Hi All - have been looking for a car to modify for trackdays & weekend driving… and decided that an Mx5 is the answer! however… I only got round to sitting in one yesterday - an 06 NC - and i just straight up didn’t fit.
I’m 6’4 and the wrong side of 100kg (depending how you look at it ) and found three things: 1) my head wash brushing the roof (soft top), 2) my knees were clamped either side of the steering wheel, 3) elbow clamped between my body and the door.
I’d read the NC’s were meant to be the most spacious (bar the ND which i can’t afford), so was disappointed to say the least. I have read that you can get more room using race seats and no rails, a hardtop and stripping the interior. but i wanted to get the views of Mx5 aficionados to see if y’all think this would be enough to make it a comfortable drive?!
Also is there anything i can do with the bulkhead? really could’ve done with having the seat further back - can this be removed?
Appreciate any assistance, views and/or general wisdom
I share your pain - I am a similar build and I cannot fit into an ND .
I had an NA which was a tight fit - I had a smaller wheel , and had to remove the door armrest, sun visors and clutch footrest . It was cosy but I just about fitted in .
I would love an NC but its a much tighter fit than my old NA - so am very keen to see what responses you get.
It might be worth noting that post 09 models have a little bit more width for your right leg as the cup holder / speaker is flatter .
Ah, interesting point on the >'09 models Dave! yep, let’s hope there is a budget fix for the larger driver
Andy: is there much you can do with the bulkhead on the NCs then (remove altogether?)? race seats would definitely help, but the stock ones were pressed tight against that back in the stock one
Apart from cutting off your legs and your head, you just have to accept even with all the mods mentioned you are just the wrong shape. A number of friends had the same issue with the NC.
I would stop wasting time and go and look at similar cars say made in Europe that are designed to accept larger framed people.
My wife has problems with our Subaru hatchback as her feet to knee measurement is such that her knees hit the steering wheel!
At 6’3" and like you the wrong side of 105kg for many years (until now!) I had an NC for over 10 years and had no problem. I did have the folding hard top version and cant honestly remember what it was like in a soft top.
The MK3.5 was even better for me due to the seat being able to be lowered even more. (adjustable height) and the cupholder bulge in the door being removed.
Having owned all the other models as well I found the following
MK1 - fine and quite spacious but just not my cup of tea
Mk2 - Cramped a bit but only with leather seats, cloths were manageable