2007 MX-5 NC (Finally!)
Discussion
After a patchy history of mostly normal, everyday cars (and some luke-warm stuff) I have finally bought myself a car I've been wanting for ages!
It all happened quite fast really! I actually spotted the car on a car dealer's YouTube channel (High Peak Autos). When I checked the MOT history it looked incredibly clean with only a few fails in it's life on stuff like bulbs, tyres and brakes.
Went straight down to the dealer on a Sunday and had a little test drive then put a deposit down there and then!
My first 2 seater, rear wheel drive, LSD equipped and soft top so I'm ticking a lot of boxes with this one.
It comes straight after the worst car I have ever owned (2006 1.9tdi Beetle) so it didn't need to work hard to impress me haha.
The car is completely standard at the moment and I'm already contemplating a few things to improve.
1. Brass shifter bush
2. lower suspension + geo setup
3. Carplay/Android auto headunit
4. Nicer gearknob/handbrake handle
5. New floor mats
6. replace the "Accelera" rear tyres
7. Better roll over protection
This is the short term list so far so if anyone has any suggestions or must-do mods, I'm all ears!
It all happened quite fast really! I actually spotted the car on a car dealer's YouTube channel (High Peak Autos). When I checked the MOT history it looked incredibly clean with only a few fails in it's life on stuff like bulbs, tyres and brakes.
Went straight down to the dealer on a Sunday and had a little test drive then put a deposit down there and then!
My first 2 seater, rear wheel drive, LSD equipped and soft top so I'm ticking a lot of boxes with this one.
It comes straight after the worst car I have ever owned (2006 1.9tdi Beetle) so it didn't need to work hard to impress me haha.
The car is completely standard at the moment and I'm already contemplating a few things to improve.
1. Brass shifter bush
2. lower suspension + geo setup
3. Carplay/Android auto headunit
4. Nicer gearknob/handbrake handle
5. New floor mats
6. replace the "Accelera" rear tyres
7. Better roll over protection
This is the short term list so far so if anyone has any suggestions or must-do mods, I'm all ears!
Lovely car, one I want to tick off the list but it’s a bit difficult to get it past the wife, something about it being non family friendly!
I remember my 1999 BMW 528i having Accelera tyres when I purchased it, absolutely awful things in the wet, so you’ll do well to get them changed for something decent.
Hope you enjoy it.
I remember my 1999 BMW 528i having Accelera tyres when I purchased it, absolutely awful things in the wet, so you’ll do well to get them changed for something decent.
Hope you enjoy it.
Ah cheers Wacky, I'll get joined up to that.
I'm going to get a quote next year to have it stripped and any rust sorted out and protected. I feel like this is a keeper!
Missus loves it as much as I do haha. No kids to ferry about and she has a Caddy for her gardening business if we need something "practical"
The front tyres are Yokohamas so I'll probably change the rears for a matching set before I Accelera into the nearest hedge!
I'm going to get a quote next year to have it stripped and any rust sorted out and protected. I feel like this is a keeper!
Missus loves it as much as I do haha. No kids to ferry about and she has a Caddy for her gardening business if we need something "practical"
The front tyres are Yokohamas so I'll probably change the rears for a matching set before I Accelera into the nearest hedge!
So it rained.... hard!
I quickly found out that the passenger side drain hole was blocked. Passenger carpet and a bit of the boot are wet through now. Going to have to try and soak that up this week.
Unfortunately, I can never get near my house to get a wet vac on it so I'm going to have to get some newspaper and weigh it down to soak most of it up.
I had to take the interior trim apart and remove the seatbelt to get behind it (where the drain hose sits). Couldn't get it unblocked from the top with a bit of bike gear cable but managed to get it from underneath by removing a bit of drain hose and poking upwards.
Not going to lie, It's made me a bit fed up. Hopefully I can get the water out and it's all ok now.
I quickly found out that the passenger side drain hole was blocked. Passenger carpet and a bit of the boot are wet through now. Going to have to try and soak that up this week.
Unfortunately, I can never get near my house to get a wet vac on it so I'm going to have to get some newspaper and weigh it down to soak most of it up.
I had to take the interior trim apart and remove the seatbelt to get behind it (where the drain hose sits). Couldn't get it unblocked from the top with a bit of bike gear cable but managed to get it from underneath by removing a bit of drain hose and poking upwards.
Not going to lie, It's made me a bit fed up. Hopefully I can get the water out and it's all ok now.
looks like a decent car bar a few niggles. hopefully drain holes will stay clear now.
looks like it could do with a bit of lowering. Bilstein springs are available from mazda themselves if wanted to keep it official. Worth getting the tracking done to as bit of a dog in standard setting
looks like it could do with a bit of lowering. Bilstein springs are available from mazda themselves if wanted to keep it official. Worth getting the tracking done to as bit of a dog in standard setting
Rust rust rust rust! Get it checked asap. I’ve seen some pretty horror examples on the owners FB pages, if there’s even a hint of surface rust anywhere it’ll be like holey cheese behind it. Sills rust from the inside out, and check behind the rear wheel arch cover. Seen some pretty bad rot around the rear crash bar too. Get it sorted and get it protected and you’ll be fine.
The advice on these is to keep the oil just above maximum. They are very very sensitive to low oil and the dipstick is a nightmare to read. Early NC were said to have a more fragile engine than facelifted cars, but if you keep up with servicing and an eye on oil levels it will be fine. Mine did burn about 1 litre every 2,000 miles or so.
From my NC days I seem to recall there’s a screw/plug around the windscreen cowl which can leak and cause water to run behind dash and cause issues with wet carpets and heater matrix. Can’t remember the specifics but owners page will help with that.
I thought all drain holes could be cleared without any dismantling of the car, back in the day they suggestion was using a brass instrument cleaning kit, comes with a nice stiff brush on a bendy wire.
Mine never leaked as such but always suffered from condensation inside. Ended up using those dehumidifier bags which you can ‘recharge’ on a radiator. Cleared it up for me.
Early NC were ridiculously high in this country, something to do with crash regs. Mazda sold ‘sport springs’ which were fitted when they arrived to return them to the original Japanese spec. Looks like yours missed out… lowering springs transformed my car, more than any other car I’ve had lowered. Combined with a proper alignment it was fantastic.
Get the roof down and enjoy it!
The advice on these is to keep the oil just above maximum. They are very very sensitive to low oil and the dipstick is a nightmare to read. Early NC were said to have a more fragile engine than facelifted cars, but if you keep up with servicing and an eye on oil levels it will be fine. Mine did burn about 1 litre every 2,000 miles or so.
From my NC days I seem to recall there’s a screw/plug around the windscreen cowl which can leak and cause water to run behind dash and cause issues with wet carpets and heater matrix. Can’t remember the specifics but owners page will help with that.
I thought all drain holes could be cleared without any dismantling of the car, back in the day they suggestion was using a brass instrument cleaning kit, comes with a nice stiff brush on a bendy wire.
Mine never leaked as such but always suffered from condensation inside. Ended up using those dehumidifier bags which you can ‘recharge’ on a radiator. Cleared it up for me.
Early NC were ridiculously high in this country, something to do with crash regs. Mazda sold ‘sport springs’ which were fitted when they arrived to return them to the original Japanese spec. Looks like yours missed out… lowering springs transformed my car, more than any other car I’ve had lowered. Combined with a proper alignment it was fantastic.
Get the roof down and enjoy it!
ChevronB19 said:
Nice car, I got mine (same spec) lowered at Wheels in Motion, which transformed the handling.
Regarding rust (mine was 3 years old), check on the boot lid where the numberplate lights are - remove lights,McLean up etc.
That’s where I got mine lowered too, I had upgraded drop links fitted at the same time but they squeaked like a mofo Regarding rust (mine was 3 years old), check on the boot lid where the numberplate lights are - remove lights,McLean up etc.
Cheers for the advice and replies all, it's appreciated!
Lowering and geo setup is on the agenda, also the rust checking and protection too. I've had a look and the rot doesn't seem too bad, I also checked the boot lid the other day too and there's no visible signs on it.
I didn't get to meet Matt unfortunately, but saw a few of the YouTube cars for sale. I was also tempted by the MR2 he had with the new roof, but the MX5 seemed like the better car for the money.
I'm sure Wheels in Motion isn't too far away from me either, so I'll probably be going there for the suspension.
Just need to get a few weeks wages back in the bank then I'll start getting stuff sorted bit by bit. I've started to dry the interior now
I'm under no illusion that eventually the rust thing will need addressing and it won't be cheap but this is the first car I've had in a long time that I adore driving!
Lowering and geo setup is on the agenda, also the rust checking and protection too. I've had a look and the rot doesn't seem too bad, I also checked the boot lid the other day too and there's no visible signs on it.
I didn't get to meet Matt unfortunately, but saw a few of the YouTube cars for sale. I was also tempted by the MR2 he had with the new roof, but the MX5 seemed like the better car for the money.
I'm sure Wheels in Motion isn't too far away from me either, so I'll probably be going there for the suspension.
Just need to get a few weeks wages back in the bank then I'll start getting stuff sorted bit by bit. I've started to dry the interior now
I'm under no illusion that eventually the rust thing will need addressing and it won't be cheap but this is the first car I've had in a long time that I adore driving!
Lowering and geo will make a big difference, mine already had the lowering when I got it but when I got the geo done the difference was very noticeable.
I know how a leaking car can get you down, my last Porsche leaked like a sieve. Luckily mine doesn't. But it's a timely reminder to check the drains as I haven't yet in 18 months of ownership, oops!
Rust treatment is also on my list, like you say, not cheap.
I watched the video, looks like a decent enough car and the mods you have planned look sound. I'd also consider getting a manifold upgrade, remap, exhaust system to really wake it up and make it feel and sound more of a sports car. I've got the BBR Super 200 kit on mine and it's really good fun.
I know how a leaking car can get you down, my last Porsche leaked like a sieve. Luckily mine doesn't. But it's a timely reminder to check the drains as I haven't yet in 18 months of ownership, oops!
Rust treatment is also on my list, like you say, not cheap.
I watched the video, looks like a decent enough car and the mods you have planned look sound. I'd also consider getting a manifold upgrade, remap, exhaust system to really wake it up and make it feel and sound more of a sports car. I've got the BBR Super 200 kit on mine and it's really good fun.
TheLoraxxZeus said:
They say you never see a person crying in a lambo so therefore money = happyness right? Well I've never seen a single person sad in an MX-5 either and the first picture summarises ownership perfectly lol.
They are just happy cars I think. Always up for mischief and always just wanting to please you. I think even other road users quite like them too, I never have any negative reactions to it. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff