Why did you buy an MX5 ?

[speed]

I thought Stan had an na6.

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[PeterB]

In 2004 a NA6 was the most affordable, easily maintained and fun to drive road registered replacement for my track only Series 1 RX7. I did not particularly want a convertible, but there was no real rwd alternatives.

Another significant factor was the MX5 club, which was the friendliest and ran the best track events around.

Cheapish, reliable, rwd, fast enough and competitive in the under 1600cc classes, although too small to be comfortable for me.

My 3 NA6s were all great fun, very competitive and affordable to keep on track. My NB8A is arguably a more refined road car/track compromise, but is no-where near as satisfying to drive as the NA6s.

I am still a rotor driver at heart, but after a number of RX7s, the ongoing cost of keeping one competitive was too much.

A light-weight NA6 with a peripheral port 12A rotory - that was my dream track car - brap-brap !!!!!, but just having dríven my friends Series 5 RX7 with warm 5.7 litre V8 and 6 speed, this is now my dream road/track car - come on lotto - and I fit comfortably into it !!!

[Rolley]

I have loved them since they came out when I was 8 years old. That Marina Blue...

Working for Ford I always enjoyed working on the Mazda badge engineered stuff more than the Ford built cars. Even though the Capri (Pronounced "Crappy") had the B6 it was still ford built and did nothing for me, FWD, the backseats were pointless, styling terrible and the body and roof aged very quickly. the only thing it had in common with a true Roadster was it's habit of self destructing... They did go turbo first though!

So once NA prices reached my hobby/weekend car budget and I had space for it I jumped. I enjoy working on it as much as driving it and as said in my garage thread it's my escape from a house full of women!

[Conza]

I've always admired the MX-5, I've even been offended when people didn't know what they were. I'm a huge fan of pop-up headlights, so the NA has and will always have a special place for me. Honestly with the NC I've warmed up to it a lot in recent years, but I didn't see the value for money in spending $50k considering their 'on paper' performance, I didn't get it, remember thinking they should be about $30k.

I wasn't sure I'd ever buy one, I didn't understand how good they really are, like most people I just hadn't dríven one. Also like a lot of people, had a hang up about convertibles for "stiffness", but you have to drive 'any' convertible almost to understand that's just nonsense.

Until recently I had two cars, but I had a storage problem so they were both for sale, I had an RX-8 and a MK V GTI, intending to have replaced the GTI with the RX-8, the tables turned and I wanted to keep the GTI again, but figured the GTI would be easier to sell, so looked for a replacement for the RX-8 if I had to sell the GTI first. I considered briefly a Megane RS, drove one and the wheelspin and super rubbery gear change spoiled it, so I really wasn't sure what to do (pray the GTI didn't sell first basically).

Then It was virtually on a whim, a month ago I was watching Episode 7 of The Grand Tour with dad, they were comparing the ND to a Zenos and a 4C, and he made a comment at one point "why don't you get one of those?", I hadn't considered it, but thought I'd better drive it just to finally see what all the fuss was about.

Drove around the block with the salesperson, then for another 3 odd hours by myself. Maybe it was my relatively low expectations going into it that helped, maybe it was the perfect weather that day, I don't know, and I can't say the exact moment, but very quickly I knew I would buy one, and even with my two cars at home, when I got back I almost bought one on the spot. It's not a car about numbers, so it's impossible for anyone to understand their value without driving them (imo). I bought one this past Saturday.

Look these cars are not for everyone, some people want straight line speed, or whatever else, others can't afford the practicality trade I guess, but those of us like me, who above all else pursuit the driving experience - we're in a bit of trouble, because I can't find anything else that can match these things for pure involvement and fun. I would somehow find a way to save $100k if they cost that much, because it was an addictive experience, I'm so glad that they've become very affordable (with regards to inflation and the price of the originals when new).

Now my advice to people is, don't drive it, not unless you can get one, because there's a good chance you'll love it but not have the space, not have the ability to sell whatever you currently have. I have warned friends that want to go for a drive with me when I get it "This is a driving drug, be warned, you'll want one", not necessarily a new ND either, can't wait to drive the other cars too one day.

[Mr Morlock]

Why an MX-5 apart from all the obvious things i.e. best small rwd affordable sports car and robust and of course fun and what other convertible / sports car is there? The originals MGB, MGA, Austin Healey ( big Healey's and Sprites, TR's ,Lotus Elan if you like fixing things and may be an Alfa are available but prices start at about $15000 and elevate quickly. You can easily pay upwards of $50,000 for a Big Healey and attract more attention that just about any car.. Then how safe are those older cars: they are not ,and that in itself will not deter an enthusiast especially but if you want to use it regularly and the partner is not a car nut and maybe nervous then the choice is not that hard. Still I greatly admire the British Classics- vehicles which had character and style when the US just built barges. I can pick the sound of a B a mile away.

To Rolley - the Capri- ok it was maligned but it did have more storage room than an MX-5 and the turbo and some of the variants were quite handsome cars and maybe will be valued by some enthusiasts for what they were- a good little tourer with a bit of space. It was a good effort by Ford Aust undermined by USA and of course launched at the same time as NA- it was never going to make it.

As for pop ups lights. The truth is that MX-5 NA only used them because Mazda did not have either the budget or a suitable set of lamps for the car. The designers did not want pop ups. The Capri also had pop ups at the time and even worse was that these were rectangular with an extremely poor light performance. At least NA had full 7' rounds which were the best at the time.

[Lokiel]

:
To Rolley - the Capri- ok it was maligned but it did have more storage room than an MX-5 and the turbo and some of the variants were quite handsome cars and maybe will be valued by some enthusiasts for what they were- a good little tourer with a bit of space. It was a good effort by Ford Aust undermined by USA and of course launched at the same time as NA- it was never going to make it.
:

"Handsome" - never heard anyone refer to the "Cra-pee" as that before.
It offends me when a Cra-pee owner tries to tell me that our cars are very similar.

:
As for pop ups lights. The truth is that MX-5 NA only used them because Mazda did not have either the budget or a suitable set of lamps for the car. The designers did not want pop ups. The Capri also had pop ups at the time and even worse was that these were rectangular with an extremely poor light performance. At least NA had full 7' rounds which were the best at the time.

Ironic isn't it - some guys prefer the pop-up lights of the NA over the NB's integrated headlights and don't even know that the designers never wanted them.

My JA Starion had pop-up lights.
One night I left work an hour later than normal near the RAAF Edinburgh base and wondered why on a secluded stretch of road I couldn't hit 190km/h which was usually very easy, the speedo sat at 180 and stayed there.
Then I realised that it was because I had the headlights on/up because it was darker at that time of night.
I turned off the headlights and quickly got to 190km/h.
That really gave me an appreciation of aerodynamics so although I do love the NA, I was never going to buy a car with pop-up lights again and bought an NB (I also like the NB's curves and interior better than the NA's; IMO the NB has the best console of any of the MX5s, including the new ND).

[speed]

MGB, MGA, Austin Healey, Sprites, TR's, Lotus Elan or anything british if you like fixing things.

Fixed it for you ;)


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[chops]

Interesting read

I am a sucker for Japanese cars. I have 9 cars, 8 are Japanese and 4 are mx5's. I was brought up on a diet of light weight rwd cars and nothing fits my taste of Japanese and light weight like an MX5. I like driving my naturally aspirated NA as much as my turbo race car and enjoy them for what they are and the endless possibilities the aftermarket provides

[dan_t]

After riding along in a tuned NA6 I finally understood the appeal. Then when I got a go behind the wheel I knew I had to have one, so six months later I bought one and never looked back. Fast cornering, great steering feel and no electronic nannies is what sold me. I should have bought one 10 years ago.

[Tigger]

Couldn't afford an s2000 :-(
6 years later I still love it. I still want an s2k, but also the 5.

[Nuddy]

More reliable than a Lotus Elan which was my first love, along with Emma Peel.

[cookie]

Started in a sensible fwd 323. Got into the modifications. Built an engine and put it in and never completed. My daily Astina was written off so went looking for a replacement. Always liked the mx5 but were out of the budget. Saw the yellow malibu on here and had to have it. The built engine is now in rwd configuration and in the car. It's sadly been off the road longer than 2/3 of the time I've owned it, cost far more than purchase price but it's so much fun.

To date the classic mini and golf have both been more reliable (done 80k in the mini since purchase in 2014)

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[jko]

wanted a new car real bad, was driving a toyota echo at the time. Was after a silvia to begin with but didnt have the money at the time so I settled for an NA6 for bout 7g's. Dont really remember what drove me towards an mx5 tbh but im so glad i made that decision.