Falling In & Out of Love With The NC/Mk3 Mazda MX-5 - 2.5 Year Review

What's 2.5 years of ownership been like after the honeymoon period? Why have I fallen out of love and back in love several times? How reliable has it been and would I ultimately do it again in hindsight?

Let's find out!

00:00 - Intro
01:12 - Dislikes First!
01:42 - Design Flaws
04:09 - Reliability
05:00 - My Pet Peeves
05:55 - Driving Review
09:35 - Falling Out Of Love
10:50 - Falling Back In Love
11:40 - Falling Out Of Love...Again
12:53 - Falling Back In Love... AGAIN
13:36 - My Thoughts On Mods
15:03 - Running Costs
17:10 - The Verdict

[floycereginato]

When my daughter was shopping for a car, I saw a beautiful, shiny, little red convertible MX-5 in the middle of the showroom. I told my daughter if it is a manual, I’m getting it. It was a 2016, with only 20k on it.
It was truly an impulse buy.
Best car ever! I love it! 🚗

[richardcoates]

Since 2001 I have had 9 mx5s (4 NB2.5s, 1 NC3 and 4 NC 3.5s. I sold number 8 because I was finding it too difficult too get in and out of. Six months later I bought number 9 because I so missed driving something that felt, and feels, like an extension of my body.They are special cars - and in more than 250000 miles the only thing that has ever gone wrong with any of mine was an electric window. So just hang onto yours.

[bobdadruma]

The most fun car ever! I have professionally repaired cars for almost 50 years. I have driven all kinds of cars. I have never not smiled while driving any Mazda MX-5. They are all great cars.

[tristrammcneil]

Owned my MX5 NC MK3 for 2 years now, made so many quality improvements such as BC coilovers, GCFABRICATIONS roll bar, rota grid wheels, Scorpion exhaust system, alcantara bucket seat, TRS harness, alcantara steering wheel, carbon fibre track door cards, Mtech brakes, yellow stuff pads, Dave fab engine bits, Cybul strut braces, precision customs gear and handbrake knobs, genuine leather gaiters, under seal protection and an Avery Dennison wrap. It’s in storage during the winter months and I love tinkering about with it over the winter. I use it as fun summer car, driving to the coast for the weekend and attending many car shows. It’s a great way to meet other car enthusiasts and I would never sell it. I’ve spent a lot of money on making the car exactly the way I want it.

[oldatarigamer]

The NC was a Top 10 winner on Car and Driver 8X, which is more than any other Miata.

[jeffeffinggluck]

Owned a nc-1 for four years, agree with everything you commented on. My main complaint is the lack of support in the seats. The thing I love about it is, it makes me feel like I am getting away with something when driving. Enjoy!!

[littlegreenman]

We bought a 2001 in 2014 with 50, 000 miles on it. It’s a summer only car, so in my climate it sleeps 6-7 months. It now has 69, 000 miles. The past 3 years we have taken it on “adventure.” We drive out 500 miles or so and then drive around towards home (ish). Top down. No interstates. No reservations. It’s always a great trip. Mountain roads are fun to carve. Scenic cruises are lovely. Getting towards the end of our 10th Miata season. I don’t think we’ll ever give up this car until we can’t get down in it.

[CarsandBikes]

I miss my 2013 PRHT Club. I had two 1995 NA. Yes the NA are lighter, but people tend to over look that the NC has 2 extra airbags, more interior space, and a much more safe and rigid chassis. So it's not that the extra weight was for nothing.

[larvey]

Great video mate. It was actually your initial video of your MK3 that made me decide on a MX5, except I chose a MK2. I've had it for just over 8 months now, and of course I've discovered many drawbacks - but I've found little ways around them. The main one was trying to go camping with a MX5, I was going to sell up and buy myself a Volvo or Saab estate of some description before realising that I could just get a boot bag and add about 50-75ltrs of space to the car for longer trips. My Mrs has been really good at keeping my head on straight, and kinda pushed me to focus on adding bits to the MX5 to make it more my own - and through this I've fallen in love with the car more. I'm proud to own an MX5, and the community behind it is amazing. Some bits you mentioned about a roll bar and coil-overs are a must (I'd say) for all MX5s as it will increase driving experience. Thank you for making these videos, very informative. And thank you for being the reason I even purchased one in the first place, makes me feel good knowing I swapped a crappy Chinese 2019 MG3 for a £3000 MX5.

I´ve had my NC MK3 for one and a half years now and I love it. I enjoy driving it through the windy roads of the mountains in Alicante but also took it to the Alps last September and that was a pure bliss. I also have a Mazda 3 for everyday use but I have no intentions of selling my Miata while I am still able to get in and out of it ;)

[gzknk]

I had a Mk3 from new for 14 years - and absolutely nothing went wrong with it. It was superb. I traded it in 2021 for an ND2, the latest MX5. Which is even better! Except the steering - the hydraulic rack on the Mk3 is better than the electric one on the ND - but there's not much in it - the ND is pretty bluddy good in that respect too. And it's 181bhp and lighter than the Mk3 so it handles and goes better!
Before the Mk3 I had a 2004 Mk2, also from new, which I traded for the Mk3 in 2007 so I had that just 3 years before the foldy hard top roof and extra room in the Mk 3 persuaded me me to upgrade.
Your so called 'design shortcomings' are surely just facts of life with a small sports car. Obviously the boot is small, and obviously you are too tall to comfortably fit it. I suspect even changing a headlight is as awkward for most cars as in the MX5.
My wife has a CX-30 for the times we need more than 2 seats and serious luggage space - but that's not what MX5s are about.

[housey]

Had experience of one of these (Mk 3.5 with the better ride height) from new (my ex wife's) for many years. The biggest and best modification (as you cover) from new was a suspension set up at Centre Gravity. Took it there 2 weeks out of the dealership and it genuinely transformed the steering. The level of weight and feeling added with nothing more than adjustment was gob smacking. Had small subtle changes to how it handled cambers etc but the improvement to the steering was immense and worth the money alone.

[teikarate]

I had exactly the same one and absolutely loved it, then kids came along so had to buy a bigger car. I will admit that over the years that I had it as my main car it did eventually start to feel claustrophobic and the older I got, the more annoying the road noise was on long drives. Nevertheless, I'd buy another in a heartbeat if I could afford a second 'weekend' car, and get it tuned by BBR. I currently drive an Audi S3 with 310 BHP, but the MX-5 still holds a very special place in my heart.

[quailstudios]

There is a button to open the boot right in the center underneath the lip. You do have to have the key in your pocket or close by to be able to pop the boot. I didn’t know about this until I had the car for a few months. But I have had my car since 2015 and love it!

[ndsd]

I have a 2010 Sport Tech NC 3.5, paid 8.5k for it two years ago….. love it. Not long after I took it to BBR to have the Super 200 upgrade with the full GT exhaust. Also over time I’ve added a new Pioneer head unit, wheels refurbished, four new tyres and full under seal to keep rust at bay. Finally I took it to Roddisons last week and had Meister CRD suspension installed. Collected it last Thursday and WOW……. it’s amazing. Fully aligned and corner weighted, feels very direct and analogue. The NC is such a good car, I hope to keep mine for a long time. So far I’ve spent about 15k including the car, should I have bought a Boxster? Down in Cornwall now in the family wagon, a Sharan. Missing the MX. Great video, really enjoyed it.

[MrOdeezie]

You and I actually had the same exact experience! I just bought a 21 club and moved to the countryside with a lot of straight roads, I also commute far for work which was tiring however I also found relief in all the things you mentioned... I now have a second car and my wife bought me a track day ticket. Thanks for sharing your experience. 😊

[misterskippyu]

Bought my 2012 NC PRHT in 2017 with 19k miles on it. It's a daily driver, and now has 190k miles. Due to the terrible roads in Michigan, it still has stock suspension and alignment settings. Normal maintenance only, and no mechanical issues outside of components that always wear out (shocks, tires, brakes, etc.) It's by far the most reliable and most fun car I've owned.

[catbalooboy]

Thank you again for this amazing video. I bought my first MX-5, it's an NC 3.5 Kuro edition last December after watching your videos. I fully agree, how much fun it is to drive an MX-5. Thank you again.

[adrianhernandez]

To me, it was the coolest, most beautiful MX-5 ever made.

[teresefarley]

Great video thanks. From Rochester, NY test drove one for the first time about a month ago and was so thrilled that I am now the proud owner of a 2007 NC PRHT 6 speed and I can't stop driving it, its fantastic.