ND1... 1.5L vs 2L

[ZesPak]

Hi,

I'm looking to purchase my first MX5.
After some research and looking at budgets, I'm dead set on an ND.

However, what I've found where I'm looking, in general:

• Cheapest are the ND 2L
• Next are the ND 1.5L, almost 10% more expensive consistently
• The ND2 2L are at least 30% up in price from either (both because of age and of course because it's the engine to get) and way out of budget

After some youtube and other reviews, I've reasoned that the 1.5L is the car to get for me: cheap, safe fun. However, many people must think so as it's often a couple of thousand EUR more expensive for a similar age and mileage car.

My current pro's and cons list:

1.5L
Pro	Con
+Cheaper to tax	-Slower
+Cheaper to insure	-More expensive
+Revs over 700rpm higher	-Sounds worse (reviews)
+More fun at legal speeds	-Less base equipment(?)

I know there's some very knowledgable people on here and there's probably good reasons for the 1.5L to have beaten depreciation, but can you guys help me out making this decision?

[SunsetZed]

I think most of the pro's and con's you've covered but it was discussed recently here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

As you're talking EUR and it's interesting that the prices differ from the UK. I would say that if you have roads where you can go a bit quicker (such as much of the US has) then the ND2 2.0 makes sense. With roads like the UK has I think that the 1.5 makes more sense as the performance is more accessible. I would steer clear of the ND1 2.0 as that engine is nowhere near as nice as the ND2 2.0 or the 1.5 and I believe was only fitted at short notice due to demands from Mazda US that they must have a 2.0, originally Mazda were only going to offer a 1.5.

[ZesPak]

SunsetZed said:

I think most of the pro's and con's you've covered but it was discussed recently here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

As you're talking EUR and it's interesting that the prices differ from the UK. I would say that if you have roads where you can go a bit quicker (such as much of the US has) then the ND2 2.0 makes sense. With roads like the UK has I think that the 1.5 makes more sense as the performance is more accessible. I would steer clear of the ND1 2.0 as that engine is nowhere near as nice as the ND2 2.0 or the 1.5 and I believe was only fitted at short notice due to demands from Mazda US that they must have a 2.0, originally Mazda were only going to offer a 1.5.

That's what I gather as well, hence looking for the 1.5L but being surprised it's more expensive.
With a regular set of filters, looking in Germany, I've got a 1034 to chose from, of which 696 are the 2L, almost 70%.
Considering the new price disparity between the engines, it really does seems like the 1.5L beat depreciation. At best I can find them at the same price.




Edit: two cars almost as closely matched as I can.
In all senses, the 2L seems better equipped, having a lot less miles whilst having the same price. So everything sensible inside me screams: just get the 2L



BTW: cheapest ND2 2L I could find is over 21k .

Edited by ZesPak on Wednesday 8th November 09:27

[Belle427]

Id try them both and choose based on your intended driving, ive read the 1.5 is enough for most and still a lot of fun.

[SunsetZed]

Belle427 said:

Id try them both and choose based on your intended driving, ive read the 1.5 is enough for most and still a lot of fun.

This, I'd try driving all 3 engines, that's what I did and I came to the conclusion that the 1.5 would be most enjoyable for me, other opinions always available!

[pigface1000]

Which ever one yoy buy (2l is better IMHO)

check for rust, NDs are showing up rust just like all the previous models

[JFReturns]

I test drove an nd1 1.5 and the engine and gearbox were terrific. It didn’t feel slow, probably because it’s so raw feeling! Great little cars.

I don’t think you’d be disappointed with any either option.

[ZesPak]

Thread resurrection!

After over a year of waiting out the perfect car, I bought a 100k km 2020 ND 2.0L within our budget.
The car is lovely, it was a German car before so the owner had the cheapest winter rubber lying around, which is... interesting.

Very, very happy with the purchase after a month it.
The car it replaced, a hot hatch, was not being used anymore and now for the first time in years my wife took the car next to the Tesla, so mission succeeded I'd say.

It's a lovely red MX5, like there are so many so I won't be bothering you with pictures .

[dai1983]

Am going through this decision now and just waiting for the right private car to turn up. Cars either don't hang around or they are over priced by about 2 grand and stick around for ages.

Like the idea of a 1.5 but adding the BBR super 160 but the 2.0 seems to have the LSD and bilstein suspension. Off to look at a 50k mile 2015 1.5 later today but ideally would want an nd2 but they don't seem to be as plentiful 2nd hand.

[ZesPak]

I've driven three different engine configurations.
ND1 1.5L
ND1 2L
ND2 2L

Honestly, there's good reasons the ND1 2L is virtually the same price as the 1.5L.
But, you can test drive both and decide for yourself.

I might sound like a hypocrite after buying the ND2 2L, but the 1.5L is very pure. One of the great things about the MX5 is how fun it is to drive without risk of losing your license every time. The 1.5L is the embodiment of that.
My ranking is easily

1. ND2 2L
2. ND1 1.5L
3. ND1 2L

[LuS1fer]

I would always have a 2.0 to get the Bilsteins, LSD and bracing. Even with my ND2 2.0, I often wish for more power, though partly because you have to really rev them out.

In the UK, the road tax is the same and the mpg is much the same.