1 year of MX-5 ownership | What I LOVE and HATE! | MX-5 Owners review

I can't believe it's been a whole year since I picked this car up, and how times have changed so much since then! This is a brief insight into the things that I've learnt about the MX-5 through my ownership of it. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below and I can't wait for another year with this great little car.

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[bluemx]

I'm glad you mentioned people trying to race you.
I get that quite often, usually from some giant Ford F-150. They also seem to enjoy tailgating me. I just throw hairdryers at them til they go away.

[AndyButton]

Hi there, been enjoying your vids since you got the MX-5, thank you for giving me some insight and inspiration while I saved. Finally joined the ranks of ownership yesterday with a black 2008 sport hardtop, very much looking forward to planning road trips in the near future. Keep it up!

[oddyseus]

Have owned MX5s for the last 20 years, all as my daily drivers. Two NAs, one NB and now have a 2012 NC Sport Black. Best cars in the world. I love the MX5 wave but do find it is mainly NAs and NBs that wave back. Never been bothered about the road noise. Did a 450 mile trip up to Yorkshire with the roof down on my last NB and all was fine...did have to have the stereo cranked up a bit. Great video and thank you.

[RobWhittlestone]

Hi Dom, great video! Fully agree that the boot size is not a limitation: my wife & I have driven to France and Italy and we had plenty of room for the luggage we needed. We use it regularly for our weekly shop - there's plenty of room to spare. Ours has air conditioning but I only use it to clear condensation inside or if stuck in traffic in high summer. Agree about top down+windows down - I usually don't put up the windbreak either - then it's really "wind in your hair" motoring. I just wish I had more hair! :-D I like your wheels - what diameter/width/offset are they? Mine is also tail happy in the wet - I've had a few 'moments' so take it easier now. Wheel alignment is important - I just found out that I had multiple flats worn on the rear tyres, so have had an alignment and new tyres. Feel is better overall now. (2009 NC FL Sport in True Red with BBK sport exhaust). I fitted an ILMotorsport short throw gear lever - feel is precise like a surgeon's scalpel now. I had a Pioneer AVIC-F88DAB Naviceiver with CD/USB/SD Card/DAB radio fitted instead of the Bose system - much improved audio and all my music stored as .FLAC on an SD Card. Smug feeling knowing that we NC owners have loads more storage than an ND. I regard my NCFL as a small Grand Tourer in the old sense - quite refined and everyday driveable but a hoot when you put your foot down on the twisties. I also fitted the ILMotorsport combined LED DRL/Foglights by Vinstar. I hate having Xenon headlights on when not dark, so the bright LED daylight running lights are just what I wanted. The previous owner always drove with foglights on, but here it's illegal, strictly speaking. Most other lights are now LEDs including boot, cabin and reverse lamp - they make a big difference. Mods I'm thinking about: coilovers, 18" alloys, big brake kit, but she's very driveable and probably more comfortable without these.
I'm enjoying your content! Please keep up the good work! All the best, Rob in Switzerland

[EnfieldJoe]

Great info. Doing research so that I can be an informed buyer of a used Miata in the near future. Thanks for sharing.

[MegaToe]

I have a 2010 MX5 NC. I bought it 3 months ago and still learning. My new toy. Thanks for the info. May the wind always be at your back.

[daveo]

Keep doing what your doing, me and my daughter love watching your videos, we have black 2.0 and we love it 😍

[PEIVOLILLO]

Great video! I own the 1.8 version and I agree in everything you said! (I have owned mine for half a year).
I use mine as a daily drive and it is fantastic!
Cons I found... There is a tiny leak to the boot when it rains a lot or I wash the car (not coming from the drain holes) and I have a couple of weird noises: one metallic clonk noise when starting the car and another metallic squicky noise when driving....

Appart from that, fantastics car! Keep it up!

[paulhughes]

I've had my MX5 MK3 NC for about 3 months now and I have several mods planned from exhaust, brakes and a few others. So far I'm loving it.

[davidclarke]

Great videos, I've really enjoyed them, I've just fitted a K&N air filter and I can see results ! Sounds better and pulls nice, gains 3 to 5 horse power, you ought to do a video on the difference.

[melvyncrimlis]

I agree with you about the road noise, it's quite noisy even in the retractable hardtop model, and the wet handling. As I used mine as a daily for a while I resorted to all season tyres which helped a bit. However my biggest complaint is the three quarter view when reversible or emerging from a junction that's not at right angles!
I don't have the Bilsteins, mines a Kendo, so I guess the ride might be a bit softer, but that makes it comfortable for a longer trip.
Keep the videos coming, enjoyable and informative.

[divusaugstus]

I’ve had my NC since new (early 2007). It is my daily and only car so it gets wet and dinged in car parks but it is the most satisfying car I’ve owned. Mine is a stock 2 ltr and it’s economical for both fuel and maintenance with the single exception being a non functional power hardtop so it is a full time coupe now much to my disappointment. I hope to find an affordable fix.I find myself still smiling going for milk even after 13 years. I like your vids, keep ‘em coming.

[ADBoufTech]

Loved watching your videos, always top quality content. Can’t beat driving around in my icon edition copper red mx 5 with the weather we’ve had recently

[yankeeyankee]

I like the orange paint jobs I see in this video. Paint is something I haven't heard discussed much. It seems like the possibilities must be endless!

[craigdavies]

Great video 👍🏼 I’ve owned my MX5 for just under a year now and agree you don’t always get the wave back 😂 . I do all my own maintenance also and is part of the joy of ownership. The driving experience is hard to beat. Look forward to your next video

[davidstorm]

Great video and overall a great series of videos on your Mx-5 adventures. I love my Mx-5 Sport-Tech, it's a 2010, Mk3.5, great little car. I had a Honda S2000 prior to this and I actually prefer the Mazda. Some of the things you mentioned in the video: Oil - some burn a little, some don't, as it happens mine doesn't. Road noise - I think this is pretty acceptable, I don't notice excess noise in mine, I think it has a lot to do with the tyres you are running. Grip in wet - again it's very tyre dependent, my first Mx-5 had Hankook tyres, my current one has Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and I can confirm the Pilot Sports are superb, much better grip in both dry and wet conditions. A couple of things I think you could look at for future projects, get a sports back box, the Cobalt ones are good value and excellent, really give the exhaust a fruity tone without droning. Also, to improve handling and body roll for not much money or effort, get some RX8 anti-roll bars, they make a huge difference. I've got 'yellow dot' bars front and rear and they are a huge upgrade on the standard Mx-5 bars.

[kwcars]

I just bought an ‘06 for 3750usd. Gutted and caged it with miatacage rollcage, solid mount Miatacage hard top, omp race seats, omp race belts, fire suppression, kill switch, Olin coilover suspension, grip disc brakes and hard lines, Cusco limited slip diff, act clutch, racing beat resonated midpipe and ISR muffler delete tail pipe, enkei wheels with hancook rs4s. Current 2.0L makes great power even after 156k miles on the clock. Will likely Ls or lfx swap it next year. I would recommend it for anyone looking to do a first track car. Car really handles well on track!

[Monkeyabroad]

I just bought the exact same car. 2006 red mx-5! Great videos, man. New subscriber here

[leslielaverick-stovin]

Just bought my 6th MX5 on Tuesday, fabulous drive…

[tlf]

Great video. I've been following along and making some of the same mods (put the jass seat rails in a few weeks back, really helped me (being 6'2) so thanks for the inspiration). For future project ideas I'd recommend replacing the coolant tank and also upgrading the steering wheel, just fitted one from royal steering wheels this evening, a huge improvement if you ask me! Keep up the good work, I look forward to seeing more videos!