mx5cartalk.com

Hi all MX 5 owners,
I wish to introduce myself as a new NC owner.
I have read a lot of item on this forums and get the feeling that most of you are performance oriented. I have to apologise as I am into pushing my car around too much. I have also noticed a comment "how old are you before you are too old" to appreciate an MX5. Well my story starts with my 70th birthday for which I purchased a new Toyota 86 GTS. To keep the car under cover I sold my wife's Camry, as I figured that the 86 having a couple of seats in the rear could transport the grandies and with a reasonable boot could do the weekly shopping. Well that lasted for two and half years and I knew that my wife wasn't really happy with this form of transport. The 86 was sold and a new Subaru Impreza found a new home. The adage is "happy wife, happy life"
So all was well again. Until... I had withdrawal symptoms, I missed my car.
Another 86 was a bit expensive so I opted for something a little cheaper. Hence the research into the Mazda MX 5 series. Research as you all know suggests a manual version and there are various opinions as to which is best, either the NA, NB, or the NC. I just happened to like the look of the NC series. I drove a couple of manuals but could not get a comfortable driving position, couldn't reach the clutch properly, so opted for an automatic. As I thought the the car would have to live outside I thought about a hardtop. Any way after a lot of searching I came up with a blue auto hardtop.
It is a one owner and in good nick. It has been to the doctors for a complete transfusion and check up. All is well. However as it is such good nick, it no longer lives outside and so the tug (our Prado) was relegated to the outside now under a car cover.
So far I have only travelled some 600kays but enjoy it so much. In Perth the weather is generally good so it is fantastic shooting the breeze. Better than the 86.
As you may have guessed I am now 73 years young and will enjoy the ownership of this beaut car.
Will keep you updated and ask questions to make this car run spot on.
Cheers
Enyaw

Welcome to the obsession!

Welcome! There's actually all sorts here, not just the performance oriented and modification addicted - though there are more than a few tragics.

Glad to hear you're enjoying your car, post some pictures if you can.

Welcome
My daily driver is an SE and I am 17,and a bit dyslexic
Cheers
Steven

Welcome & congrats!

Watch out!
My wife and I started with an NC and now have 3.5 MX-5s
You have been warned.

welcome

most peoples major regret about buying a MX-5 is not buying one years ago!

you'll soon learn that

Welcome on board, I bought one NB8B in 2011 then decided I needed a roll bar, I found a roll bar but fortunately it was attached to a nearby supercharged NA. That's how I ended up with 2 MX-5's.

Well it certainly took you long enough

"In Perth the weather is generally good so it is fantastic shooting the breeze. Better than the 86."

For pure leisurely enjoyment, I don't think any hard-top can beat a convertible with the roof down when the weather's fine, just expect to budget for more petrol though, you'll find yourself taking the long way everywhere and that short trip to the shop for milk will turn into a worthwhile drive.

"I have read a lot of item on this forums and get the feeling that most of you are performance oriented."

There's plenty of different MX5 owner types here so I don't think this is the case; the performance-oriented threads tend to garner the most interest since they're the most radical and interesting - whoever thought that "a hairdresser's car" could be competitive on a race track with other makes?

The really great thing about MX5s is seeing what everyone has done to them (unless it's been slammed so low that it's undriveable), we're all different.

Consider joining the local MX5 car club too, they're great social events with like-minded people and you'll get a lot of good local advice (eg. which mechanic you SHOULD use, best back roads with "the twisty-stuff" our cars were meant for, best places to source parts). Seeing other cars might also inspire you to start doing a few "modz" of your own!

You're probably thinking right now, "Oh no, I'm not going to change a thing!" - well that'll wear off and when it does, the options are almost limitless!

Why is the NC auto a better choice than the 86?

1. You can drop the roof
2. You can drop the roof
3.....

Congrats.
Get used to smiling more often and spending more money on sunscreen.
Greg.

BTW MX5Club.com.au

Hi, In answer to why is an NC better than an 86?
At the moment the answer is still in progress. I enjoyed the 86 very much, hence when I had to sell it for a more useable car I had withdrawal symptoms as I said earlier. The 86 was a GTS model and an auto. I friend also had one but was a GT with 16 inch wheels whilst mine had 17 inch wheels and a lower profile, i.e. 45 compared to 50. Mine however did ride smoother. Both cars as you probable know have the auto with sequential shift. I find this can give me the quick shifts I like. When changing down the 86 would blip the revs and the change is rather smooth. The NC doesn't have this feature, so down shifts are not quite as smooth.
The NC rides a little more harsher than the 86 but I think that I will sort this out. The steering is better on the NC, it is more relaxed with more feel. The 86 has electric steering, I didn't like in a straight line down the freeway as it tended to wander.
As the NC is a convertible it is nicer to drive with the top down. I am rather impressed how the wind doesn't blow your head around and is rather quite.
I also like the NC as it is more of a classic car and is becoming rarer as 86's are still new.
I haven't noticed a lot of difference in performance yet. I have still to learn better cornering with the NC as at my level I think that the 86 had the edge.
Apologies if this is a round about way of answering your question.
Cheers
Enyaw

Welcome Enyaw. Never to old or late in life to discover something great.
I am 65, and own a bog standard car with a hardtop permanently in place.
No desire to race it but am looking forward to a racetrack planned for where I live.
Have a spare set of OE wheels just waiting for a set of track tyres.
All sorts on here.