Mx5 Models, compare and contrast

Buying a ‘5 and Insurance advice Buying Advice
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 This is an edited version of a document from the Australian forum, scream and shout if you want, it can be modified to Uk tastes[;)]

 

 

 

First Generation – NA Mk1

NA6 89-late 93 Mk1
The original, the most raucous. Equipped with a 1.6l DOHC Inline 4 producing 85kW around 114 bhp, pushing a one tonne roadster, and a throwback to the simple days of motoring.

Pros
Simplicity - Maintenance is always the simplest on the NA6.
The Exhaust note - a highly subjective issue, but most people agree the exhaust note was the sweetest in the stable.

Cons
Rarity - Need to put in the hard yards to find one in good condition nowadays, but it isn’t impossible, they are 16 years old at the least and most spend their lives being driven after all.
Creature Comforts - Not comfortable (by todays standards) and definitely not a car for those who want to be pampered

LWSC - Some owners have reported Short Nose Crank failure (especially on imported Eunos models) which is fully detailed on the parent forum, but in effect, every early model (ie pre July 1991) NA6 has a potential to need an Engine change or a new crankshaft if LWSC strikes. In some cases, repairs may be effected to the crankshaft, but the longevity is variable, depending on the extent of the damage, and the quality of the repair. LWSC is an unofficial term, coined by enthusiasts, and not by Mazda.

Suits: Traditionalists and the old fashioned, people who appreciated the days of the old British sports car but also the reliability, Also a very good starting point for the DIY warrior but perhaps not a fair representation of what motoring is like today engineering wise

NA8 93 – 97 Mk1 1.8
Perhaps a more grown up NA6

Pros
An Enhanced NA6 - Bigger brakes, Bigger engine, Stiffer Chassis among the regular evolutionary enhancements
Power - The MX5 now has the BP ZE 1.8l engine with 98kW 128-135 bhp depending upon the year (post July 1995, a higher compression engine was fitted, generating more power).

The NA8 also comes with strengthened differential, axles and driveshaft
Creature Comforts - Power steering become less widespread for the MX5 at this point in the generation; prior to the introduction, virtually all UK MX5s and imported Roadsters had power steering. Post-introduction, the UK Mazda importers decided to make PAS effectively an option, by introducing the S-trim level. For Roadsters, PAS continued to be virtually standard, except for some extremely rare factory clubman editions.

Cons
Rarity - Not as extreme as the NA6, but similar case, they are old, and they are driven
Comfort - Still not a car to choose if you’re used to the modern day comfortable car

Suits: Very good as a tuning base be it at street or club racer level, those who want the purity of the original NA6 but with a little more ability
Addendum the NA MX5 has the most added lightness, tipping the scales at 980kg dry <v:shapetype coordsize=“21600,21600” path=“m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe” filled=“f” stroked=“f” id="_x0000_t75"><v:stroke joinstyle=“miter”></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn=“if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0”></v:f><v:f eqn=“sum @0 1 0”></v:f><v:f eqn=“sum 0 0 @1”></v:f><v:f eqn=“prod @2 1 2”></v:f><v:f eqn=“prod @3 21600 pixelWidth”></v:f><v:f eqn=“prod @3 21600 pixelHeight”></v:f><v:f eqn=“sum @0 0 1”></v:f><v:f eqn=“prod @6 1 2”></v:f><v:f eqn=“prod @7 21600 pixelWidth”></v:f><v:f eqn=“sum @8 21600 0”></v:f><v:f eqn=“prod @7 21600 pixelHeight”></v:f><v:f eqn=“sum @10 21600 0”></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok=“t”></v:path><o:lock aspectratio=“t”></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape alt=":lol:" type="#_x0000_t75" style=“width: 11.25pt; height: 11.25pt;” id="_x0000_i1025"><v:imagedata src="/C:DOCUME~1GeoffLOCALS~1Tempmsohtml11clip_image001.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape><o:p></o:p>

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Second Generation – NB Mk2

NB8A 98 - 00
A more modern evolution of the MX5 mantra, younger, stronger, more comfortable, but nothing the lesser for it

Pros
Safety - Introduced Airbags as standard
Performance - Enhanced BP engine now puts out 106kW 140 bhp (thereabouts)
Comfort - Much less harsh than the original NA, more sound deadened, comfier. With the introduction of the NB8A also came the introduction of the glass rear window soft top, some say it was a blessing to the rest of the MX5 stable as roof lowering is fully able to be a one arm, stop light affair. A 6-speed gearbox was available on some UK models, and many Roadsters.

Cons
The MX5 is starting to grow up, driving experience is starting to soften up (it just won’t feel as fast as an NA to some)

Suits: Those who are worried about the NA ownership experience (mainly concerns to do with age) but still like the visceral nature of MX5 motoring

NB8B 00 - 03 Mk2.5
Another evolutionary step for the MX5, small tweaks leading to big differences

Pros
Engine power has been bumped up to 113kW 155 bhp thanks to the addition of valve timing control
Addition of 6th speed in gearbox gives the power transmission a greater range of flexibility

ABS is now standard as well and also similarly to the NA6 compared to NA8 argument, has bigger brakes (Sport model only), better seats, brighter lights, the addition of foglamps and additional chassis strengthening over the NB8A

Along with the additional chassis strengthening, a front suspension strut tower brace is added, it is equipped with a better stereo system and more useable cup holders
Also '02 year cars and later, are OBDII (on board diagnostic) compatible
Some have argued that this was the best of the breed in terms of the mass produced MX5s, Best Motoring claims that the NB8B represents the MX5 that Mazda Japan was always aiming for and finally had produced in terms of driving experience and dynamics
Cons
As Mk2<o:p></o:p>

Suits: For the more discerning taste, for those who have grown out of the juvenile character of the NA<o:p></o:p>

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Third Generation – NC Mk3

NC no model change to date 05 - present
A complete revamp of the MX5 mechanicals, but with as much as possible adherence to original philosophy

Pros
Newest, still perfectly possible to be under factory warranty
Much more comfortable than previous iterations of MX5, suspension and damper settings
Now with a 2.0 MZR putting out 118kW 160 bhp. Note European NCs have significantly different gearing from the ROW.
Even more capable than previous generations of MX5 with subtle suspension tweaks as it has the most recently honed dynamics
Easiest MX5 to live with with auto being widespread and the option of powered plastic roof
Also '07 models onwards come with Traction control and Dynamic Stability control as standard, making emergency management of the MX5 just that… much more manageable

Cons
Questionable suspension settings from factory, some were just not adjusted right, many motoring publications state that suspension behaves in a very unsettled manner, but easily sorted with a good wheel alignment
Driving experience much more muted compared to previous generations of MX5, definitely not as raw

Suits: Those who are looking for the newest possible representation of the MX5 mantra, much more diluted over the years, but no less able.

Note: this has been obviously written by a NB-FL owner, who’s discerning taste is questionable.

3

 Whats a kW?[;)] We’re still Mimperial up here.

 

Aircon statement irrelevant.  Some very bad grammer and cut off sentences.

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I know what a Kilowatt is, but what’s Mimperial?[;)], I thought they were mints!!

Aircon? Bad grammer, mmm better than a lot of the posts on here Andy, if you want to edit anything please feel free to do so

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Enjoyable read - how’s your “juvenile” Mk1 then boys? [;)]

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 I wouldn’t know if all the facts and figures are right (I’m new to it all), but I found it a very interesting read[:D]

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 Mine is beautiful [;)]

Enjoyable read   - we all have our preferences I am sure but there is no such thing as a bad 5 regardless of MK

Owning 2 Mk1’s and haven driven  MK2’s often and MK3’s briefly I would say the comments were fair.

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Having now owned all three marks I would say it is broadly true but off-base on some things. [:P]

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 Metric-Imperial; we buy petrol by the litre, but measure consumption by the (Imperial) gallon. Will edit for you.

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A couple of things apply to the Aus market as I understand it more so than uk.

e.g. I dont think the higher compression 1.8 mk1 95-97 engine was available in the uk?

Happy to be wrong and it wasnt on all roadsters either???  Some other bits but most broadly pretty accurate and a good startign point for many people. :slight_smile:

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Thanks for the comments Jon, it is intended as a place to start for someone asking the question, Which MX5 should I buy?

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Hi Geoff, didn’t
mean to be negative at all.<o:p></o:p>

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It’s a nice
piece and covers a lot of info in an appropriate level of detail.<o:p></o:p>

To often
you see these sort of things getting too hung up on the details on the
exceptions of one model or another.<o:p></o:p>

13

 Very interesting read.

How come Mk 1s are described as “rare” in Australia? After all, Oz is only just down the road from Japan compared with the U.K. and they both drive on the right (i.e. correct)  side of the road. Maybe you can enlighten us Geoff?

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G’day Sword

You need to remember the size of the place, here’s a pic that shows the UK in relation to QLD where I live

The total population of Australia is about 20 million, so pretty thinly spread out around the coast. The first cars to come into Australia were very similar to the UK editions  and out of all the Mk 1s there were only 196 Mariner blue cars imported into Australia. Because of the climate, there are a number of 1989 cars that look as if they have just come out of the showroom, no sign of rust anywhere on the car, and that incldes suspension components etc.

Here’s one of the 196 Mariner cars on e bay $7500 = £3347 at todays exchange rate.

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 I take your point about the comparative sizes of the two countries Geoff but that would make all models rare. I can see that in such a vast country a 5 might not be the best choice as a daily driver unless you are in a city (lack of luggage space etc.) but are two seat sports cars as popular / desirable there as they are here or is it all big Yank type muscle cars?

     Chris.

 

 

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Ford Falcons and the big Holden Commodore saloons are the cars of choice. Open top cars are quite popular, but between December and end of February it’s really too hot to go out in a convertable. Temperatures are in the mid 40 deg in the direct sun, and even with facror 30 you still burn up. Night time and early morning drives are very popular, I occasionally do a club run which starts at 06:00 and finishes at about 10:30 with a good breakfast somewhere in the middle

Heres a link the the Commodores, you work out the Kilowatt=HP[;)]

and here’s a Falcon link. The other vehicles predominant on the QLD roads are what are refered to as Utes. I think in the UK they are refered to as truck cabs, here’s a pic of my old Holden UTE [179BHP and a V6 4.3 litres, so much torque it would probably have gone straight up a wall!!]

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UK and JDM

The early 1.8 with chrome nuts on the rocker cover (and decent carpet) has an actual CR of 8.8:1

The later one without chrome bolts (and poverty spec carpet) has a CR of 9:1

The difference is the pistons

18

 Thanks for that Geoff. It must seem really weird not being able to use your 5 in summer!

 Are you allowed to import Eunos from Japan or are there are too many restrictions? That’s what I meant when I said that Oz was only down the road.

 Also, those big pick-ups etc. must use a fair bit of petrol, especially bearing in mind the long distances you haev to travel. Does that mean your petrol prices are low?

        Chris.

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Hi Chris

Until about 4 years ago, personal imports were only allowed for someone like me who was emmigrating. Then the rules were relaxed somewhat, even so every car gas to go through the equivalent if the UK SVA test, a roadworthy test and any mods have to be checked by an engineer for safety compliance. So my car has about 4 blue labels on the engine bulkhead.Petrol is cheap compared to the UK, currently at the servo down the road it’s 114.5/litre, that’s in A$ here in QLD there is a susidy on petrol as well, in NSW the price is typically 5-10 cents/litre more

PS my ute does about 15mpg[:$][;)]

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 So, for three months of the year it’s too hot to put the hood down and petrol is almost half price.   [:S]

  I think I see why you moved!!    [:D][ip]  

         Chris