Is the Mazda MX-5 Miata actually any good? | ReDriven
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
- Check out the Cheat Sheet here: redriven.com/mazda-mx-5/
Looking for a used Mazda MX-5? - carsforsale.com.au/mazda/mx-5
If you’ve been living under a rock for the past 30 years and don't know what this is, it’s a Mazda MX5. It is the world's highest-selling two-seat sports car which means there are loads of them available on the second-hand market and this car, the original NA series is arguably the most wanted.
But, are these actually any good? Are they worth all the hype? Are they reliable, what goes wrong with them and most importantly, should you buy one?
00:00 - Intro
00:39 - What is it?
01:30 - Does it look good?
03:11 - How's the interior?
03:43 - How's the tech?
03:56 - Is it practical?
04:26 - What goes wrong?
05:06 - Is it safe?
05:22 - What's it like to drive?
07:46 - How much does it cost?
08:13 - Running costs?
09:02 - Should you buy it?
#mazda
#mx5
#miata
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At ReDriven, we’ll be taking you through the pros and cons of a huge range of used cars to see how well they’re going now that they’re a few years old, have thousands of kilometres on the clock, and are coming toward the end of their warranty, or maybe don’t have one at all.
Plus, thanks to our resident mechanic, Jim, you’ll find out what commonly goes wrong with them and what might need to be fixed.
Most importantly, we want to make ReDriven a voice for the most in-the-know used car experts there are...you guys.. See, you’re the ones that actually buy, live with, love and sometimes unfortunately hate the cars we’ll be reviewing.
So we want to hear your thoughts. Hit us up in the comments, or on Instagram and Facebook.
We’d love nothing more than for you to give us as much feedback as possible, so we can make this channel the best it can be.
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![10 Tips For Buying YOUR Perfect Miata | Mazda MX5 Miata Buying Advice [NA and NB]](/img/n.gif)
This would have to be the best review of a car that I have seen. It was comprehensive and clearly spoken. I can appreciate your passion when driving the NA. I'd love to see a review on the NB8B for those who can live without the cute pop-up lights and require a few basic safety features.
Rob, again, seriously, thank you. We appreciate your kind words immensely. We do plan on doing reviews of all 4 MX5 generations, just 3 to go!
8 years ago i laughed at my mate who bought an MX5 - told him my ride on lawn mower had more power - thought it was a hair dressers car. After just a few drives i found a second hand one for myself!! Great drivers car - with mods can be transformed into whatever beast you want! so reliable, and now i have no plans to ever part with it. Full time smiles - thanks for the video
Perfectly put mate! - AK
Haha...yeah I used to get the "hairdresser's car" insult.
(Not that there's anything wrong with hairdressers....or their cars for that matter).
I agree, I've got a mk 1 😁👍
I have recently bought a green 1999 MX5 (2nd gen). You can tell that the car is old, but I enjoy every second driving it.
Great review man! I was the same, back in the day i was hooting around in skylines and things and didn't think about 5's at all. Then my brother got a factory turbo NB and it totally changed my perspective.
Now on my second mx5, and the fourth iteration of it's powerplant. First a 200hp 1.8, then a 350whp setup, then back to a 250whp setup... And now have stuffed a v8 into it. Such a fantastic platform to have fun with.
Love to see genuine delight on a reviewers face. Legendary MX-5, what's more to say.
Love these from original to 2021 a great car for drivers :)
Just got an na last week and already love it.
I'm on my 4th. A NA6 limited modified, NB8B standard, NC ser1 modified and now NC ser2 touring standard. All except the last have been tracked as well as toured. The last one will be put on the track after COVID. Very reliable with no problems at all from any of them. I have put on over 200000 kl across the first 3 cars and up to 16 track days per year. Great fun and on a track they show up a lot for very expensive performance cars.
Great stuff! I have owned a series 3 NA and they are a great car! Absolutely loved it. Super reliable and rewarding to drive, I regret selling it everyday! Not practical at all, If you never need to carry anything bigger than a duffel bag then go buy one!
Cheers mate!
I miss my 89, slow, but super fun.
Surprisingly good in the snow.
This channel is criminally underrated
Oh mate thanks so much! Feel free to share it around to make it appropriately overrated!
@@ReDriven all the Australian car channels are underrated, probably due to the youtube algorithm and most people on the UA-cam being American
This is one regret - selling my 1995 MX-5 in 2001 with 21k on the clock. As for the clip above, that's the way I felt when I drove around in one of these - they are just great cars to drive. You get two cars for the price of one - a convertible for the sunny days and a coupe (or sorts) for the not so sunny days. I just love these cars and will get one when the kids get their own licenses.
This guy is great, nailed it
i have my miata for 28 year with 240k mileage, i still enjoy driving it with not plan to sell or part ...
I have a Mazda Miata Mx5 with only 73,182 miles on it with no body damage that stays in a climate controlled garage. I recently turned down an offer of $13,000.00 because I can't imagine selling it. I currently own a 2024 BMW x4 M40i which is my hang it out vehicle that I have made a number of modifications on it.
I bought an NB model, and love it so much I just bought an NA as well, just awesome fun to drive, rekindled my love of driving, even in stock form. fabulous cars!
Great review. I had a BMW Z4. I really miss it now that I sold it. The Z4 had some reliable issues though, Not mine. I was just afraid if something did go wrong it would cost a small fortune to fix it. I have been looking at the MX5.. They are very small though when you are surrounded on the city street by pick up trucks and SUV's.. Not to many winding roads with in a reasonable distance where these things shine. Anything older than 2019 don't have the 180 h.p and I find them a little underpowered. Anything above 2019 here in Canada are quite pricey. Rear wheel drive and low to the ground means they will be garaged for the winter. I am presently looking at the Nissan 370 z... There are quite a few for sale and reasonable? They don't have the best gas mileage like the Miata but the naturally aspirated V6 has a lot more power. The newer ones are expensive and have a turbo. Twin I think. I would love to get another convertible. This is what I am coming up? I do love corvettes. Way to pricey. Mustang convertible?? Maybe.
i’m yet to hear about someone who doesn’t like the miata they got/ haven’t wanted one after driving it
Like them so much I now own 2. Early model series 1 and last of the series 1 limited edition.
Awesome Rod! - AK
A friend of mine some years ago got into an accident with her Miata when an 18 wheeler truck crash into her. The car was totaled but she....?....well, she made it out safe with only a few scratches.
Had 5 of them, Na Nb's Nc's all of them can suffer from premature clutch slave and master cylinder failures. Look for rocker cover gasket leaks, rear suspension issues on the earlier NC's, check latches especially on the NA and NBs that are locking correctly and window winders are working easily they are prone to failing on earlier cars... Getting on a bit now and sellers trying to capitalise on a profit on NA's. Better off buying an early ND with the 1.5 I'm more gravitated to an old relic MG Midget now 🙃
Thiiiiiis channel is like an Aussie version of Doug Demuro with the dry sense of humour of Savage Geese. Well done AK Morris for finding and filling that niche in our market. Also loved the driving shots in this video, perfect day for roof down. Hunter Valley right?
Wow mate, they are huge names to be compared to and thank you so much!
Actually down near a beautiful spot called Fernbank Farm west of Wyong. Grab a coffee from the road side cafe then head into the valley from there, awesome drive. Just don't cut any corners as there are always cyclists and the random horse. - AK
But gosh they're cute!
I had the privalage of borrowing an older one for a few weeks and, boy, was it fun!
This car has a 1.8 most likely because it had a 1.6 short nose crank, which regularly fail. Can be repaired if caught early, otherwise engine rebuild/swap.
I know, I own one. Although I caught crank wobble early and repairing it now
I purchased a 1990 JDM MX5 Eunos Roadster 6 mths ago.
Being a 30yo car, the engine was leaking pretty badly.
My mechanics fixed all the leaks during a cambelt replacement when the engine was opened up.
Heaps of the internal gaskets were in very bad shape.
But they are not hard to get to once the engine is opened.
Total cost to replace the cambelt, water pump, bad gaskets and coolant cost $700 including labour.
There is a gasket between the car body and the rear lamp, make sure it is there, otherwise water will get in. Water tightness In the boot can be further strengthened by filling no more gaps between the body and the rear lamp.
I park my car outdoor, during wet seasons, the interior gets extremely damp, due to the convertible rainrail channelling water via the interior of the car to the drainhole. Very bad design.
The demister + air con + max heat often struggle to clear the mist on the windscreen quickly.
Solely using a car cover will not rectify the problem, as many modern car covers are designed to be breathable, therefore water still get thru
The issue can be sorted by placing a waterproof tarp on top of the car cover.
Then u get the best of both world where the cover is breathable as well as water proof. Downside being taking over 10 mins to remove all covers and ties, and 20 mins to put them back on.
This fixed the issue of very misty and wet windscreen on wet days.
Drainholes around the car need to be cleared frequently, otherwise there will be water buildup inside the panels.
The maintenance are pretty easy but required frequently.
Awesome comments mate, thank you. - AK
such a lovely car
Fantastic cars that are perfectly good stock (although a rollbar is always highly recommended). Capable of devilish cornering speeds but also designed with fun in mind. The stock suspension is soft enough that it can soak up bumps and the road but also balanced enough to make the car super manueverable. Additionally, the amount of bodyroll is often a point of issue for some. Bodyroll doesn't really slow the car down but it does add to the sense of going faster/being more on the limit at any given moment. The stock 14" wheels are also small and skinny enough to make the car step out a little while driving hard, but also slow enough that even intermediate/novice drivers can catch it.
With a few mods like coilovers or wheels and tires, the car can unlock a ton of potential, but you mitigate some of those driving characteristics that may not make the car faster around a track, but certainly a lot more lively to drive.
That's the beauty of the mx-5. If you want a fantastic fun weekend car, you will get that from it's stock form. If you feel like you've mastered the car in stock form, you can add a few mods and the skill ceiling gets a lot higher. Granted, with things like coilovers and stickier tires you'll need a little more skill on the limit (and it won't be as overtly "fun") as weight transfer will occur much faster and you'll have to predict how and when the car is going to behave.
But yeah, they're the perfect learners car for the FR layout and getting into sports cars. Even though the car is a coffin with wheels, lower speed fuck ups wont be as severe as if you were in a more expensive and faster car. Plus once you've mastered the dynamics of the car, you can upgrade it and make the capabilities of the car grow with you as a driver.
All miatas are bloody lovely!
It would be awesome if you guys can do all generations of Miata :)
Oh mate we'd love to do that, we just don't have the ability to......yet! - AK
@@ReDriven Your channel is too underrated.. I can say you can do that soon 😎
I have yet to drive one and am waiting for the day a dealer when my BK series 2 3 has to get serviced I get one as a Loaner even if it means keeping the roof up so be it.I have had as loaners 2's,3's,CX3 AND CX5 with the 3 to date.
The only problem is, that if tou own one, you want just one more in another color.
Currently on my 4th :) red 1993, white 94, blue 96 and now another red 91!
@@NickVillecco i really wanted a 97 m edition… i didn t find it in my country or near
Nice reveiw.
would I buy one? yes!, then I bought another, and as soon as I figure out where to park it I will buy another :)
So addictive Ted. Thanks for watching and commenting too.
They are the best small reliable trustworthy sports car for the money in the world! NA’s do suffer from rear brake calliper seizures as do other small Mazda’s of the day
You guys need to be going through all the 90s Japanese sports cars everyone is going bands over.
That's the plan mate. The challenge is not only finding them but finding ones that are a good balance between stock and heavily modified and in the right conditions and have owners willing to lend them to us for a day or two. We have a few crackers lines up but!
Is a 1991 Miata na 1.6 mint condition no rust 98k miles hardtop worth 8k?All stock
👌. That exhaust sounds amazing, do you know what it is? I want it for my 2002 NB. 😍
I'll find out Austin. - AK
Can we get an updated review for the ND?
Done
ua-cam.com/video/U1PvOuE7WiI/v-deo.html
@ReDriven it's probably time to review the NB ;)
Would you get a set of golf clubs in the boot/trunk
Crazy how expensive these are even just 3 years later, 16k for a decent one at that.
The car you drove was the NA, for the first four years it had a revvy 1.6l and a 4.3 diff, then changed to a 1.8l, still the NA. The Clubman edition deleted the aircond, airbags, power steering. This is the edition you reviewed. Probably considered the version which is the 'purest' sportscar because of the lack of amenities which made it lighter and has the 'rawest' appeal.
It looks tiny next to Adam lol
Good review - I have had a few roadsters now and will never own a Mazda - partly since I do not like them and partly due to their fan boys being really hard to take.
Will stick to my Z4 Bimmer.
be prepared for the arm/leg/fix issues of the BMW.But without this you wouldn't have the Z3/Z4 BMW,SLK /SLC Mercedes(recently discontinued),mgf/mgtf amongst others.My old man almost bought one way back in the day after we also did our research on Renault Megane,Peugeot 206cc and Holden Astra reviews and test drives.a second generation.
Don't consider, Just buy one. I bought my '96 NA two years ago and loved every single kilometer!
The biggest question is, how comfortably do you fit in it since you're about 5 cm taller than Tarzan??
Easily mate, super comfy. - AK
Love the Boots !! Hahaaa
1.6>1.8
It's only a small bump in power and barely adds any more speed because of the weight. More torque at low revs sure - but the 1.6 is funner to rev out. Its not like MX5s are about being faat anyway.