Loved my NB. It was a 2001 model. Bought it in 2007 and sold it in 2009. It was a lovely car and I was fastidious in keeping it tip-top.
However, a few years after I sold it, I heard it needed quite a lot of cutting and welding because of rust.
Please, please be extra vigilant if buying a NB because of rust. If you can, have it independently inspected by one of the MX-5 specialists who will know exactly where to check around the car.
Apologies if I sound like a scaremonger but NBs seem to be relatively worse, compared to NAs and NCs. Any mechanical and electrical issues are a minor irritation compared to buying a rusty example of a NB.
I went to see lots of cars before buying my NC, every NB I viewed was in my view scrap ( some looked good at first sight but were awful underneath).
The NC’s are more of a mixed bag, mine was only just over £4k, 34000 miles and very good underneath.
I viewed more good NC’s than bad.(although you get used to asking the right questions before you view a car)
The suspension on the NC looks much more modern, and not that much different to a Caterham, everything can be changed on CAM’s, front and rear camber, caster, toe etc.
Drive several but make sure you drive an NC with modified suspension (at least springs).
Good advice from everyone i see. However the main enemy of the MX5 is rust. I was lucky and found a 2009 2.0 in Cooper red from a club member …the underside is in good rust free order. Many of these cars glitter on top but i recommend what every you buy view the underside…Good luck.
So i have a 2009 PRHT - It has meisters and cobra race. Did it all together - the car is completely different now. The garage i use is a mx5 specialist. He said if the car comes with bilsteins then its coilovers but if its black suspension then springs can make a huge difference with coilovers needed.
I went for the BBR 200 plus lowered springs and brakes from BBR 2 years ago and have been not disappointed. Quite a cost but worth it i say. Major uplift in acceleration which just pushes on at greater speeds than before. I have a mk3 2011 Kendo in Dolphin Grey and the car sits closer to the road and handles superb on the country roads around Ribble valley / west yorkshire. I never drove a caterham but have driven boxers and Z4’s. Def guess you’ll experience a big difference. i would have no hesitation in recommending. If you live anywhere up north id be happy to let you have a spin in mine.
Looking at the base models for a fair comparison, NC 1.8 soft top is 1080kg. The NB 1.8 soft top immediately preceding it was 1065kg. The NB had an extra few bhp but torque is almost identical.
I had an NA then an NC. The NC drives very similarly but with fewer rattles and much better gearing (I had a UK NA, not one of the undergeared JDM versions like the otherwise lovely R-Ltd).
I don’t like the NB at all because of the looks, nor the early NC. The NC’s looks improved when they got rid of the regrettable “Lexus style” tail lights - which every boy racer was fitting to their Saxo - and made the front end a bit more angular.
I have no experience of the ND but I know it’s another 15mm wider, which is a shame for getting it into a garage. The NC is close enough to the door frame for me.
Ha ha. Nope, only had it since March 1st. And got lots of shows lined up and love tinkering to much. Plus the wife would murder me for another purchase lol
Mmmmm could be tempted. Mines a hard top coupe with circa 65k miles but was only speaking to the Mrs over Easter about changing to a Mk 4 soft top version.
Maybe you can contact me off forum for specific details … not sure how?
My dear friend, thank you for your concern but, the brake fluid was refreshed last year. The brakes don’t need bleeding but the clutch slave does - only noticeable when stuck in traffic during hot summer days when the clutch doesn’t disengage properly (bit of clutch drag) and pedal feels spongier than normal. Will do this in a few weeks time when I change the oil filter.
Glad you love your car, very similar to mine. Two questions, re the springs, so was that just the springs and no shocks? I’m tempted by the BBR ones but do you experience any bottoming out? Secondly I’m always tempted by an early 3.2S Boxster or a Z4 coupe. How did they compare to your 5?
Thanks Nick
Boxster S a better car for the UK than a 911 IMHO - we had a 996 and it was driven 1-2-6 mostly, and even the change into 6 was at near licence-losing speeds. Fast, powerful, but not exactly fun - the surge of torque was always nice tho. Not flickable, either. Boxster can use all the gears, can throw it around (within reason, it’s snappy on the limit), and had easy power. But damned expensive to run - cost me a refreshed suspension, engine rebuild, IMS seal issues, etc etc and that was for a good one. All consumables had the Porsche premium.
MX5 is simpler, cheaper, slower, but as much fun and as challenging to drive well. Not as quick, but at least as entertaining. Z4 only driven an earlier one and didn’t like to overly much - dead steering and a bit unbalanced, but the later ones are supposedly better.