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Paddle heaven
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 9:52 pm
by Fluges
Greetings. I have a 1990 NA, which I've had for 24 years and 265,000 kms. It's still OK, sort of.
Today I bought a 2010 NC series 2 automatic. What can I say? It is just magic. Best car I've ever dríven. It is fantastic.
Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 10:11 pm
by davekmoore
Got your own canoe then, eh?
Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 10:17 pm
by Fluges
I love it!
Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 10:17 pm
by greenMachine
Welcome to the board! Where have you been for the last 24 years??!!
I hope you get another 24 years out of the barge ...
If you aren't a member of the MX5 Car Club, I know the Club would welcome you, especially with such a record.

Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 10:34 pm
by Fluges
I used to work with Paul when he was pres of the Canberra club, so I know it exists. Before my NA, I had a 1966 MGB and I had to be in a club for spare parts. With today's purchase, I've now got 5 cars, only 2 of which are MX5's.
Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 11:40 pm
by Trackphotos
Dupain wrote:Congrats. Autos have come along way. Be suprise if the ND is not more popular in the auto form.
The target demographic changed a lot with the NC, I actually thought the auto about as common as the manual already. The number of paddles I saw at Lakeside at NatMeet certainly suggested that, and that's with a self-selected group of driving enthusiasts.
Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 6:35 am
by JBT
Fluges wrote:Today I bought a 2010 NC series 2 automatic. What can I say? It is just magic. Best car I've ever dríven. It is fantastic.
Good on you
If I had my time over I'd have gone for an auto in the NC. They seem to be very well matched to the car and, if nothing else, they don't have that bluddy horrible gear train growling/rattling/diesel noise that the manual box has below about 1500-2000 RPM when it gets up to temperature.
Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 1:40 pm
by Odd
I've owned manual cars all my life....till I bought a Mazda6
Can choose full auto, use gear stick for sequential gear change or paddles on the Steering wheel
Would certainly work in any performance car.....worth serious consideration....as is Mazda's diesel
Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 1:49 pm
by Trackphotos
Odd wrote:I've owned manual cars all my life....till I bought a Mazda6
Can choose full auto, use gear stick for sequential gear change or paddles on the Steering wheel
Would certainly work in any performance car.....worth serious consideration....as is Mazda's diesel
Depends what you want it for though hey. At this point, a good auto is going to be quicker around a track than a manual. They can shift faster than a person ever could, they can keep the throttle open which maintains boost where a manual would vent it, and you can't get the revs wrong on downshifting and cause compression lockup.
In return, you lose the fun of a clutch, and your testes shrink a little bit. I prefer a manual

Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 2:01 pm
by Mr Morlock
I think an auto sounds like a great choice and I think I would do the same if going for an NC. I have a mate with an NC auto who came from an NB and he loves the paddle shift.Another big plus is that the car can be dríven by anyone and therefore driving duties can be shared
Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 3:13 pm
by Odd
If you dismiss an Auto NC....chances are you've never dríven one...;)
Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 3:20 pm
by Craig
Ive dríven both the 4 speeder in the NB8B and wasn't impressed, but the NC with more power and 6 gears is actaully a pretty good thing!

Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 6:50 pm
by speed
I'm curious to know what your other 3 cars are?
Must have been refreshing going from a mg to a mx5. now you don't need to roll on octagonal wheels

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Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 9:59 pm
by Fluges
SZ Ford Territory diesel automatic, Mitsubishi Lancer, Hilux diesel 4x4 table top, NA MX5 and NC MX5 6AT - 2 autos, 3 manuals; 2 diesels, 3 petrol. Territory for towing, wife's Lancer, Hilux for off road and carting wood, and Mazda's for 2 seat fun. Might sell the NA, haven't decided. The Territory is an excellent SUV and I couldn't be without the Hilux. At the moment, I'm in love with the NC.
Re: Paddle heaven
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:36 pm
by Fluges
The NC has the 'sport package' and the colour is called 'metropolitan grey'. I've always disliked black/dark grey cars, 'cos I think they're impractical in hot weather and unsafe in terms of visibility. So I didn't think I'd buy the NC on that basis alone, but it has a deep metallic finish that looks really classy. With the Recaro leather seats (much better than the standard seats) and BBS mags, it was love at first sight! And I didn't think I would like the paddle shifters as much as I do. I suppose this feeling will wear off soon - I've only had it for just over one day.
I loved my 1966 MGB MK1 too. I was a good looking MG: red with chrome roll bar and wire wheels (which in reality are the biggest pain in the arse - rego inspectors would tap each and every spoke until they found a loose one). And it always felt (and sounded) very sporty, what with sitting on the floor 'n all. BUT it used to take half and hour of struggling to erect the soft top and then it always leaked. The NA soft top was a revelation, but this new powered hard top really is the bees knees.