who ever needs a lane departure system as a needed feature should be evaluated for sanity and weather they are fit to continue driving.

I own an S1 Elise. and had a MK2.5 MX5 beforehand. Both excellent cars in their own right. It's easy to attach a label to any car (MX5 - Hairdresser, Audi - Driven by cocks etc), but I honestly don't care what others think of me, because I'm the one enjoying the car :) Couldn't agree more with the conclusion. The MX5 is a great all-rounder. Good performance, reliable, cheap to maintain and fun. The Elise is more a special weekend toy, which while you can use it every day, can dull the experience a bit.

you are very well spoken and I adore your sweater. Subscribed WITH NOTIFICATIONS ON!

I own a MX5 NC 2.0 it's the best car I have ever owned. It was cheap as chips to buy, it's fast enough to have a lot of fun in the country side and it is faultlessly reliable. Remarkably it doesn't have a spec of rust either at almost 15 years old.

I might be biased because I work at Mazda and I appreciate your review. I do like the screen high up on the dash,because it's right in your line of sight with the road.

Consider doing a comparison video to the new updated 2019 ND MX-5, the 2.0 recieved a bump up in power from 154 to 181, 5 more nm of torque, an 800rpm higher redline at 7500rpm with torque coming in even earlier in the powerband

Once again a nice comprehensive review mate. It's nice to see that your channel has been growing rather quickly lately.

i had a guy say to me he "wouldn't call an mx5 a sports car " whilst driving a Holden commodore 3.8v6 automatic ute. I don't think he'd ever owned a manual car.....................

Drove the Elise back in 2004 and the MX5 of the day. Ended up with the MX5 as it was my daily driver and the ingress / egress of the Elise was not tenable, never mind the lacking dealer network here in Canada and of course comparable reliability stats. Still would love an Elise - now -, as a 4th vehicle after my truck and motorbikes, but I drove the MX5 yr round including in Ottawa winters (2nd coldest capital in the world after Moscow) for 12 yrs and loved it. Your review is very fair to both vehicles pros and cons.

Fantastic video james. I've owned both. Albeit mk1 mazda instead. Glad to see your channel growing and merry Xmas, the best for 2017

I’ve got a 2007 MX-5, I love the car and it’s a great all round driving machine 👍🏼

great video, a lot of info, not much filler, soothing voice i think im a new sub!

Another great review, I like your presentation and you know what you're talking about. I'd never considered a roadster like this but now I am.

The smaller 1.5 actually is the nicer, more rev happy option. And it even doesn't feel that much slower. Agree with your conclusion.

EXCELLENCE here Mazda ! VERY VERY GOOD JOB !!!!!! YOU NAILED PERFECT !!!

Lovely review, thank you

Excellent video! I love my MX-5. Hey if you ever get the chance, would love to see you review a Caterham 7.

I have both an Elise S3 and a NB Miata and I agree with your view. The NB simply can't touch the Elise for driving enjoyment, and I believe the same applies to the ND based on your review. However, the Miata is simply the less stressful car when doing real car things rather than blasting down back roads or going on track. And it's still pretty damn fun!

I wouldn't want more power, I can easily spin the rear wheels on dry roads so more power would be downright tricky to drive, especially in the wet. The only thing I think they got wrong in this version (I own one btw) is the suspension. It rolls into corners in a way that feels very uncomfortable on opposite camber corners. I want to swap out some components to lessen this in the future.

Good review. Try to review the RF if you get the chance, a nice looking car and maybe the extra weight in the rear when the roof is down may help the balance of the car.

Being in the UK, you're in small- sports- car heaven. That may color your enthusiasm

You hit the nail right on the head James, What do you go for after owning an Elise!

That Mazda 3 in the background

The lotus élan was more of a natural comparison because the elise appears to be more of a track car thats legal. The mx5 is the worlds biggest selling car of its ilk because it does a multitude of jobs. Everyone from hairdressers to hardened track day petrol heads love them. Mazda broke through the niche appeal and gave some of the magic of the élan to joe public. Thats great business and wonderful for real world driving. Thanks for a thorough and professional review.

And it's ABSOLUTELY reliable. New figures (2020) put Mazda ABOVE Toyota. It has enough room for the weekly shopping run. And there are so many parts available if you want to modify it. My NC has a modern 2-DIN naviceiver with DAB+, CD, SD-Card replay and even shorter-throw 6-speed gear lever. Coilovers coming. Great review! All the best, Rob

Your sweater is quiet refined as well! :) Excellent review. Elise just makes you feel alive.

I'd love to see your review on a 2019 model.....

Fantastic review; subscribed!

Love the sweater and the channel!

I'm an 2016 MX-5 owner, and I like your sweater!

what a great review, thanks man very helpful.

Apparently the RF has a different suspension geometry which is less wildly leaning in corners. If you get the chance, I’d be curious for your take on that vs the previous NC generation hard top. I’m leaning hard toward the NC because I do long-distance road tripping.

Great channel. Great reviews.

Excellent video! Refreshing change from other KZfaqrs. Good camera work and speaking. Only thing that jumped out at me was the color profile: the Soul Red looks like washed-out pink.

Interesting video, I'm actually thinking about this two cars...always wanted an Elise in any form, but can't really afford it right now, especially because I would prefer an S3 S/ 220 Sport, so rather then getting an older S1/S2 I'm considering to get firstly a Mazda ND 2.0 to start having fun without being worried too much about reliability, THEN go for a supercharged Elise later...does it make sense?

Sadly this shows what Lotus need to do- sell in volume! To put Lotus on the affordable sports car map again they need a new Elan to target MX5 customers, it has to be cheap, reliable and good to drive. If Lotus could do that they might just survive.If they stick to their current range of face-lifted Elise/Evora models, they are going to fold. In this age of eco mentalism Lotus toying around with an SUV is bloody stupid. They don't have the money and it'll be crap. Lotus makes lightweight exciting cars. It just so happens that lightweight is where its all going in terms of sustainability, Lotus needs to stick to what it knows but sell more of it for less.

Agree! Own an Elise, and anything I really drive aside from it can't match the nimbleness or involvement. That being said, I've recommended the mx5 personally to people who aren't as "petrolheady" but still want a nice canyon carver

A really nice review and thanks from Montreal (yes, in Canada, not...illinois). Wondering how this would do for daily duty in bad weather with winter tires; would like more impressions on the RF model and noise levels, eg can you make a phone call and hear things. In the end I'll probably go GTI for a number of reasons but I want to be talked into this. I totally appreciate your common sense review here and agree about that damn infotainment screen.

Great review, I enjoy your videos. I would love to see your thoughts on a Mazda Rx-8, especially the handling characteristics.

Compared to the Elise, the MX-5 is a bit wallowy, a bit soft? Well, not much, but a set of adjustable sport shocks (lowering springs optional) will take care of that fast!

I test drove an MX5 and a Mk3 MR2 years ago and, I have to say, far preferred the MR2, so much so I bought one.

Excellent video

Great review. I love your channel. The sweater is as I think you say, proper. I'd love to see the S2000 on your channel.

Another great clip matey. If you need me for anything let me know.

Such a beautiful car !

Good review. I wish the Miata reviewers would all start by telling the size they are to help us with perspective.

the steering in the miata is electric assisted but it has been engineered to give a lot of feedback. The elise is old school steering. Ofcourse it has better steering feeling but other than the elise only mclarens are the only ones that dont do electric.

mx5 was the true successor to the lotus elan, the elan m100 was a very good car, perhaps better than the mx5, but it was simply to expensive and cost lotus a lot to develop due to its front wheeled design. Would be great to see a comparison between an mx5 series 1 and an m100 elan.

Great review. Let me preface this by saying I'm in the US. I daily a 2017 Focus RS (which I love) but am considering adding . Something small, light, and RWD. Always wanted an Elise but here I the States it's not that easy. I can find barely used 2016-2017 MX-5's for $17-22K. Decent used Elise's are $30-35K+. Pretty much a 2005 model. My biggest concern is service, parts, maintenance. Nearest Elise mechanic is 1.5 hours away. Looking at the Lotus (US) forums it seems these cars have a solid drivetrain but other parts can break easily and costly and difficult to find. I can do some basic work, but major work means considerable cost and complexity. I plan on driving both back to back, but I'm leaning towards a used MX5 and then spending a few grand to add suspension upgrades, a tune, exhaust, etc. Thoughts?

I love to see you reviewing Abarth 124 spider 🕷

i know this video is old but you really have to drive the car hard to understand why it's fun lol. kinda the same situation with just japanese sports cars where it's tame and comfortable driving slow, but a thrill when going all out on a curvy road. an updated review would be much appreciated.

Honda type R ? Miata vs brz/Frs

Just out of intreast how tall are you please? Seem to fit fine.

you should try NA miata

I wish those people in the showroom would shut up ! Great video James, lot's of info

Could you please post your height and weight with car vids? You're a big guy, and it is probably a common question (about fit)

Have to say I disagree on the steering. I found it almost completely devoid of any feel. That and the silly boat-like lean were the reasons I sold mine. Gearshift was excellent though.

Love that sweater

i want to get the new ND, add a bbr turbo, suspension, roll bar and hopefully get it close to my s2 exige sc.

You're gonna wanna chat with Oli from The Inbetweakers! He has an mx5 :)

Love what you say but don’t be too hard on Turbo engines. They are thermodynamically much more efficient. However, because they give enhanced boost further down the Rev range, one tends to exploit it, particularly with performance cars... and accelerating kills economy. Whilst Mazda has done a great job at keeping weight down, other cars are doing so too and have done now for a decade..... and in clever ways, despite all the kit we demand now.

Great sweater :)

all hail the christmas jumper!

The 2-litre soft-top Mazda sells at €31500, whilst the cheapest Elise at €55000 in Italy. Lol.

lol, the elise is obviously a better car, however, where I live, a 20year old elise is almost twice the price of a new miata. Also, I expect parts to be much more expensive and harder to find. Still an interesting comparison obviously

Why is the steering wheel on the wrong side? Must have reversed image on video...

What about the build quality. UK compare to Japan. I go for the Mx5.

Well, unless you can't fit the seats, the 6 gear and the softop system of the Miata into an Elise S1, the perfect car don't exist...

Can't hear it!

They’re both lovely cars in their own way. But whist the MX-5 in its present incarnation has never looked better, I can’t say that about the Elise, which has really been messed-about with over the years. Imho the original Julian Thompson version is by far the best-looking. The engineer Richard Rackham should also be mentioned, and given full credit. He had a far greater influence on the stunning performance of the original Elise through his unique extruded-aluminium chassis. Julian Thompson was only the stylist.

4 yrs later you have become a bit of a fan of the mx5

He's correct, i own a 2006 elise.

Who dafuk reviews a MX-5 (Miata) and doesn't talk about the gear-box? Biggest omission over the best part of the car.

you know what will be a killer engine swap for this car in 10-15 years? The Mazda Skyactiv 2.5l 4cylinder. 200 hp, heaps of torque, the same ecu, the same size... someone needs to start working on a kit.

Don't forget suspension tuning - the Miata's is terrible. I absolutely hate how the Miata rolls and pitches through corners. This is not "being one with horse and rider"!

why won't u say that the interior is made for midgets ? :( ... I am 6'2 and drive a NB-fl ... I fit like a glove ... in this ND - no chance .... and BTW , U didn't fit in it ok as well :)) ... they really made the interior too small

I wrk for mazda in sales.. the Elise wins in so many ways

+ Paxton supercharger

Modify a Toyota MR-2 Spyder and you can have the best of both worlds . . .

haha 8:23 maybe 8:20 and you'll definitely see it

Well it IS a nice car but the price is simply just not welcoming.

The Elise is the better car, but its nowhere near as reliable as the Mazda, and reliability is everything

Don't think you smiled once in the MX. Enough said. S2 owner.

Modern exige OK, but those 2005 used lotuses are waste of money. If mx5 lacks some horsepower then elise is a total disaster. Way too weak for a car that should match real supercars and big tourers.

this car is for small Asian streets and alleys and small Asian drivers.....not meant for fat foreign Macdonals eaters....

Mk2 is more fun

S2000 roof was proven to be the quickest for over a decade. Electric btw. Oh and it had the highest hp per liter for over a decade.... RIP Honda go back to your roots, high revving rwd!! Lol mx5 is a shit show to the s2k, ten years later!

five minutes in and this bore still hasn't driven the car.

Still a car for the receptionist at the hairdressers.