Good morning all,
Looking at purchasing either an NB or NC for use this summer. Always been an admirer of them, but having an occasional driver wasn’t possible until recently.
Could you boost my trust score so I can PM in case anything suitable appears in the for sale section please
Thanks
Simon
Good morning,
Do your research , NB and NC will suffer rust, some more than others.
Drive both if possible, then go with the one that suits.
The forum is a hive of knowledge and experience.
Don’t be afraid to ask advise on any subject.
Welcome. Post a few more times on some other relevant threads, and the PM function will unlock 
Also worth stating a budget in this thread. Best of luck with the search.
Perfect thank you all. Nice and welcoming!!
I think NC will be the one I’ll go for as want it to be as reliable as possible. Just need to try and find a decent one for £5k ish, as don’t want to end up blowing money on fixing rust sports etc…
Seems like a lot of good content on here on what to look for.
Is the NC still fairly easy to tinker with? I assume the NB will be more so given the age. I miss having something I can work on myself when needed.
It’s worth trying a few examples locally, to help pinpoint which version suits you best. The NC is still a good platform to work on and tinker with, in my view.
And of course in the NC you have the option of soft top or retractable hard top (often referred to as the PRHT - Power Retractable Hard Top - if you see that mentioned on here). Then engine size and spec to consider - plenty to think about 
Good luck with the search, they are great cars. For most of us the most difficult task is to keep out head in charge.
NB’s are probably best value as they aren’t as cute as the NA and they look a bit limp compared to the NC. They also have some bulletproof engines and more spare parts that you can ever need so cheap as chips.
Hi and welcome. As a new owner myself of an NC2 I can say they are great fun. I too missed tinkering, I’ve inherited some rust issues but enjoyed cleaning the underside, changing a few bits that needed it and then not enjoyed spending some money on inevitable welding!
Like you I’ve had a warm welcome here and there are some amazing people to help you and advise!
If you’re buying one, get under it and tap away… a lot!
Mods wise, most people change the suspension (I’m about to go Meister with mine), performance mods seem to be exhaust manifold decat and a remap, neither have to be expensive.
Great to have you here and good luck!
Your budget will buy a very nice NC with low miles if you keep your eyes open and are willing to travel and see some bad ones on the way.
Just watch out for rust !.
Plus all the usual problems on an old used car.
I sold my old NC a couple of weeks ago which fell inside your budget and was well sorted.
Hi Simon,
I have just advertised our lovely NC in the For Sale section - it is a 2006 2 litre Sport, and has covered just under 38,000 miles. It is in excellent condition, and only for sale because we currently have two MX5’s, and my husband says we don’t need it, although I am not sure I agree?!
Perhaps that might be of interest?
JMK
ND owner here, but have owned an NB in the past. Nothing against the NC but suggest you don’t rule out an NB. Some may suggest the NB isn’t as cute as the NA and looks a bit limp (whatever that means); I would disagree with that, beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all. Prices vary according to condition, as you would expect. Rust is an issue for both models so you will need to tread carefully. This one advertised on Car & Classic gives you an idea of what’s available for your budget. The MoT history looks clean. I would choose an NB over an NC myself.
Hi, If you are looking for a good NC, being an NA and NC ownwr myself, you would not go far wrong looking at JMK’s NC that is up for sale around the right budget figure that you have quoted!
I have posted some screengrabs below to assist you, as it looks to be a very genuine MX-5 and the orange advisories when I drill down into them are only minor things such as tyres and brake discs, which have obviously been replaced 
Hi, as a new owner myself of a 2007 NC 2 litre sport I am biased but personally I love the looks of the mk3, flared arches look great and gives the car that little bit of attitude
Rust will be biggest issue on most mx5s so make sure you get a good look underneath, drop the hood and check there is no water sitting on the plastic tray, sign that the drain holes are blocked and full of water, never good
As mine is top of the range it has the better mohair hood, bilstien shocks, full leather etc
Brilliant engine, pulls like a train in any gear which makes it a relaxing drive but boy does it go if you want it to, stiff suspension is great on smooth roads but can rattle your teeth a bit on bumpier stuff ( avoid potholes, mx5 does not like potholes)
Have fun
Thanks all, great advice from all.
I love the idea of adding some lowered suspension, nice sounding exhaust etc… plays to my tinkering days of having a Caterham.
The NB shout is a good one, I love the styling of the ND - but out of budget. The NB feels like one that could be fun to own. I only plan of oa few k’s a year as it will be a second car, but I do get put off by the (probably wrong) view that because it’s older it may breakdown more. My miles will be split between me and the girlfriend (fun if it breaks down) vs me and the kid (not so fun). Hence NC seems a safer bet. I’d also like it not to depreciate - and only cost me the insurance, tax and fuel. NC seems like it will be ok with that - Hence ND doesn’t fit the bill…
Based on comments I need to find a local NB and NC to see what pulls at the heart!
JMK - yours looks amazing, and I think you need to argue harder with the other half!! - but over budget - currently my head is still doing the decision making - I’ll be sure to let you know if that changes - similarly PM me if you decide to drop the price!
I feel with this weekend of sun I need to take the plunge soon to get a good one within budget!!!
