MX5 (MK3) or S2000 worth the jump?

I found the S2000 to be an extremely comfortable cruiser. The gearing means that you’re doing 3-4K rpm on the motorway so it’s loud.

They are brilliant, but I’d still go with the MX5 here.
 
Thanks again everyone really helpful!

I need to ready up on the different trim/versions etc.

Excuse my ignorance on the subject, this is a pretty recent impulse to me so still doing homework.

NC2/3 Etc refers to the Generation of MX5? NC3.5 = 09 facelift?
 
NC is not a bad car and they’re good fun and cheaper to buy. But if you do spend 12-15 on S2K I’l you’ll probably sell it for that or more in the future. NCs are still depreciating and they’re the least loved mx5s. I have an S2K and had it for near 5 years and my mate recently bought an nc1 with bbr 200 kit etc and it’a a very good car for the money he paid. Easily 80% of what the S2K is. But of course this has had many thousands spent on it. Also Honda will be more expensive to repair but they rarely go wrong. In the years I had mine I’ve only had to replace the rear caliper.
 
sandys said:
5" 11, I'm a short legs, long torso weirdo :D You can get a wheel spacer for a few quid but I never found it an issues beyond not being able to keep hold of the wheel on some maximum attack stuff as I'd trap hand between wheel and leg, but I've always been one of those physics is faster than me types, and let go of the wheel on lairy slides anyway, autosolo skills and all that :D
Click to expand...
I did look at the Bofi spacer but didn't know if it would compromise getting in/out as it's fairly large at 50-odd-mm. But it's a small car and i think anyone taller than your typical Japanese will have to compromise in some way :cry:

sandys said:
Abarth 124 rather than the Fiat IMO, but prices are probably harder, it gets the more powerful engine mated up to the robust NC gearbox, I've been running that engine for 100k and 12 years now in my Abarth Punto Evo SS, absolutely spanked the arse off it when it used to do all my track and competition work in the early days, no bother, these day its just my little city runabout, good for 40-50mpg on a run just keeps trucking along.

That said of course it is probably very easy to get 180-200bhp out of the low power MA unit in the Fiat but not sure if lower power cars have LSD.
Click to expand...
Yup, meant Abarth :o
Managed to nab a friends during the NC500 for a few miles and you're right, the engine is
WZaNsb6.png
and as you say, great mpg. I think a few suspension tweaks and it would be a stonking little two-seater.
If they did an RF variant and not the rare-as-hens-teeth hardtop, i would have one in a heartbeat even if the seats are so thick that it would be even more of a struggle for me than my NC.

kinger8938 said:
NC2/3 Etc refers to the Generation of MX5? NC3.5 = 09 facelift?
Click to expand...
Yup, so you've got -
MK1 = NA
MK2 = NB
MK3 = NC
MK4 (current) = ND

Then within that is various facelifts but specifically with the NC's you have (+/- 6 months on the years due to car registration and whatnot) -
MK3/NC1 = 2006-2008
MK3.5/NC2 = 2008-2012
MK3.75/NC3 = 2012-2015

http://www.roadster.blog is a great source of info on the NC's. But if looking at NC's, you ideally want a NC2 or NC3 as the NC2 brought a load of changes which improved on the engine, gearbox (iirc) and chassis plus interior/exterior cosmetic bits. I could be wrong but the NC3 didn't really improve on the NC2 other than mostly being a cosmetic facelift update (front fog lamps are the biggest give away) along with that engine map but as said in the other thread, i couldn't tell the difference whilst test driving both but mileage may vary.

grudas said:
NCs are still depreciating and they’re the least loved mx5s.
Click to expand...
Definitely not as loved as the NA/NB's but i would say prices are up on where they should be, even in the current market. Whether or not that will change, outside of the rarer editions (20th Ani, Sport Black etc), i don't know.

And NC's certainly aren't in the same league as S2000's but then, i'm not sure i would want to hoon one around b roads knowing that it's appreciating (if in decent condition) and i could make a decent enough return.
 
Last edited:
visibleman said:
I did look at the Bofi spacer but didn't know if it would compromise getting in/out as it's fairly large at 50-odd-mm. But it's a small car and i think anyone taller than your typical Japanese will have to compromise in some way :cry:


Yup, meant Abarth :o
Managed to nab a friends during the NC500 for a few miles and you're right, the engine is
WZaNsb6.png
and as you say, great mpg. I think a few suspension tweaks and it would be a stonking little two-seater.
If they did an RF variant and not the rare-as-hens-teeth hardtop, i would have one in a heartbeat even if the seats are so thick that it would even more of a struggle for me than my NC.


Yup, so you've got -
MK1 = NA
MK2 = NB
MK3 = NC
MK4 (current) = ND

Then within that is various facelifts but specifically with the NC's you have (+/- 6 months on the years due to car registration and whatnot) -
MK3/NC1 = 2006-2008
MK3.5/NC2 = 2008-2012
MK3.75/NC3 = 2012-2015

http://www.roadster.blog is a great source of info on the NC's. But if looking at NC's, you ideally want a NC2 or NC3 as the NC2 brought a load of changes which improved on the engine, gearbox (iirc) and chassis plus interior/exterior cosmetic bits. I could be wrong but the NC3 didn't really improve on the NC2 other than mostly being a cosmetic facelift update (front fog lamps are the biggest give away) along with that engine map but as said in the other thread, i couldn't tell the difference whilst test driving both but mileage may vary.


Definitely not as loved as the NA/NB's but i would say prices are up on where they should be, even in the current market. Whether or not that will change, outside of the rarer editions (20th Ani, Sport Black etc), i don't know.

And NC's certainly aren't in the same league as S2000's but then, i'm not sure i would want to hoon one around b roads knowing that it's appreciating (if in decent condition) and i could make a decent enough return.
Click to expand...

Thanks, sorry you did share that link we me in the other thread but I completely forgot to give it a read that evening! Will do now :)

The S2000 will certainly hold value going forward if you buy a decent example to start with.

My car as it is now is valued roughly at £25-26k across the various WBAC sites. I have a settlement on the PCP of £19,800 so that would give me roughly £6k to go towards either an MX5 outright (I can up that a bit if it's worth it) or put that toward an s2000 but have to finance the difference which would just mean paying the same monthly as I am now

So from a sensible head point of view I think I'm sold on the MX5. But the s2000 isn't out of the question. That said interest rates aren't that exciting right now.

Our personal loan for a captur just over a year ago is 2.9%

Everywhere now is currently 4.9% or higher. Not mad but not as exciting
 
The Abarth engines are good. They have pretty strong internals too and tune well, also sound much better than the Mazda. They will tune to over 200hp with a remap, so probably just as quick as the S2000 with the weight advantage.

I can see the Abarth 124 going up in value like the S2000 eventually.
 
Last edited:
Nasher said:
The Abarth engines are good. They have pretty strong internals too and tune well, also sound much better than the Mazda. They will tune to over 200hp with a remap, so probably just as quick as the S2000 with the weight advantage.

I can see the Abarth 124 going up in value like the S2000 eventually.
Click to expand...
See.. I'd never heard of the Abarth, don't think I've ever seen one.

Had a look and wish I didn't :D really like the look of that.
 
Nasher said:
The Abarth engines are good. They have pretty strong internals too and tune well, also sound much better than the Mazda. They will tune to over 200hp with a remap, so probably just as quick as the S2000 with the weight advantage.

I can see the Abarth 124 going up in value like the S2000 eventually.
Click to expand...

I pretty much agree with all of that, I would say there is a negative though and it is the negative of pretty much any thing with a turbo, especially in a little sportscar like this, throttle response and top end response.

In most everyday driving scenarios the turbo probably trumps the NA but when you are doing stuff at the limits of control the immediacy and reliability of response from the NA wins out, I could spend all day doing some low speed spinning around at events bouncing off the limiter with the Mazda, the Abarth would get a lot of heat soak in same scenarios.

Personally I'd want the Mazda engine in the Abarth even as a fan of the Abarth egine :D but it's all about what you want out of it, as usual my use cases are fringe :D

For going balls out on track though and tuning potentia,l 260-280bhp out of the little 1.4 is not too expensive, at 10th of what it cost me to do the same on the NCs normally aspirated engine and cheaper than boosting an NC being that it is turbo already.

kinger8938 said:
See.. I'd never heard of the Abarth, don't think I've ever seen one.

Had a look and wish I didn't :D really like the look of that.
Click to expand...

It's an basically an ND built by Mazda for Fiat with Fiats styling and engine, so probably back to the old rep of an italian car that rusts now the Mazda have built it :p :D Abarths like to appeal to the juvenile in you so they don't do a lot to hide the noises of the turbo or exhaust and who can't say no to stickers :D
 
Last edited:
The Abarth 500 I had did have some turbo lag and it was very noticeable if I drove it after the Elise. But it was an older one so maybe they improved it since. They have a lot of torque for a 1.4 though. With just a stage 1 tune mine had 300nm. It didn't run out of puff at any point.
 
Last edited:
The 500 was never fitted with a good Multiair engine, except for in US. It had the old 1.4 turbo and yes it was very old school in its response, still that has it charms in its own way. A turbo charged car that feels turbocharged.
 
Last edited:
The only difference between the engines is the multiair module, but it does reduce the reliability of it. The multiair filter can clog as well, but isn't a service part you need to check/replace it yourself.
 
Last edited:
Nasher said:
I can see the Abarth 124 going up in value like the S2000 eventually.
Click to expand...
You would assume given they're now out of production but, prices have been all over the show over the last few years - a mate picked up a mint 2016 near top spec (didn't have Android Auto) low-ish mileage (11K) for £16k winter 2020/21, did the NC500 and sold it less than a year later for £21.8k (i think he was very, very lucky to get that at the time); they're now hovering around the £18k mark for similar spec and age.
As you say though, it may just take a little time.

kinger8938 said:
Had a look and wish I didn't :D really like the look of that.
Click to expand...
They are great cars, drive pretty well, cabin is a lot nicer to sit in compared to a MX5, feel very Italian and sounds awesome (
) and generally makes the ND feel a bit naff. And as mentioned, they can be tuned.
Just a shame they didn't do an RF variant, other than the hens teeth rare hardtop, as i would have one in a heartbeat :(
If you think about getting one, just make sure your definitely test drive it - i found the drivers area a bit cramped, even compared to an NC, due to the very comfy but 'thiiiicccc' seats.

But compared to an NC you're in a completely different price bracket (possible starting to proach Porsche territory) and like an S2000, you probably would coddle it given worth/value/appreciation.
Where's as you would hoon the NC to an inch of it's life knowing that it's just an MX5 :cry:

sandys said:
Abarths like to appeal to the juvenile in you so they don't do a lot to hide the noises of the turbo or exhaust and who can't say no to stickers :D
Click to expand...
Definitely true, the sound alone is amazing considering what it is :cool:

Now if you could get a turbo'd MX5 to sound just as good and not like a fart-can Honda....;)


Edit - Quick question for the Abarth folk, is the engine in the Abarth 124 (minus the NC gearbox) the same as the 595/695?
 
Last edited:
Nasher said:
The only difference between the engines is the multiair module, but it does reduce the reliability of it. The multiair filter can clog as well, but isn't a service part you need to check/replace it yourself.
Click to expand...

That difference is fairly significant, leads to better response, more torque through the range, particularly low down off boost, less weight, less fuel use etc.

its a bit like saying the only difference between an 8v and 16v engine is 8vs and completely ignoring what it does for performance of the engine :D

Reliability, can only speak for what I know and I haven't met anyone with a failure and no issues myself as mentioned had mine from new I've done almost 100k in it and gave it some proper abuse in its life, but I never skimped on servicing, I'd imagine that's it the difference between myself and some owners these get into the hands of.

The servicng intervals are too long for something with just over 2 litres of oil for protection.
 
Last edited:
Nasher said:
The MX5 is great fun, but I don't rate the suspension setup on it. The engineering behind the S2000 is superior, they were much more expensive cars when they were new.

MX5 will be much cheaper to maintain/repair though. Also watch out for rust, they love to rust.
Click to expand...
As an MX2 MX5 owner I can confirm. Need to be proper on it with maintenance.
I bought some MiesteR coilovers for mine and it feels great, they aren't cheap mind £900+
 
Last edited:
kinger8938 said:
So from a sensible head point of view I think I'm sold on the MX5. But the s2000 isn't out of the question. That said interest rates aren't that exciting right now.
Click to expand...
Thinking out loud and probably what i would do in your position, even though MX5's are a bit up on where they should be, it's possible that you might not lose too much when you come to sell, as long as you sell it around summer etc. Therefore, you could have some fun in the MX5 and reconsider the S2000 when finances and interest rates are a bit more in your favour :)
 
MikeTheNative said:
As an MX2 MX5 owner I can confirm. Need to be proper on it with maintenance.
I bought I bought some MiesteR coilovers for mine and it feels great, they aren't cheap mind £900+
Click to expand...
Unlikely to make it back but suspension does make a huge difference on them. Saying that, a decent wheel alignment (i ended up down at Wheels Inmotion) massively helps too compared to the out-of-the-box geometry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom