Hope you managed to save it, almost the same thing happened to me just before Xmas (lady driver in a Honda Civic) , all sorted now, finance cleared and now own my Car outright, needs a little bit of TLC by a good panel beater (one in my area!)

Headlights on in MX5s, always. Yes, in daylight too.

Ah, what a shame - glad you survived, hope the car did too.

@@CutcliffePaul thank you and don't worry it did actually survive fine, it was a low impact one thankfully!

@@petrolpoodle6617 Ah, that’s a relief. ☺️

Couldn't agree more!

Agreed. Too much power tempts one to resort to power over finesse. Twisties don’t need a lot of power to be challenging and fun.

Thanks so much, William, love the kind feedback!

Thanks a million, t0rque09, very much appreciated!

Thanks so much, Richard, much appreciated! Looking forward to finishing the next edit!

Thank you very much, sir!

Thanks so much, Glenn, hugely appreciated! I'm glad to hear! I'll be putting another video up this week hopefully!

Wow!! Thank you so much, Rich, you've made my day. Comments like these are what make all the hours of effort and sunk costs worth it! You'll love it mate, go and buy one ASAP! Be sure to check everywhere for rust (under the boot for example, wheel arches, underbody sills etc etc. Other than that, generally they're near bulletproof! I still love mine to pieces and no matter what car I've just reviewed, I get back into it and chances are it does a lot of things better. Always feels like the right car for me. Hope you enjoy and do come back and drop a comment with an update when you get one!

Thank you so much, Eric, I really appreciate that! Welcome to the gang! More MX-5 content coming but also more car reviews inbound!

Thanks so much, Mark, I really appreciate it! And those cars are beautiful, great choice! How has it treated you so far?

Mate that's fucking great news!!! So chuffed for you! Welcome to the gang! How you finding it? In love? And thanks for subbing pal, really appreciate it!

Thank you so, so much mate that's really kind! I can't believe my first review is still getting views! I've got a very special video coming tomorrow or the day after. I hope to see you there, good sir!

Thanks so much Steve, I really appreciate that! And you're totally right, it's one of the most modern ways to get the old school experience!

Thanks so much Paul, much appreciated!! I hope my buying guide helps you... keep your MX5! Hahaha I'm kidding, I've done the same thing, I like to check the common spots to be careful of etc! Have a great weekend!

Thanks so much for your kind words!

Thanks so much pal! You definitely made the right choice there too, love the 86! I'm reviewing one soon actually! Thanks for the kind words and may you forever remain an optimist!

Thank you so much, this is awesome! I've got more MX5 content coming very shortly indeed, hang tight! :D

Hey Shaunius! New MX-5 Video is live if you happen to be bored and fancy a cheeky view!

What a journey! I LOVE that green, I nearly travelled across the entire country for one! I totally agree, they just make you smile and do the daily job more than brilliantly. Congrats and thanks for the super words

😂 Thank you so much, this has been a great start to the day!

Thank you so much, Andrew, and I'm really glad you've found the joy in this car too! It's insanely hard to beat at most budgets!

Thanks so much, Chase, you're a trooper!

Thank you so much! That's made my day! Congrats on the decision/purchase!

Thank you so much John, that's made my day! I've been crazily busy but be sure to subscribe if you haven't as I've got 4 videos shot and being edited at the moment!

@@petrolpoodle6617 If it's the NC3.5 again, I'm all over it. Sweet spot gen 3 in my opinion. Biased owner speaking.

Hi John, You lucky man!! How would you compare the 3? What's your takeaway? I want to do a video soon on which you should be buying in 2020 and why. Would be great to hear your experiences!

@@petrolpoodle6617 I bought my first NA back in 1999 when, as any sensible father would do, my daughter was born. It was a 1991 V-spec in BRG. The next one was another 1991 in BRG but standard spec. The NB was a poverty spec 1998 in back. I bought my NC Sport Black in Feb this year. I kinda liken them to dogs. The NA is a puppy, kean to please and so playful. Yeah they rattle a bit and god don't mention the rust but pound for pound you'll never have more fun in a car. I love the basic level of creature comforts and the balls to the floor style of driving it encourages. The NB is a young dog, still full of fun but a little less edgy and slightly more refined. The driving style wasn't a million miles away from the NA but it did feel a little more adult. As I said mine was a poverty spec so no great improvements on creature comforts as my NA although I understand that many of the NB special editions were far more plush. The NC is like a mature dog. Yes it can still rag down the country lanes but it is equally happy on the daily commute. Mine has the PRHT so has the added security. I know to most, the NC is pretty spartan inside but to me. coming from my NB, it's like the Starship Enterprise...heated seats, etc. I find the NC far more stable and requiring less skill to push it a bit as it is far more planted on the road. A lot of that is down to the strut braces, etc that I didn't have on my NA s or NBs. Hence I would recommend anyone with an earlier model to fit the bracing, it makes such a big difference. I've used all of my MX5s as daily drivers come rain, snow or shine and none of them have ever let me down. Overall I loved all of them but do have a special place in my heart for the original NA. That said I absoultely love my NC. In reality my MX5s have grown up with me and the different models almost mirror my own evolution through the years. I'm no playful puppy anymore so I guess the NC suits me right down to the ground. Take it easy and enjoy your NC. John. :)

@@oddyseus99 This is the best reply ever, John, I can really see myself using this in a future MX5 Buying guide on a 'which one is right for you' kinda video. Absolutely superb and I love the dog analogy! I can't wait to try an NA and NB one day as I've only driven the NC and ND!

Hey John! New MX-5 content is live if you fancied a little watch!

Christ that sounds absolutely amazing!! What's your first recommendation for a top mod out of that lot then? Let's say especially out of the exhaust or the coilovers?

😂 Thank you very much and I'm glad you enjoyed! I hope to see you on the next one 👍

What alignment specifications did you set up your mx-5 to?

Thank you so much, Rupert, love the comment! And you too are a lucky man! It's just a superb piece of kit! I've got a very interesting (to losers like me) mod video coming up! If you're happy to subscribe, would love to hear your thoughts on the next MX5 videos!

Just seen the prior subscribe, thanks very much pal!

Hey Mariano, Thank you so much for your kind comment and be sure to subscribe if you haven't already as I'll definitely do the buying guide video soon!

Thank you :) - and buy one! I have done my 2.5 year update video since creating this video at the roughly 6 month window. Check that out for my longer term thoughts too

Thanks so much David! Really appreciate that! The good news is I've got a video coming shortly on my experience of having my seats lowered and a bigger rollbar put in! My brother who physically couldn't fit in my MX-5 now fits and loves it! Subscribe and hopefully it should be my next upload! Good luck with buying if you haven't already, you'll love it!

Thanks very much pal, I'm glad you enjoyed! My 2.5 year update is nearly ready to go online, I suggest a sub if you're interested 😁

@@petrolpoodle6617 done that. Looking forward to it!

That's one enviable mod list! I'd love to experience an MX-5 like yours! If you're happy for me to do a review, let me know! No pressure at all. Thanks so much for your kind comments and for subscribing too!

@@petrolpoodle6617 Welcome! We'd probably have to wait post-Covid, I'm in Switzerland, it's a LHD soft-top. I'd love a supercharger for more low-end oomph but that's very rare over here. Other wish: a very discrete boot spoiler. There don't seem to be any discrete ones available.

Thanks so very much, Steve! Not to plug my latest video but I finally installed that rollbar I mentioned in the video and give my thoughts and costings on fixing the glaring issue in my eyes. Not a problem if you and your passengers will be under the headrest though. I've had mine a year and it's been utterly fantastic!

Thank you so much, John, I really appreciate that! I couldn't agree more either, it just feels so well suited to 99% of the roads you actually drive on. I want to experience the BBR 200 package but I'm also unsure if it'd really fully make the car a better car or not! It's plenty quick enough to feel special to me!

Thank you so much pal, really means a lot! Couldn't agree more! I've soon got a couple of MX5 videos on their way, if you'd be interested in seeing more, subscribe along!

I love your username by the way, really made me laugh! I must sort this buyer's guide out, I have people ask all the time! My top tip is if you're going to buy one shortly, call up a local MX-5 Specialist and tell them what age and engine MX-5 you're going for with your budget. They'll tell you all the things they're used to replacing and seeing decay for the exact gearbox and engine combo etc. As a whole, they're stupidly reliable but the earliest MK3's had things like hunger for oil later in their lifespans and some other tiny tiny bits I can't remember off the top of my head. I'll definitely make one in time, just trying not to make my channel ALL about MX-5s. Got a modded video coming next already! Subscribe for that, you'll enjoy it!

@@petrolpoodle6617 Still waiting for your buyers guide. I’ve got £10k burning a hole in my wallet but don’t want to make a mistake! A good, recent buyers guide would be a godsend 😎

@@timthompson7559 hello mate! Oh bless you that's much appreciated, I'll try my best to get one done this year. I say year because my MX-5 is now in storage until next year and off the road for a bit - but I was always planning on driving to an MX-5 specialist near me and asking them to help me through all the common bits they see. For now, the first few results on Google do touch on 99 percent of the things you need to know and famously it's the rust you need to know most about. The next big thing is oil consumption on the Mk3 pre face-lifts seems to sometimes come in with higher mileage (I can't remember why first thing in the morning!) but I believe the changes to the engine in the 09 facelift sort this out. Double check that but I think it's a first car problem. I'd honestly recommend the electric hardtop over the soft top too, ironically more reliable and less drainage issues given the different design. Options-wise, with that budget I wouldn't be looking at a 1.8 at all and I'd make sure it's a Sport Tech or edition that includes all the nice extras. Good luck and sorry I haven't sorted the video yet, I've had so many more exciting video opps come in first, the buyer's guide has fallen down the priority a bit!

Thanks so much pal! And holy crap, look at that! I'm chuffed! Enjoy the rest of the channel and what's to come pal!

Thank you and let me know how you get on! I think you'll absolutely love it - the ability to thrash it so much of the time without annihilating the speed limit is just great.

Thank you so much! Loved this comment! Ohhh man alive have I ever, it sounds absolutely awesome. I'd love to experience one! They must be absolutely mega! New MX-5 Video premiering at 8pm! Hope you enjoy if you get a chance to watch!

320,000 miles!!! That's mad!!! What are your thoughts now with your 2015 Club now you've had a little longer?

@@petrolpoodle6617 I need to check the alignment. The steering seems overly twitchy. Love the 167hp and LSD, though.

Hey there! Thanks for the amazing comment, and you're right this car sat under my radar for probably its first 10 years in production, just couldn't care less. Now I struggle to find a more pure sportscar experience for the money. No matter the value of the car I step out of from a review, I get back into my MX-5 and still feel like I've got the right car for me. Love it!

WOAH! That's absolutely mad!! So glad you were okay! I've had similar experiences in terms of last minute swerves but nothing has dramatic!

A bloody brilliant decision! Have fun! Oh and let me know what you get and what you'd recommend most!

@@petrolpoodle6617 I will do. 👍🏻

Thanks Martin! What a cracker, great spec!

Hey pal, Thanks for the comment I'm going to get to work on this shortly! If you're in a rush to buy, I'd recommend Car Thoughts channel, Dom has a great video. I'm going to do one that amalgamates as much as possible plus spec differences!

I couldn't agree more with the absolute poetry you just conjured up! Exactly how I feel too!

Hey Richard, Sorry for the late reply, I accidentally switched my notifications off - I thought things had gone a little too quiet haha! I'm 6 ft and without the lowered seats (see my latest video on the channel for seat lowering + new rollbar updates!) I wouldn't want to be taller. My brother is 6ft 2 I think, perhaps a hair under and the stock NC seat height was too high for him. He had his head pressing against the metal roof (apparently there's more room in the softtop though). With my new lowered seats he sits much more comfortably and would now own one. I test drove a 2015 ND1 a couple of years ago and it was a superb drive but the interior was definitely smaller and I'd take an NC any day based on that alone. Also the NC's have hydraulic steering with more feel and a bigger boot! I haven't driven the NA or NB, and as much as I love them, they're too unsafe for me personally. Having had someone drive into me in my NC in September, I wouldn't have wanted to be in something older with less airbags and structural strength. Definitely buy an NC MX-5 but just budget in a little mod money :)

You'll have an absolute blast, my friend! If you haven't seen my latest video on my 2.5 year ownership of it, I'd really recommend it :D. All my tips for getting the most out of it without necessarily having to spend like mad!

I'm 5 weeks in... Still in love and watched your other video cheers 👍

Thanks so much, Sam. Do you know anyone that has a Mk2 to review for the channel? My personal thoughts on the MK2 are: They're amazing cars and have an even greater handling/fun edge over the Mk3+ but at the cost of poor safety by any standards let alone today's. Rust is also a classic issue on all MX5s but given they're even older you'd just have to shop very carefully. After seeing an S2000 flip onto its roof last year and pulling the driver out, safety isn't something I want to skimp on personally. Not worth the financial saving if you have a bad crash! For a track car that you end up putting a cage into etc, I'd buy a MK2 any day! Hope this helps

Yes ,it,s great cabrio but Audi TT is much better and realible!Alu frame,no rust problems,no differential,better gearbox,luxury enterior,much more confrontable...

@@milanandjelkovic3516 Yes, but it's front wheel drive, not the same driving experience at all. MX-5's are very reliable and cheap to repair if they go wrong.

@@milanandjelkovic3516 Coming back after 1 year and re-reading the comments, are you kidding when you say the Audi TT is reliable? Better gearbox? No differential, as if that's an advantage? With all due respect and not meaning to be confrontational, you must be smoking something! TT's are well known to be pretty unreliable and costly to repair (unlike MX5's), the MX5 NC (mk3) gearbox is widely acknowledged to be one of the best ever and there's no need for me to comment any further on the differential! I'm not dissing the TT, but would suggest you get into a nice 2.0 MX5 and see how good it really is.

@@milanandjelkovic3516 TT hideous car and common as muck, worst viability out there.

​@@milanandjelkovic3516a TT isn't more reliable than a MX-5 at all! There's a reason on why the MX-5's gearbox is one of the best MTs in the WORLD!

Thank you very much sir! As my first ever KZfaq video I'm glad it stands the test of time though I'd probably deliver it ever so slightly softer today hahaha! And you would fit great if you're comfortable in an ND :)

It really is! Hold onto it dearly!

@@petrolpoodle6617 I shall it has less than 30,000 miles

Thanks pal!

Hey Ben! Haha keep the comments coming! I hope next video we also proudly acknowledge our car twins again! I wasn't sure if they were original until recently, I found the official Mazda parking sensors manual with my car and sure enough there's a green button in my centre console tunnel (left of the gearknob) that I can hold down to deactivate them! So I'm glad to say they're factory!

Thanks so much pal! Much appreciated! Gladly you can ask, it's the offfical GoPro suction cup with a Hero 6 which I think has stabilisation too.

I totally agree! I do love the NF look and I thought it was way better looking than the NC... But now it's been a few years I'm actually thinking they're about the same. No owner's bias...

Hey pal! Thanks so much, much appreciated! Funny you should say this, I'm going to make a video very soon of the first things you should do to your MX-5 (in my opinion!) but I'll give you a rough spoiler alert now anyway! I adore the Sport Black, it looks absolutely awesome, but mechanically it's the same car. Just so cool. Personally, now that I've seen the size of the list of things I want to do (and have done already) to my Sport Tech, I'd pocket the cash and put it into essentials. First absolute essential which I've had done recently - a new rollbar by GC Fabrications. The standard one was about 3 inches BELOW the top of my head as you can see in the video. Just done that - £350 parts plus about £270 fitting (though can be done cheaper if you don't refit plastic trim and keep Bose AMP etc as it requires a separate cross beam). Second essentials - fantastic tyres and a proper MX-5 specialist alignment. These fundamentals make so much difference and obviously don't come under mods! If you plan to lower, do the alignment after of course. Thirdly - I'd replace whatever headunit is in there for a proper Android Auto/CarPlay headunit by Pioneer or Kenwood for example. You use these things on almost every trip and it make such a difference and makes the interior look 10 years newer. Fourth - Cheap mod that everyone raves about - RX8 anti-rollbars for stiffness, very cheap and keeps ride comfort the same as stock! Fifth - This is where I'd be looking at exhaust backbox for adding character or saving it up entirely for BBR 200 stuff, personally. The standard brakes are fantastic anyway, the standard ride is brilliant and the more I've driven it in the last 8 months, the more I'm glad it'll comfortably do 7 hour trips as well as B-road blasts. When I've sorted buying my first property, I'll be saving up for the BBR 200 myself!

@@petrolpoodle6617 Update, I bought a 2009 Mk 3.5, has lowered springs, decat downpipe and a race type Cobra exhaust with 4" tips. and a spoiler. that's about what's been done to it. 89000 miles. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rL98nM6Gz9_Iko0.html this is me giving it a start-up and rev after cleaning it up. I plan on fitting it with a sports cat downpipe as the decat is a bit loud for me, and is slightly naughty and antisocial... whoops. have also swapped out the rear tyres for some Toyo's as the old ones had a massive thorn in them and also only 2mm of tread left. Fronts are brand new when purchased. I also can't put the super 200 kit on it as my insurer wont insure me above 25% over standard power because I'm a young driver. so 197bhp is my max but, as I've experienced, they are pretty quick as they are. May get it tuned up a bit when I get the exhaust sorted. Let me know what you think. No plates on in the vid as I was swapping them to private ones. That is if you see this comment.

@@the_quimister1446 this is amazing news! Thank you so much for updating me, absolutely chuffed to have helped play a part. I'm super jealous, it must be bloody brilliant! I'd love to experience it. I'm going to watch your video tomorrow as I'm in bed next to my sleeping gf at the mo haha! I think you'll find that being able to squeeze the power up even a tiny bit will still be plenty exciting. Congrats again!

Thanks pal! My first ever video on KZfaq!

Hahaha I love your patience and the fact there's still demand! I'll definitely get round to it in a couple of months, I've got another MX-5 video ready to go but I'm trying to stagger the MX-5 content so I don't alienate the followers who enjoy all the other reviews. It'll come for sure! I'm going to speak to a couple of MX-5 specialists and write down their notes on what they work on most etc! How's your beaut? Congats on the purchase!!

@@petrolpoodle6617 good, I sort of had a general idea of what to look for so didn't buy myself a lemon. Had to fix the windscreen cowel gromet, that would be my advice, check the footwells as the first thing, known fault with them apparently. And the prht deck, I will have to get it baked and resprayed because water stuck in the aluminium crystallizes and bubbles up on it during winter also a known issue. Rest of it is in immaculate condition, had it lifted 2 weeks ago only surface rust that is expected from a 11yo car :P going to get it cleaned up and undersealed before winter salt comes around. Also thx, you video is the one that finally convinced me to get an NC ;D best purchase of my life.

I completely agree, David, where I live in the South East it's so busy in most places that I rarely get to wish I have more power. And truth be told, 20+ months later I'm not wishing the car was faster at all. I love it and every time I hop out of my new daily and back into the MX-5, I'm reminded how brilliantly they nailed the brief!

@@petrolpoodle6617 Yes they look like excellent cars. So what if they're not as fast as this and that....you can't use the extra speed anyway. I used to have a Mk3 MR2 and it was such a shame when Toyota discontinued it. That was a fantastic fun car. NB I'm also nearly always following in a line of traffic in my 58hp ADO16 1300cc!

Wow that's quite a change there but I can totally see what you mean. In my 2.5 year update video I mention that it's so satisfying that it cost literally no more to run than the daily Honda Civic, so it's quite a nice thing to own on the side without thinking christ this is costing me a fortune!

@@petrolpoodle6617 I backed out in the end, couldn't part with the Z! I hadn't experienced the NC with the roof up at the time when I commented but roof up it was a bit too snug. At the minimum though I now really understand why people love them!

You are incredibly wise! A fine choice!

Sorry for the late reply, I accidentally switched my notifications off - I thought things had gone a little too quiet haha! Man alive I've wanted to do the BBR treatment for so long! There's a 225 with ITBs going for 11k right now, the one reviewed in Evo! It's killing me that I can't afford it! Whereabouts are you based? If you'd ever like to see the BBR200 on the channel vs my stock one, I'd love to review it! (I've got a special policy of being fully comp on all cars with a max value payout of 20k BTW!). No pressure at all and congrats on taking the jump for the upgrade!

@@petrolpoodle6617 I’m in Fleetwood, Lancashire which is a long way from Withyham (I assume that’s the area where you’re from), but to be honest the thought of someone getting their hands on it and ‘kicking it’s head in’ just doesn’t sit easy with me. Other additions include a Pioneer SPH-DA230 DAB head unit, stubby aerial, Perspex wind deflector on top of being garaged every night and only fed Shell V-Power all it’s life. This car is molly-coddled to death and is irreplaceable. Keep up the good work 👍🏻

Thank you, I'm really glad to hear! I'm 6ft and I did fit in when it was stock but lowering the seat with Jass Performance lowering brackets is a well worth upgrade. That'll let taller drivers in! My brother is 6ft 2 and found his head was always pressing on the roof. After the seat lowering he's all good now. There are owners who are 6ft 3 and use stock seats so I think it's down to how long your torso is for your height. I'd go sit in one, I have a feeling the soft top has more headroom! Have a look at my video regarding the rollbar and seat lowering, that'll answer all the questions you'd have on that 😁

@@petrolpoodle6617 Thanks this was really helpful am very close to pulling the trigger on a low milage 3.5 and yes I think I will go get the seat lowered I'm just under 6'2 I reckon I will squeeze in, going for a sit in one next week, I'm 50 and this car is bringing me back to driving post sports bike. I like how you emphasize just crusing about is fun, thanks for lowering advice.

@@turketine you're most welcome, really excited for you! And by the way, the best thing you'll ever do is get it on a track day; Bedford Autodrome or Snetterton or similar to learn what it's like and truly capable of. I've had mine 2 years and seen an utterly amazing side of it I've never been close to approaching before!

I'm afraid that they don't, my next video is on the rollbar replacement I've just had done, so I've seen the bare stuff underneath and there's nothing to pop it up. Just a small bar bolted to the chassis!

Sorry I thought I said thank you for subscribing! Much appreciated!