Hio! I am searching for my next MX - a NC Coupe with a metal roof, but I also want the sat nav screen situated where my Kendo has its’ CD and radio controls. The sticky-up satellite screen on the newest edition does nothing for me, and, to be fair, I really love my
Kendo so I’m staying with that body shape. Can anyone please advise the definition / how to use the right words in order to search for this version? Is it ‘Sport Venture’? Also, as I am now looking for sat nav help, anyone have input on the choice of Alpine vs Tom Tom devices?
Thanks Chaps & Chap-esses!
If your current car is in good condition - why don’t you put an aftermarket head unit in to get all the features you want ?
This is a 7" touch screen head unit with adapter facia fitted to a 2006 NC
There’s the Sport Venture coupe with a sat nav unit fitted, earlier ones were Alpine, later ones Tom Tom I believe.
Then you have the Sport Tech and Sport Tech nav in coupe version, soft tops available in both of the above choices.
Personally if I were looking for a PRHT that’s the term for the folding hard top coupe I’d look at the Sport Tech model. Forget the nav version and just get one with a standard or Bose head unit. You can then fit an head unit of your choice, many do it. Did in my last two NC’s, much the same as the picture in the above post.
Kenwood/JVC are a decent brand, along with Pioneer another popular choice. Budget for around an extra £500 to do it, it’s worth it for the choice of navigation options+ music playing choices via apps etc. Look out for the wireless option too, some are connected to your phone via a fly cable (USB) wireless for me was a better option, place the phone in the car and start up, and it’s all there on screen, no cables, except if you need to charge up.
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Excellent advice from Mick. 
The 2012/2013 Sport Tech Nav/Sport Venture has the TomTom.
I have the 2013 PRHT Sport Tech Nav and have done since 2016.
The NVA-SD8110 (TomTom) was rubbish and actually quite impossible to update a few years ago, so Lord knows what it would be like now.
(The map data size has outgrown the SD card size dramatically).
The Alpine unit came after in the 2014 models until close of play.
I use Apple CarPlay (Kenwood) and use the “My Route App”. Yes, it cost for the lifetime maps etc but it actually runs and works like a true satnav.
You can do it monthly or yearly too.
Unlike Google or say Waze as examples.
You can download, plan routes offline and off you go.
Off to Spain soon with pre planned route’s.
Both the Alpine and TomTom/Sanyo units are now well over 10 years old. Map updates are either not available or prohibitively expensive.
The technology has also moved on considerably since then - as other have said, much better to fit a new head unit.
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Wow. That looks very smart! And it is exactly what I want. Also reminds me that my '11 has 4 air vents on the dashboard and it seems one of them got lost in the next edition. BUT there’s always some sort of ‘but’ I am only selling/trading my Kendo for an MX with a metal top.
Thanks CBR
What a great idea! Never thought of that as while I do know some stuff about my engine,
electronics is waaaay out of my bailiwick; I do know who could accomplish that install tho.
Thanks game-changing guy! I mean, MickAP 
Well thanks, Pimpernel. I guess we will see you here, or there… or … Happy trails!
And thanks too to Philip. I think you all have helped me to make a wonderful decision.
Will report in in due course. Cheers!
I can see the attraction of a PRHT.
Same applies - forget what stereo is fitted as std - just find the very best condition car your budget allows.
That 7" unit in mine was under £300 ( DIY install )
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“ Hio! I am searching for my next MX - a NC Coupe with a metal roof, but I also want the sat nav ”
Just to clarify, the PRHT is not metal. It’s described as resin so basically a plastic although its operating arms are metal and I suspect there maybe a metal frame in the resin.
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Have you thought of learning how to use a map. Far superior means of navigation.
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I find the map blocks my view of the road. 
For me - the use of “tech” is to make life easier.
Yes I can read and navigate by map.
I can even follow tulip diagrams and navigation prompts.
BUT
Both of those need a co-pilot and neither of them can tell me about closed roads or traffic jams.
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I’ve actually got both, sat nav and paper map in the car but I find the paper map doesn’t tell me where to go, which is annoying 
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good to know ta
Yes, it’s horses for courses isn’t it. The lazy/just want to get from A to B person will use a SatNav. The more adventurous (which i assumed most MX5 drivers would be) will use a map every time. Try and plan an interesting route on country back roads with a SatNav, almost impossible. As I said, horses for courses, there is room for both.
I use Calimoto like I do on the bike.
Lets me plan ahead - exactly where I want to go - just like you would with a map - then I just follow the directions.
OR
Go and get completely lost in the middle of the country without a care about where you are.
Then use a satnav to find a garage - or a chuck waggon - or the basic direction for home.
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Blimey, hardly lazy more sensible and practical.
Nope, My Route App allows you to plan and go wherever you want, on any type of road, lane, mountain pass or whatever.
You can then “concentrate” in safety and enjoy the driving.
It’s interesting that Rally Drivers utilise a co driver and not read the map/route/instructions themselves……
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I usually input my destination into the sat nav and if going on an unknown route look at a map. If I am unsure of which route to take when driving I activate the sat nav in good time. Otherwise use it probably just for the last few miles of my journey for unfamiliar road turns.
Geez, you guys! I thought I was pretty ‘adventurous’ going from West coast Scotland to the rally at Compton Verney WITHOUT a satnav. It was no fun schlepping around Wolverhampton and I will not do that type of adventure again. When I had a wee company in Manc/r in the '90’s I loved ‘mapping’ my way around Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffs for over 11 years. Yes. Have phone but not up to date enough to help with nav. So. Back to looking for my ‘new’ hardtop MX. Cheers!
Sorry for sidetracking your thread KendoGirl. If you have a look here https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertising-location=at_cars&aggregatedTrim=Sport%20Venture&make=Mazda&model=MX-5&moreOptions=visible&postcode=iv1%201da&sort=relevance
this may help in your search.