Mazda MX5 NC Sport Tech 2.0 - still the answer!

[ShortShift811]

The idea of a convertible, RWD, manual sports car for high days and holidays has been in the back of my mind for some time.

I won t say I manifested this, but I did constantly peruse AutoTrader and slowly drip feed the idea into Mrs SS brain over a few months. So when I came across this 2013 NC Sport Tech which looked to be very clean, with 24K miles and loads of history it there was only one thing to be done: a trip from Leeds to Brum yesterday morning to test, check it all stacked up and do the deal.

First impressions are that it is an absolute hoot and will fit the bill of a weekend summer / dry days car perfectly. It ll also benefit from a few choice mods, for which I ve been reading the Jap Cars MX5 forum and am planning the following:

- Meister coilovers
- Upgraded Anti roll bars
- 4 x new Uniroyal Rainsports to replace the mixed budget tyres it currently sports
- Some form of matte black / gunmetal Oz racing alloys (not always a fan of black wheels but think the contrast will work well here)
- Current Alpine double din head unit will be replaced for something with CarPlay
- Rustproofing treatment (including removal of rear bumper) before the winter, albeit it ll live in the garage by then.
- Possibly a little BBR fettling if the budget allows and I m using it enough

I know the NC is sometimes seen as the slightly bloated, less pure version of the MX-5 range, but for our needs it s perfect. Such a fizzy engine that loves being revved, great balance and once I have some trustworthy tyres on I m looking forward to exploring the cornering capabilities.

Obligatory first drive and driveway pics below. It is also a very different beast to my daily M3 Touring - I was a little worried about justifying owning both but those fears have definitely been allayed. Now roll on the continued great summer!





Edit: pics didn t upload properly the first time.

Edited by ShortShift811 on Sunday 19th July 18:39

[Nuisance]

Very nice. I went NC3.75 > ND 30 AE > NC1 (with some BMW M cars in between). I actually prefer the Mk3.

Yours will be ace with those mods.

[Jester86]

I am a fan of the final Mk3 facelift. It is a nice car!

Happy modding and motoring!

[sawman]

Looks ace, and nice job list.

I keep looking at these, and then i noticed that E85 z4s seem good value these days…. Conflicted…

[Shappers24]

sawman said:

Looks ace, and nice job list.

I keep looking at these, and then i noticed that E85 z4s seem good value these days . Conflicted

Z4 isn’t as sharp a drive as the mx5, but I preferred the Z4, especially with the 6 cylinder engines.

[ShortShift811]

Cheers all. Commuted to work today and even on busy A-roads it induces a grin :-)

The Z4 6-cyl was on my list too, but based on one drive of a 2.3i, I think that's more of a touring convertible. I wanted something a bit more raw and moddable in this instance so the MX-5 was the only choice really.

A colleague has an NB that is now turning into a complete rust-bucket and has spent more time at the welders than on the road this year. Hoping I can avoid a similar fate...

[scz4]

Had mine 18 months, by far the slowest car I've owned in the last 25 years, but definitely one of the most fun and easiest cars to work on.

Make sure you get an exhaust on that list of mods.

Had two E85 Z4's, the MX-5 is a much better drive. Hydraulic steering if nothing else. Z4 makes an excellent daily though, but MX-5 for a weekend car.

Edited by scz4 on Tuesday 21st July 13:43

[ShortShift811]

First upgrade done (not picture worthy) 4 new tyres. Gone for Goodyear Eagle F1 Asym 6 s in the end as they seemed to suit my needs and had the best reviews. I ve also gone for the popular 215/45/17 size upgrade per reviews from fellow owners.

Based on the 3 mile drive back home, they ve transformed the car. Prior road noise is all but gone and the handling feels proper again. I always believe trustworthy rubber is a decent investment on a new car. Nothing proving me wrong here.

[sixor8]

I've had an MX-5 NC sport for over a year. Enjoyable, but being an early one (2006), a bit thirsty, ie higher VED. I had been looking for a Sport Tech but with only 24k miles on it, I compromised on having the fabric roof, but it's one less thing to go wrong, eh? It does have BOSE and climate control though.

I wasn't aware of the tyre change recommendation, I've plenty of time though, the last owner put all new Michelins on it in 2022. Would that be a modification regarding insurance?

[ShortShift811]

sixor8 said:

I've had an MX-5 NC sport for over a year. Enjoyable, but being an early one (2006), a bit thirsty, ie higher VED. I had been looking for a Sport Tech but with only 24k miles on it, I compromised on having the fabric roof, but it's one less thing to go wrong, eh? It does have BOSE and climate control though.

I wasn't aware of the tyre change recommendation, I've plenty of time though, the last owner put all new Michelins on it in 2022. Would that be a modification regarding insurance?

Good stuff. Funnily enough, mine was on 24K when I picked it up too.

Re the tyres, you should probably declare them to your insurer out of an abundance of caution, but there’s no way they should make a difference to the provision of cover / premium.

I think the larger contact patch and slightly taller sidewall will improve grip and comfort, if only incrementally. Mine was on ditchfinders with the rears looking pretty worn, so the transformation is stark!

[TameRacingDriver]

I do like these. I've had an NC1 LE with the BBR Super 200 and some other mods and that was a nice little car. I decided after my JCW I needed another MX5 in my life so was torn between a white MC3.75 PRHT and the ND2 RF and the latter won out as I just fancied something different and no regrets, however, I do sometimes wonder if the RF was worth the extra, not sure it is, but I've made my choice now! I will be following with interest

[johnpsanderson]

Ah-hem: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Looks like Airedale and Pennine Motor Car Club are at least one option for flexing the car's capabilities?

[ShortShift811]

TameRacingDriver said:

I do like these. I've had an NC1 LE with the BBR Super 200 and some other mods and that was a nice little car. I decided after my JCW I needed another MX5 in my life so was torn between a white MC3.75 PRHT and the ND2 RF and the latter won out as I just fancied something different and no regrets, however, I do sometimes wonder if the RF was worth the extra, not sure it is, but I've made my choice now! I will be following with interest

Glad you’re getting on with the RF. It was on my radar too but a capped budget and desire for a ‘full’ convertible meant the NC3 was the more natural choice.

BBR tuning very much on the radar for me with this one…

[wilbo83]

Nuisance said:

Very nice. I went NC3.75 > ND 30 AE > NC1 (with some BMW M cars in between). I actually prefer the Mk3.

Yours will be ace with those mods.

Interested in the NC to ND comparisons and what drove the preference of the NC.

[TameRacingDriver]

ShortShift811 said:

TameRacingDriver said:

I do like these. I've had an NC1 LE with the BBR Super 200 and some other mods and that was a nice little car. I decided after my JCW I needed another MX5 in my life so was torn between a white MC3.75 PRHT and the ND2 RF and the latter won out as I just fancied something different and no regrets, however, I do sometimes wonder if the RF was worth the extra, not sure it is, but I've made my choice now! I will be following with interest

Glad you re getting on with the RF. It was on my radar too but a capped budget and desire for a full convertible meant the NC3 was the more natural choice.

BBR tuning very much on the radar for me with this one

Yeah I love it to be fair! Great car out of the box except the noise (which I've sorted with a Goodwin Super Street exhaust!).

I had really wanted to upgrade my NC1 to the Super 220 with the ITBs but it just needed too much other work first - engine rebuild, undersealing and more besides. That would be my choice, just for the noise and NA response! What are you fancying?

[TameRacingDriver]

wilbo83 said:

Nuisance said:

Very nice. I went NC3.75 > ND 30 AE > NC1 (with some BMW M cars in between). I actually prefer the Mk3.

Yours will be ace with those mods.

Interested in the NC to ND comparisons and what drove the preference of the NC.

My last MX5 was an NC with the BBR Super 200.

Current is an ND2, standard except for exhaust and sound tube mod.

There are pros and cons to both. The NC has hydraulic steering which most seem to prefer*, has a bigger interior, stronger gearbox, more modding potential (at the moment) and is better value for purely a toy.

The ND2 is better out of the box IMO, has a more powerful engine as standard, lighter, feels sportier, looks better (subjective) and has a much better interior, albeit smaller. In RF guise it's like 2 cars in 1 (applies to the NC PRHT also).

Standard for standard the ND is a better car mostly IMO, but they are both great, and neither will disappoint. It's just pure preference really, others will disagree.

Re the steering * I don't find the ND as bad as described either; it is electric, but its quick, direct and gives texture, it's just that it doesn't weigh up quite as well on corners, but in a way it suits the car.

I chose a black RF as I said between it and a white PHRT but I must admit I love a white NC on black wheels, very good looking car too IMO. If VFM came into the NC is the no brainer, I just fancied an ND

[ShortShift811]

TRD has summed up my buying process and thoughts perfectly there (in favour of the NC for me obviously). This one will be getting black or dark gunmetal wheels pretty soon - unsure whether to just refinish the existing ones or go for something like this:

https://www.wheelbasealloys.com/alloy-wheels/rota/...

Re the BBR tune, I m thinking the Super 200 package + an exhaust. How was it on yours TRD. Enough extra poke for spirited road use?

No desire to fit a turbo as I m really enjoying my first n/a engine for some time.

Edited by ShortShift811 on Saturday 25th July 07:32

[hxc_]

I had a Z4 3.0 and now have an NC with the BBR 225 pack, ITBs, et al. It's an awful lot of fun and the extra power is very noticable.

The NC is the better car than the Z4 in nearly every single way bar interior quality imo.

The Z4 was the single least comfortable car I have ever driven. The suspension was absolutely rock hard.

[TameRacingDriver]

ShortShift811 said:

TRD has summed up my buying process and thoughts perfectly there (in favour of the NC for me obviously). This one will be getting black or dark gunmetal wheels pretty soon - unsure whether to just refinish the existing ones or go for something like this:

https://www.wheelbasealloys.com/alloy-wheels/rota/...

Re the BBR tune, I m thinking the Super 200 package + an exhaust. How was it on yours TRD. Enough extra poke for spirited road use?

No desire to fit a turbo as I m really enjoying my first n/a engine for some time.

Edited by ShortShift811 on Saturday 25th July 07:32

It was a decent tune, it has more torque at lower revs and it has more urgency as the top end. The cobalt back box I added later completed it, giving a better noise and the occasional pop if you get things right.

I still prefer the ND2 engine, it just seems better from the get go, but I haven't tried one of the later NCs and by all accounts the engine is much better than the one in my NC1 for starters it revs about 500 rpm higher than the early engine.

I get you with the NA thing, it's just the most fun really, and was one reason I went back to an MX5 after my turbocharged JCW Mini, which was potent but not fun to thrash the same way as an NA engine.

Edited by TameRacingDriver on Sunday 26th July 15:50