Is this actually an SE?

[NitroDann]

Equal cost and difficulty to get either engineered, and yes almost everyone is driving around at risk.

[93_Clubman]

I just like to get sh*t done fast and efficiently.

Totally agree, problem at the moment is supply & demand.

[NickFit]

I just like to get sh*t done fast and efficiently.

Totally agree, problem at the moment is supply & demand.

Some things will never change.

I figure this will be the best time in my life to own a 2 seater. If I don't get one now I'll kick myself in a few years. Especially when me and the misses want/have kids.

So I'm praying the first one i drive and get looked at by a mech or racv guy passes with flying colours.

[Mr Morlock]

Being able to have a 2 seater open top car is often achieved by older guys when it can be purchased as a fun piece of transport in addition to the daily driver. It certainly does not mean that a younger person has to buy now - it gets easier for most over time. Many older guys go back to sports cars as a reminder of their youth. The older generation drove sports cars ( open top- (the 60's British sports cars ) because they were quite common whereas today the choice is arguably far more restricted. Today affordable sports car open top- MX-5.

Driving cars that have not been engineered is risk that does not have to be taken. The old saying is that its not a problem until something goes wrong like being in an accident or having insurance rejected because a mod has not been divulged. Ultimately people make their own choices and tha'ts fair enough.

[Red Dragon]

You don't really need an SE to have fun in an MX5 just try a NA or NB and see how you like it, and if you do when kids come along keep it as your weekender.
Try one from where you are now and if you like it look for one when you get home

[KevGoat]

Red Dragon is right.

I've had an NA6, NB8A and now an SE. I love the SE for what it is, what it has and especially how it looks. It was the MX-5 I always wanted. It's a really nice car to drive and with the mods I've done it's now great fun ...

But TBH ... my NA6 still lives in my heart as the most genuine of them all and the one that, when I climbed out at the end of a day's driving, always left me with the biggest sense of satisfaction. I've said it many times before and I'll say it again - I should never have sold that car. I hated the pop up headlights, I disliked the lack of low down torque, it always felt like a cheap kit car rather than a production vehicle and I was forever searching out annoying creeks and groans and rattles to fix. But damn there's nothing that I can think of on the road anything like them or that will "thrill" like tbey do (well certainly not at their price range!!). BTW I've never dríven an NA8, but for me it was all about that 1.6!!

I might also add I've never received the attention that NA use to attract in either of my NB's!! I rarely stopped anywhere in that car without someone coming up and chatting about the car. Has rarely ever happened in the NB8A or SE!!

So yeah, I prefer my SE in so many ways, and at my age (58 soon 59) its a much more liveable car for me eapeciallt as it's become pretty much my only car now.

But as mentioned, you seriously don't need an SE to enjoy MX-5's and in my opinion you certainly don't need a turbo ...

Posted via Tapatalk on Samsung S7

[KevGoat]

Real spelling wins in there Kev!! ... sorry - blame the Cabernet Merlot! Couldn't fix it on Tapatalk or at least I couldn't work out how.

Posted via Tapatalk on Samsung S7

[NickFit]

You don't really need an SE to have fun in an MX5 just try a NA or NB and see how you like it, and if you do when kids come along keep it as your weekender.
Try one from where you are now and if you like it look for one when you get home

Need vs Want I guess haha.

I know that I'll want a turbo. I just prefer them.
Coming from a history of tuned legnums and wrx's.


I haven't used my My current car (tdi Jetta) in 2 years whilst I've been away but it will be my girlfriends and the boot in it is big enough for pretty much everything.

I just want a SE for the looks, the turbo and it will make me smile when I drive, wash and look at it.

I will test drive a few different models then make my choice.
Thanks everyone for their inputs though

I'll be posting what ever I buy #SEpower

[NickFit]

Red Dragon is right.

I've had an NA6, NB8A and now an SE. I love the SE for what it is, what it has and especially how it looks. It was the MX-5 I always wanted. It's a really nice car to drive and with the mods I've done it's now great fun ...

But TBH ... my NA6 still lives in my heart as the most genuine of them all and the one that, when I climbed out at the end of a day's driving, always left me with the biggest sense of satisfaction. I've said it many times before and I'll say it again - I should never have sold that car. I hated the pop up headlights, I disliked the lack of low down torque, it always felt like a cheap kit car rather than a production vehicle and I was forever searching out annoying creeks and groans and rattles to fix. But damn there's nothing that I can think of on the road anything like them or that will "thrill" like tbey do (well certainly not at their price range!!). BTW I've never dríven an NA8, but for me it was all about that 1.6!!

I might also add I've never received the attention that NA use to attract in either of my NB's!! I rarely stopped anywhere in that car without someone coming up and chatting about the car. Has rarely ever happened in the NB8A or SE!!

So yeah, I prefer my SE in so many ways, and at my age (58 soon 59) its a much more liveable car for me eapeciallt as it's become pretty much my only car now.

But as mentioned, you seriously don't need an SE to enjoy MX-5's and in my opinion you certainly don't need a turbo ...

Posted via Tapatalk on Samsung S7

Is the SE the best everyday car though, more power, nicer interior etc? Or would you rather the NA6?

[smy0003]

If it's genuinely a daily driver and you can afford it, don't consider an NA. NB8B has air con as standard and more importantly, two airbags.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

[KevGoat]

Is the SE the best everyday car though, more power, nicer interior etc? Or would you rather the NA6?

Yes ... the SE is the better car.

Better comfort, better air con, better power delivery, better looks (subjective), much nicer interior and more room.

Edit: any NB8B/C will also give you most of that. Depends how much you like and are willing to pay for the "extras" that the SE supplies.

[NickFit]

If it's genuinely a daily driver and you can afford it, don't consider an NA. NB8B has air con as standard and more importantly, two airbags.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

Thanks for that.. It Will be my everyday car.

[track_addict]

Can confirm what kevgoat said about it being an SE. I bought the AEM intake which was on the car. I think the guys user name was andrewjzx100 or something along those lines. He thought the NB8A looked much more cohesive and wanted it to look like that but with the turbo. Seemed like a genuine guy. Good luck to anyone wanting to make it an SE again. Finding a genuine front lip isn't easy or cheap. Perfect candidate for the race car treatment

[93_Clubman]

I think the guys user name was andrewjzx100 or something along those lines.

Tks for that - before this thread started hadn't realised anyone on here had gone that route with an SE - here's his posts, but from a very quick look it doesn't look like he talks about the conversion: search.php?author_id=11750&sr=posts

Was twice only a street away passing by his old SE in Port Adelaide earlier this week, but unfortunately no time to make a detour.

[Lokiel]

I have a spare unmolested genuine SE instrument cluster if you want to buy the car and try and restore it (still can't believe anyone went to the effort of swapping out the cluster for an NBBA - can believe he got rid of the SE's boat anchors though).