepower for the automatic transmission.
I've been trying so hard not to pick up an NC Club PRHT. There are a few around here for high teens-low 20s that have less than 4k miles on the clock -- one is barely past break-in mileage...
I went around for no less than a year and a half test driving everything in the price range (350Z, Mustang, BRS/FRS, Boxsters, even a used 911). It was only when I found glaring flaws in these other options that I considered the option of a late model Miata, and I'm glad I did. As always, this depends on you, the driver. No car is perfect, so drive anything and everything you can. My only regret was that I never tested a Lotus Elise.
I love this car. I have a few cars and when I ordered my new 911 I sold my 2011 M3 rather than give up this car. It's a blast to drive. I like it better than the new generation.
@Gertg Derften Again, you're giving up ten horsepower on an already under-powered vehicle. "Manual mode" isn't manual. You're still trying to will an automatic transmission into something it isn't, and never will be. And hey, great! I'm not knocking anybody for buying any Miata, ever. You are sacrificing performance for comfort, though.
I have owned four NC's and still have two of them. They are the best of the four generations, because they are larger and still fun to drive. I drove two of them coast to coast and had no problems. Zoom Zoom!
@@alansmilealot NC accommodates larger people and revs more freely. Keep in mind his comments were before the 2019 engine tweaks. Also, it is a convertible with a hard top, better than an RF in my opinion. I can see the NC being more preferable for some.
For you Miata owners there's a destination run out there for you. I went from Sioux Falls SD to Rapid City. The posted speed is 80 mph, I covered the distance in 4 hours, nothing passed me. Just West of the Missouri river is the 'Missouri Breaks', a series of hills 100 feet high, as you go up the first one, 80 mph, it feels like your going to keep gong up when you get to the top. At the top your weightless then down the other side, your eating up the pavement so fast it seems like the lane ahead is too small for the car. This goes on for a series of hills.
As an owner of a 95 and an o 07 MX5, I will tell you there's nothing else that can touch them for the money. I love the simplicity of my 95 na but the secret sauce in the '07 NC is what was not mentioned in this review. It shares a great deal with the RX8 of the same era. The RX8 was Mazda's Halo sports car and this car is it's relative twin. The underpinnings are almost identical right down to the suspension. The biggest difference I'd say is the engine as the RX8 is a rotary. Other than that weight and styling. Mazda did not have the money to develop a separate car during this era so it got to be a lighter weight version of its Big brother the RX8 which is actually a great thing and what makes this Miata unique in a way. All other miatas are completely different from any other model in the lineup of their time. Grab an NC while they're still inexpensive. What an incredibly overlooked car I wish I could buy every last one of them on the planet
@@hogey74 You're right.... If only I had such a garage that could fit them all. You can buy them five at a time and sell them the next week for a profit
Very good honest review. I own a 2011 kendo 2lt prht, 5 speed manual and I love it. It's a true sports car in every aspect. I will never sell it, it make me smile every time I look at it. Pure driving pleasure. John in the UK.
I own a 2011, kendo mx5 in mica black with prht, stone leather, bose stereo, 2lt manual. Its a fantastic car and i drive it every chance I get. John...
Love my 2015 NC RHT. It's perfect for the back roads around me. Small engine , light car so really a roadster not a sports car per se. And it does that job very well. Very simple to drive , not a lot of bollocks to faff with. 6 speed , 4 , simple to fix. Do your own maintenance on the hard top , lube and clean all the rubber gaskets on it. Great money to fun ratio.
Ive had an 06 for 3 years. For a car with its Ks (200,000) its been great. I bought it for $10k AUD before covid as a long term thing. I expected to spend more than that again over 5 years. After an engine and suspension I'm only half way after 3 years. There is a huge amount of knowledge and parts for these. Maintenance is often an opportunity to upgrade. This year I think I'll decide if this one becomes a track focused thing or remains my daily.
I have an old 911 that I use for track days, AutoX, and classic car tours that I love dearly. We recently moved to Vancouver Island which has great driving roads and little snow. I bought a 04 MX5 for some lousy and good weather driving. Hey the roof goes down when it is nice and it is cheap plus replaceable so you don't care if you get it wet when it is not. To make a short story long, you hit the nail on the head regarding the MX5. I am really surprised by how much I am enjoying the thing and quite frankly I don't give a shit what people think about me or the bloody car. The MX5 is just a happy, bombproof car that you have to drive to understand. You are correct, Mazda did not cheap out on the chassis, you can carry remarkable speed on winding, less that perfect roads.
If you have a 911,then you will understand & appreciate its mechanics.Being that said,I have a old Lotus & bought the MX5 as a daily.Same point holds for me.So I can relate to your view also.
I just purchased a 2008 Miata GT with the PRHT. It is amazing. 11 years old with 80,000 miles and looks almost new. Drives great. I have the automatic, but still love handling and fun open air experience.
My ND was in a collision (rear ended and totalled due to covid situation) so DMV made me get the brakes and lights signed off before I could re register it as salvage title. The mechanic that signed it off test drove it and came back smiling ear to ear going on and on like " THAT is how car should feel and drive I just love it everyhting is tight and just...right!" Which it takes driving an MX5 not just looking at the specs to really appreciate what they are
Excellent review! You guys are doing a great job covering the mechanical and reliability aspects that a lot of reviewers simply ignore. Having owned one, I completely agree that this car does feel fast without actually being very fast, but if you wanted to, it is very easy to make this car go faster and sound even better with a few simple mods. I think Mazda designed this car with that fact in mind and yes you can spend days on track in a completely stock mx-5 without worrying about reliability issues. There is even a built-in oil cooler/heat exchanger in this car. In comparison to BRZ/86, miata/mx-5 pulls faster early on because it has more low-end torque and not much weight. The torque curve is very linear and you get it all at just 5k RPM. It is subjective but I think handling is better than the twins and the short-shift gear is spot on. Any negative connotation you may have will be gone as soon you get in and drive this car with the top-down on a nice day!
I recently swapped a 2003 boxster 2.7 automatic ( before someone says a dam auto me left leg doesn’t work) for a 2011 hardtop auto and yep it’s slower than the boxster but I was always worried about mechanical problems and costs. I have had 6 Mazda 626 as they are called in the uk and they never let me down. I now drive the mx5 and never worry about mechanical problems I drive it for the fun and stress free driving. It’s what a convertible should be.
I daily a 2012 touring PRHT, its also my only car. I absolutely love it and look forward to every opportunity to drive it. The amount of cargo space is obviously lacking but you learn to be a minimalist when traveling and shopping, and on the rare chance you NEED something that wont fit you can rent a truck from home depot for $20. My only real complaint is that 3+ hour drives it can be a little a little fatiguing due to the amount of overall noise, but again those drives aren't all that frequent and a good set of ear plugs goes a long way. If you're considering a Miata for daily, this is the right one. DO IT, you'll adapt.
I'm the second owner of a 2006 NC... I've owned it for 3yrs now, and besides regular maintenance, I've had to do nothing for it...I love my NC, I've never had anyone tell me it's ugly, or uglier than the other models, and I've had many people tell me that the NC is actually their favorite of the four, and I like my simple little grill in the front MUCH more than the smile on the latter NCs... I'm 53yrs old, and this is the most fun, reliable, and FUN car I've ever owned, even my mechanic says "You got a great car" the owners that I purchased it from were in their mid 70s which means they bought it in their 50s...it's been babied, and I do the same with it out of respect for them, and, the love of the car
Thank you 100% for this video. You made me find one miata NC and after a month, I found a 2012 gt soft top. I have been in the US for 20 years and owned more than 30 different cars and SUVs. I am so happy with my mx-5. And the NC is the best. I drove an Nc and depite has less power than the latest ND, the NC beats it due to steering feel ( hydraulic) and space inside. The RF version is nice but it is not a convertible. I like the NC better with one exhaust on each side, glove box, and cup holders in the right place. Also, it has a bigger trunk. Thank you again. The NC is the best Miata ever.
3rd Miata now n owned countless sports cars as I’m 63-drove a nd via carmax n was so disappointed at feel. Owned 3 Audis in between n said heck no no mo to shop bills- bought a 1 owner garaged nc prht that was pampered. Man what a improvement over my na n nb’s
I just found after a month of searching a 2010 NC2 MX-5 GT PRHT in liquid silver metallic with just 1500 miles on the odometer. Not a typo-1500 miles on a 13 year old sports car!!! I am guessing that it was owned from new by a collector in California and in an indoor collection since it was rarely driven. I also paid a lot for that low mileage. $23,000.00. Inside it still smells like a new car since it is!
Great review! I'm a na miata and s2000 owner and I can admit that I enjoy my miata more than my s2000. Maybe it's because it can't be beat for value/fun per dollar... I encourage everyone to own a gen1 miata!!!
I sold my 2013 BRZ 6 days ago and I just bought a 2012 NC MX5 and I will pick up tomorrow. I have test drove the MX5 and from the very start I notice it is totally a different car from BRZ, the BRZ you should push it hard to get fun but the MX5 you can have fun at any speed at any time. Now I understand more why the Miata is always the answer, good car, good fun! Don't take me wrong, the BRZ is a great car as well and I love it so much. However, after own the BRZ for almost 6 years, I believe it is time to have the roof down and enjoy the wind with MX5. :)
My NC always feels zippy and quick. Much more so than the NA. Lowered it with coilovers and beefier sway bars, it is a blast. Feels like a street racer. Better exhaust helps with the sound. So much fun. All well under $10k.
That is all very true.One point worth mentioning,unless you can do the install yourself the supercharger + the install in Canada you are looking at 10 grand for the kit installed.So if a person buying a used MX5 at about 7 grand are they willing to invest anouther 10 for the upgrade????Also after you have done the job.That's not the end of it as I'm sure you know.Upgrades to follow.Coil overs,updated sways,larger wheels & tires,increased struts & sway bars.ETC,ETC.Before to long your looking at a 20 grand upgrade.Hey if they can get a full sponsorship or they work for the Mazda racing team,I don't think they have a chance.
I owned an NC for 10 years and now I’m looking at getting back into one. I only drove the ND for 2 years before my body couldn’t take the small space anymore.
Wow, I thought I was the only one who was that crazy! I had a 2012 NC GT PRHT which I loved but I traded it in for a 2016 ND when they first came out figuring it would be a more distilled MX-5 experience. Boy was I wrong! Tighter quarters, more wind noise, miserable tech, numb steering, and didn’t seem to accelerate or handle all that much better if at all, than my original NC. One day I spied a lightly used 2012 Special Edition PRHT, Pearl White on Black, sitting on a local dealers lot. Long story short, that car now has a permanent home in my garage! Gone is the ND without a second thought! My advice, forget about having the newest and (greatest?), pick yourself up an NC at a good price while you still can, and don’t worry about what you’re missing, cause it ain’t much...😎
I own 3 of them along side many other jdm cars like supra, skyline, s15, s2k and one of my favourite run around is the NC, so much fun, you can put the manual soft top down in seconds, very reliable, handles amazing, good on fuel etc. I am actually going to build one of them into a full time attack car as i think is has huge potential 😀
I drove the ND and the ND RF and don’t feel good inside. Too little space, laughable storage and dreadful multimedia make this NC my first choice. Especially the hardtop version, despite being heavier and more complicated. I like the idea of not worrying about some bloke cutting thru the roof “just for fun”. Will look for a decent one at the end of this summer season. Sold my Saab 900 Convertible recently which is a perfect excuse for buying another open-top fun car around. I only hope this one will be more reliable than Saab - which isn’t difficult ;)
I'm excited for Mazda's future, they seem to be building quite a solid lineup of vehicles. Hopefully they nail the rotary hard for the RX9 and give the FRS a run for its money.
Still one of the best NC Miata reviews, and a good part of the the reason I subscribed to savagegeese back when. I'd fav it again if I could. Oh and: I don't agree you immediately know if it'll work for you. I'm 6'0 and quite a bit over 200lbs (yeah, I know :P), and when I first sat in it, I hit the PRHT with my head and thought it wouldn't work for me. I wanted it to, tho, and I adapted-changed my position a little, and accepted I'd have to tilt my head to look at stop lights… and I love mine. I drive it about 60 miles a day, all year round (and it DOES snow quite a bit here) and it's simply a blast. The only thing I'm missing is a telescoping steering wheel-I have my arms extended a little more than I'd like and I can't heel-toe, because my right knee is trapped between the wheel and center console. But… you can make it work nevertheless, and it's just worth it.
Have you tried the height adjustment on the driver's side??I'm 6'0 & fiddled with the height & bolster adjustments & the seat travel & have no problem now.Just got back from a 3 hours drive & got out of the car without any discomfort.While before I had a Genesis & that was sore on me after One Hour!!
Miata net forum has fixes for the seat height. Think you can go down 2 inches which is a lot. They also have pedal mods to gain a bit of leg room. I’m sure there is also a steering wheel mod . If that’s possible.
I think it's fair to say that the Miata is the "bar." Every sports car has to at the minimum do what the Miata does in feel, experience, or track capability. Even the Mustang I built for SCCA CAM autox was built after what my NA Miata felt like.
I am 6'6" and somehow fit in this tiny car. Sadly that is no longer the case for the ND generation but it is a testament that they were able to fit my lanky body into this tiny 2500 lb car.
I appreciate Mark's opinion about driving the NC all year round. Living in Chicagoland with its harsh winters, I would eye a PRHT NC, and use snow tires, of course.
My only regret with my NC3 is that it's not a manual. Love the PRHT, love the exhaust note, surprisingly grew to like the look of it. I got a later gen NC3, 2015 same as the one in the video, so it's not as bubbly as the previous years but is still very Miata. Been up to VA and back from SC multiple times and have honestly enjoyed the ride. Only thing I'd really change is the rim size. Low profiles are not my bag, and I think it could probably benefit a little from the added cushion in terms of ride.
That look underneath was quite interesting! I just bought a beautiful mint NC '3rd gen LE' with low mileage after having to let go of my old beloved 1.8 NA (it had a bad rust problem that was turning into a total money pit). It feels quite different in some ways, but love it nonetheless. It lost a bit of the pure simplicity of the NA (which I loved), but there's a lot to be said for the added creature comforts that the NC offers (since it's my daily driver). Most importantly, it's still just as much fun to hammer it through the corners: that playful yet unassuming 'miata magic' is still very much there. In some ways, even more so than the NA. Anyway, I really dig your channel. It's a great format: It's honest and down-to-earth, and has great insight and lots of wit.
I have a 2014 Miata, I drive it around down to 25F with the top down. I dress in a 1930s flying helmet and black patent leather gauntlet gloves. I look like I just came from a WW1 fighter plane. This is fun.
Thanks for an informative unbiased review. I just drove this car and was surprised by the "fun" factor it delivered. Sadly, the hardtop is not available on the 2016. I've never owned a Mazda but having just relocated from NYC to South Carolina it might be a good choice, especially for the money. Keep up the good work!
Might I suggest the 2015 MX5-GT with hard top.A much better car than the 2016 without the hard top you talking about.167 hp.0-60 in 6.7 sec.More cargo space,more cup holder,Bilstien shocks,leather,Bose stereo 6cd player,Sirus etc,etc.Loaded & cheaper to buy by about 6 grand.It's a win,win!!Even has Bluetooth.
Try the 3rd gen 2011 MX5 GT hardtop or any of that model up to 2015 when it was replaced with the 4th Generation it's great. I live in Huron County in South Western Ontario,it's great "IN the Snow Belt"here!!Now equipped this way is a true 4 season car.
@@verdict4me Hi, if you don't mind I have a couple of questions. Do you feel safe driving a car this small in the winter on the highway? How do you find the visibility, and how do you find the noise level with the hard top? I'm in Toronto and thinking of one of these. Thanks.
patrick gleeson Hi, im just going to answer that, I have a 2013 Softtop that Ive been driving all year for two years now. I’m also from Germany. I do feel safe driving it on the highway (or Autobahn, whatever you like), but I would recommend to always turn your headlights on, even during the day, I’ve had a few situations where people didn’t see me coming when I had them off. The car is silver too, so that obviously doesn’t help either. The visibility is very good, I have a removable Hardtop on the car, which makes the rear window span across the entire width of the Hardtop in the back, which helps it even more. Now, the power retractable hardtop is the loudest of the bunch. Going 120 km/h or 60 mph is still fine, although much louder than a non convertible, anything over does get fairly loud. The Softtop is a little quieter, with the removable Hardtop, it’s much better. If you want the PRHT and the open top experience, go for it, but it does get loud at higher speeds, otherwise I would recommend buying a Softtop and getting a removable Hardtop for it, although they are, at least in Germany, very rare and therefore cost more than 1000$ second hand. But again, you will have to take the top of by hand and leave it at home if you want to drive topless
A lot of guys are ripping out the base engine and shoehorning in a Corvette LS3 engine into that little car. I think that's a pretty good idea. Buy an older used car with a messed up engine, and insert a new engine / transmission / driveline, cooling system, computer control system, etc. into it.
Honesty Counts I'm thinking of doing that with an NC hard top and installing a 3L V6 with a roll bar....I'm in Montreal and only want a car for fun. Gotta go check the size for me next.
You've got to hold the disable traction control button down for 5 seconds in the NC to get the second yellow light in your display. Then it's really off.
You mention that the only real competitor was the S2000, but (at least where I'm coming from) that's not totally true. The S2000 was more trying to compete with the Boxster considering its price. I think the Barchetta and (to a lesser extent) the MR2 were more competing with the MX5. The MX5 won, probably because it just got the balance of things just right. That said, please do a Fiat/Abarth 124 review! I'd love to hear from you how it stacks up against the ND.
You may be unaware that both the 124 & the 4th Generation MX5 are manufactured by Mazda.Tip look on the drivers door label & under hood electronics label both carry the Mazda Logo.Why?Because they both come from the very same plant.Just you pay more for the 124 because it says FIAT!!The main difference is the Mazda weighs about 450 pounds less so the higher claimed horse power plays little in performance results because the weight gain in the 124 counterates it!!
Early Miatas are well advertised copies of a Lotus Elan. Lotus in the 60s-70s did not have a lot of money to develop the Elan. They used pieces from other manufacturers like Ford and even sold unfinished cars as kits so customers could pay less for them. Mazda went a more ‘pure’ route for the NA/NB and the newer ND car; many would argue that these are better cars than the Elan. However, the NC Miata stays truest to the original Lotus Elan formula, a testament of what can be done when the Engineers are confined to a parts bin but not limited by ingenuity.
You really scared me on this as I DON’T want a direct injection engine due to carbon issues. I did some research. You correct it has the MZR engine but it is the MZR LF-VE version. The E stands for EFI. A direct injection model was also made but it would MZR LF-VD. Information from en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_L_engine#2.0_L_(LF-DE,_LF-VE,_LF-VD) And www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/2009064/Re:_More_information_about_the Keys points from 2nd link "MZR" is just a brand name, just like 'Duratec' (and EcoBoost for that matter). It means nothing. The Mazda L-engine is the engine family in question, and is all 100% Mazda engineering. The L-engine, is part of the MZR series (which is a brand name for a generation of engines, including the smaller Z-engines as well). The L-engines range in size from 1.8L to 2.5L. Quick primer on understanding engine codes (useful for the rest of the post): As mentioned before, MZR and Duratec are brand names, for a generation of engines. They in no way specify an engine, or even an engine family. The 1.8L to 2.5L MZR's we know so much are of the L-family of engines. L8 is the 1.8L engine code. "P" and "8" have always been used to represent an "8" in a Mazda 1.8L engine ie. (BP 1.8L, F8 1.8L, FP 1.8L, K8 1.8L V6). LF is the 2.0L engine code. L is a family letter, and F is the displacement varient. F in this case is in reference to the 2.0L FE, which this engine was designed off of. 2.0L (E also used to represent an even liter displacement ie. JE for 3.0L J-family V6, no longer used). L3 is the 2.3L engine code. 3 and J have been used to represent x.3L engines (ie. KJ 2.3L V6, B3 1.3L etc) L5 is the 2.5L engine code. 5 and L have been used to represent x.5L engines (ie. J5 2.5L V6, KL 2.5L V6) The suffix describes the engine configuration/features L3-DE would be the 2.3L as used in the Ford Ranger. L3-VDT would be the 2.3L DISI turbo The first suffix position may be either: D= Domestic DOHC or Z= High Tuned DOHC V= VVT DOHC or C= Common Rail Diesel Second place suffix position may be either: E=EFI D=Direct Injection Third place suffix position is optional: T= turbo M= Miller Cycle
I can't stop thinking about Jim Dangle from Reno 911 with his short shorts police uniform jumping out of his Miata up in the air with his loose white leather boots and that look on his face with the aviators and mustache and can't get it out of my head.
How is the sound “artificial”? It’s a sound tube that connects directly to the air intake. It’s a honk box. I think artificial is when the engine noise is pimped in through the stereo. Now that is “artificial.”
I don't hear that "growl" in my 2015 MX-5 as I did in my 2000! One thing though, living in the south, you have to be very careful when hauling a$$ any time of day/night....because of the wildlife. It's nothing to have a couple deer hopping over you! And yes...I do believe it is a CHICK car. My brother owns an automotive repair shop. None of his employees (dudes) wanted to service test my 2000 Miata when I brought it in. LOL. Yet, my neighbor is completely refurbishing his 1980 something Miata. He loves it!
Picked up a 2015 NC3 club hardtop white on black, 4 months ago, awesome car, just slow, but ya definitely can beat the crap out it, got the extended engine warranty 🤓🤪😜
For those watching this... the comments about being outdated, which of course it will be - 2006 design... the real trick nowadays is VALUE. Maybe in 2015 paying 30K for something like this made anyone pause for a bit, but at prices today... a fantastic choice.
Just got a 2011 MX5-GT with the hard top & payed far less than half of a 2019!Drove the 2019 couple months back.Not impressed with the 2019.But love my 2011.Also got 4 year warranty + winter & summer tires & 2 sets rims!!Love it.I say why pay 20 Grand + more for a car that doesn't Look or feel special anyway!!PS:- my 2011 has super low mileage to boot!
Your first comment is so true- I'm 6'3" and even with the seat all the way back & down, my eye-line is smack-bang with the top of the window. I literally don't fit into the car :/ I'm guessing the next generation will probably be the same- made for little Japanese guys and 5 yr old girls.
i watched this video for the first time right AFTER the NC Miata series video, and it turns out, the first video i watch is just a refried bean burrito from this one... I am totally not complaining. I still love the two videos, but i feel like i initially watched something brand new as opposed to something released 5 years ago ! It's evidence that your videos are Timeless.
Will be seriously looking at the next gen MX-5. Think there's gonna be a 1.5 L and 2.0 L option, and the car is gonna be 100kg lighter than this current gen model. Looks amazing, and if they keep up the level of thought and engineering, should be an awesome combo.
Wanted a Miata and looked at many, most of them on-line. Paid too much for a 2006. But it met all of my items on my checklist and I had the cash so I did the deal. I wish somebody hadn't put a dent in the front fender after I bought it. I wish it shifted into 2nd from 1st easier. I wish I could get the drain tubes opened back up. But it is not for sale or trade. My wife wouldn't let me even if I wanted to. LOL
I have an ND and honestly, this car has almost ruined other cars for me in just how light it is. Almost everything feels heavier than it by comparison, especially when you cross the 3000lb mark. I guess it's kinda like how driving a high horsepower car ruins slower cars for some people, the Miata has ruined a lot of heavier cars for me.
Mx5 is a platform more than just a car. With modifications it's potential is unlimited. And you don't need to sell your soul to afford it either. I always think about selling mine and then realized I don't need to bc I'd probably just end up buying another one lmao
I am so excited for the next generation of the MX5. I have been thinking about test driving one when they are released. At this point in time though with this 3rd gen, I don't know who any one could justify purchasing one. They can nearly cost 30k, and its simply to basic for 30k.
I just bought a topped out 2015 mx5 grand touring with all the bells and whistles with the prht when I came home from Afghanistan. I got them to throw in an exhaust and an intake and drove it home for 26k what else is as fun and as pure of a drivers car for that kind of money. Get one now because they are making room for the next gen. Brand new, reliable, highly moddable ( is that a word ? lol) open top, rear wheel drive, downright good looking car...what else gives you all that for that price?
I have an nc1, 6 speed, lsd, strut tower brace, etc. I think the steering feel is excellent and question whether I would be equally satisfied with the steering feel in the ND. Any views from others on the comparative steering feel of the NC vs. ND would be appreciated.
Hey savage...awesome review...I'm thinking of getting either the 2015 MX 5 NC or the 2016 MX 5 ND. I can't seem to make up my mind...this will be my daily driver and I do live in a cold country but I don't care lol. Anyhow I know I'm late on this but hoping I get a response...the only reason I would consider the MX 5 NC is because of the hardtop and extra storage. Is that enough to justify why I should choose the 2015 NC HT over the 2016 ND ST. It's late 2018 so prices are much lower for both.
I'll be totally honest if you can get that NC Miata for cheap I love the motor and Trans on it. But the ND Miata is far superior motor aside. Maybe hold on to the NC for a few years and wait till you can get a 2019 ND Miata for cheap.
I agree with savagegeese . My 2010 phrt was my daily for 2 years and did fine. I bought a new accord manual for daily now. I was leaving for work in the dark and driving home in the dark and wanted much better headlights. The only other issue was during the rainy season and hitting deep water on the road was a bit scary in the little car in the dark.
Just wanted to give an update! I bought a 2014 MX 5 NC!! Super happy! Kept my old lancer and fixed it up for the winter! Totally agree on driving it during bad weather conditions so I don't want to take that risk. Anyways happy driving! 👍🏼
Miata NC owner here.
Do not listen to the haters. This is an absolutely amazing Miata - better than the 1st and 2nd gen from an objective standpoint, really. Also: I'm 6'3.5", and I fit in the stock seats, comfortably!
"IT'S SO BOATY!" Then put in some sway bars for 300 bucks, problem solved.
I love that you put the car up and look at how its built - no one else does that.
Engineering Explained check out his channel
The 5 link suspension in the rear allows for toe-out under roll/compression for better rotation.
m.th-cam.com/video/bslB_4JIKs0/w-d-xo.html
I agree kirk brocas
I actually use the underside to compare vs my car to see if I'm missing anything.
Watching these older episodes makes me realize how much I miss Turbowski.
"Zoom zoom, brah" 😆Legend
Stigma comes from people that haven't driven one. As soon as I got out of the car on a fun run at autocross in a 1st gen model, I instantly "got" what a miata was about.
Majority can't afford a roadster as a second motor. LOL
I own a 2010 MX-5 5spd and LOVE it. The more I drive it and the more I drive other cars, the more I find out just how much better the Miata is from the rest. It's an $18,000 car that has anti-reflective coatings on the gauges for goodness sake. If I'm able to, I'm keeping this car for the rest of my life. It's that special to me.
I have a 2011 MX-5-GT 6spd & I hear where you're coming from,ditto.
3rd that. 2010 phrt.think about a new rf but I’m not sure.
@@gregblack8550 4th that also 2010 PRHT manual and so many upgrades, its spiritual to me.
have you still got the NC?
This is also how i feel. I have nb, after that ill get nc and then nd
gotta love the way you ask Turbowski questions. It's like a father asking his really young son questions in front of a bunch of people at a party
Haha that's an awesome analogy.
That's what I think when I watch them
Hahaha
I was just at a mazda dealer where they had a 2015 and 2016 on the lot. Drove both, chose the 2015 due to the lesser price point of $5k less, and the classic look of it. Yea, lack of bells and whistles and tech but feels more like the old roadsters I drove in my 20's. The new Miata did not do it for me style wise. This one was perfect, and I saved quite a bit of cash. GREAT car.
+Steve Huff Yes hard to argue namely with a huge discount
Steve Huff but the NC is heavier , to me a Miata is supposed to be super lightweight
The NC is only 115 pounds heavier than the ND. You'd add more weight than that with just another person sitting in the passenger seat.
Did the non-existent ghost tell you to get a Miata after also telling you to shill the camera of the week and take crappy pics?
Steve Huff I'm in the same position... and I fit better in the NC3 at 6'2"... I like the Hydraulic steering better too
One of the better MX-5 reviews I have seen. This car truly is a gem once you get past the "stigma". I bought my 2015 MX5 as a second car, and for the money, I'm not sure there is a better car to have as a weekend/toy car. Not sure I could deal with its small quirks and lack of technology as a daily driver though. This car is truly fun to drive and is as close to a four wheel motorcycle as you can find out there.
Great reply thank you.
"Stigma" is most often caused by jealousy - you can have more "fun" in an MX5 than you can in ANY other car in ANY price bracket and more safely too.
Love your commentary, it’s uncensored, it’s open, it’s not politically correct, and you’re honest. Keep up the good work !
You have some of the best car reviews out there. I hope your channel continues to grow as it deserves to.
Thank you, hopefully it continues to grow.
It will be big. All my car buddies agree when I tell them about his reviews and other content.A labor of love for sure.
@@savagegeese this comment aged pretty well I’d say
@@kylesmith7755 crazy that was 6 years ago.
I had the MX5 NC1 with manual transmission and NC2 with automatic transmission and Recaro seats.
They both are great. Love this little roadster so much.
I'd recommend anyone interested in purchasing a used Miata to look seriously at the NC generation featured in this video. I live in Philadelphia, and I daily my 2013 Club hard top. I'm also 6'1" tall, and most likely wouldn't fit in the new generation (or the first gen, for that matter). I'm surprised to not hear about the FOUR cup holders in this car though. Seriously, it has FOUR cup holders for two passengers. You can probably pick up a gently used MX-5 NC Club for ~20K USD these days. It has a shock tower brace in the engine bay, bigger (more attractive) rims, better tires, Billstein shocks, and a limited slip differential. That said, buy the MANUAL. Not only would an automatic go against the spirit of the car, but Mazda actually tuned away TEN horsepower for the automatic transmission.
+killerskillet lets not forget the 5-lug hubs instead of the 4 on every other generation :D
I've been trying so hard not to pick up an NC Club PRHT. There are a few around here for high teens-low 20s that have less than 4k miles on the clock -- one is barely past break-in mileage...
I went around for no less than a year and a half test driving everything in the price range (350Z, Mustang, BRS/FRS, Boxsters, even a used 911). It was only when I found glaring flaws in these other options that I considered the option of a late model Miata, and I'm glad I did. As always, this depends on you, the driver. No car is perfect, so drive anything and everything you can. My only regret was that I never tested a Lotus Elise.
I love this car. I have a few cars and when I ordered my new 911 I sold my 2011 M3 rather than give up this car. It's a blast to drive. I like it better than the new generation.
@Gertg Derften Again, you're giving up ten horsepower on an already under-powered vehicle. "Manual mode" isn't manual. You're still trying to will an automatic transmission into something it isn't, and never will be. And hey, great! I'm not knocking anybody for buying any Miata, ever. You are sacrificing performance for comfort, though.
This channel has evolved so much over 9 years
who's watching this in 2022, we miss you Scott! the show is just not the same without you...
any idea why Scott is not in the episodes anymore?
I have owned four NC's and still have two of them. They are the best of the four generations, because they are larger and still fun to drive. I drove two of them coast to coast and had no problems. Zoom Zoom!
P.S. The cars that were stopped the most when I drove across the U.S. were the Mustangs.
billnseattle Bill "stopped" as in F.O.R.D?
You consider this better than the ND as well? I would love to hear your opinion, even though I know I'm 2 years late.
@@alansmilealot NC accommodates larger people and revs more freely. Keep in mind his comments were before the 2019 engine tweaks. Also, it is a convertible with a hard top, better than an RF in my opinion. I can see the NC being more preferable for some.
Hi, do you think a 6"3-6"4 guy (192 cm) can fit into the NC? Would like to buy one and the ND was a bit too tight, especially with the top up.
For you Miata owners there's a destination run out there for you. I went from Sioux Falls SD to Rapid City. The posted speed is 80 mph, I covered the distance in 4 hours, nothing passed me. Just West of the Missouri river is the 'Missouri Breaks', a series of hills 100 feet high, as you go up the first one, 80 mph, it feels like your going to keep gong up when you get to the top. At the top your weightless then down the other side, your eating up the pavement so fast it seems like the lane ahead is too small for the car. This goes on for a series of hills.
Old Wisdom thanks for sharing this! I am always looking for exciting curvy roads here in the US.
Bought my Nc 4 months ago and I love it !!
As an owner of a 95 and an o 07 MX5, I will tell you there's nothing else that can touch them for the money. I love the simplicity of my 95 na but the secret sauce in the '07 NC is what was not mentioned in this review. It shares a great deal with the RX8 of the same era. The RX8 was Mazda's Halo sports car and this car is it's relative twin. The underpinnings are almost identical right down to the suspension. The biggest difference I'd say is the engine as the RX8 is a rotary. Other than that weight and styling. Mazda did not have the money to develop a separate car during this era so it got to be a lighter weight version of its Big brother the RX8 which is actually a great thing and what makes this Miata unique in a way. All other miatas are completely different from any other model in the lineup of their time. Grab an NC while they're still inexpensive. What an incredibly overlooked car I wish I could buy every last one of them on the planet
Shhhh. My cunning plan is to buy up a warehouse full of them. And then... profit?
@@hogey74
You're right....
If only I had such a garage that could fit them all. You can buy them five at a time and sell them the next week for a profit
Very good honest review. I own a 2011 kendo 2lt prht, 5 speed manual and I love it. It's a true sports car in every aspect. I will never sell it, it make me smile every time I look at it. Pure driving pleasure. John in the UK.
I own a 2011, kendo mx5 in mica black with prht, stone leather, bose stereo, 2lt manual. Its a fantastic car and i drive it every chance I get. John...
Turbowski is hilarious in an understated kind of way.
***** so right. dude had me cracking up
There's a word for it: cool.
I think he secretly likes the NC Miata.
Love my 2015 NC RHT. It's perfect for the back roads around me. Small engine , light car so really a roadster not a sports car per se. And it does that job very well. Very simple to drive , not a lot of bollocks to faff with. 6 speed , 4 , simple to fix. Do your own maintenance on the hard top , lube and clean all the rubber gaskets on it. Great money to fun ratio.
Ive had an 06 for 3 years. For a car with its Ks (200,000) its been great. I bought it for $10k AUD before covid as a long term thing. I expected to spend more than that again over 5 years. After an engine and suspension I'm only half way after 3 years. There is a huge amount of knowledge and parts for these. Maintenance is often an opportunity to upgrade. This year I think I'll decide if this one becomes a track focused thing or remains my daily.
I have an old 911 that I use for track days, AutoX, and classic car tours that I love dearly. We recently moved to Vancouver Island which has great driving roads and little snow. I bought a 04 MX5 for some lousy and good weather driving. Hey the roof goes down when it is nice and it is cheap plus replaceable so you don't care if you get it wet when it is not.
To make a short story long, you hit the nail on the head regarding the MX5. I am really surprised by how much I am enjoying the thing and quite frankly I don't give a shit what people think about me or the bloody car. The MX5 is just a happy, bombproof car that you have to drive to understand. You are correct, Mazda did not cheap out on the chassis, you can carry remarkable speed on winding, less that perfect roads.
If you have a 911,then you will understand & appreciate its mechanics.Being that said,I have a old Lotus & bought the MX5 as a daily.Same point holds for me.So I can relate to your view also.
Hats off . I appreciate that coming from a 911 owner.
I just purchased a 2008 Miata GT with the PRHT. It is amazing. 11 years old with 80,000 miles and looks almost new. Drives great. I have the automatic, but still love handling and fun open air experience.
You go home.
@@viralone6010What if it's a manual?
My ND was in a collision (rear ended and totalled due to covid situation) so DMV made me get the brakes and lights signed off before I could re register it as salvage title. The mechanic that signed it off test drove it and came back smiling ear to ear going on and on like " THAT is how car should feel and drive I just love it everyhting is tight and just...right!" Which it takes driving an MX5 not just looking at the specs to really appreciate what they are
Zoom zoom bruh
Ring ding ding
DLLO Eiv you mirin bruh, yeah you mirin !!!
We’re senior citizens and we been driving the dog shit out of our 2014 Mazda CX5 for the last 3 years. No problems whatsoever! Zoom Zoom.
I read this exactly when he said that hahaha
Excellent review! You guys are doing a great job covering the mechanical and reliability aspects that a lot of reviewers simply ignore. Having owned one, I completely agree that this car does feel fast without actually being very fast, but if you wanted to, it is very easy to make this car go faster and sound even better with a few simple mods. I think Mazda designed this car with that fact in mind and yes you can spend days on track in a completely stock mx-5 without worrying about reliability issues. There is even a built-in oil cooler/heat exchanger in this car. In comparison to BRZ/86, miata/mx-5 pulls faster early on because it has more low-end torque and not much weight. The torque curve is very linear and you get it all at just 5k RPM. It is subjective but I think handling is better than the twins and the short-shift gear is spot on. Any negative connotation you may have will be gone as soon you get in and drive this car with the top-down on a nice day!
I miss Scott, hope he is doing well :)
I recently swapped a 2003 boxster 2.7 automatic ( before someone says a dam auto me left leg doesn’t work) for a 2011 hardtop auto and yep it’s slower than the boxster but I was always worried about mechanical problems and costs. I have had 6 Mazda 626 as they are called in the uk and they never let me down. I now drive the mx5 and never worry about mechanical problems I drive it for the fun and stress free driving. It’s what a convertible should be.
I love seeing reviews of the Miata when someone "gets it".
"They should dump exhaust in the cockpit" - Turbowski, Master mechanic, Humanitarian.
I daily a 2012 touring PRHT, its also my only car. I absolutely love it and look forward to every opportunity to drive it. The amount of cargo space is obviously lacking but you learn to be a minimalist when traveling and shopping, and on the rare chance you NEED something that wont fit you can rent a truck from home depot for $20. My only real complaint is that 3+ hour drives it can be a little a little fatiguing due to the amount of overall noise, but again those drives aren't all that frequent and a good set of ear plugs goes a long way. If you're considering a Miata for daily, this is the right one. DO IT, you'll adapt.
I'm the second owner of a 2006 NC... I've owned it for 3yrs now, and besides regular maintenance, I've had to do nothing for it...I love my NC, I've never had anyone tell me it's ugly, or uglier than the other models, and I've had many people tell me that the NC is actually their favorite of the four, and I like my simple little grill in the front MUCH more than the smile on the latter NCs... I'm 53yrs old, and this is the most fun, reliable, and FUN car I've ever owned, even my mechanic says "You got a great car" the owners that I purchased it from were in their mid 70s which means they bought it in their 50s...it's been babied, and I do the same with it out of respect for them, and, the love of the car
It is Insane how much your video quality improved over the years!
Thank you 100% for this video. You made me find one miata NC and after a month, I found a 2012 gt soft top. I have been in the US for 20 years and owned more than 30 different cars and SUVs. I am so happy with my mx-5. And the NC is the best. I drove an Nc and depite has less power than the latest ND, the NC beats it due to steering feel ( hydraulic) and space inside. The RF version is nice but it is not a convertible. I like the NC better with one exhaust on each side, glove box, and cup holders in the right place. Also, it has a bigger trunk. Thank you again. The NC is the best Miata ever.
3rd Miata now n owned countless sports cars as I’m 63-drove a nd via carmax n was so disappointed at feel.
Owned 3 Audis in between n said heck no no mo to shop bills- bought a 1 owner garaged nc prht that was pampered.
Man what a improvement over my na n nb’s
I just found after a month of searching a 2010 NC2 MX-5 GT PRHT in liquid silver metallic with just 1500 miles on the odometer. Not a typo-1500 miles on a 13 year old sports car!!! I am guessing that it was owned from new by a collector in California and in an indoor collection since it was rarely driven. I also paid a lot for that low mileage. $23,000.00. Inside it still smells like a new car since it is!
Great review! I'm a na miata and s2000 owner and I can admit that I enjoy my miata more than my s2000. Maybe it's because it can't be beat for value/fun per dollar... I encourage everyone to own a gen1 miata!!!
7.5yr old vid and i'm totally there! thanks for the effort and sharing. i am long-time appreciative subscriber. thumbs up.
I sold my 2013 BRZ 6 days ago and I just bought a 2012 NC MX5 and I will pick up tomorrow. I have test drove the MX5 and from the very start I notice it is totally a different car from BRZ, the BRZ you should push it hard to get fun but the MX5 you can have fun at any speed at any time. Now I understand more why the Miata is always the answer, good car, good fun! Don't take me wrong, the BRZ is a great car as well and I love it so much. However, after own the BRZ for almost 6 years, I believe it is time to have the roof down and enjoy the wind with MX5. :)
My NC always feels zippy and quick. Much more so than the NA. Lowered it with coilovers and beefier sway bars, it is a blast. Feels like a street racer. Better exhaust helps with the sound. So much fun. All well under $10k.
Get a used 2006 miata, put a flyin miata supercharger on it and you are good for like 250whp. All for under 20k.
That is all very true.One point worth mentioning,unless you can do the install yourself the supercharger + the install in Canada you are looking at 10 grand for the kit installed.So if a person buying a used MX5 at about 7 grand are they willing to invest anouther 10 for the upgrade????Also after you have done the job.That's not the end of it as I'm sure you know.Upgrades to follow.Coil overs,updated sways,larger wheels & tires,increased struts & sway bars.ETC,ETC.Before to long your looking at a 20 grand upgrade.Hey if they can get a full sponsorship or they work for the Mazda racing team,I don't think they have a chance.
If I was going supercharger I would go 2009 and up for the bit stronger lower end.
I owned an NC for 10 years and now I’m looking at getting back into one. I only drove the ND for 2 years before my body couldn’t take the small space anymore.
Wow, I thought I was the only one who was that crazy! I had a 2012 NC GT PRHT which I loved but I traded it in for a 2016 ND when they first came out figuring it would be a more distilled MX-5 experience. Boy was I wrong! Tighter quarters, more wind noise, miserable tech, numb steering, and didn’t seem to accelerate or handle all that much better if at all, than my original NC. One day I spied a lightly used 2012 Special Edition PRHT, Pearl White on Black, sitting on a local dealers lot. Long story short, that car now has a permanent home in my garage! Gone is the ND without a second thought! My advice, forget about having the newest and (greatest?), pick yourself up an NC at a good price while you still can, and don’t worry about what you’re missing, cause it ain’t much...😎
@@gwingrider07 I feel you 👍. I've had my NC1 for 8 years now and guess what! ... I'll keep it instead of buying an ND ...
I own 3 of them along side many other jdm cars like supra, skyline, s15, s2k and one of my favourite run around is the NC, so much fun, you can put the manual soft top down in seconds, very reliable, handles amazing, good on fuel etc. I am actually going to build one of them into a full time attack car as i think is has huge potential 😀
I drove the ND and the ND RF and don’t feel good inside. Too little space, laughable storage and dreadful multimedia make this NC my first choice. Especially the hardtop version, despite being heavier and more complicated. I like the idea of not worrying about some bloke cutting thru the roof “just for fun”. Will look for a decent one at the end of this summer season.
Sold my Saab 900 Convertible recently which is a perfect excuse for buying another open-top fun car around. I only hope this one will be more reliable than Saab - which isn’t difficult ;)
I'm excited for Mazda's future, they seem to be building quite a solid lineup of vehicles.
Hopefully they nail the rotary hard for the RX9 and give the FRS a run for its money.
Still one of the best NC Miata reviews, and a good part of the the reason I subscribed to savagegeese back when. I'd fav it again if I could.
Oh and: I don't agree you immediately know if it'll work for you. I'm 6'0 and quite a bit over 200lbs (yeah, I know :P), and when I first sat in it, I hit the PRHT with my head and thought it wouldn't work for me.
I wanted it to, tho, and I adapted-changed my position a little, and accepted I'd have to tilt my head to look at stop lights… and I love mine. I drive it about 60 miles a day, all year round (and it DOES snow quite a bit here) and it's simply a blast.
The only thing I'm missing is a telescoping steering wheel-I have my arms extended a little more than I'd like and I can't heel-toe, because my right knee is trapped between the wheel and center console. But… you can make it work nevertheless, and it's just worth it.
Have you tried the height adjustment on the driver's side??I'm 6'0 & fiddled with the height & bolster adjustments & the seat travel & have no problem now.Just got back from a 3 hours drive & got out of the car without any discomfort.While before I had a Genesis & that was sore on me after One Hour!!
Miata net forum has fixes for the seat height. Think you can go down 2 inches which is a lot. They also have pedal mods to gain a bit of leg room. I’m sure there is also a steering wheel mod . If that’s possible.
I think it's fair to say that the Miata is the "bar." Every sports car has to at the minimum do what the Miata does in feel, experience, or track capability. Even the Mustang I built for SCCA CAM autox was built after what my NA Miata felt like.
I am 6'6" and somehow fit in this tiny car. Sadly that is no longer the case for the ND generation but it is a testament that they were able to fit my lanky body into this tiny 2500 lb car.
I appreciate Mark's opinion about driving the NC all year round. Living in Chicagoland with its harsh winters, I would eye a PRHT NC, and use snow tires, of course.
My only regret with my NC3 is that it's not a manual. Love the PRHT, love the exhaust note, surprisingly grew to like the look of it. I got a later gen NC3, 2015 same as the one in the video, so it's not as bubbly as the previous years but is still very Miata. Been up to VA and back from SC multiple times and have honestly enjoyed the ride. Only thing I'd really change is the rim size. Low profiles are not my bag, and I think it could probably benefit a little from the added cushion in terms of ride.
That look underneath was quite interesting!
I just bought a beautiful mint NC '3rd gen LE' with low mileage after having to let go of my old beloved 1.8 NA (it had a bad rust problem that was turning into a total money pit).
It feels quite different in some ways, but love it nonetheless.
It lost a bit of the pure simplicity of the NA (which I loved), but there's a lot to be said for the added creature comforts that the NC offers (since it's my daily driver).
Most importantly, it's still just as much fun to hammer it through the corners: that playful yet unassuming 'miata magic' is still very much there. In some ways, even more so than the NA.
Anyway, I really dig your channel. It's a great format: It's honest and down-to-earth, and has great insight and lots of wit.
Guys...you are the best TH-cam revieewrs Ever! Good Job!!!
I have a 2014 Miata, I drive it around down to 25F with the top down. I dress in a 1930s flying helmet and black patent leather gauntlet gloves. I look like I just came from a WW1 fighter plane. This is fun.
Thanks for an informative unbiased review. I just drove this car and was surprised by the "fun" factor it delivered. Sadly, the hardtop is not available on the 2016. I've never owned a Mazda but having just relocated from NYC to South Carolina it might be a good choice, especially for the money. Keep up the good work!
Might I suggest the 2015 MX5-GT with hard top.A much better car than the 2016 without the hard top you talking about.167 hp.0-60 in 6.7 sec.More cargo space,more cup holder,Bilstien shocks,leather,Bose stereo 6cd player,Sirus etc,etc.Loaded & cheaper to buy by about 6 grand.It's a win,win!!Even has Bluetooth.
Back when Turbowski was a consistent contributor to the show! :-)
i used my soft top 2013 MX-5 in the Montreal,Qc winter and it was one of the best winter car i used hehe !
Try the 3rd gen 2011 MX5 GT hardtop or any of that model up to 2015 when it was replaced with the 4th Generation it's great. I live in Huron County in South Western Ontario,it's great "IN the Snow Belt"here!!Now equipped this way is a true 4 season car.
@@verdict4me Hi, if you don't mind I have a couple of questions. Do you feel safe driving a car this small in the winter on the highway? How do you find the visibility, and how do you find the noise level with the hard top? I'm in Toronto and thinking of one of these. Thanks.
patrick gleeson Hi, im just going to answer that, I have a 2013 Softtop that Ive been driving all year for two years now. I’m also from Germany.
I do feel safe driving it on the highway (or Autobahn, whatever you like), but I would recommend to always turn your headlights on, even during the day, I’ve had a few situations where people didn’t see me coming when I had them off. The car is silver too, so that obviously doesn’t help either.
The visibility is very good, I have a removable Hardtop on the car, which makes the rear window span across the entire width of the Hardtop in the back, which helps it even more. Now, the power retractable hardtop is the loudest of the bunch. Going 120 km/h or 60 mph is still fine, although much louder than a non convertible, anything over does get fairly loud. The Softtop is a little quieter, with the removable Hardtop, it’s much better. If you want the PRHT and the open top experience, go for it, but it does get loud at higher speeds, otherwise I would recommend buying a Softtop and getting a removable Hardtop for it, although they are, at least in Germany, very rare and therefore cost more than 1000$ second hand. But again, you will have to take the top of by hand and leave it at home if you want to drive topless
burgholte Thank you for that information. I never considered a removable hard top. Maybe that is the way to go.
Turbowski got a chuckle out of the phrase "aural feedback" @9:13
Great sound to the engine.. That makes a huge difference in experience
A lot of guys are ripping out the base engine and shoehorning in a Corvette LS3 engine into that little car. I think that's a pretty good idea. Buy an older used car with a messed up engine, and insert a new engine / transmission / driveline, cooling system, computer control system, etc. into it.
Honesty Counts I'm thinking of doing that with an NC hard top and installing a 3L V6 with a roll bar....I'm in Montreal and only want a car for fun. Gotta go check the size for me next.
Way more expensive than you would think. You can buy a used z06 for the same total money. I wanted to do this but does not make sense to me,
You've got to hold the disable traction control button down for 5 seconds in the NC to get the second yellow light in your display. Then it's really off.
Thanks for the under carriage view
David Yeo TWSS
Great, honest assessment doing this car the justice it deserves.
You mention that the only real competitor was the S2000, but (at least where I'm coming from) that's not totally true.
The S2000 was more trying to compete with the Boxster considering its price. I think the Barchetta and (to a lesser extent) the MR2 were more competing with the MX5.
The MX5 won, probably because it just got the balance of things just right.
That said, please do a Fiat/Abarth 124 review! I'd love to hear from you how it stacks up against the ND.
You may be unaware that both the 124 & the 4th Generation MX5 are manufactured by Mazda.Tip look on the drivers door label & under hood electronics label both carry the Mazda Logo.Why?Because they both come from the very same plant.Just you pay more for the 124 because it says FIAT!!The main difference is the Mazda weighs about 450 pounds less so the higher claimed horse power plays little in performance results because the weight gain in the 124 counterates it!!
Early Miatas are well advertised copies of a Lotus Elan. Lotus in the
60s-70s did not have a lot of money to develop the Elan. They used
pieces from other manufacturers like Ford and even sold unfinished cars as
kits so customers could pay less for them. Mazda went a more ‘pure’
route for the NA/NB and the newer ND car; many would argue that these
are better cars than the Elan. However, the NC Miata
stays truest to the original Lotus Elan formula, a testament of what can be
done when the Engineers are confined to a parts bin but not limited by
ingenuity.
Sweet 1st gen 4runner in the background in the shop
Just going to point out, the NC have the MZR engine. Which is direct injected.
You really scared me on this as I DON’T want a direct injection engine due to carbon issues. I did some research. You correct it has the MZR engine but it is the MZR LF-VE version. The E stands for EFI. A direct injection model was also made but it would MZR LF-VD. Information from
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_L_engine#2.0_L_(LF-DE,_LF-VE,_LF-VD)
And
www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/2009064/Re:_More_information_about_the
Keys points from 2nd link
"MZR" is just a brand name, just like 'Duratec' (and EcoBoost for that matter). It means nothing. The Mazda L-engine is the engine family in question, and is all 100% Mazda engineering. The L-engine, is part of the MZR series (which is a brand name for a generation of engines, including the smaller Z-engines as well). The L-engines range in size from 1.8L to 2.5L.
Quick primer on understanding engine codes (useful for the rest of the post):
As mentioned before, MZR and Duratec are brand names, for a generation of engines. They in no way specify an engine, or even an engine family. The 1.8L to 2.5L MZR's we know so much are of the L-family of engines.
L8 is the 1.8L engine code. "P" and "8" have always been used to represent an "8" in a Mazda 1.8L engine ie. (BP 1.8L, F8 1.8L, FP 1.8L, K8 1.8L V6).
LF is the 2.0L engine code. L is a family letter, and F is the displacement varient. F in this case is in reference to the 2.0L FE, which this engine was designed off of. 2.0L (E also used to represent an even liter displacement ie. JE for 3.0L J-family V6, no longer used).
L3 is the 2.3L engine code. 3 and J have been used to represent x.3L engines (ie. KJ 2.3L V6, B3 1.3L etc)
L5 is the 2.5L engine code. 5 and L have been used to represent x.5L engines (ie. J5 2.5L V6, KL 2.5L V6)
The suffix describes the engine configuration/features
L3-DE would be the 2.3L as used in the Ford Ranger.
L3-VDT would be the 2.3L DISI turbo
The first suffix position may be either:
D= Domestic DOHC or
Z= High Tuned DOHC
V= VVT DOHC or
C= Common Rail Diesel
Second place suffix position may be either:
E=EFI
D=Direct Injection
Third place suffix position is optional:
T= turbo
M= Miller Cycle
Also information here
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_MX-5_(NC)
I can't stop thinking about Jim Dangle from Reno 911 with his short shorts police uniform jumping out of his Miata up in the air with his loose white leather boots and that look on his face with the aviators and mustache and can't get it out of my head.
I love my Miata with the hardtop!
I wish I test drove an nd before getting my 2015 nc club, but 20k out the door with only 3500 miles on it was too good.
im watching this because im waiting for the ND document serie to come out.
How is the sound “artificial”? It’s a sound tube that connects directly to the air intake. It’s a honk box. I think artificial is when the engine noise is pimped in through the stereo. Now that is “artificial.”
Miata Is Always The Answer.
The haters got to show me the note from their mom saying it's okay to be out of her basement before I'll talk to them.
Great review as always!
All your reviews are very original and covers all the aspects of the cars.
Enjoying all your shows very much!
I don't hear that "growl" in my 2015 MX-5 as I did in my 2000! One thing though, living in the south, you have to be very careful when hauling a$$ any time of day/night....because of the wildlife. It's nothing to have a couple deer hopping over you! And yes...I do believe it is a CHICK car. My brother owns an automotive repair shop. None of his employees (dudes) wanted to service test my 2000 Miata when I brought it in. LOL. Yet, my neighbor is completely refurbishing his 1980 something Miata. He loves it!
Picked up a 2015 NC3 club hardtop white on black, 4 months ago, awesome car, just slow, but ya definitely can beat the crap out it, got the extended engine warranty 🤓🤪😜
For those watching this... the comments about being outdated, which of course it will be - 2006 design... the real trick nowadays is VALUE. Maybe in 2015 paying 30K for something like this made anyone pause for a bit, but at prices today... a fantastic choice.
+netcrashYT In some cases in retrospect despite the weight, this motor is more fun than the DI 2.0 in the ND. Safe and cheap choice
Just got a 2011 MX5-GT with the hard top & payed far less than half of a 2019!Drove the 2019 couple months back.Not impressed with the 2019.But love my 2011.Also got 4 year warranty + winter & summer tires & 2 sets rims!!Love it.I say why pay 20 Grand + more for a car that doesn't Look or feel special anyway!!PS:- my 2011 has super low mileage to boot!
Your first comment is so true- I'm 6'3" and even with the seat all the way back & down, my eye-line is smack-bang with the top of the window. I literally don't fit into the car :/
I'm guessing the next generation will probably be the same- made for little Japanese guys and 5 yr old girls.
Great video, I laughed alot at Scott's comments. Thanks!
i watched this video for the first time right AFTER the NC Miata series video, and it turns out, the first video i watch is just a refried bean burrito from this one... I am totally not complaining. I still love the two videos, but i feel like i initially watched something brand new as opposed to something released 5 years ago ! It's evidence that your videos are Timeless.
in the shoppe is the besstt!
I'm five years into owning mine and the only disappointment I have is when I TURN THE ENGINE OFF
Well said 👍. Same feeling here after having owned an NC1 for 8 years now.
Will be seriously looking at the next gen MX-5.
Think there's gonna be a 1.5 L and 2.0 L option, and the car is gonna be 100kg lighter than this current gen model.
Looks amazing, and if they keep up the level of thought and engineering, should be an awesome combo.
Wanted a Miata and looked at many, most of them on-line. Paid too much for a 2006. But it met all of my items on my checklist and I had the cash so I did the deal. I wish somebody hadn't put a dent in the front fender after I bought it. I wish it shifted into 2nd from 1st easier. I wish I could get the drain tubes opened back up. But it is not for sale or trade. My wife wouldn't let me even if I wanted to. LOL
I have an ND and honestly, this car has almost ruined other cars for me in just how light it is. Almost everything feels heavier than it by comparison, especially when you cross the 3000lb mark. I guess it's kinda like how driving a high horsepower car ruins slower cars for some people, the Miata has ruined a lot of heavier cars for me.
I own an 06 NC....and when I go and drive my 2012 Jeep Liberty (just under 5000 lbs) it feels like I'm driving a tank!
Great vid, funny, informative and unbiased! Going to buy one now....
Great Review, keep them coming
Thanks for the great review, very informative. Love the music choices throughout too.
Mx5 is a platform more than just a car. With modifications it's potential is unlimited. And you don't need to sell your soul to afford it either. I always think about selling mine and then realized I don't need to bc I'd probably just end up buying another one lmao
I am so excited for the next generation of the MX5. I have been thinking about test driving one when they are released. At this point in time though with this 3rd gen, I don't know who any one could justify purchasing one. They can nearly cost 30k, and its simply to basic for 30k.
Price is difficult to swallow.
savagegeese If they keep the interior that they showed on the car they just recently showed, than I would fork over the money for one.
The key I believe is to get one second hand. They are bomb proof and very reliable.
I just bought a topped out 2015 mx5 grand touring with all the bells and whistles with the prht when I came home from Afghanistan. I got them to throw in an exhaust and an intake and drove it home for 26k what else is as fun and as pure of a drivers car for that kind of money. Get one now because they are making room for the next gen. Brand new, reliable, highly moddable ( is that a word ? lol) open top, rear wheel drive, downright good looking car...what else gives you all that for that price?
All of that for the half what a good S2000 would cost... thanks for the review :-)
Can you still have fun even if it doesn’t have a LSD
Yes, you can.
The stigma was really strong when I was a kid and you could pick up a used first gen cheap - not any more
1:56 I'm a big fan of oral sensations
Especially when it's not neutered. 2:01
I have an nc1, 6 speed, lsd, strut tower brace, etc. I think the steering feel is excellent and question whether I would be equally satisfied with the steering feel in the ND. Any views from others on the comparative steering feel of the NC vs. ND would be appreciated.
From my experience, ND electric steering rack feels a bit numb... i personally like the NC front end better than the ND and better than the S2k 😁
The NC miata is a small RX8......It is a great car power may not be amazing (same as RX8) but damn are the chassis dynamics amazing!
Buying an 06 Sport because of this review. Honk honk!
Hey savage...awesome review...I'm thinking of getting either the 2015 MX 5 NC or the 2016 MX 5 ND. I can't seem to make up my mind...this will be my daily driver and I do live in a cold country but I don't care lol. Anyhow I know I'm late on this but hoping I get a response...the only reason I would consider the MX 5 NC is because of the hardtop and extra storage. Is that enough to justify why I should choose the 2015 NC HT over the 2016 ND ST. It's late 2018 so prices are much lower for both.
I'll be totally honest if you can get that NC Miata for cheap I love the motor and Trans on it. But the ND Miata is far superior motor aside. Maybe hold on to the NC for a few years and wait till you can get a 2019 ND Miata for cheap.
@@savagegeese awesome! Thanks savage!
I agree with savagegeese . My 2010 phrt was my daily for 2 years and did fine. I bought a new accord manual for daily now. I was leaving for work in the dark and driving home in the dark and wanted much better headlights. The only other issue was during the rainy season and hitting deep water on the road was a bit scary in the little car in the dark.
Just wanted to give an update! I bought a 2014 MX 5 NC!! Super happy! Kept my old lancer and fixed it up for the winter! Totally agree on driving it during bad weather conditions so I don't want to take that risk. Anyways happy driving! 👍🏼