Can a 1.5L Ever Be Enough for a Sports Car? The Entry-Level 129BHP Mazda MX-5, Tested
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Today I ask the question - can a sports car really survive with just a 1.5L engine? I drive an example of the entry-level fourth generation (ND) Mazda MX-5 with such an engine and find out.
#Mazda #MX5 #Miata
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Had an Audi S3 and fed up putting my foot down on British roads for just 5 seconds. Bought a 1.5 MX5 ND and now I have a blast keeping my foot down. Also flies through roundabouts and puts a smile on my face. Smiles are better than HP.
Under rated comment 👍
Never mind the foot down. How many times did the unreliable POS let you down. Hate Audi.
Had the same shift when changing from a 200+ hp Volvo to a Lexus CT. After changing tires from utterly crappy eco-Bridgestones to a set of sporty Michelins I discovered this “hybrid nothing” became a very grippy and well balanced hatchback. Quick? Not. But with plenty of grip and fantastic on-the-edge behavior.
Pity Lexus didn’t built the CT300 version they initially planned with 2.0 turbo petrol…
this! engines that you can actually fully use are so much more fun to drive. everything above, i would say, 300hp is only really fully usable on a race track and you will always have the annoying feeling, that you dont use all of your potential. (or you do and go to jail lol).
nible handling, slightly above average hp and a tight road with good weather is the most fun you can have, period.
enjoy driving woman's car
I'm glad you liked driving my bone-stock MX5 1.5L
That radio looks so much more timeless than the infotainment screen. Love it
If you toss the audio, the dash just looks the real thing.
th-cam.com/video/0VsSn_avPH0/w-d-xo.html
Yes,it is enough.
I'm tired of the race for big HP figures,I want a little car with a maximum of 200ish HP that you could happily throw into a corner without fearing for your life.
We want a Dino.
@@RichardEnglanderAlfa 4c/Alpine A110
@@bradleycruse2763 yes, I would put the Alpine mechanics in that Dino body, although a V6 or 8 is more appropriate.
Fiesta ST? If you don't mind FWD and a fixed roof 🙃
Well this is 130 soooo
Drove both the 1.5 and 2.0 before going for the bigger engine. The ND2's 2.0 is just as revvy and the extra torque is useful. But the point of this car? Not to be a rocketship but to put a smile on your face at sensible speeds. And boy, did Mazda achieve that.
When the ND1 first came out, the 2L felt like it was running out of air before 6k. The 1.5 by comparison holds power out to nearly 8. Earlier model years, the choice was less clear, because one did not rev like the other.
@@AustinPerduemy 2017 2.0 ND1 doesn’t run out of breath at 6+k, far from, it just keeps happily going, apparently though the nd2 is better over 6k, I mean that’s mainly the revisions they did, forged the engine to support the higher rev limit and sorted out some transmission issues
@@DoktrDub Dyno charts say otherwise. Torque curve begins falling at 5400rpm. Power peaks at 5800. It revs higher but torque continues to fall off faster the higher you go.
@@AustinPerdue Some people have never felt an engine that pulls all the way to redline I guess.
I have the 1500 RF as my retirement car and it does 45.8 MPG and flies round roundabout and back roads beautifully , but the main thing is it's just FUN.
In Japan, the mountain pass (touge) or non-motorway roads have speed limits between 40km/h~70km/h (24mph~43mph) - thats the environment where this 1.5 version of the ND makes a lot of sense. Unless you don't mind getting caught by the police, you'll never have more fun if you have a Porsche Cayman GT4 6MT when that car's 2nd gear tops out at 131km/h (82mph). Whereas with these 1.5 NDs, you'll probably have more involvement by shifting up & down, whilst enjoying the process of acceleration due to the lesser power + torque. If you watch the POV driving videos in Hakone Turn Pike, Ashinoko Skyline, Izu Skyline and Usui Touge, you'll probably get an idea how lightweight cars with short gearing makes more sense than say a 600hp R34 GT-R.
100% i even changed the final drive of my 1.5 so i have to shift even more often! haha
@@pureroadster59 Hey man, this is a small world! Been a subscriber of your channel for a while haha. Love the induction note of your ND (almost like ITBs!). The shortshifter and the infotainment delete you did looks awesome too. Keep up the great work!
@@smilepermile8165 Small world it is! Thanks alot, more fun focused updates coming soon :)
100%. I have an 86 and ive learnt crucial racing skills like heel toeing and downshifting at high rpm as well as practicing my shifting technique while revving out from 1-3 whilst daily driving it without compromising mine or fellow motorist's safety all because the car is slow. Its set up so well to give you the solid foundations of sports driving- clutch is short and medium weight, the knob is perfectly positioned, the gauge cluster is very efficient enabling you to see necessary information on one circle, the seating position is perfect all without making the car expensive.
I actually would recommend people even with a high budget to buy an mx5 or 86 brz, or even an old s2k, fn2 type r, celica to learn how to drive for performance whilst commuting on public roads before spending over 100k on a 500hp+ monster which youll only be able to unlock its potential on track AND with all your track driving fundamentals well practiced to prevent totaling your new monster.
The same thing happens on many roads in the world, in Mallorca, Spain, on most mountain roads you cannot go above 4-5,000rpm in 3rd gear, then 1.5 with some easy mods 140cv~ are enough
Driving a slow car fast is much more fun than driving a fast car slow. 🚗>🏎️
You know what's more fun ? Driving a fast car fast ! And it's called the mini cooper S
100% agree.
@@egeayvala1799agreed - but not possible on our roads
I mean, there's plenty of places in the US where you can stretch the legs of a fast car.
A frog eye Sprite has 40-ish horsepower. It's a stonking sports car.
I love a frog eye! Never driven on but I’ve driven the later MG Midget and loved it
Frog eye is such a fitting name , looks like it goes ribbit between shifts 😂
This is about the same weight as an MGB, but gains 35ish horse AND modern safety features
Exactly!😃🇦🇺👍
Sports car? What kinda sports, paralympics? 😂 people these days call everything a sports car when it has RWD apparently.
1.5L, soft top, manual. You don’t need more. It’s lighter, with perfect softer suspension. It handles exactly like a ‘60s Alfa Romeo: sitting on the rear to add grip out of a corner. Pure driving magic on any windy road. Always with your right foot to the metal. It’s a car for someone who loves to drive for real.
Way back in the early 1990s I drove one of the very first US Miata cars and was very, very impressed: everything a small sports car should do, no impediments, and a lovely manual gearbox.
The MX5 doesn’t need lots of horses. It makes you smile from ear to ear on those nice twisty roads. It is so much more fun to drive! I love driving my NC. Wish I’d bought it sooner.
Years ago I had a 1.3L X19 . If you think sports cars need a big engine try one of those
I had a 1.5 but what's 200cc between fellow X1/9 fans? I had a Smart roadster and that was only 700cc!
Has one ages ago. Great fun!
I had one too and loved it. Unfortunately rust was a big issue.
The 1.5 is the absolute mx-5 sweet spot as far as I’m concerned 👍
Try its half-brother...the Fiat 124 Spider....
Auto Express magazine always proclaimed that the 1.5 was indeed the sweet spot of the range. I agree. It's also closest to the original concept.
100% agree
I now have an ND.2/2L with bbr220. Sometimes I feel it's insanely fast.
It is, no doubt about it.
The car is a neat roadster, not a sports car.
My daughter has the same 1.5 model. I never thought it would be any good until I drove it. WHAT A BLAST now the only challenge is borrowing it from her occasionally
I gotta say, that interior is fantastic. Nothing loud, nothing unnecessary, just the bare minimum needed to make it usable. If nothing else, I love that about this car.
There is a video of a retired American racing driver testing the 1.5.He concluded that "base is ace". I have the 24 year soft top being delivered to Spain in the next 3 to 5 months subject to parts ,pirates and rockets.Looking forward to covering the Michelin green routes and canyons without hurting wallet or license.
I've had 2 MX5's and whilst they aren't blistering fast, aggressive or tail happy under power I always enjoyed the drive and it always put a smile on my face. That along with Mazda reliability and cheap running costs means they should never be overlooked if you're in the market for a 2 seater soft top. You don't have to break the speed limit to have fun in a car or at least that's what my MX5's taught me. Sure a Porsche or a F-Type would stir the soul more but they also cost a lot more to run. Great to not see you turn your nose up at the venerable MX5 like many do.
Coming from experience, I owned and F type S, they are fast but not as fun to drive, better for long cruising because of the larger chassis and setup but no honestly, the Mx5 stirs my soul more.same with mk5 supra, fast.. a bit more fun than the f type in my opinion, but not as fun as my mx5 ND1 which also cruises quite nicely for its smaller figure, there’s more wind noise at speed but it’s a bit quieter than the soft top it seems, I got an RF but did test drive the rag top, both are fine in that regards.
They also can get quite tail happy but you need to grab it by the scruff of the neck and work it, which again, feels much more exciting.
Bought my 2016 ND1 1.5 Sport Nav in Ceramic Metalic with Sand Nappa Leather 6 years ago for £14,500 cash without ever driving a single MX5, I just knew I wanted one from all the reviews, paid in full over the phone, the Mazda salesman thought I was mad, turned up to collect it 2 days later and still own it to this day. Only mod i have done is Cobalt exhaust and boot spoiler that comes standard with the Sports Recaro model. Only drive it on the weekends, has just over 20k miles on it. Have driven Ferrari's, McLarens, R8 and 911's, but imo they are too fast to get the most out of them on british b roads. Also got my fix of acceleration from many Sportsbikes over years, so more than happy to drive the MX5 flat out when time allows me. Nice review JayEmm!
I know it was 6 years ago but £14k for a 2 year old ND MX5? What a bargain
@@MMR11134 Alot of 2/3 year old ND1's were around the £15k mark back then and haven't really lost that much more since, but saying that I have noticed in recent months that the prices on these are really starting to drop now, some with high mileage are sub £10k. I also think the price of a 2024 ND3 is alot more than what my ND1 would have cost brand new back in 2016.
I own a 2017 ND1. Before buying my one, i drove the 1.5L and it was such a fun car to drive. I loved everything about it. The engine was such a peach! Loved how it revved, such a light flywheel and you can just drive it so hard everywhere. I had a mk7 Fiesta ST at the time in which I thought was a fun car, but I was wrong. I forgot everything about my Fiesta ST after that. I sold the ST a year later and bought my ND. When I first got my ND-1, I actually thought the 1.5 was the more fun car. Yes, it is smaller. But I loved the character of the engine and preferred it to my 2.0. I haven't driven the ND2 yet, but I really don't have a problem with the 1.5. It's fast enough, but more importantly. It's just such a fun package.
I’ve got a Peugeot 205 Gti 1.6, the amount of times I’ve had people saying “you should have went for the 1.9!”
No! I much prefer the 1.6! Much more rev happy engine and in my opinion you made the right choice. Although I must admit the 1.9 alloys are just perfect :)
I’ve had both and the 1.6 was by far the better engine. 😊
I had both versions, and the 1.6 is the sweet spot, great balance and FUN
JayEmm, it’s so nice to see you enjoying the MX-5, as so many of us do. Personally, I think of it as arguably the auto world’s best kept secret. Cheers!🍻
My son had an ND 1.5 and loved it and now has a BMW E82 125i. To add to what you said about the 1.5 and the American story, Mazda designed the ND for the 1.5 as is a similar power/weight to Mk1. The 1.5 lighter better handling in the front (mid engined) mx5 which goes back to their obsession with weight. Remember the NA mx5 was based on the lotus elan and colin chapmans theory "simplify and add lightnes" , I think the 1.5 is the purest and easily fast enough, 0-60 8.3 and 130mph top speed. Although slower than the elan so the 2.0 184 more or less matches the elan as it was lighter.
Great fun cars.
My son and I have an r53 mini cooper s for fun which will be good when restored 😂
Mazda's are just brilliant. Even in my CX-30 the controls and responsiveness are all brilliant. Would love to pair it with an MX-5, great two car garage
I've got a 2.0 ND1, and I might have actually went for the 1.5 if it were available in the US. I envy the higher redline and revvier character. I also feel like the ND1 accelerates so well, especially at low RPMs, that I would actually like a little less power so I could drive it a bit harder without breaking the speed limit. I also love that simple radio in-place of the infotainment system; we didn't get that option either in the US.
I used to own a 1.5 ND MX5 before I got my E82 125i (because of your review!) and I can say its an absolutely brilliant. Amazing fun and never fails to put a smile on your face, but just not that usable as a daily driver. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for a fun car
I had a 1985 Honda CRX Si with 91hp from a 1.5L. It made 60 in 8.7 seconds which is glacial by today's standards. However, it was monster fun.
OMG. I had this very car in this spec and colour - 17 plate! I had it for years and then sold it as I needed a bigger car. This car is sublime, a peach a stunner! 1.5l is more than enough. 30mph felt like I was going at 60mph and its punch in the low rev-range. Great, great car and really thinking getting another again! I have not even watched the review yet!!! Bravo
Love a fun, light, lower horsepower car. And I'm not just saying that, I may be the only 944 NA owner not interested in an engine swap.
I also looked at Caymans, and decided I didnt want the outright cost for a new one, or maintenance bill for an old one (one day maybe). So I took a chance and bought a GT86, and I love it, much like the MX5 it really doesn't need to be any faster on the public highway. More power would just mean it gets less fuel economy on my daily commute 😅
Bought an 2019 MX5 with the 1.5 2 months ago. I love it. The joy of driving it is worth every penny. I always have a smile on my face!
2.0 in the wonderful roads of Wales and Scotland, foot flat out is incredible for our narrow roads. I have a 458S and I absolutely love all of my MX5s, throw it where you want and position it how you like on narrow wet roads
Kudos to you JayEmm ... as a proud owner of a 1500cc ND Miata ... I have looked at all your videos on this car (albeit 2k cc engine) prior to buying and you did influence me pretty heavily ... my car does seldom leaves me wanting more performance wise ... luv it.
Great video! Love our MX5, 1991 1.6 NA, we have owned her for 13 1/2 years now, and now the sun is shining a little, she is out for the summer!
Another great video about one of the all time great driving machines. Thanks Jay!
My wife has owned a 2017 1.5 ND MX-5 for the last six years previous to that she had a 2.7 Porsche Boxster. Every time I ask if it’s time to change her car she says that she loves the car and will never change it. It is serviced every year and I can honestly say that nothing has ever gone wrong with it and she uses it everyday all year round.
If you're swimming about at the cheaper end of the market in the earlier cars, the 1.5 has a much revier engine. It's a proper screamer versus the saloon car engine the 2.0. I'd be more concerned about character than outright speed and that 7500 rpm engine makes it for me.
I note your 'earlier cars' caveat, and that's a valid point. But making the case for the 2.0 2019 onwards, it's just as rev-happy, and has the same red line as the 1.5. I have a 2022 2.0 and love it. I know without question the 1.5 wouldn't be powerful enough for me, but the 2.0 is.
Yea, the ND2 2.0 has the revised engine. Higher revs than the ND1 and 181bhp. They improved the 1.5 unit also, but only very slightly
The 2.0 is ice and revvy too, just not as much, you can even get the nd2 2.0 with higher redline, or tube the nd1 for the same purpose.
As an ND2 RF sport nav owner, I'm 6ft1 and fit in alright. Its slightly tight but I don't feel cramped. Love the car, it's like automotive therapy. I've never driven the 1.5, but I've heard good things about it. Some say it captures the essence of the original car more in ND1 guise. The ND1 2.0 lacked the urgency at the top end, the 1.5 was more rev happy. Also that carbon overlay by the window switch is standard, I have it on mine. The eternal blue is one of the best colours for the car imo
Great review. While I've driven one, I've never owned one. But would definitely consider it. I've seen countless reviewers wanting to hate on this little car, but by the end of every review, they're sold in it. Besides the handling, the convertible top, the 2 seater configuration, the balance, etc; many people seem to forget the ultra-reliability these things have. These can be a very long term fun-car.
I chose the mx5 ND2 RF 2.0. I installed holins suspensions, i tuned the engine to 197hp, installed dekat headers plus a good exhaust system , upgraded the breaks and some little other upgrade. This car is an affordable masterpiece. Amen
brakes
@@josephberrie9550 ops... an E just wanted some more attention 😆
oddly i was thinking Can a 1.5L Ever Be Enough for a Sports Car? The Entry-Level 129BHP Mazda MX-5 earlier this week. great video!
Thank you, Jay Emm and Paul Mansfield, for another terrific review.
Your comments only reinforced my resolve to forgo the slightly lower fuel consumption (and new car feel) of the ND. Given that I'm 1.83 m tall, I guess I'll be sticking with my low-mileage 2008 NC (28,000 km) PRHT (that folds all the way down--no C buttresses as in the ND hard-top).
I own a 1.5L ND with JDM spec meaning I have all the fancy options like SatNav, leather seats, Bose audio, blind spots assist etc. I also own a Lexus ISF and I would say the ND with the 4 cylinders is always more fun to drive. Also I’m 6 feet 1 and have no problem sitting in it 😊
I am 6-3 and I have to bend my neck if I wanna sit in it. Both NC and ND. It was my dream car and I just don't fit. Breaks my heart! I wish Toyota would make a cheap convertible like a GR86 soft top or smth
Same here, 6.2 and just don't fit... Shame there's no real alternative.
@@mito7623
Think about putting different seat. You might also try to do something with the mounting points of the seats.
Ask a guy who repairs the fabric/works with car interiors. Good Luck.
Hi James, hope your doing good.
Hope you had a good Easter.
That MX5 is very cool. I love that color blue. I love how easy you can close the top with one hand.
I loved the video.
I love every moment of driving my 2018 ND. Its simplicty (only a Nav spec) is part of the appeal, not much tech to interfere with the drive, light weight, fun to rag around. Its so good i am always looking for an excuse to drive it.
And certainly as practical as the other halfs Fiat 500 it replaced 😂
Great review Jay ❤ ..love all mx5 variants, currently got a NA I turbo’s myself and IME the driving experience is more engaging than cars far more expensive.
I have a 1.6 BRG NA MX-5 (88bhp) and driving that hard and often is just great fun.
Great cars. I'm on my 3rd (NB, NC and now ND) I think the 'Gram Strategy' was also an excuse for penny pinching and, although the car has a solid feeling chassis, trim, carpets and paintwork are not of the same quality as previous cars. Having said all that, the ND, even as a 1.5, is still a great car. It is all the things you want from an open sports car and has all the things you need for driving on the roads of today.
You need to try the 2.0. Mine is an ND2 with 184 bhp.
I agree the electric rack is not as good as the NC's hydraulic rack. I'm a fat bastard as well (120kg), but I fit MX5s perfectly!
I started with a new NB in 2004, traded that after 3 years for a new NC electric roof which I ran for 14 trouble free years. In 2021 I traded that for a new ND2 soft top, which is the best of the lot. Mine has leather and all the toys, being a top of the range spec. Including Bilsteins and an LSD.
Heel & toe is how I drive it all the time - it's just so natural in this car!
I didn't go for the RF because it's a targa top.
People who deride the MX5 as a hairdresser's car just don't get what a lightweight sports car can offer that big heavy far more powerful sports car never will. And MX5s don't break, and you run them for Focus money.
I paid £30K for mine back in 2021, less £2K to take the PCP, which I paid off almost immediately. So £28K for a top notch 2.0 ND2 in soul red! I love it!
If you are ever in Cheshire and have insurance for it, you are welcome to drive mine.
Vince
He'll be trying my nd.2/bbr220 sometime. I think he might enjoy that.
They’ll call anything by a stereotype, audi tt, tts and ttrs… hairdressers cars, or a golf in a frock back from the original model etc, but it still stuck through all generations lol.
I love my rf nd1 2.0, but you definitely wouldn’t want me cutting your hair 😂
184 PS = 181 BHP😀
@@PaulMansfield Looking forward to seeing that as I have heard that it (the full BBR treatment) changes the essence of the original (I guess it's supposed too) but I am intrigued none-the-less and love getting my cars 'Max Powered'.
@@karllelliott681
Imagine an MX5 that's got everything good about the standard one but almost never feels lacking in power, where you just have to exercise a little restraint.
Great review of a great car!
Further increases my appetite to bring my ND2 to British roads... 🤩
James, I think you're right in that the ND was always intended to be the 1.5. It's a shame it doesn't come with a limited-slip differential (the BMW M-Lite trick), otherwise it would be all we need in the UK. It also explains why the early ND 2.0 had a reputation for a weak gearbox
Love this car. You have to drive it and thrash it. Really enjoyed my day in it. Small enough to be quick on a B road, unlike everything else. Sticking to my Elise but not because its fast. I simply don’t fit in the MX at over 6ft. I wave to MXs in my Elise, they like driving and not just badge seekers. Top stuff, thanks.
I have 1.5, same colour, and bought it while searching for used Boxster S. Never regretted, the mx5 brought the smile I was looking for.
I have a 2020 MX-5 ND2 and I’m 6 foot tall. I put a seat lowering kit in it and it really changed the game in a positive way for me. Highly recommend it.
Thank you! I’m glad you don’t follow other reviewers, you balance individual vehicles, so, It’s an mg midget 1.5, or a spitfire 1.5, or mgb 1.8, it’s sweet cheap and fun, in fact next month in selling my Ute and I’m going to look for one, sweet and simple. Hi from down under🇦🇺😃👍
I bought a 2018 Z Sport 2.0 recently and I am absolutely livid. I should have bought an MX5 ten years ago! They are sensational.
I too was on the hunt for a Boxster but the Mazda gives all the fun with none of the fear.
Awesome review! Many thanks! That's the car I'd buy!
A new MX-5 is still on my wish list. Was lucky enough to drive back to back, both a 1.5 and 2.0. The 1.5 was nice, lighter, thus more agile on turn in and it definitely revved more freely but the 2.0 was more "meaty" (more torque), and you did not NEED to rev it out to make fast progress. So although the 1.5 is still very good, the 2.0 is a bit "better" but horses for courses. And on the forums most 2.0 litre owners get better fuel economy for that very reason, than the smaller engined 1.5, which is fantastic. Its massive failing for me is a total lack of steering feel. A cardinal sin. Will test drive the latest 2024/5 model which again states that this has been improved but I doubt it.
The same for me, the numb steering kills it. Waiting for the ND3 to arrive for a test drive, but I also don't hold high expectations for it to be brilliant.
ND3 has a new rack, lower friction components, better on center feel and reporgrammed eps. They have tried hard here so im optimistic.
@@sunnyvalentinoSo hope it plays out this way! Thanks for the info, didn't know they were going with a new rack. In my opinion, the rack on the ND2 was actually too fast for the wheelbase for me to pinpoint it exactly where I would like it in the tight corners going at higher speed. Never thought I would call a steering too fast, but I was surprised nobody commented on it.
@gapexx i will also add 6 degrees if caster in front once I get my ND3 ti further improve things and a smaler diameter steering wheel. One day will add MCS coilovers. Should improve steering more.
Interesting you find the ratio too fast. It is a short wheelbase for sure. Ratio is slower than GR86. The 86 has very direct steering but no feel either.
@@sunnyvalentino The mods you plan to do should prove a different ride for sure. Regarding the ratio, I think it was the combined experience of the hardcore body roll I'm not used to. My first instinct was if the body roll is so significant, I could control it better if the steering would have been slower. But that was on a tight alpine pass road, no logic to the sequence of the bends. On the track or hooning it in a parking lot I can see the fast rack being just right. In the real world, I would actually prefer it just a bit slower.
What a awesome walkthrough! ❤❤❤
Back in the mid 90's I looked at an original Elise for my girlfriend but she was a lawyer and had to wear a skirt to work so really couldn't get in and out easily. We ended up buying an Eunos roadster which we ran for 10 years and it was fabulous. lived in Portsmouth and had a fabulous time on the hill roads
Choosing a car because of a skirt is the most bizarre thing I've ever heard.
Its definitely one of the best 'sports' cars out there. Very very enjoyable, without horrendous running costs or repair bills. Parts are easy to get and there's little, if anything, that your local indie won't be able to sort out for you. Plus, it's a mazda. I reckon it'll be at least as reliable as anything out there, in todays cost cutting climate. I have considered one for a while, but the 2 seats thing just isn't practical for me atm.
I own the 2.0L ND (2022) and LOVE it! Best drivers car ever. Also, I'm 5'61 (171com), which means I fit perfectly. 😁 I drive it all year round with no problems, top down, even in winter. 🤩 (In Sweden that is)
Really interesting watch Jayemm, I’m dying to get an RF for me and the missus so I’d love to hear your verdict!
great review as per!
I have the 1.5. Not the lowest trim, but the highest one. I think, the balance is brilliant with this lighter driveshaft. And i love the rev-happy character of it. This is the only one good Honda engine nowdays.
Have a 981 Boxster S which I love but also a MX-5 NA 1.8 which delights me every time I get in it - so I can’t bear to part with it. The Mazda lets you wring 100% from it and dances through the bends with aplomb. As others have said big smiles don’t require massive HP.
I owned an old Opel Tigra 1.6 . I wouldn't exactly call it a sports car but it was a lot of fun to drive and quite lively. So, yes, a small and light car with a small engine can be something of a sports car.
One of the few drivers’ cars still available today for not stupid money.
Nice, wanted a review on one of these, might replace my CRZ with one! Cheap on tax and petrol here in Ireland!
Liked that, nice review
Just been watching some of your back catalogue, and then this popped up....Bargain! :)
Eternal blue, same as my ND2 2.0. They're fabulous cars. A sports car built for the road that you can explore the full potential of, rather than a 500 horse power monster you can't use!
Over the course of 20 years, I've owned NA, NB, currently on the 2.0L NC (six speed box and all the kit). Never really warmed to the small-engined ND. Have driven friends' Boxters, S2000s and TTs. My main car is a Mk2 Jaguar XFS (after 8 years in a M1 XFS). I'm happy with the MX5, the only thing I'd replace it with would be an XK (not such a fan of the F type).
We have had two a 2003 back in the day and a 2013. A 1.8 and 2.0 respectively. Getting the back end out going round an smallish island is great fun. The 2003 felt better built and my fav of the two. Yes the fabric roof was a one handed affair. A fun and quite practical car. Get one, you won't regret it. Prone to rust though, which is a shame.
Ive had a lot of sedans and big cars and still does, but i bought 6 months ago a 2005 mx5 1.8l, the 145 hp. From all my cars it's the one i enjoy the most these days.
What a wonderful little car!
I loved seeing it just buzz down those same country lanes.
Just like the Astons, Ferraris.
Porsches, etc.
They are in very good company!!
i always liked the mx 5, nice vid. you should do a video about something a bit rare, the mazda mx 3 with the 1.8 V6. if you can find one, nice eninge !
Interesting point about the Cayman. I was originally after a Boxster, went to see a few and just didn’t like the ‘cockpit’ (for want of a better word) and ended up with an NC Roadster that I immediately felt at home in & love.
I bought my ND MX5 to fill in for the year while awaiting delivery of my new GR86 . It's been about 18 months since the 86 arrived and I still have the MX5. The 86 is my fun daily and the MX5 the fun weekend/nice weather car. Never though I'd have a sports car collection 😅
I bought the even-smaller but turbo version of this, the 1.4L Abarth 124, partly based on your Fiat review. One of my better decisions, and a shame it didn't sell better. Displacement is fine but i do enjoy beating all the bigger boys through the curves, and feeling outside while I'm driving.
I had a 124 abarth, did you have trouble selling yours? I bought it from cazoo 2018 plate 30k miles… sold it back to cazoo for 1000 more than I bought it from them 😅 I don’t know how I managed it but it happened, got 17k for it,
I loved it but I wanted the same general experience but with a hard top and a revvier engine so I decided to get an mx5 RF in its place, the 124 was also loud as hell from the factory, sounded amazing but it was a little too much for my taste, attracted the wrong type of attention.
Lovely review. You can, of course, BBR the 1.5 which always struck me as the connoisseur's choice, lighter and sprightlier.
Mazda MX-5 will always be a sports car, sports cars are not defined by power, but by build of everything. In 2015. I was driving for 10 years NB generation, 1.8 iS model with 6 speed manual and 146 bhp, and I was invited by local Mazda to the ND demo day. I drove ND 1.5 with 129 bhp, bear in mind, ND and NB have similar weigh, and I wasn't impressed, I discussed with my fellow Miata owner club members, that anyone with 1.8 NB generation will skip the 1.5 ND.
The BP-Z3 1.8 engine is amazing, it reves like hell, it is lovely and have enough torq. So 1.5 skyactive acted like a "lazy cow". But, if this is your first roadster, 1.5 is more than enough, it will give you enough fun and lessons that from Miata, you can go anywhere and handle any car. Today I drive BMW Z4 E85, it was my dream choice, and probably, one day, I will own an NA 1.8 Miata, as it is, the best handling roadster ever - perfectly balanced, front engine, rear wheel drive sports car = as it should be, even in 2024. with all those electric monsters out there.
Thumbs up Sir for a great review!
Great video === BBC if you ever bring back Top Gear can we have JayEmm as a presenter === you did a great job thoroughly enjoyed this 1 👍👍
Hi James, great little review of the MX. The 1.5 sounds a great revvy little motor and the fact the car is basic, no crap infotainment malarkey etc is brilliant! Who needs all that bollards anyway!!! I'd be sorely tempted by the 2 litre (and the coupe) especially if I knew I could get a bike rack on the tail! Keep up the good work fella!🙂🙂🙂
The bike rack fits the 1.5 just as well.
Great to see another MX5 video.... I'm on my 2nd NC, first was a bog standard 1.8 rag top. My 'new' one is a 2.0 sport tech PRHT..... sadly i have to say i enjoyed the 1.8 more! The Sport Tech has every luxury my 1.8 didn't but it's an MX5, who cares!? 😊
I once asked myself the same question, I had just been introduced to the 698cc Brabus Smart Roadster!
@JayEmmOnCars, James, have you got potential access to an Abarth 124 Spider? Contemplating buying a 124, so would LOVE to have your thoughts on that growling little thing. Mazda and Abarth had the 124 and the 4thGen MX-5 as a joint venture, so a review of a 124 match nicely with this video. Brilliant work as always!! Big fan from DownUnder!
Same car, Fiat is slightly front heavier, slightly softer suspension. Gearbox is from older generation of MX5. Uncomparably faster, much more tuning potential.
I had one for a day when they first launched, and at 6'5" I amazingly managed to fit! I can't fit in an NC weirdly, but can in the NA as I had 2 of them!
Can't wait for the ND3 review!😍
Got a mk2.5. think it's the best looking. Was 146hp (when new, imagine many have got lost over the years). Put a nice exhaust on, put a short shifter in and it's an absolute pleasure. Can't see any reason to upgrade to a newer year. Having said that, this is partly because I am vaguely interested in mechanics and enjoy working on the car. I can see the argument of getting a newer car if you want hassle free ownership. However, if you're relatively handy, the aftermarket is great, and having driven all four generations I honestly can't really see much point in spending extra for a newer car. When I was buying the 2nd Gen was the cheapest. Mark 1s had just started becoming "classics" and so were commandong a premium. Mark 2.5 has the sports suspension, leather seats, good power, best looking (imo), are old enough they are easy to work on, have the biggest brakes and can be picked up for just a couple of grand. I'm glad to see the mx5s get the jay em seal of approval, however. I always used to view the mx5s as the car that "poor" enthusiasts get who can't afford a "real" sports car, but my view has certainly changed. I'd be more than happy to lend my car for a video! If you're after a high trim 2.5 with just some tasteful mods.
Also, interesting but of trivia. As my first car, it was actually the cheapest vehicle possible to insure that I could find. The combination of only having two seats (so only being able to kill 2 people) plus being a relatively uncommon for very young drivers, I was able to get insured as a new driver for £800 and only pay £300 now. Was quoted 2.5k for a Ford fiesta!!!
Hi James, If you get a chance to drive different trim of MX-5, I would love to hear about how it stands up to entry trim Elise! Thanks as always.
Glad you said it Jay, NC's are literally track cars from the factory, but it's still a crying same they sat them so high up on the suspension out the box
I have a 2015 nc prht and its honestly the best car ive ever owned
Most fun I’ve had in a car was in a Fiesta ST150. Semi track/fast road prepped with 175 bhp. It was brilliant.
Thank you for reviewing the poverty spec version! I've had one of these for the last 7 years and they are a fantastic car to own and yet so overlooked because most reviewers focus on the higher end versions. One thing you didn't mention in your review is how cheap to own one of these is. Insurance is low, and because they are one of the most reliable cars on the market they cost peanuts to take care of. A massive advantage of the poverty spec is the cloth seats - far nicer than leather on a hot day when you've left the roof down! Also the infotainment system is so basic compared to higher trims which means there's less to go wrong and it doesn't age as quickly. Oh, and yes, the weird faux carbon fiber effect on the door panel is stock. And you definitely don't want the RF - that retractable top means more weight, more things to go wrong, and you can't put it up and down at speed, unlike the soft top which can go down at any speed and can be pulled back up one-handed easily when doing under 50mph (it's a bit more of a struggle over 50mph due to the wind forcing it back down).
Great video
I've got Alfa GT 3.2 Busso with Ferrari F430 Throttle and software tuneup with exhaust and also 1.5MX5 with custom exhaust I can say Mazda even with 1.5lt engine keeps the fun part of driving at %100 I would say some times I wish Turbo Charging it or 2LT with supercharger for power hunger times but on any B Road Fun this would be the car I choos I also Have 2020 Z4 it does not gives this feeling of simles on miles.Love your channel .Best wishes
Very interested and good video, as usual on your channel.
I was interested by the MX5 2L.0l (184 hp/ LSD...), but in France they stopped this version since few months and only the 1.5l (126 hp) is still on the market... I shall test a 1.5l tomorrow but despite your comments and enthusiasm on the 1.5l, my current mood is the keep my current Honda S2000 AP1, Phase 2 2.0l 240 hp (AP2 body design, still Cable throttle)
Let's see what will be the outcome after the test.
I went in a friend’s type 2.0 and although a beautiful looking car. I was very underwhelmed and the suspension was appalling. Always loved these little beasts