Folks, please be gentle with me, but I’ve seen lots of posts talking about coilovers, and I don’t have a clue what they are (apart from being a suspension mod).
Would anyone be kind enough to explain what they are and the benefits of them (baring in mind I’m in the market for an NC Sport Tech and not a boy racer!).
TVM 
All MX5s have coilovers; spring coil over a shock absorber
All MX5s have coilovers; spring coil over a shock absorber
This! 
Barrie
My NC Miyako handles very nicely for road tours and general green lane driving and is also a very comfotable ride in general. I like the spring rates for road use. I may put new dampers on just because they are old (2011).
I did put 4 new tyres on it not long after purchase because I wanted as tall a side wall as possible on standard 17" wheels due to the pot holes etc.
I bought 4 ‘Goodyear F1 Asymetric 5’ tyres on Quickfit website (£330 megga deal) I used 215-45-17 a very slightly wider and taller tyre; massive steering improvement and improved speedo accuracy too. I run standard book tyre pressures at the moment until I get wear indication.
Also importantly my car was tracked using a ‘Hunter’ 4 wheel alignment system and setup as per the Hunter standard setting for my car reg. (Not setup by Quickfit)… Brill result, love it!
I suggest you test drive your car before changing anything. If you intend to run on the track then upgrades may be worthwhile depending upon your tastes.
Roy
Sorry for being dull, so what is meant when I see people saying upgrade your suspension with coilovers? 
Usually “upgrade” means fit coilovers that are adjustable on ride height and firmness, whereas the OEM is set on both dependant on the springs fitted.
Coilovers as referred typically have adjustable dampers and allow easier fitment of different springs i.e spring rates and lengths, affectively an adjustable damper with a spring fitting so the springs attach over the damper.
Take a read on this site I used Protech on my kit cars but not sure if available for MX5 NC.
https://www.protechshocks.co.uk/
Roy
So are the stock Bilsteins on a Sport Tech ok for everyday, normal driving?
Yes, and a test drive would confirm they give you the ride you’re happy with.
It is a load of confusing terminology. It comes from when many cars had springs mounted separately from the dampers. Still like that (particularly on the rear) on some cars.
With a single coil spring mounted with a damper inside the spring, manufactured to be better than the original equipment, there was usually a performance enhancement.
When you read “You need coilovers” this generally translates as “You need better suspension”. Simple as that. The person writing that probably knows as little as you.
So… if you feel the ride and/or handling of your car could be improved, then new coil overs will help. Almost always. But bear in mind coil overs will cost between £150 and £ 30,000, so it is not as simple as “fitting coilovers”. You need to decide what you are trying to fix.
If it is too bouncy, or too firm, or too jittery, or too low, or looks like a 4x4, or… you need to decide what the problem is that needs addressing and then seek advice. If you are happy with how it is now - then great! No need to do anything except smile and enjoy.
I had an NC Sport Tech and found the standard set up absolutely fine, my view is coil overs would be detrimental to comfort big time.
My NA has quality coil overs and even on their softest and highest setting they are far too rigid for comfort on the road, apart from very smooth, new tarmac.
If you plan track days, then that is in my book the only reason to fit them.
They benefit you but not your wallet, pay on average between £500-£800 for a decent set up. Ok the sky’s the limit on how much you want to pay, that’ll be plus fitting and set up of course.
If the car you are buying has decent suspension then you could well be happy with how it rides and looks. They do look a whole look better lowered though, you don’t have to go silly low, most “coilovers” as in the ones pictured are adjustable for height and some adjustable for comfort, harder/softer ride.
Just priced up a set of Bilstein coil over shocks/lowering springs/bump stops and gaiters for my 2010 Sport Tech PRHT from mx5Parts, excluding top mounts they are £1350 delivered. The replacement coil overs I actually bought, are Meister Club Race ( complete and ready to fit) at £900, quite a difference! Both sets are coil overs, as are ALL suspension units for ALL 5’s. I replaced tired and worn 100k+ miles OEM units for the Meister units. Stiff ride? Yes of course but if I wanted to be wafted along, cosseted by really smooth suspension, I drive the AUDI A6 where I can dial in the comfort setting my 5 is a ‘sports’ car and it gives me great pleasure driving it as such. Firmer, lower, smaller than the AUDI definitely but equally (or more) enjoyable in its own way!
So just to recap, ALL mx5/Eunos iterations have coil overs as standard, replacement OEM or aftermarket units are available but they are all coil overs (coil spring over a damper). Folk can get confused and say I’m having coil overs fitted, well you would be, regardless of their origins, as that’s what these cars come with from the factory!
I happen to like Meister suspension, other brands are available obviously but I’ve had Meister on several 5’s over the years without issue (apart from early version springs used to flake paint off in no time).
Not sure if this is of any help to OP, it’s just my take on things 
Barrie
Thanks Guys.
I think I’ve learned a bit, but most of that might be that l probably don’t need to understand straight off the bat! It’s probably worth getting tyres and alignment checked/sorted first before tinkering with suspension.
Track days are not on the agenda, more like “Driving Miss Daisy”!
at last some sense on this topic, debunking the myth of “upgrading” to coil overs…
My mx5 is 2005 nc sport 2.0 launch edition. Came off the factory with bilstein shock absorbers. The ride was great, but even with new tyres, a precision 4 wheel allignment from Wheels in motion, the handling was unsettling at low speeds, very loose feel, many steering corrections to keep in a straight line until the speed was increased to 80 mph! plus the 4 by 4 look I didnt like much. That is why Lowered my car. First with lowering springs, which were great in improving all of the above. However, being the sport car is much heavier than the 1.8 engined mx5, the car became too low and crashed onto speed humps. That is why i have now MeisterR installed coilovers, they are affordable,
height adjustable and so the car is lower, but only as low as I decide and damping adjustable so I can choose if I want a bouncy suspension of firm or anywere inbetween.
My guess is that the NC2 and above, so in car years 2010 and above, the car was manufactured low in stance so the steering problems were virtually eliminated.
Lower but still quite an arch gap on NC2’s, acceptable though.
Looking at the Venture edition with Bilsteins earlier this year I was thinking, yep still needs going a touch lower.
It’s all to do with how you want the car to handle and look and your tastes and driving comfort.
Isn’t the point, which hasn’t been made very explicitly here, that with these aftermarket suspension units the usual reason to fit is adjustability, principally of ride height and damping?
It is of course possible to make things worse as well as better. Fortunately I like my car as it is.
Explicitly enough, imho.
As well as the fact that adjustability brings with it, as you say, as much opportunity to make things worse as better.
You’re right, mid-thread.
