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I have been quoted 900 for a clutch install... I guess 1 k is semi-reasonable price.

Parts are kinda cheap if you do it yourself:
New Exeedy (OEM replacement) clutch is around 300 bucks.
To machine a 1.8 flywheel is around 40 dollars.
Spiggot bearing and throwout bearing (should come with the clutch kit you buy) but they are around 15 and 35 dollars respectively.

Sounds a bit exy for $1050 man, considering that the whole clutch set up is on $300 retail, and machining a fly wheel take half hour tops, even if labour was $80 hour, which is about right, thats almost 9 hours to do your clutch. shop around mate. I did mine in 3 hours on a hoist though, but none the less. should get out of it for around $650 to $800. try a brake and clutch shop.

I supplied my own parts and from memory I was charged $400 for someone to install it. I got a new exedy clutch, pressure plate and fidanza lightened flywheel for less than what that guy of yours quoted, about $900 all up installed on a NA6 around mid to late last year.

Aftermarket units are fine, guess where Mazda get's their's from!
Mazda do not make their own clutches (and a lot of other parts).

I had a clutch done using the OE standard clutch which is Exedy- I personally would prefer to stay with the OE clutch as you would expect Mazda would source and select the right supplier . As already suggested try a few clutch specialists for alternate quotes. I think around $800 can be done. A fitter will give you a warranty on their work. 150K is an excellent innings for your clutch. If it is not slipping you can probably hang on till you can affrord to get it done.

I'm happy with aftermarket my Exeedy HD holds up well, week little asian boys can press the clutch pedal down with ease, lots of feel and engagment to the clutch. Should last a similar distance to OEM.

My understanding is that Mazda sourced Daikin clutches and car makers specify and test all components- they do not change suppliers without a rigorous process. Daikin changed their name to Exedy. Mazda dealers will sell you an Exedy clutch if you require a replacement unit. So my reading is that you are not buying an aftermarket clutch but an OE one if it is Exedy. When I replaced my clutch I was advised by both one of the sponsors and Exedy to fit a standard clutch for my driving requirements ie no track work and engine not worked. They also said there is more clutch effort on the HD sports clutch. Incidentally other clutch makers offer MX5 clutches and I would regard these as "aftermarket"- eg Valeo. These might be perfectly good clutches but if one has no feed back OE might be a safer default- who knows- probably one of the pro's could tell us.

Mr Morlock wrote:My understanding is that Mazda sourced Daikin clutches and car makers specify and test all components- they do not change suppliers without a rigorous process.

So you haven't experienced NB8B clutch shudder then? Mazda, like all manufacturers, spec the cheapest item that fits their specification, and often the specs are borderline. There are plenty of better clutches around than the OEM ones, and I would never pay a premium price for an OEM clutch - if they were cheap that would be different. BTW my SP is about to have clutch number three fitted - the original two OEM ones lasted 50 - 80000km each (and I have never given my clutch a hard time) and the first was replaced under warranty to fix the shudder problem. It won't be getting an OEM clutch this time!

The Exedy install in my little 1.6 cost around $300 in parts, about $50 in machining and about 8 hours of my time

Would be quicker with a mate, but I was taking my time ..

its all bedded down now, and apart from a weird rattling sound, that i think is NOT related to the clutch, its all good.

Cheers
J

I think the good thing about OEM is you know exactly what to expect in terms of life and feel of the clutch (I did get 180,000km out of a stock clutch). So I can understand if someone wanted to go down the expensive OEM road.