I've been dealing with various MX5'ers (you know who you are!) and hanging about on the occasional club run for some years now. My first MX5 experience was many fun hours behind the wheel of a friends Titanium NB (thanks Andrew!). From the moment i drove that car down New South Head Road, i knew i would own one.
Other notable MX5 moments since that time include a ride in Rob E's old MXV94R turbo Clubman (...wow), a weekend with silver NB 'RNC179' from Sport Car Rentals (during which a certain question was 'popped'), Stan The Man's red devil, and this NA6 in Christchurch.
My last car was an IS200, since this was the closest thing to a 4 door MX5 that i have found. TRD200 and I found the track last year with Circuit Club and had huge amounts of fun.
Despite a host of driveline and suspension modifications (stock engine though) and 5 track days, it never missed a beat. It was sold with 198'000kms on the odo.
I digress... the time has finally come when i can fit a 2 seater into my life. Over the years i have found that NA to be the car that speaks to me the most, being that it most truly exhibits that 'Jinba Ittai' quality. But some concessions had to be made as this car is my daily, which means 800-1000kms/week will be spent in the car (predominantly freeway driving down to the Southern Highlands and back). I was really keen on a certain NB SE at Eurocars in Artarmon, but after a run in the NC, and barraging a few owners on here with questions (thanks guys!) I had sold myself on the NC.
Picked here up on Friday afternoon from Eurocars Mazda, with a few delivery kms on the odo. It was quite a revelation, i've never owned a car from new before. SO TIGHT!
Was out until 130am that morning driving around town. Add in the drive back home, Mazquarie Pass/Sea Cliff Bridge/National Park Run and I'd notched up 850kms in total by Sunday night
Driving Impressions
Mainly, wow, hugely impressed with the MZR 2L, great spread of torque. Haven't heard enough good things about this motor.
Sadly, throttle response is lacking, i'm gathering this is due to the addition of DSC.
Steering is still fantastic, not quite as telpathic as older models though.
Bump steer/steering kick over bumps is worse than i expected.
In corner grip is exceptional though, and the criticisms of body roll seem largely unfounded, given that the standard dampers are nice and stiff and the body so rigid. The tires remain on the ground to do their best work, that's the important thing! Sure, there's more travel, it just doesn't seem as bad as i've read. Haven't been around Wakefield yet, though...
All in all, an excellent package considering the concessions that have been made to mod-cons.size etc.
Plans
Initially, i will be doing the most important modification of all, and modding the driver. Spend some time at Wakefield, and get myself used to the car and extracting some good times. I 'should' be 3-4 seconds quicker than my previous PB in the IS200 of 1:19.5540, but i'm sure i'm not as good a steer as Charlie Brown!
Meanwhile, sizing up some much needed lowering springs. Looking for suggestions here - my last car had 4 sets of suspension, and i swore i would never bother with lowering springs again. However i have dríven some NB's with springs/stock shocks that were excellent (not choppy or over/under damped). Hoping for lowering, but minimal ride/handling compromise. Autoexe springs possibly, once i find out what spring rate they are.
Then, an intake and exhaust. I'm used to cars without a warranty, so a bit cautious how to proceed here.
I knew it was only a matter of time till you migrated across. After you've had a decent drive of an MX5 it's pretty much guaranteed that you'll get one of your own eventually. 
Hope to see you on some club runs soon.
