Interesting - DAB round here can be iffy so I was careful to see if there was any difference in reception . Back to back I found them identical. Maybe some stubby aerials are better than others?
1 Like
I don’t think the long aerial looks in proportion to the rest of the car. It also seems strange that they haven’t managed to integrate the antenna into the windscreen or similar. The shark fin on the American version is used for satellite radio.
@Roadster_Robbie As a side observation my NA had an electrically retractable aerial. Was this a Eunos thing then, and UK ones had a static one? I never used to use the stereo on my NA and just listened to the engine instead, so at least it stayed out of the way!
My Cravenspeed stubby aerial I’ve used on both my NC2 and now ND and works perfectly on FM and DAB. And it looks better (in my eyes at least) and is matched to the width of the base. To me it looks how it should have been from the factory. If they really do still need a physical appendage attached to the bodywork, at least make it look as svelte as possible.
Other car clubs seem to have this as a ‘thing’ as well. The E89 Z4 lot certainly have a very present group of members who believe it should be a hangable offence to switch away from the OEM long aerial!
Cheers,
Steve
I really like my standard aerial on my NC
actually, It needs replacing atm as the rubber is perishing
Back in the seventies I had a couple of cars (vans actually) with “coat-hanger aerials”.
Now that would be truly retro 
4 Likes
I like my standard long aerial. Always give it a little flick with the hand before I get in 
1 Like
Very safe if a hurried installation preserving the classic look of having been a squashed coat hanger, much less chance of losing an eye.
Ah, but, did you take the time and careful effort to straighten it out? (!)
I like that idea. Especially if it works OK with DAB too. I’d be jealous. Is there an amplifier involved in the current design?
The stubby things will work with a strong signal. I like to listen to the wireless wherever.
The shark fin in the US is for satellite radio that we do not have.
Was walking back to my car, parked in St Ann’s Square area of Belfast to find someone standing “twanging” my aerial (standard) whilst talking on his mobile ‘phone…….
I interrupted his call…….
7 Likes
I’ve just fitted a stubby aerial today after seeing one on another MX5. The only reason was that I liked the look. No problems with reception so far.
Many years ago I fitted a coat hanger aerial on my TR6 but only after cutting it and shaping the two sections into the letters T and R. I then had to make one in the shape of an Opel badge for my sister 
6 Likes
My Eunos had a static steel aerial. The best thing about it was unscrewing it and using it to clean out my hood drain holes.
1 Like
Long aerials? Pah! I’ll give you long aerials.
Reminds me of my " company" first car…a 70’s Bedford Beagle ( Mk1 Viva) 70’s vaaaaaaaan…into which I drilled a big Foff hole in the front wing for the 8 foot glass fibre antenna which was attached to the rear gutter and looked so coolio…man. Also sported a 28 waist and weighed about 10 stone. Did not even have a radio, but I had a Phillips transistor inside for Radio 1…man. All 47 HP of it…God it was dreadful. Think I saw (about) 70 mph out of it once or twice. 4 wheel drums made it “interesting”…
4 Likes
My 1992 Eunos when i bought it a few months ago came with a broken electric aerial, i decided to pay the local mx5 specialist to have it fixed pretty much right after i bought it and i think it was money well spent. Ive always liked how proper aerials looked over the little black stubby ones.
5 Likes
I initially had the stubby aerial on my modifications wish list but eventually grew to like my ND’s original aerial.
When motorway driving and depending on the direction of the sun shining, you can see the shadow of aerial whipping around within the driver-side door mirror 
1 Like
Evening Robbie,
I swopped my NB oem Electric for a stubby and a Digital/fm spliter / Booster to give me a better digital signal reception in and around greater Manchester.
Cheers
Nic
It’s a fishing rod that doubles up as a drain clearer ‘always inspired’. Ours unscrews quite easily and gets stuck in the boot if am cleaning or parked for a while near any potential grubby tackers
Dunno…something kinda cool with long Aerials [hopefully uploaded pic of my late lamented Triumph Spitfire MK IV]
Recently the retractable aerial on my 2005 NB 2.5 1.8 Icon stopped working so WD 40 it. No change.
Spoke to mechanic re replacing it with Stubby. Meanwhile parking her with her back to a wall in a safe corner so no eejit would come and snap off her long aerial.
Then noticed aerial retracted when I ejected a CD AND THEN SUDDENLY aerial started retracting as normal on ignition
[There is no way Bullit heard my conversation with mechanic re replacement with a Stubby]
And if you have a Stubby it can be harmed by passing eejit
So prefer my retractable long aerial on the NB now it’s working again and the radio is good enough for me
3 Likes
The Miata pic above has a shark fin and a long aerial. I assumed the shark fin would replace the other. So why are both required?
As said in my earlier reply, the boot shark fin is for satellite radio on American cars.
1 Like
My NC lives under a cover, the stubby aerial makes it easier.