1) Change the wiper blades. 2) Get an RX-8 wiper stalk and swap it for yours. It has variable intermittent. 3) Put a modern 2-DIN Naviceiver in the slot occupied by the stock in-car-entertainment system. Get Navigation, Bluetooth, Phone integration, SD-card playback, Digital Radio. I did all this and more. 4) Don't eat or drink in the car - cupholder problem solved. Love my 80 mile commute roundtrip. 2009 2.0 NC Sport. All the best, Rob

regarding the mirror, thats why it has the small lever under it, (as every car, you press it and it goes into antigare mode)

I'm genuinely perplexed as to why this question seems to be asked so often. This is a relatively modern car and has many more creature comforts than my first family car ever did. I've now been using MX5s as my daily driver since 2004, current one is heavily modded to in excess of 250bhp and still remains my daily driver even in winter. I wouldn't recommend mine for driving in deep snow due to the suspension mods as it would bottom out but even on summer tyres it can be driven right through most of the winter with no issues at all.

Been daily driving mine since day one when you made this video. I love it to bits and wouldn’t change it for anything!

These cars are basically ace. Im almost living in mine!!! Nice work mate 👍

Fantastic video on a topic I haven't seen anybody else cover! Great job - subbed :)

Hi Dom. Well done on another great video. This is my first winter commuting in a 2.0 retractable hardtop. I'm finding the same things as you although I'm 5'7" so I have enough room for my knees. The cup holder situation is rubbish, an standard insulated mug doesn't really fit in the door and I haven't found a small one that does yet. The heater is great with loads of power and dedicated blower for your knees, and the seats are so hot the instruction manual even warns of burning! I'm with you on the blinding low lights, that's probably my biggest negative and I have worn my sunglasses at night because of it. Our other car is a 2.2 diesel Mazda 6 which is a luxurious boat by comparison and a lot more relaxing for the commute. I like to listen to podcasts and audio books on my commute but the increased noise and concentration needed in the rain makes that harder. Mine is also on Meisterr CRD with unknown alignment that changes direction quickly but demands a lot of attention on a wet motorway. Finally getting out of a low car sandwiched in the work car park is tricky. I'm enjoying it though and still put the top down.

I've got the same model one year older. Literally everything you said is spot on coinciding with my experience too lol

Great video mate as I'm thinking of getting one in the next few days and I'm in Glasgow so this video has been very useful.

I daily drive mine year round, in the rain and even in the snow (with winter tires). Works absolutely fine and the nice thing about an MX-5 is it’s fun to drive. When the weather is nice, I drive it with the top down and it feels like I’m going on holiday in stead of driving to work.

I daily mine and can relate to basically everything you said apart from the cupholders 😂 NC2 improved. Fuel economy✅ 2nd gear✅ and now I have a strange squeak from right rear but only a low speed 😅 love the car though!!

The seat belt guides on the seats were updated to a new design which was believed to be the reason behind the lack of retraction in the belt over time. You can buy these new design seat belt guides from your dealership and it fits all NC (MK3) model cars. After you replace them, give the seat belt a good clean (see mazda's recommended guide in the owners manual). Hope this helps.

I’ve had mine (2L ‘06 Option Pack) as my only car for 2 years and you’re getting far better mpg, air con and a 5 speed box must be hurting my wallet more than I thought. Do change the gearbox oil for Castrol Systrans, it makes a big difference shifting into 2nd when cold. While I was changing mine I bled the clutch as well and that brought the bite point further down the throw of the pedal to lower than where you were demonstrating your Golf was biting. The slow seatbelts are caused by the belts rubbing against the bare metal of the roll-over hoops which is coated in a sticky grease which transfers onto the belts. Take off the big plastic panel behind the seats, unroll the belts and give them a really good clean then wrap the offending part of the roll-over hoop with duck tape or something similar to stop the transfer of the grease, it’s an easy job you don’t have to remove the seats or anything like that to get access. Really good videos by the way, keep up the good work! 👍

Even the mk2 the heater is fantastic, warm up so quickly and keep nice and warm even if outside temperature are well below 0°

I use mine regularly summer and winter, and usually get around 37.5mpg. It's a Kendo edition, 2 L with the 5 speed box. Top and bottom ratios are the same as for the 6 speed, so just the intermediate ratios differ. I find it has enough torque for town and country driving in traffic. It has the retractable hard top which makes it easier to use year round.

I can heavily relate to the rearview mirror issue, as I always have an SUV behind me during traffic. The best solution is to get yourself a pair of night driving glasses to reduce the glare from other cars' headlights.

Thanks for the video. Helped a lot

I have a 2014 MX5 hardtop. I drive it with the top down to 25 F degrees. Below that it gets too cold. Also I drove it thru the Badlands of South Dakota one summer it was 88F at the entrance and 98F once inside the canyons. The walls reflect the heat and it's like being in a broiler. I drove it top down with the AC set on the floor. This created a cold tub of air in the cockpit that I sat chest deep in. Never felt the heat.

Did a full winter commuting almost every day 40 miles round trip in a Smart Roadster. Even in light snow its doable with good tyres but not recommended. Biggest drawbacks I found: leaks, low position mean you get dazzled and weirdly people flash you because they think your lights are on full beam. Also being low you're way more susceptible to stone chips, I had 2 on the windscreen, 1 smashed fog light and 1 smashed head light by the end of it. So yeah it's just not a relaxing experience!

1st world modern problems. My dad had a MG Midget as a year round daily driver. He later traded up to a motorbike for comfort all year round. 😃😃

Hi Dom, great video. I'm 52 years old and 6'2" tall and a lil more retund or fatter than you and it is a snug fit in my 2008 Niseko .20L electric hard top but I really do not stress about cup holders lol. My commute is 49 miles and I have done it a few times in my mx5 and its ok, its an adventure I guess, my daily is a Toyota Auris Hybrid (thanks to me the Polar bears have somewhere to live) this is my first convertible and I love it! and this is my first time owning Japanese cars, always been a Ford Guy

I commute in mine, it is our only car, love it. My second MX5. We do our food shop, the works. Banging car.

Great video. Yesterday as I hadn't used my MX5 for a fortnight I decided to drive to work and back. I don't usually drive the car in the dark as it's not a daily driver. My journey was 40 miles in total and my findings were similar to yours. I didn't feel as relaxed as I do in my Seat and realised the headlights on the Seat are far better. I have new Uniroyal transport 5s on the MX5 which have made the driving experience much better. I will definitely avoid driving in the dark in the MX5 as the glare from other cars lights is horrendous. The Seat is far more relaxing for driving in winter and in the dark.

Pretty identified with this thought. I had an nb for a year as a Single car. When Winter arrived, that was all my thoughts 😂

You can adjust the rear view mirror by pulling or pushing the little lever below the mirror if someone behind is dazzling you.

For slow seatbelts I used silicone spray on my NB MX5 and made a load of difference. Just pull all the way out and spray on both sides!

I can't speak for the Miata but on most older British sports cars with hydraulic slave cylinder clutches you could adjust the clutch release point by adjusting the length of the release rod...pretty easy to do.

My old NC was completely usable although I never used it in the winter but it wouldn't have been an issue if I did. I now have an na eunos and up until recently a smart brabus roadster both of which I would never consider as a daily.

I have just fitted a Vredstein Quatrac 6 all season tyres . Live on North Yorkshire Moors so it was either changing summer to winter tyres (faff and expensive) or use all season tyres. We have some Michelin all season tyres on our Fiat 500 and they do make an enormous difference to any car in the wet/ice and snow . You do not need 4x4 SUV as long as you have the right tyres !

2:42 I am glad you addressed the soft top but the biggest difference I notice driving a soft top is they are noticeably louder because you can hear cars and motorcycles long after they have gone by. But then again the hardtop on my Mercury Capri XR2 is steel and not fiberglass so that that might make a difference too.

I drive mine top down in the rain as long as your at 30 mph or more no rain comes in cockpit. You should see the looks I get on the freeway in a down pour. Wipers on high pouring rain top down cruising. As long as you don't stop.

My latest MX-5 is a 1.8l 2007 NC in the same bright red. So far so good on my daily commute - down the bottom of the M11 and a touch on the north circular - but then I've only been doing it for 5 days (so the roof has been down each day).

Daily drove one for 4 years in North America - at Canadian border- where real winter weather lasts some 6 months with below freezing temps and lots of snow. Easy peasie with 4 snow tires and a 20kg bag of rock salt in the boot.

Having the light hit your eyes in your rear mirror? There is an adjustor (tongue under the mirror) that you push or pull that will kinda lower it and engage a different kind shade to the mirror helping you not get blinded

I'm using my NC Sport as a daily driver for about a month now. I can totally relate to your problems, and i would like to add one as well: the boot isn't wet on mine, but there is always condensation inside the boot lid, for which i have to find a solution, before it turns to rust... otherwise i don't have any issues with leaks (i bought the Autoglym soft top cleaner kit, thanks for that video, haha) also i can totally recommend for you to change the gearbox oil, it makes a huge difference! I had a really notchy first to 2nd and 2nd back to first when cold, which is a huge letdown in a busy traffic... So i changed it for Castrol Syntrans (it's a bit expensive, about 13pounds/l, and you'll need 3,2 l for the gearbox) and that improved the shifting, tho it's not a 100% fix unfortunately, the 6 speed boxes on the sport NC's are a bit notchy regardless... but i still love this car to death it's so much fun to drive even in this damp ugly winter.

2012 GT NC hardtop, dailey and LOVE IT!!

Interesting about your clutch, I stalled mine on my test drive too! I had the opposite problem though, the clutch bites about 10% of the pedal, unlike my other car.

Fuck it, I drive mine in the winter here in the northern part of Sweden. Up to -30 degrees celsius, and on a bad day there can be 20-40 centimeters of snow on the roads. My 07 2.0 sport handles it like a champ. Just make sure to have something heavy in the trunk and studded tires and everything should be just fine! I have the removable hardtop as well, wich makes it a blast to drive.

Bought my 2011 nc phrt in September, its my daily and yes I can feel your pain, the thing that's worries and annoyes me the most is when you're driving on a poor road and hear all those tiny rocks having a war underneath your car, that and revving alot to get it moving

Had no problem top down after a snowstorm with my NA

Don't think anyone mentioned this, my 06 NC had a pitiful washer spray too, turns out it's two things. The lines from the pump fill with grit which in turn blocks the tiny valves in the washer nozzles. removed all the lines from pump to nozzles, flushed them with water and dish soap and put new washer nozzles on, took about 45 minutes and the washers work rather well now.

Surly the mirror has a tinded mode? I have an old Mercedes 190e and the mirror has a tinted setting.

My 2014 Miata is a hybrid automatic. Say what you will about an automatic but it also comes with 'LeMans' paddle shifters on the steering wheel. It goes from 70 mph to 90 mph in two seconds. 0 to 100 in ten. The highway patrol will not accept 'fun' as an excuse.

Got the hardtop and it's the best!!! Year around fun car!!!..;p

i tried to put my ar 15 in the trunk once but it didnt fit

I’m in the U.S so mine is left-hand drive and the owner before me cut out his left door cupholder because he was a bigger guy and his leg kept hitting it when he worked the clutch lol.

a stock NC is more comfortable than my very modified volvo T5 i owned before .... and better down a B road ... these are perfectly usable as a daily.

Hi Dom, great video's I'm thinking of getting a MX5 and was just wondering how tall you are? I'm 6'2"

In a word, yes.

I daily a Lotus Elise. No problems in the wet with RWD, just be sensible. Also, convertables have better heaters.

I'm learning to drive in mine, proving you can literally do anything in an mx5 lol

never heard “niggles” in the british english vocab. sounds absolutely WILD lmao

Position where clutch engages is adjustable, mine engages at one third. Windshield wipers don't last in any car, just get good quality new ones. Mine windshield fluid sprays just fine. I have no issues with second gear in my MX5. I did replace all fluids including transmission with best quality synthetic I could find. However, it does shift smoother when it warms up. I didn't like Mazda Boss system, no aux input, no Bluetooth. I've bought new unit that has Apple Car Play. Not difficult job to replace. My car has water leaks during rain and it annoys me. I fixed inside leaks but still get my door speakers wet from time to time. Would love to have auto brake hold. Commuting in heavy traffic up the hill is work. Otherwise, it's totally usable as commute car. Mx5 is my second car as well and I still like to take it to work few days a week. Make sure to get good summer and winter tires (if you get snow during winter). I think nothing beats it as a pleasure weekend car.

I do but then I live in Australia so winter is just slightly cooler than Summer

I have no issue with the way this was shot or the info disclosed, but there is a lot of personal preference and comparison to a Golf which is irrelevant if you are thinking of getting an MX5 as your only car - just get one and enjoy it. Even on very cold dry days with the roof down it is a pleasure to drive. It never really enters my head about the RWD as it has electronic anti-slip and a LSD, with decent summer tyres it can still get you through anything except snow and deep puddles. I understand the 'tent' thing, but you know its a soft top so you'd expect it to have more noise. Keep up the good work, others may not care or it may not matter about foot space, soft top and RWD may not be relevant to many. You know what your buying and should consider this car a great daily as it really is, 30+mpg as well, not bad for a 2 Litre really. Main consideration is the salt on the road, just keep an eye on any rust forming.

Do you have a lot of boy racers on your commute? mine keeps up with the flow of traffic just fine without "revving it out to get anywhere", never need to upshift anywhere higher than 2k RPM unless you're in a big hurry or hooning the thing around (although to be honest the car does make you WANT to rev it out, it begs to be hooned :D)

Hi Dom. I have an NC and look forwards to your videos. I worry now you have bought a house you will sell your MX5.

It looks to me that you're right side wiper is installed upside down, witch will lift the wiper instead of pushing it down New wiper blades will work

The snow ❄️ on top

What about winter in Mi

You are flipping the rearview mirror at night so it is darker, right?

Buy a Zealife (£17) Bluetooth cigarette lighter adapter, I have one in my 2008 NC and it works great

sticky seatbelts + furniture polish = like new seatbelts

MX 5 hibernates during winter. Spoiled driving another motor! :)

Nice

My main issue is the parking at my work is under trees and at this time of year in the UK, that means blocked drain holes on my NC. I know you did a video on them but I still really struggle to find them with a trombone brush. Any tips for finding them anyone? I managed it once but it was a fluke.... (this is my first winter with the car).

Yo, is there a reason you haven't turbo charged it yet??

I’m a security guard working graveyard shifts and it gets fairly cold in winter and I think I’d freeze my two “friends” out, unfortunately. I’d like to have one, but…

An NC with good tyres is alarmingly good in the wet. Try to go to a wet track day when it doesn't matter so much if you miss the black stuff. It was hardly raining in your video so your roof should be down, heater and heated seats on (don't go above 3 out of the 5, or you'll burn your bum). No need for gloves, 'cos the dashboard vents can be aimed exactly at your hands. With the roof down the rain makes no noise on it. After 13 years you might need a new screenwash pump. Better washer jets are also available now. If your wipers are smearing you probably need new wipers - or maybe clean 'em? Plug a Bluetooth thingy into your cig lighter and tune it into an unused FM channel. Under a tenner off eBay. Wide angle anti dazzle mirrors also under a tenner off eBay, but you'll never get around the fact that your rear view mirror will be at the same height as some headlights. .

HI Dom, what do you do for work? Loving the socks haha

Of course your wipers smear. You need to replace wiper blades about every six months!

“ i have no planning and incorrect tires but i will make a 9 hour video droning in an English accent about the experience “

How tall are u?

How the world changes, I commuted in my 210 bhp caterham on the same size rear tyres. The only actual problems were spray from lorries on motorways, then you find out about wipers, and aquaplaning. I think that asking if a modern car (That is not on cut slicks) can be used all year in the UK shows that the human race looks for problems when there are none.

MX-5's fuck me off so much, they're such fun little cars to chuck about tight roads but what power they've got is right at the top and anything over 4k rpm the mpg drops to about 15 miles per gallon lol. 14:40 have you figured out what the little tab does on the bottom of your mirror yet haha?

Change your trans-oil at 48k miles!!!

Hmm. Not a true mx5 driver. Top down always! 😉 I can confirm the truth that top down you can even drive in the rain and stay dry as long as you keep over 40mph ! No pop-ups either...😁 My 1995 1.8iS is my daily driver btw... I solved my seat belt retraction problem with a good dose of silicone aerosol lubricant. No problems since.

I found this to be a very odd video. You have a car. Let’s see if it can be a daily driver. I bought a Miata and it is my only car. Drive it everywhere. All the time. Every day. Wow. Guess that seems weird or something. Most fun car to drive I’ve ever had and I’m 62. Can’t imagine not using something I paid for. I actually love watching your channel. This one just seemed very odd Oh well.

Absolute travesty you didn't drive at least one day with the roof down ;)

The reason you're having so many problems is, even though the Miata was originally built in Britain, it was designed for use in California. You guys are driving on the wrong side of the road.

Anyone else find it funny how he spent an entire minute comparing the soft top to a tent over and over again? 2:40

The British wonder why we Australians call them whinging Poms

I like your videos, but why are you cutting the video everytime after any sentence or even word? It is anoying af, better second of quiet than this cutted 1000 times per minute result... :D