How many people r going to buy the new model ND

speed · Postby **speed** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:45 pm

Mr Morlock wrote:I don't get the description elegant for NA if you see it with the headlights in the raised position It spoiled the look of the car but fair enough if people like that touch of ugliness e.g. Bug eye Sprites - some love them. The NB seems to me to be the best looking- great lines without exaggeration.

Really!!!

Think you would have been better stating like this; 'but fair enough if people like that touch, then great'

Ripples is now deeply offended with your comments.

Show us your mug shot and let's see how people rate you as a person ;)

The NA is a timeless classic, full stop!

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:56 pm

The NA looks good, but I do think a lot of the headlight appeal is the retro factor.

Proportion wise the NA works well, and shape wise it flows nicely.

The NB8A I find flows nicely, but does have a few awkward points, mainly the sills appearing lower than the nose.
the NB8B I think looks a bit like an older model with modern lights and bumper slapped on, it works well enough, but to me it does look noticably like it was not designed in one sitting (which it wasnt, the body having been designed years before)

the NC I like, it has a LOT of the lines of an NA. It flows well and apart from sitting a little tall it looks good.
The NC2 onwards had the same problem as the NB8B to me.

the ND, it looks ok, but I still hate the back end and think it makes it look back heavy rather than the even look of the NA-NC range.

The ND looks a bit overstyled to me, which I think will date it as time goes on and fashions change.

samx5 · Postby **samx5** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 2:22 pm

The NA is the odd one out as it wasn't styled to be up-to-date fashion-wise when it was released, it already looked old (or 'retro') whereas NB, NC and ND are all more easily able to be pigeon-holed into a particular era with their styling. NB's, NC's and ND's may go out of fashion and then come back in when they are 25 yrs old or so and people appreciate them for the good-looking classic sports cars that they are. NA's were styled as per the '60's Lotus Elan style from the start.

BlackLeaf · Postby **BlackLeaf** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 5:08 pm

Truth be told, it is not uncommon for me to agree (at least in-principle, if not delivery) with Mr. M even when I see him getting flamed by the masses for his POV. But on this, "...that touch of ugliness", my opinion differs. But that is okay! As has already been pointed out it is entirely subjective.

I personally love how the NA pop-up lights transforms the MX5's elegant, perfectly proportioned, retro lines to become elegant, perfectly proportioned, retro lines with a dash of, "yeah, I might look cute but I'll rip your leg off if you land on my bonnet!"

I also like pulling up at a set of lights and there is a young kid holding their mum's hand and the kid points at the "car with no roof" and then I pop the lights up and down and the kid laughs with delight and the mum gives you a smile, and you give her a wink, and then... right, best I stop it there. Anyway, the NA is also potentially 'relationship' building.

I've never dríven or been in a NC. I am sure it is a nice car to drive and it handles better than an AMX 40 (even though I haven't dríven one of these either it is entirely possible my visual connection was overly harsh), but the NC just doesn't do it for me and I feel sort of apologetic (for them) and superior (for me) when I pass one on the road. Again, completely subjective and I am probably just a bad person with questionable motives

Note: this post may be influenced by the glass of shiraz I have at my desk and the shagadelic 60's lounge music playing in the background.

Have a nice weekend everyone, and please go and subscribe to the weather strips group buy.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 8:21 pm

BlackLeaf wrote:Truth be told, it is not uncommon for me to agree (at least in-principle, if not delivery) with Mr. M

It's a secret society ...

BlackLeaf wrote:I feel sort of apologetic (for them) and superior (for me) when I pass one on the road.

I may very well own one in the future with auto and retractable hardtop, as using a clutch becomes more difficult for me, but in the meantime ... I relate to this :mrgreen:

BlackLeaf wrote:Note: this post may be influenced by the glass of shiraz I have at my desk and the shagadelic 60's lounge music playing in the background.

Finished a Shiraz while cooking pasta listening to a 50's mix (Chuck Berry, Bill Haley etc) ... and now enjoying a pleasant Rosé to go with the pasta ... :wink:

Vat · Postby **Vat** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 8:32 pm

samx5 wrote:The NA is the odd one out as it wasn't styled to be up-to-date fashion-wise when it was released, it already looked old (or 'retro') whereas NB, NC and ND are all more easily able to be pigeon-holed into a particular era with their styling. NB's, NC's and ND's may go out of fashion and then come back in when they are 25 yrs old or so and people appreciate them for the good-looking classic sports cars that they are. NA's were styled as per the '60's Lotus Elan style from the start.

The NB's clearly designed with then contemporary Mazda familial themes - there's very distinct elements shared with the third gen RX-7 and second gen MX-6. I'm obviously a bit biased but there's a very Jaguarish feel to the rear quarters - the XK coupe is quite reminiscent of the treatment. I think it's actually a really 'pretty' car, which doubtless hasn't helped the whole 'girl's car' thing.

Back on the ND - saw three of them heading north on the Bruce this evening, all with the bloody roof up! This is an outrage!

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:20 pm

Vat wrote:Back on the ND - saw three of them heading north on the Bruce this evening, all with the bloody roof up! This is an outrage!

They should be made to hand them back.

tennyson · Postby **tennyson** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 4:35 pm

Concourse Winner 2016- ND Original and Modified- Tasmania 2016

Frank

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 6:06 pm

OurCognitiveSurplus wrote:I know that it's a good sport on this form to disagree with everything Morlock posts, but I'm inclined to agree that this forum is too harsh on the NC. I think it's a good looking car, especially the second and third iterations. And I think it feels more solid than any other generation (probably because it is). If you slam the door on an NA, NB or ND it's a really unpleasant experience. If you slam the door on an NC everything sounds solid and bolted together. In the garage threads, nothing looks better than a well modded and cared for NC.

Maybe that is the difference between a heavy MX5 and a proper light MX5?

samx5 wrote:The NA is the odd one out as it wasn't styled to be up-to-date fashion-wise when it was released, it already looked old (or 'retro')

That I would disagree with. 86s, Supras, RX7s, GTOs, Starions, 300ZXs, Paseos, NSXs, MR-Ss etc from late 80s into early 90s all had pop ups. It was the in thing for Japanese sportcars. And many were built after 1989 when the MX5 was first introduced.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 6:22 pm

samx5 wrote:The NA is the odd one out as it wasn't styled to be up-to-date fashion-wise when it was released, it already looked old (or 'retro') ........NA's were styled as per the '60's Lotus Elan style from the start.

The "Lotus" look was coincidental. The NA "face" was based on the influence of the Noh mask (Google it) and most Mazdas of the era had pop up headlights. An approaching Astina of that vintage looks very similar to an NA.

zero00 · Postby **zero00** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 7:43 pm

Nice to watch a gaggle of NC's and NB's around Lakeside Park today at General Practice, amd amongst them? Of couse!! A Lotus Elan :wink:

Yes, I agree with MM's comment as well :wink:

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 12:48 pm

I think we MX5 enthusiasts have been extraordinarily well-served in relation to the styling of the various models (not to mention the mechanicals and general reliability)
I like the NA more as time goes by. It's 'classic' in the sense that the proportions are perfect and the lines and shape are totally consistent. It looks even better with a HT fitted and in this form could have been styled yesterday. Part of it's success is that it owes nothing to fashion. Pop-up lights? Love 'em - pity they get 'brewer's droop' with age.
The NB is a different take on the theme but still holds on to the great proportions and some very pretty (I'm not self-conscious about it) lines, and still looks 'fresh' to me.
People I meet think so too as I get a constant stream of compliments when out and about.
The NC has aged really well and while I still think the slightly 'cross-eyed' look is a bit quirky, I like it a lot.
The ND is the first one to aim to look trendy or contemporary and I think the younger generation will relate to it a lot better than mine who worked our way through the NA, NB & NC.
How the ND goes will determine whether there is an NE.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Sat Mar 05, 2016 7:52 pm

Did I see someone on here advertising some OEM ND parts recently, particularly some wheels?

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Sat Mar 05, 2016 9:44 pm

Someone fitted some ND wheels to their NB recently, but I can't recall seeing any ND parts for sale threads as yet.

Vat · Postby **Vat** » Sat Mar 05, 2016 10:21 pm

Rocky wrote:The NB is a different take on the theme but still holds on to the great proportions and some very pretty (I'm not self-conscious about it) lines, and still looks 'fresh' to me.

First time I washed my NB I realised just how 'familial' the NB's styling is - if you compare it to the '97 MX-6 and the '98 RX-7 the then current Mazda styling currents are immediately apparent.

The ND attempts to bring a lot of the current Mazda Kodo design language was always going to be a big challenge, and I think we saw that with the current Mazda2 where it looks heavy for that sized car. You can see that on the ND where the 5 cornered grille is pushed below the level of the headlights.