I got my NC at around the same time as Keat63 and for much the same reasons. I love the NA but didn’t really want a car that old as I am no mechanic. In my opinion, the NB is the most “feminine” looking of all, and i preferred the more muscular look of the NC with its flared arches and no little kick up on the boot lid. Having had mine (a 2.0 Sport) now for two years, if I could go back I’d do exactly the same again. It’s fantastic fun and never fails to put a smile on my face. I can drop the roof in about three seconds and get it back up and a tad more. I’ve added Eibach 30mm lowering springs and a Tony Banks custom exhaust, both of which have made a noticeable difference. If I can scrape together the money, I’m also looking at a trip to BBR and potentially a new front end from MX5 Parts. For me that’s the best part about any MX5, you can really make it your own.
Think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. Personal opinion here, the Mk1 looked good whatever the colour. Pretty much the same for the Mk2. The Mk3 put a bit of weight on and rounded out quite a lot. The 3.5 and 3.75 sharpened things up a bit and the Mk4 even more so.
The colour needs to be right on the Mk3 to show off the curves otherwise it can look a bit (next word is yours not mine) frumpy. I love mine in Radiant Ebony Mica, almost black in some lights. Anything dark or deep metalic suits it.
Nothing worse than a great big beer gut in a tight white T shirt. Stick on a nicely tailored dark suit and you can get away with it!
Think a cold shower is in order here. Any references on this forum about the car feeling good when the tail comes out have a totally different meaning to the way you are going.
Wish you well with your search for a Mk3. But I hope you don’t land with one of the majority of Mk3’s which generate the magnetic field around the driver’s door area. I’m told it’s harmless and perfectly safe. All it does is clamp the driver’s arm within the cockpit so he/she can never wave at another MX-5 driver.
I have probably got the updated version of this then with the reverse magnetic pole because my arm will not stay still when I encounter any MK of MX5
How very dare you! I’ll agree that the majority of Mk3 owners don’t wave but the majority of Mk3 members aren’t in the club or on the forum.
One Mk3 owner here proud to be a waver.
P.S. Can the forum technical whizzos please give us a waving emoticon.
we ALWAYS wave from our Mk3
I’m on my second mk3 and I’ve loved them both. I took the mk4 for a test drive and didn’t like it as much as I thought I would, although I did think it was very good and will probably buy one when my mk3 gets dog-eared. I thought the mk4 was great until I got back into my mk3 and drove into London with the roof down. It was then that I realised how much I love my mk3.
My MK3 has the waving mod installed.
Look what I found.
I have owned a very basic UK 1.6 NA, great fun, lovely revvy engine and drove like a go cart.
Then an early 1.8 NB, more refined and felt more solid, but for me did not feel so exciting as the NA.
Now have a 13 reg NC, 1.8 Venture Edition. Definitely more refined than the previous models, more comfortable for our now ageing bones but still drives as a 5 should. Personally would not want to return to the previous models.
Had a long test drive in a 2.0 ND. Very nice but not so good that I would want to change…yet.
I’ve had a Eunos (still have it in spirit but is now an Exocet, long story that my son Toby would be happ to explain ) and 2 mk3’s (.75?) ( Sport Graphite and 25th Anniversary) now onto a Mk4. The Eunos and the Mk4 are cars that I found any excuse to get in and drive, the mk3s were fun and quick but interestingly I didn’t quite get the same feeling. As lots of people have said its down to personal preference.
My wife asked me what I wanted for Father’s day and I said a Eunos, maybe that gives you an idea of what to do
(Pre-Preordered the FB and can’t wait looks awesome).
Yup, that’s the one we need
I bought a Brilliant Black 2006 Mk3 2.0i in April this year and can honestly say it’s the most fun, best loved car I’ve ever owned (84 of over 45 years).
What do I like ? Well, apart from the classic, curvy, muscular good looks. It’s a hoot to drive, handles like a go-kart, plenty of poke, refined and comfortable, even
on poor road surfaces. I love it so much I keep buying it little pressies such as interior & exterior chrome, new tyres, brake discs, pads, rubber floor mats edged with red embroidery, special polish and lovely soft micro fibre polishing cloths. Oh dear, I’m smitten.
Actually the Mk3 driver wave thing never occurred to me until now, but yeah I have never been waved to by a Mk3 owner, but I see a guy in a Mk1 every time I drive my Mk2 who waves and I wave back!
Guess its because Mk3s are in the majority owned by middle aged women-still- whereas Mk2s now are almost exclusively in the hands of enthusiasts. I am sure in time the middle aged house wives will upgrade to Mk4s and the Mk3s will become the preserve of waving loonies
So, I think I have learned this…I would consider a NC, but probably only a 2 litre sport and in the right colour, black being my favourite…
The other thing I am not sure about is this; I believe the Mk3 has a shed load more grip than the Mk2, …does it still move around at reasonable speeds as my Mk2 does on its dinky 15 inch wheels…I guess I really need to drive one and find out!
With 158 bhp and more torque on tap I doubt you’ll be disappointed with the 2 litre whether it’s the Sport or more basic 2.0i Option pack. Try both and see which you prefer.
If you have not driven an NC yet where is your logic as to grip
Drive one before you make uninformed opinions
as you started this post , I’m getting the distinct impression your just trying to get peoples backs up
given your last post,
guess this post is starting to loose interest with people
and rightly so
Just out of interest.
I have owned and driven the MK1, MK2.5 and MK3.
I found all three to offer different ride experiences (imho).
I have found and still find a MK1 to be more raw fun (less refined ) imho.
I liked my MK2.5 but somehow it lost the spirited drive of the MK1 (but I still enjoyed it). The seating position seemed more upright (but I am big guy).
My MK3 (3rd Gen Launch Edition) gave me a load a fund. I found that the MK3 was closest to the MK1 for a spirited drive. The seating position was more akin to a MK1
I drove my MK3 to the South of France and back and did not have one complaint about the ride, handling, grip or sports car appeal…
I think the fact of the matter is…it is very much a personal opinion as what car offers YOU the most fun and meets your needs.
I love them all and have no criticisms of any of the the generations…they are different…they evolve.
I will get my hat…
Is there any need to be quite so rude? Not trying to wind people up at all and everyone else apart from you has joined in the discussion in good spirit. It wasn’t even me who brought up the wave thing I referred to. Uninformed opinion? Am I not allowed a view on this forum then? With bigger wheels and tyres I think it is a fact that the mark three has more grip than the mark two but please do tell me if I am wrong… Like I said I want to drive a mark three and I am certainly not slanging it off!