NC Automatic - yes? no?

[old pete]

Hello to all.
Serious question. While I don't wish to upset all the purists out there who believe that a sportscar must be a manual, are there any NC auto owners on this forum who would share their experiences of auto ownership. Are they 'worth it', or not? Would you buy it again if you had your time over? Have you made any improvements?
I've been visiting here for a long time and have been "very close" a number of times over the years to purchasing my first sportscar. I haven't had a good car for a long time since I had to sell my '68 Cooper 'S' to help pay for house extensions years ago.
Almost bought several MGB's and a couple of MX5's over the years but something always came up - braces for kids' teeth, bigger car needed etc., etc. Now I am finally in a position to get my MX5.
Me - 66y.o. old fart wanting to buy something nice before its too late. At my stage of life I can't justify the cost of a new/demo ND so I'm thinking NC with folding Hardtop. I have about $20K to spend which will have to include the cost of my cardigan.
My problem is that in 2014 while on a training ride on the Oaks fire trail in the Blue Mountains I crashed my mountain bike (too fast Stupid) and pretty much destroyed my left knee. Hence my need for an auto.
So is an NC auto a good thing or not worth the effort.
Many Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
old pete

[SLO_NA]

Hi Pete, in my opinion for you circumstances i would suggest an automatic as it will be easier for your knee and the auto NC has paddle shift so you can still manually shift gears so it's not that bad after all since being automatic you can probably get a good deal on it as well.

[JBT]

What he said ^^^

IMHO, the NC 6 speed auto is a great bit of kit. If I had my time over I just may have bought an auto instead of a manual. Only down side for me would be that my wife would want to drive it all the time if it was auto. I don't know any NC auto owners who regret their decision. The autos also don't make the agricultural racket that the manual boxes do under load when hot below 1800 RPM.

[pcmx5]

I have followed a couple of well dríven NC autos on club runs and think you will be very happy with one.Good bit of kit and best wishes.Do it!!

Peter.

[Vat]

Whatever gets you in the car, I reckon. Lauchie, who a few guys here know, is early 50's, literally has one arm (so about as a good a reason to cop an auto as you'll get) and has a fair old battle walking and getting in and out of his prht NC, but he loves that car and tracks it occasionally.

It's hilarious seeing him park in a handicapped spot and the dirty looks of people seeing an MX-5 park in that spot - and then he gets out. You've never seen people look away in shame so quickly. As he says "just because I'm handicapped doesn't mean I have to drive boring cars".

[Mr Morlock]

I reckon that the NC auto is very well worth considering. Personally I think its a big advantage if a partner can drive the car because driving can be shared if going interstate etc. Driving an auto will cut down on fatigue especially around town which is really a bore- I dont want to change gears in suburbia. Judging by the other comments it all looks like a thumbs up. Would be interested to hear later down the track if you buy one.

[AndyT]

I hate to admit but part of me wishes I bought my NC in an auto as it spends most of its time in suburban traffic.

Go for it, it doesn't change the essence of the car or diminish your desire to own one

[93_Clubman]

Yes - NC auto was much improved compared to NA & NB auto.

[71coast79]

I didn't drive an auto until we came to Australia 35 years ago. Since then the majority of cars have been autos. As a SOF of 69 I bought my NC last year and it had to be a manual and I love it however, an auto NC would be perfect choice for someone with the sort of physical restraint you describe and if you loved your Cooper S you will adore the MX5. Just get out and drive it!

[Blade_Hunter]

I drive an auto (ND though), I bought the MX5 because every car since my first has been missing something (Even my AWD turbo liberty was lacking somewhere but I couldn't place where), I longed for the feeling and handling of my first car.

I might at this point explain that my first car was a Mini Clubman GT (replica) worked to the bunghole .

I have not been disappointed, my MX5 takes me right back to that old feeling of actually driving a car .

I got the auto (I think the auto is the same in the NC and ND but I could be wrong), I don't regret it, it's a really nice lively auto.

[pcmx5]

I have Clio RS 200 with an auto shift which like the NC allows manual shifting.The purists can say what they like but to me that combination is the best of both worlds and you will soon adjust to using the paddles for that extra control and involvement when you want it.May even be the start of a paradigm shift and the way performance cars of the future will be(if not already).
I guess i am trying to say that you should not feel you are being deprived getting the auto but rather enhanced.Good luck.

Peter.

[Vat]

I got the auto (I think the auto is the same in the NC and ND but I could be wrong), I don't regret it, it's a really nice lively auto.

Aisin AZ6 - it's in a lot of applications, NC MX-5, RX-8 (no surprise since the platform's shared between the two), IS200, Nissan Sylvia, Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ. It's actually a very decent auto in the 86 application.

The ND application is badged as 'SkyActiv-Drive' but has the same ratios as the old NC box and is built by Aisin - i.e. it's the same auto.

[Mr Morlock]

wow - I reckon some of us are thinking about autos now! Very interesting comments.

[JBT]

May even be the start of a paradigm shift and the way performance cars of the future will be(if not already).

Yep, it's definitely going that way. Hard to find a new BMW anything these days that doesn't have auto as standard. I think they even suggest that a manual "M" car will soon be a thing of the past...

[Red Dragon]

Go Auto
Went from NA to NC auto for the same reasons, legs didn't like pushing clutch anymore and haven't looked back
Great for cruising around town but can be fun in the twisties using the paddles