I believe first orders were being taken for the UK ND at the end of April 2015. Club members were invited for test drives later in the year and on 18th August I went in my 1998 NB to the Cotswolds where a fleet of demonstrators were available. The all had Nav systems with a circular route programmed for us to follow. After a presentation we were given the “keys” and let loose. I had hoped to try a 1.5 but was given a white 2.0 Sport Nav. I was highly impressed and seemed to go like stink. Needless to say I got a bit lost so had a longer drive than planned. VF15 HJK was registered in July 2015 and last changed hands in February 2023 and has now done 48K miles. I wonder if they know its history!
Driving home afterwards I thought that my NB held up quite well in comparison. Now 9 years later I have recently bought a 2016 1.5 Sport Nav which has replaced the NB and I really appreciate and like it. I find it easy to work on and have replaced the rear spherical joints, discs and pads as well as a broken engine bearer as well as giving it a full service.
Perhaps it is time we had a detailed buyers guide for the ND now that they can be bought from £9000 although I paid even less for mine due to cosmetic damage.
I went to that day in the Cotswolds too. (It followed a competition I won on PH to take the ND round the Goodowood track a few weeks before) Needless to say I ordered a new one a week or so later and it arrived in February 2016, still got it.
VN15 ZBW was the one we drove at the launch event near Edinburgh on Aug 23rd 2015. I had already ordered one off the back of the tour round the dealerships a car had done earlier, this was my first opportunity to drive one
Hi folks
I ordered one the moment they came out without seeing the car,on the hope that I would be one of the people to win one of the hundred V.I.P days for good wood festival of speed being given away,as Mazdas were the sponsors that year,what a amazing day from being chauffeured around all day,with numerous special passes,to driving the new N.D on the goodwood circuit,being entertained in the v.I.p area on in the best position on the track,being given breakfast,lunch,afternoon tea,and dinner,being given drinks all day,anything you wished happened,what a day,one of the best days of my life,also meeting the directors etc of Mazda,all with warm handshakes,a real V.I.P day,and the car turned out pretty amazing,I have now since brought a N.D 2.
Wishing you all the best. Simon
Nice photos and memories, and how time flies. AND, sad too how the car industry has changed over the last 10 years, with a continuing accelerated pace.
Pity (imo) that even if one went to buy one of those ‘new’ NDs today, they’d have them chokka block full with stuff like lane keep assist, start stop, i-eloop, ‘intelligent’ speed assist etc etc.
Sent on our way in the sunshine, on a day long scenic route around the peak district in a new top spec Mk4 with a fully loaded picnic hamper in the boot .
I wonder what the ‘excitement’ would be like for a hypothetical 20th ND launch anniversary, which celebrates the past and simultaneously ‘passes the baton’ and offers users a full day out with the all new, 100% fully electric NE (or N whatever by then)!
Hopefully the two or so people who were enthused enough to go on this hypothetical ‘VIP’ day could send some pics
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Don’t recall seeing him at the time, but for sure he didn’t get any of the picnic 
