Scarletpimpernel and ND12 I hear what you are saying and you are sensible people. I’ll see what develops next week but I just might pop into a couple of car places this weekend, just for research purposes obviously 
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Always boggles my mind when a car company (or any other company for that matter) bring out a new product with weaknesses that weren’t apparent on a previous model. Through the process of continual improvement, refinement, improved technology in design and manufacturing and through lessons learned - you would think things would become more bulletproof with each subsequent generation, not less.
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Apparently the five speed in my ‘06 NC is so reliable you can can’t sell them secondhand as their is no demand! Apparently it’s good for 300hp if needed. How do you get from bulletproof eighteen years ago to something that is a bit buttery….?
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Isn’t the ND the first 'box actually built by Mazda? Weren’t the other gens boxes built by Aisin?
Aisin make a good gearbox, but the bearings do go noisy - I’ve had 2 cars now prior to the mazda with aisin boxes with their transmissions suffered the same issue, feint rattly bearing noise until clutch depressed. They carry on working fine though.
A gearbox should no longer be a problem. It’s just cutting corners.
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It is my understanding that the MX5 Skyactive ND was originally designed as only ever having a 1.5 engine fitted.
(Always happy to eat humble pie).
Therefore, the gearbox and tolerances etc were designed for that engine.
It was the American market (and others) that demanded more power and the 2.0 litre engine and was the cause of the original gearbox problems, (absolutely not the markets fault).
Revisions have been taken to since improve the robustness of the gearbox…… 
It’s all down to money and profit. A quick “maybe” fix will satisfy, but a robust redesigned new one costs lots!
Unfortunately, problems are still occurring with the gearbox with both engines.
Just an opinion, that will all be down to quality control at the factory as “IF” their was a major fault a lot more would be failing……
Sadly, money and profit perhaps takes priority.
It’s rather annoying that luck is involved, as some users have upgraded the engine with no issues to the gearbox.
Agreed with all, one would have thought Mazda would have improved on the NC version, but again my understanding is that “lightness and weight” took priority over anything else.
You only have to look at all the components and materials that were/have been used in the build of the car/chassis.
Not a huge weight variation between the NC and ND, but that’s what they strive for, i.e. power to weight ratio.
If the likes of Roddinsons Motorsport and others have a fix for it then perhaps there is a problem albeit not widespread.
Again, just my opinion on matters.
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Lotus (Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious) Guru Colin Chapman’s design philosophy was to keep making a component lighter and lighter till it broke and then make it just a tad stronger. Mazda seem to have adopted the first part of this philosophy but seem to have forgotten to turn the page to read the second part of this cunning plan.
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Yes and add 10 years on into the mix, too.
Hmm
Similar scenario to the problem I had with my Nisan Juke F15 Auto, the box failed at around 10 K miles and 2 years old, so still under warranty. Looking at the internet and the problems relating to the X-tronic box, Nisan had increased the gear box warranty to life-time in the USA but not in the UK. After negotiating with Nisan they agreed to guarantee my replacement gearbox for as long as I owned the car! Also to note, the replacement box wasn’t new, but a upgraded reconditioned box !(apparently standard practice - or at least for Nisan)
May be worth a try calling Mazda re how long they will warrant the replacement box.
You hopes maybe dashed by probably all manufacturers . See PSA engines with wet belts in Fords, Citroens and Peugeot cars… Never had issues with a normal cambelt. See Toyota with gummed piston rings in latest Lexus and run of the mill stuff from silly long service intervals. See Jaguar/Land rover with Ingenium engine failures of bottom ends and timing chains. See BMW / Mini for N47 timing chain failures. Earlier cambelts werent an issue. This list continues, sadly.
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Doesn’t it just. Direct injection being a biggie…
When I contacted Mazda UK, the Customer Relations Manager said that there were no problems with MX5 gearboxes, no modifications had been made to replacement gearboxes and that the standard warranty (36 months/60,000 miles) would apply. So when the standard warranty expires you are on your own.
As a matter of interest I popped into an Asian car dealers showroom this morning to see what they would give me as trade-in against a pretty new vehicle in the showroom. They didn’t want my 14 month 4000 mile car as a trade-in and suggested I try We Buy Any Car.
Jeez 
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I never mentioned those, but that is a huge backward step , including DPF’s and EGR’s destroying engines. My wifes Formentor and has the Gen 4 EA888 engine from the Golf R and due to direct injection causing valves to gum up, this has gone back to an 8 injector set up, so has a second set of 4 injectors in the inlet manifold , so keeping the valves and sets cleaner.
Its never a forward step . especially in the lfie cycle of the ICE.
Going back to gearboxes and ND’s. Yes, mine might fail as well, as being an ND1 and only 20k on the clock and is going to see quite a few miles put on it in the next year , but I will just take the risk and enjoy and not worry about it too much . A box can be out and on the ground in no time. I was dab hand with a mate RX8 box as he used to blow them up on a regular basis, so not just MX5’s …
Excuse for a lightened flywheel if it does. Interesting that the DMF doesnt seemed to have saved them either. Wonder if Xtract do a sequential helical box 
Ford did the same with the mustang. Due to direct injection carbon issues they opted to add in a second set of port injectors to clean the valves etc. The end result is barely more efficient than the outgoing engine with port injectors alone, except now you have 2 systems with twice as many components or more. Great stuff.
Direct injection & carbon build up is why I have invested a 5 figure sum in carbon cleaning equipment
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Ask for a loan car in the interim and enjoy the sunshine!
My Mazda dealer is also a dealer for Morgan, Lotus and Caterham. When I rang up to tell them that I was bringing my broken car in they kindly informed me that a loan car would be waiting for me.
When I took the car in the nice man at reception asked me to just stand outside and he would bring my loan car round for me. I eagerly awaited the sight of my thoroughbred sportscar coming round the corner!
I was a little deflated when the most basic Toyota Aygo in a fetching shade of black pulled up in front of me and I was informed that this dismal little tin box would be my conveyance for the foreseeable future.
So, bESFORD, i’m perhaps not enjoying the sunshine quite as much as I would have liked but I suppose it is better than walking (just) 
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I wouldn’t feel too disgruntled, search the internet for stories where many an owner (not necessarily an MX-5) is literally left getting the bus for a month, after getting no courtesy car.
