MX5 NC 1.8 is it that slow?
Discussion
Hello everyone!
Previously I had two mx5s - NC2 2.0 with auto and NC1 2.0 with manual. It felt that nc1 with 2.0 slower even than nc2 with automatic transmission. As I heard NC2 got not only new appearance but also better torque/power curve, is that true? Does anyone know anything about it?
Then does it also apply to NC2 with 1.8 engine?
I mean, I want to buy NC2 again, but here in Germany mostly 1.8 are available. Just a few with 2.0 and the prices are quite high...
I plan to install coilovers, racing seat and stock lsd from 2.0 and to trackday it. Is it a bad idea?
So, does anyone tried both - 1.8 and 2.0? Is 1.8 that bad? Isn't 1.8 a little bit lighter?
Or maybe forgot about nc and go with nd 1.5? But I assume it will be high milliage car.
photo of my previous MX5 to attract attention
Previously I had two mx5s - NC2 2.0 with auto and NC1 2.0 with manual. It felt that nc1 with 2.0 slower even than nc2 with automatic transmission. As I heard NC2 got not only new appearance but also better torque/power curve, is that true? Does anyone know anything about it?
Then does it also apply to NC2 with 1.8 engine?
I mean, I want to buy NC2 again, but here in Germany mostly 1.8 are available. Just a few with 2.0 and the prices are quite high...
I plan to install coilovers, racing seat and stock lsd from 2.0 and to trackday it. Is it a bad idea?
So, does anyone tried both - 1.8 and 2.0? Is 1.8 that bad? Isn't 1.8 a little bit lighter?
Or maybe forgot about nc and go with nd 1.5? But I assume it will be high milliage car.
photo of my previous MX5 to attract attention
Edited by Race2day on Tuesday 16th January 11:07
Hi, indeed...the NC2 2.0 (not sure about the 1.8) has slightly better throttle response and the 2.0 is heavier than the 1.8 (mainly due to the diff.), in Belgium too the 2.0 is more difficult to find and that's why i bought mine in ....Germany. Germany is also one of the "few" countries selling the 2.0 in a non-sport outfit being basicly the same car (leather, wheels, Bose, strut bars...) but lacking the 6th speed and the Bilsteins.
The 2.0 is torquier and due to its 22 x-tra bhp quicker as well, never drove a 1.8 but with a weight of a bit above 1000 kg and 136 bhp i don't think its slow/boring....if you're not track focused. BBR has great and afordable upgrades for the 1.8 (and 2.0) .
The 2.0 is torquier and due to its 22 x-tra bhp quicker as well, never drove a 1.8 but with a weight of a bit above 1000 kg and 136 bhp i don't think its slow/boring....if you're not track focused. BBR has great and afordable upgrades for the 1.8 (and 2.0) .
pades said:
Hi, indeed...the NC2 2.0 (not sure about the 1.8) has slightly better throttle response and the 2.0 is heavier than the 1.8 (mainly due to the diff.), in Belgium too the 2.0 is more difficult to find and that's why i bought mine in ....Germany. Germany is also one of the "few" countries selling the 2.0 in a non-sport outfit being basicly the same car (leather, wheels, Bose, strut bars...) but lacking the 6th speed and the Bilsteins.
The 2.0 is torquier and due to its 22 x-tra bhp quicker as well, never drove a 1.8 but with a weight of a bit above 1000 kg and 136 bhp i don't think its slow/boring....if you're not track focused. BBR has great and afordable upgrades for the 1.8 (and 2.0) .
Thanks mate! The 2.0 is torquier and due to its 22 x-tra bhp quicker as well, never drove a 1.8 but with a weight of a bit above 1000 kg and 136 bhp i don't think its slow/boring....if you're not track focused. BBR has great and afordable upgrades for the 1.8 (and 2.0) .
I'm not sure if it will be possible to register BBR upgrade in Germany. So, yeah, it seems that I will try to get 2.0...
It's my understanding that the NC has maximum throttle in 1st and 2nd gear limited to 90%. The guy who remapped my car removed this limit. Also there was quite a big flat spot which he ironed out.
A free flowing exhaust manifold and a custom remap is a fantastic upgrade on this car, it's only about 25 extra horsepower but the difference in driveability is huge.
A free flowing exhaust manifold and a custom remap is a fantastic upgrade on this car, it's only about 25 extra horsepower but the difference in driveability is huge.
Almost... the 1.8 doesn't have this throttle limit, but the 2.0 does limit to 60% throttle opening in 2nd gear until 5000rpm, allowing full throttle from 6000rpm and up. Its very odd! (As an aside, 60% throttle opening will allow approx 90% air flow depending on engine rpm, so it doesn't hurt power too badly).
All the throttle tables on both the cars are smooth though with no flat spots. There is a funny bump in the coolant temp vs ignition correct table on the 1.8 though, which can be really easily felt until the coolant over 60 degrees.
I had a standard 1.8 NC1 on the dyno at Northampton Motorsport, it made way more than Mazdas claimed output, 142bhp - but realistic.
The 2.0L is 155-160bhp. These MZR engines arent wildly different between the two capacities.
The 1.8 pumps 10% less air per stroke, so needs 10% less fuel, and will make about 10% less power. Suddenly 142bhp makes sense.
I was able to remap it to 149bhp with better fuel economy and a bunch of driveability improvements. Its a decent little package, I wouldn't discount it especially with some choice modifications!
All the throttle tables on both the cars are smooth though with no flat spots. There is a funny bump in the coolant temp vs ignition correct table on the 1.8 though, which can be really easily felt until the coolant over 60 degrees.
I had a standard 1.8 NC1 on the dyno at Northampton Motorsport, it made way more than Mazdas claimed output, 142bhp - but realistic.
The 2.0L is 155-160bhp. These MZR engines arent wildly different between the two capacities.
The 1.8 pumps 10% less air per stroke, so needs 10% less fuel, and will make about 10% less power. Suddenly 142bhp makes sense.
I was able to remap it to 149bhp with better fuel economy and a bunch of driveability improvements. Its a decent little package, I wouldn't discount it especially with some choice modifications!
I work with NC and other mx5s.
I will try to keep this opinion free, so I don't offend. The 1.8 is slower. Depending on your driving style this may not bother you. The power is adequate for normal driving.
However if you want to get a move on then a 2.0 is a better choice. On road the 6 speed is fantastic, on track 5/6 speed makes little difference to lap times.
The differential is not the cause of weight increase between 1.8 and 2.0. The diff housing, carrier etc. is all the same, any weight difference between the LSD unit and the open core is negligible. In actual fact the difference between the cars is next to nothing, the suspension is all the same other than bilstein/non bilstein and changes between nc1 and 2/3. Brakes are the same, gearboxes are the same other than 5/6 speed (the 6 is heavier) and of course 2.0s tend to carry more spec. So less power and not much less weight.
I've never noticed a difference in mpg, mainly as I have to work a 1.8 harder, where as I have noticed a substantial improvement in mpg from a sport model on long journeys over non sports due to the longer gearing in top.
Value wise there isn't a huge difference, especially at the bottom of the market and I'm only commenting on the UK.
Is the 1.8 a bad car? No absolutely not. It's a great car. Is the 2.0 better for some people (me included)? Absolutely.
I will try to keep this opinion free, so I don't offend. The 1.8 is slower. Depending on your driving style this may not bother you. The power is adequate for normal driving.
However if you want to get a move on then a 2.0 is a better choice. On road the 6 speed is fantastic, on track 5/6 speed makes little difference to lap times.
The differential is not the cause of weight increase between 1.8 and 2.0. The diff housing, carrier etc. is all the same, any weight difference between the LSD unit and the open core is negligible. In actual fact the difference between the cars is next to nothing, the suspension is all the same other than bilstein/non bilstein and changes between nc1 and 2/3. Brakes are the same, gearboxes are the same other than 5/6 speed (the 6 is heavier) and of course 2.0s tend to carry more spec. So less power and not much less weight.
I've never noticed a difference in mpg, mainly as I have to work a 1.8 harder, where as I have noticed a substantial improvement in mpg from a sport model on long journeys over non sports due to the longer gearing in top.
Value wise there isn't a huge difference, especially at the bottom of the market and I'm only commenting on the UK.
Is the 1.8 a bad car? No absolutely not. It's a great car. Is the 2.0 better for some people (me included)? Absolutely.
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