Buying a NC for tuning

[Zstar]

I've been toying with getting a second car since I moved back to the UK last year. We have a sensible Countryman for school and weekend duties. I have been toying with getting a weekend toy like an XKR, XJ, ContiGT etc but the running costs frighten the snot out of me. Even just paying 600 quid plus for road tax seems ridiculous as I doubt I will do more than 1,000 miles a year.

So I started looking at a cheaper run about for a quick hour blast or something I can take the missus out for a pub lunch when our son is at school and I am WFH, or an emergency second car when the Mini is in for work as it seems impossible to get a courtesy car.

Having discounted the Germans, and seeing some video's on BBR 200 modified MX5s, I thought that this could be a car that I can enjoy fairly guilt free. I do have some questions:

- Can you fit ISOFIX in the passenger seat?
- If I am BBRing it shall I just get the cheapest least rusty 2.0 litre?
- How big is the boot? I may need to use this as my golf club car if my wife is taking my son somewhere
- Can I do the BBR200 without touching the brakes/suspension, or what would be a cost effective set up if I did need to change this (I am unlikely to track it)

Thanks in advance!

[Andy70]

the boot is tiny, you'd be lucky to get a tennis raquet in there let alone golf bats!!, if you think about the cost of an MX5 plus tuning, whats wrong with a decent 3.0 z4 BM? I have these questions going over all the time a 3.0 z4 with the M54 engine i think it is, is still 230bhp and still quite a light car,The later ones have 265bhp with the N52, but you do get an LSD with an MX5 sport as standard etc etc, it goes around and around. Im not sure what to get next as a nippy sports car so I'll follow this thread. I think you can tune an mx5 more, there seems to be so much more options for these cars for not a great deal of money... good luck with your choice. you could even buy an MX5 with a knackered engine and get the 2.5 duratec conversion, for me that would be only worth the power difference if you got the car really cheap as ££ spent on engine conversion, only gives you and extra 20bhp i think......

[FSEngineer]

- No, I don't believe so (I haven't spotted any ISOFIX points in my 2009 nc2)
- In theory yes, all 2.0 NCs came with the LSD so it just depends what level of kit you want. Soft top and cloth seats are lighter than hard top and leather respectively. Only thing I would say is try and get an nc2 or nc3 (so 2009+), the engines are stronger than the nc1 (forged crank) and have a higher rev limit/are less prone to oil consumption. Interiors are slightly better too.
- You *can* fit golf clubs in the boot of an NC according to youtube, albeit there's a technique. Boot is actually a reasonable size compared to NA/NB.
- Yes you absolutely can do the BBR Super 200 upgrade without touching the brakes and suspension, however I would recommend that you go through and replace any worn bits beforehand. The standard suspension is fine IMO (especially the Bilstein on sport models), and the brakes are one of the strongest setups I've experienced on a standard car - generally you won't need to touch them beyond maybe discs/pads unless you're exclusively tracking or racing it, or putting a turbo/supercharger on it.

Edit to add: If you're BBRing it, it's worth trying to find a car with cruise control as this allows to you adjust the launch control RPM, map selection etc. on the Ecutek map that BBR install (only nc2/3 aka Mk3.5/3.75 support this).

[300bhp/ton]

Zstar said:

I've been toying with getting a second car since I moved back to the UK last year. We have a sensible Countryman for school and weekend duties. I have been toying with getting a weekend toy like an XKR, XJ, ContiGT etc but the running costs frighten the snot out of me. Even just paying 600 quid plus for road tax seems ridiculous as I doubt I will do more than 1,000 miles a year.

So I started looking at a cheaper run about for a quick hour blast or something I can take the missus out for a pub lunch when our son is at school and I am WFH, or an emergency second car when the Mini is in for work as it seems impossible to get a courtesy car.

Having discounted the Germans, and seeing some video's on BBR 200 modified MX5s, I thought that this could be a car that I can enjoy fairly guilt free. I do have some questions:

- Can you fit ISOFIX in the passenger seat?
- If I am BBRing it shall I just get the cheapest least rusty 2.0 litre?
- How big is the boot? I may need to use this as my golf club car if my wife is taking my son somewhere
- Can I do the BBR200 without touching the brakes/suspension, or what would be a cost effective set up if I did need to change this (I am unlikely to track it)

Thanks in advance!

If you want a bigger boot, check out an MGF or MGTF. Boot is really usable and will easily take golf clubs or even a guitar in a hard case!


Not as drift friendly as an MX-5, but I'd argue and say probably more fun as a road car (don't get hung up on the motoring media who normally bang on about track performance). The K-Series engines is lovely and fairly nippy in standard trim. Plus lots of mods available if you want. 190hp easy in na guise and turbo or supercharger options if you really want more. Lots of suspension upgrade options too if you are wanting to change stuff.