I’m with you Chris
I would have bought a MK.1 at the time but needs meant a 4 seater was an essential. Luckily when I was able to go for a 2 seater in 2014 the Mk.4 had just been previewed, so I waited and was one of the first 1000 to pre-order one. Had the Mk.4 looked like just another variation on the original, as were the Mk.2 and MK.3, I wouldn’t have bothered because good cars as they undoubtedly were they just didn’t have the “Wow” factor looks that the Mk.1 did, and love it of hate it the Mk.4 does.
You do have a valid point there my friend.
I’m sure Mazda have picked up lots of new customers simply because the ND looks so different from what has gone before. I just can’t bring myself to ‘love’ the shape though.
I believe that in Japan Mazda are remaking Mk.1s now. Only problem is that they are more expensive than a new Mk.4. Might be interesting to see just how many they do.
[quote=Warbird]
And just think if I could get a brand new MK1 I would know all the rust areas so could sort it before I even drove it, just have to put up with my 27 year old banger untill they relaunch the MK1.
That’s a lovely car
Can’t believe people would buy an NA over an ND or a 124 Spyder.
Things have moved on so much since then. The new cars have loads of electronics and sensors, electric power steering, banging stereos, blind spot monitoring, ABS, traction control, heated seats, sat nav etc etc.
In an NA you can’t hear the radio over the sound of the engine revving, you are on your own with controlling the car without any aids, you feel every bump and change in the road surface, it’s all so basic…
… and perfect.
Good point, well made.
Still missing my '93 Eunos
Well said Sir
The ND is much nearer in character to the NA than to the new 124 primarily because the 124 has a turbocharged engine.
I actually like the retro looks of the 124, except for the daft ‘spectacles’ DRLs, but the 1.4 Multi Air engine means it has as much in common with a Fiat 500X as an MX5.
Admitting that I haven’t driven the 124, I have driven enough euroboxes with small turbo petrols and whilst they are easy to drive, and provide a much bigger margin of power in normal ‘lazy’ driving, they are no substitute for the unblown engine in the MX-5 - whose economy, it also turns out, often exceeds the official figures.
Most manufacturers for the European market have bet the farm on these engines because they can perform very well on the standardised emissions and economy tests. In the real world the economy experienced by consumers is not untypically 30% worse than the official figures. If the tests are successfully redesigned so as more successfully to predict real usage, then they will be missing their targets catastrophically.
The 1.5 Skyactiv-G engine is just fabulous, and instantly responsive. If Mazda had used the Multi Air I would not even have considered buying one.
The Abarth makes sense in relation to the 124. It is not a faster MX-5.
I completely get the purity of the MX-5 NA/NB. I had a Mk2 for 6 years. But if I can have the character in a car with more safety, phone integration, navigation etc then I will. It won’t be a 124 however.
An interesting way this thread is going - well done gentlemen, keep the comments coming. They illustrate perfectly the different opinions and thought processes of the variety of MX-5 owners.
The NA was / is undoubtedly a beautiful-looking car - just check out Warbird’s pictures, and Don T’s classic red example is a joy to behold. Of course it did have a first-class mentor for its body styling - the 1960s Lotus Elan ! Many people love the ‘basic purity’ of this version of the 5, with its lively, seat-of-the-pants driving experience too.
The NB and NC versions were progressively more ‘civilised’, and probably attracted the marque to many more potential owners, who perhaps wouldn’t normally have considered a ‘sports’ car, simply because of the perceived lack of comfort. Modern creature comforts did appear though, and my NC has 6-CD Bose stereo, heated leather seats, air conditioning (climate control), an electrically-retractable hard top (PRHT), power steering, electric windows and central locking with an alarm.
Getting back to the Fiat 124 for a second: the Fiat web site has a lovely 3/4 rear-view photograph of the new 124 Spider on it, and it does indeed look a stunning car from this angle - I’m sure many people would say that this is the shape the ND should have been ! However, when the front end is shown, to my eyes it seems to lose a lot of its aesthetic appeal - I hate the ugly double grills. In fact a few months ago, an OC member ‘modified’ the front end in Photoshop, and to me it looked much better.
It is also interesting how, judging by some comments, 21st century drivers have quickly become accustomed to modern driving aids and ‘toys’ - sat navs, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, traction control etc etc, and would not like to go back to the ‘old days’ when none of these things were available.
Mazda have seemingly tried to get back to the NA ethos with the ND, but incorporated 21st century body styling, and all the modern toys that drivers crave these days, which will probably attract more new customers to the marque. Let’s hope so, because if the ND does not do so well, there may not be an NE ! Having said that, I suppose they could just adopt the 124 Spider body shape for the NE ! But please Mazda, ‘pretty-up’ the front end first !
So, what would be your perfect MX-5 ? An NA with the 2.0L Skyactiv engine, and all the modern ‘toys’ and creature comforts that today’s drivers cherish ? Now there’s a thought…
Interesting points there Chris. At the moment,having only owned it for 6months,I would have to say that my perfect 5 is parked outside my front door. Supreme blue mk 2.5.
We all have different preferences when it comes to most things. I prefer to let the more fashion conscious ones take the depreciation ‘hit’ when it comes to cars because it allows me to own more than one car for my money.
I don’t necessarily want ‘bells and whistles’. My favourite car has no power steering, no ABS, not even a brake servo. It has no side windows or rear screen. It has no radio (you wouldn’t be able to hear it if it did). It’s noisy, smelly and very cramped inside. It also has no boot storage for luggage - if you want luggage it has to be no bigger than a carry on airline bag, or it goes in a waterproof bag and gets strapped on the back, above the spare wheels.
It runs on 135/95/16 cross ply tyres, which can make the handling very exciting.
It has a one litre engine (but it’s supercharged).
I built the whole thing myself and this weekend we’ve just driven around 450 miles in it. It will go places no MX-5 would ever go because it has the same ground clearance as a Land Rover.
It’s doubled in value since I built it fifteen years ago and there is a waiting list to buy second hand ones.
Hi Team
i think the fiat 124 is really ugly.no way would i have brought one,i have the N.d which i think is very nice,the fiat to me looks very fat certainly the front end and the rear,it looks bloated,i think to mainly to try to appeal to the american market.Also i most def prefer the 2 Litre mazda engine over the turbo charged fiat engine,it drives lovely pulls very well,fuel consumption is amazing,very often think it must be running on air.
Simon
Your ‘favourite’ car sounds intriguing Paul - tell us more please, and perhaps posts some pictures.
If true then sounds a bit like what happened with the MGB, although that was an independent manufacturer that ‘recreated’ the MGB GT as a limited edition to celebrate the 50th anniversary. They basically took an original shell, smoothed out the panel joins etc and then loaded it up with all modern equipment, including a MX5 engine! They were charging £50k for each (limited run of 50). I’ve seen several and though they look nice there’s no way I would ever pay that kind of money even if I could afford it. I hope that if Mazda are remaking the NA they try and keep it as close to the original spec as they can and just improve the build quality. If they modernise it too much it will just be a caricature of the original. Oh, and I wouldn’t buy one anyway as I much prefer the NB and NC!
Here’s more on the Frontline MG LE50
http://www.frontlinedevelopments.com/vehicle/mg-le50/
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/driven-mg-le50 (ignore that it’s Top Gear - it’s written by Paul Horrell, very respected motoring writer & journalist over more than two decades).
As for Mazda ‘remaking’ Mk1s - not true. From 2018 they are (for Japanese customers only) offering a ‘full factory restoration’ to as-new standard - certified by TÜV Rheinland. http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/mazda/mx5/5708/mazda-to-offer-mk1-mx-5-restorations-in-japan
Steve
Thank you for the links Steve. I had never heard of either of these ‘projects’ - very interesting.
Although I’m sure the MGB LE50 will be an improvement on the original, I can’t help thinking that the 1960s quirks and shortcomings are probably viewed as part of their charm - or is that being rather perverse ?
The price too is quite hefty - £57,000.00 - ouch ! Looks good though - can I have chrome wire wheels please ?
Another beauty!
Here’s a link: https://liegecars.co.uk/
Thanks for the link Paul - that looks like some wonderful dirty fun !
Can’t take your 5 on that kind of run ! Wouldn’t want to !