Living 3 Years With My Mazda MX-5 ND - The Definitive Long Term Review

[@Kraid07]

3:41 "I want to feel something when I'm doing it" Don't we all Gabe... Actually, the only thing we want to feel is the joy of watching Kostas cook!

[@GabrielePiana]

ahaha same here!

[@dgalcaide_]

that's what she said

[@YoShImUrA53]

Fucking Tim! xDDD

[@Andronika]

I drove my MX-5 NA for 17 years. 1996-2013. Yes, I went through midlife crisis and menopause driving this car on a daily basis. I still miss it. Got the 2020 ND last October, a birthday gift to dear old me. Miata or nothing!!

[@GabrielePiana]

The fact that you have an ND and miss your NA is my whole point. The ND could have been a NA 2020 but in reality is just a watered down nostalgia operation that I thoroughly don't enjoy. On the other hand, I am sure many do and good for them. Still, this does not make it a good car to me :D

[@twrcrew8852]

@@GabrielePiana my biggest issue with the ND is that the hood/fender view is atrocious. My god i feel like im driving a GMC Sierra or an 18 wheeler.. The older MX5s had actual sports car visibility. The mazda engineers should have known better. The perception of speed and motion is directly proportional to how much of the road's surface directly in front of you is visible out of your peripherals as you drive by. when the hood is as long and tall as an Imperial star destroyer and your line of sight STARTS 20 foot in front of your car, the speed sensation is lost and the car just feels muted. This is why cars like the 370z, R35 GTR, and Dodge Challenger are "fast car boring". they feel like you're sitting in a fancy elevator. all you feel is G-force doing 300kph, but you see no speed and the experience is dulled. while on a bike with no helmet would feel like a rocket ship only going 100kph. The miata used to be more like this... they're better than this. what were they thinking.

[@shiftintohigh5564]

Miata is always the answer.

[@twrcrew8852]

@@shiftintohigh5564 unless it's an NC or ND

[@Toymonkeyjr]

Wow, you are a true driver at heart!

[@GraepelIreland]

My previous car was a 1.5 2018 mx5 and upgraded to a 2022 2 litre and have discovered that many issues complained about have been improved since then. The steering has been improved in 2024, Mazda are always trying to make this car better. This is a close to perfect car for me. I am also a similar height.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

This has to be the best review of the MX5 ever. Period! It has everything, i.e, facts, fun, passion, alternative/controversial viewpoints. Awesome work guys. I think I want one more than ever now.

[@azteka6103]

what "period" have to do with this video? why did you add it into the sentence?

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

“Period” is the American word for full stop. Hopefully this makes sense to you now.

[@inikkor61]

In the meanwhile, the whole video was recorded while driving and the audio is perfect 👌

[@GabrielePiana]

Checkmate! Jokes aside, we can argue about everything but not about the level of cabin noise. Perfect audio at 50 with a professional microphone 10cm away from my mouth, yeah, one gotta hope so!

[@blowfishes]

While I disagree somewhat with many aspects of your review, I still loved every second of it. I have my 2015 MX-5 in stock form, and absolutely adore driving it. Perhaps I am a customer similar to your father 😌

[@sigstroo]

We are all, MX5 placed second on Customer Satisfaction scores!! 88% of customers said that they would buy it again! I don't care if this guy is a pro rally driver. Majority of us LOVE our MX5 and for us it is the best car we ever had

[@ag4allgood]

I never owned a Miata BEFORE my ND Club. I've had so much fun in this car & many days during this Pandemic its been the total BAD mood breaker ! Owned since 2017 March 10th. Saw the Fiat 124 Spyder Abarth video review 1st & one sunny day after work stopped by the local Fiat dealer for a test drive 2017 124 Spyder Abarth. I was in traffic & this accented the heavy clutch feel along with its notchy shifter. Add the turbo lag & delayed throttle response ... very unimpressed. Next day the 2016 Mx-5 Club with BBS / Brembo package. Same White color as that Abarth with Black trim. What a difference in clutch feel ! So light / shifter very easy to find the gears. Throttle response instantly gives it to you ! This was the car that impressed. The dealer even let me test drive it for the weekend knowing it would SELL me ! Monday I made it official & bought it ! Very under rated car overall. Winter tires transform it in snow. Its my daily driver not a toy ! Any Bad weather it has performed really well. Best car I've owned & my garage has had some very nice cars before. I think the problem is you don't appreciate the soft top down driving as my top is down 75% of the time. Its also my 1st convertible.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Alan! I am very happy you are loving the car! I unfortunately cannot oversee the lack of driver feedback 😥

[@ag4allgood]

@@GabrielePiana Sorry your senses have died so soon in life ! 😢

[@GabrielePiana]

@@ag4allgood Hi Alan! You don’t really need to patronize and dismiss my opinion to defend yours you know? I am glad you are enjoying your car and I really don’t think you are doing something wrong because of that, more power to you! I’m not trying to convince you otherwise even! Heck I even say it in the video that some people will love it and good for them, no need to get all defensive about your beloved ND, I think your time would be better spent driving it! I have years of experience in Motorsport and in the automotive world testing and developing cars and setups, I’m fairly confident that my senses are just as sharp as they ever were 👊🏻

[@LucasD180]

I've a MX-5 ND2 184cv since 2019 and and I did about 35000 km. For me it's a really funny car and it's really difficult not to rev it in the corners. I did some works, changed wheels and tyres, the spring and the muffler. Every time is a pleasure.

[@Moriggia]

Did they fix the steering?

[@LucasD180]

@@Moriggia sicuramente è migliorata molto, ora è più diretto, ha un senso del centro molto più definito ed è meno moscio.

[@Moriggia]

@@LucasD180 grazie, domani vado a provare la 184cv 2022, ho già provato una 160 cv del 2017 e mi è piaciuta abbastanza ma l'ho guidata in una strada con traffico quindi nulla di ecclatante.

[@cozza819]

@@Moriggia did you buy one?

[@Moriggia]

@@cozza819 yes, a 2021 2 years ago

[@buz20]

I enjoy mine and I think it's the best. When I have to run an errand it turns it into a fun trip. I have nothing more to ask from a car.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Buz! No issue there, I'm genuinely happy you are loving it! I take a small issue with your phrasing tho, if I may, since I can guarantee is not the best at anything. But you love it, that's ok and that's what matter eventually :D

[@apexhugger]

I have the exact same car, although in Australia the 1.5L comes with LSD. I track my car a lot and I have found that 3 things transform it from 2CV to modern sports car. 1) adjustable sway (anti-roll) bars, 2) Eibach Pro springs, 3) sportier rubber (in my case Potenza RE71R on stock 16" wheels). And of course brake pads and racing brake fluid for the track. It is spot on for me now. Performs well on the street and feels sharp and responsive on the track. I haven't found anything to fix the non-self centrering steering though. Tried increasing static camber, caster and even a bit of toe. Car still needs constant steering input on the freeway.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hey Richard! Great to hear you are having fun with your ND! I have no doubt in my mind that it can be turned into a competent car on track. Nevertheless, your comment about the steering leaves me very unhappy. Maybe it’s me, but an MX5 with THIS kind of steering feel just is unacceptable and completely not fun on the road. I don’t care about making the car faster on track, I want to have fun. This steering completely spoils it for me.

[@apexhugger]

@@GabrielePiana I think the steering feel issue is related to the EPAS system . . . Steering rack swap?

[@Socks3657]

What?! They come with an LSD in Au??? I wish they also sold it that way in Germany :( I’m forced to buy the 2.0l sports line

[@apexhugger]

@@Socks3657 Yep, only models with no LSD in Australia are the Automatics.

[@juzzyboy26]

@@apexhugger I have a 2017 ND with the same steering issue. Wheel alignment is not the issue. It’s the EPS and I’m pondering on a steering rack swap. I read later models from 2018 have an updated rack.

[@adron7748]

24:00 what I’ve heard Mx5 owners do is to change the springs of the car in order to eliminate body roll totally. There are many KZbin videos that are tutorials of how to do it. Everyone who have done this and say that it feels amazing. I test drove the 2021 Mx5 manual yesterday and although I loved it; I literally told my friend that I felt like I was driving an OG Ford more than 100 years ago 😂 if I were to describe it and I own a 2020 VW Jetta is that the Mx5 feels EXTREMELY raw. I’m a bit nervous that it’ll get tiring after a while but for now I am still planning on buying it! I had fun driving it and I started laughing so much at one point because I was in third gear and in the cabin there is a ton of noise, the exhaust, the wind, etc, I felt like I was going 100mph when I was only doing 45😂 it was at that point that I started laughing and decided that I was going to get this thing soon.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Aldo! Changing the springs might definitely help with reducing body roll although as stated many times, the “softness” of the car is only part of the issue. The steering feel is much more of a problem. Naturally, coming from a Jetta daily drive the ND will feel incredibly competent and therefore it might be the perfect car for you! If you loved it, you should go and buy it without being concerned with my opinion. Just be aware of what you are buying, feeling like going 100mph when going 45mph gets old REALLY fast 😜

[@robertdawson5303]

I replaced the springs on my 2021 ND2 before I hit 500 miles. The new springs not only give the car a more positive cornering feel with less roll (there is still a bit of roll in high speed cornering), but also have the added benefit of giving the car the proper stance. The 2 inch gap between the wheel and fender well always bothered me. The car looks and drives better with a minimum investment if you are a do it yourself guy. Just needs an alignment for which I recommend the specs given by Flyin’ Miata. I’ve had an NB, NC, and now an ND. I have always considered the Miata to be a platform more than a completed car. It is cheap enough to modify to your liking while maintaining a high degree of reliability. In addition to the performance springs, I have added a complete exhaust that is more open but not obnoxiously loud, 6 piston calipers and 12.88 inch slotted rotors up front and 4 pistons in the back with lighter rotors. I was thinking about adding stiffer sway bars, but I think I am stopping here. These modification just made the car better in every way without impacting the daily driver needs. I did all the work myself, so the cost was probably an additional US$5,000. I can’t think of a better option for right around US$40,000. After the first year I still smile ear to ear every day I drive.

[@JesseVideos]

That feeling is why the MX-5 is the best. Nothing else matters except for that feeling.

[@timsgta]

​@@robertdawson5303 You young people are funny af, try driving anything from 50-70s then come back and talk about "roll" in a ND Miata!

[@AlDim000]

I absolutely want to buy a car that feels like it's 31 years old lol. Most newer cars make me feel nothing, the ND makes me feel engaged and connected to the car in a fun way. I've driven it back to back with the NC at an autocross and the NC felt like a pig in comparison, hardly chasing "ultimate performance". I know it's a crazy thought, but if you're so upset with the suspension that you can rant about it for several minutes at a time, modify it lol.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hello Al! But you don’t really. You want a modern car without the modern handicaps (electronic this and that, automatic gearboxes etc) You don’t want suspension from 31 years ago, you don’t want brakes from 31 years ago and you don’t want tires from 31 years ago. I can guarantee it! Im happy you are enjoying your ND, I really am and I can even imagine this far, being lighter, being more fun at an autocross event (although there are so many variable in your comparison is difficult to take it factually). Bottom line, the Mx5 should not be about ultimate performance but should be FUN and engaging and honest on the road. To me, the ND is far from that since the combo of wobbly setup and dead steering makes you feel nothing about what’s really happening 🤷🏻‍♂️ And I‘d say that an MX5 with no „feel“ is just pointless 🥺

[@AlDim000]

@@GabrielePiana I don't own a ND, but I have driven it a bunch of times. It's incredibly easy to toss it into corners with great accuracy and the 2.0L engine is great (though I have heard it's quite lame with the 1.5). The body roll on the stock car is just fine by me. I did own a stock 1990 Miata a few years ago by the way, so I do want a 31-year-old car and loved it lol. It all comes down to preference.

[@TassieLorenzo]

@@AlDim000 I think Gabe is comparing to cars like the Honda S2000, which (while no Lotus) were quite a bit sharper than an MX5.

[@konioczynka1519]

Problem is that you live in Swiss, you can’t change anything in this car. I had NBFL, now I have NCFL ( more powered, lower, harder, sharper, faster, with good breaks) but first months when I changed cars I wasn’t sure if I like it more than NB. As stock you need also to think about version with Bilstein etc, that’s a different. NC is also floppy with normal shocks. I will try nd next year ;) I heard about steering lacks, that NC makes it 1000x better, but we will see :)

[@ListOgroove]

As an owner of 1.5 Nd I agree with most of the criticism, as you would do in the coming episodes I also upgraded suspension first with oem eibach springs, body roll dropped handling improved , but it was not enough so I jumped to Tein coilovers & now I am happy with them. For the road noise part I took out all the interior apart & applied sound deadener to the whole cabin and luggage compartment & all area behind the seats, under the roof storage area... result is good no more excessive road noise. I also took out the sound tube ! Useless. Nothing to do with wind noise coming rear part of the roof as it is just a single layer top... to my opinion if you decide to buy the Nd you need to step by step improve the the car as a hobby :)

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi there! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment first of all! You certainly did quite a lot of work to the car, some might argue that putting insulating material is against the "lightweight" spirit of the car but actually I believe you should do whatever the hell you want with it! Eventually I even like the idea of having the car and "tweak" it to my tastes, but this time I feel is beyond the point. I cannot fix the BS steering, no matter what I tried (until now) it still feels like the worst steering I ever driven, and in a MX5 this is such a letdown I can barely wrap my head around it!

[@ashleybawa9658]

Different strokes for different folks. Got an RF and i absolutely love it.

[@TheNaqoyqatZ]

Great video! While I agree with your take on the body roll, I think Mazda was targeting people like your dad or the non-racer first. They know the enthusiast will modify the suspension, which is not really hard to do.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hello there! I’m not so sure Mazda deliberately built in a bad setup for enthusiasts to swap out. It feels like they went for a specific feel. There is nothing wrong with it, in theory, although the combination of it with the steering makes for a very disappointing car to me.

[@LucasD180]

I also have the theory that it is also built for the enthusiast because the fenders can accommodate tires and rims much larger than the stock ones without modifications, while in many other cars this is not possible. I saw that you can put 9j channel rims and 235 / 40r17 tires semislick, I myself have 17x9j and 225 / 45r17 semislick. Think if you add some hp.

[@Toymonkeyjr]

Yeah but most enthusiasts would then rather buy a car without intrusive traction control and more direct steering feel that's lighter for a lower price, like the previous gens. The only pro in their mind to buying a new Miata besides having a nicer interior and more amenities is that it works better, but it doesn't. enthusiast that are going to mod their car the way they like it would rather have more money for mods instead of buying a 30k$ Miata and having little money leftover for mods and then the body roll and steering feel isn't there. The nd is great but they really should revise the suspension, if I'm buying new I don't expect a firm ride since it is a user friendly car, but I expect less body roll and more rigidity.

[@Wannes_]

@@GabrielePiana I like the suspension on less than perfect roads, and the steering issue goes away on twisty roads. This isn't a car for the Autobahn or US Interstates, but for the Alps, Ardennes, Vosges, or British B roads

[@grahamsalmons2027]

The single best review of this car I have ever come across. It is what journalism should be. His presentation style is engaging, honest and most importantly you get a sense of what the car is ACTUALLY like to drive, not just crap like how fast to 62kph etc. Untainted by politics it’s just really realistic. Great video.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Graham! Thank you very much for the kind words. As a consumer and customer first of all, I really had trouble wrapping my head around how far removed my experience was compared to all the raving reviews. It might be that we don’t have to please a Publisher or a manufacturer that lent us the car, nor we are invested in the MX5 community and we are then able to provide an „outsider“ view? I really don’t know

[@grahamsalmons2027]

@@GabrielePiana I suspect you are right. There is no editorial nicety. You don’t have to worry about getting the next model to review, or alienate the manufacturer. But more than that: for once you told me how it FEELS to be in this car, something that most reviews just miss. I want to buy an open top sports car that gives me real ‘feel’ but has some creature comforts. Now I am not so sure about an MX-5. I suspect I will need a Porsche, or perhaps a BMW Z4 (2nd gen). But I will approach a test drive much better advised, so thank you! Besides you have a naturally interesting presenting style.

[@grahamsalmons2027]

I bought an ND (2.0) 🥳

[@Olysk8er]

I’ve been daily driving a ‘95 NA as my only car for the last 13 years. It’s got nearly 300k km on it now. I was considering getting an ND a couple years ago but ended up getting an NB for basically the reason you said. If you want a car that feels like the NA/NB, then get one of those. So now the most modern car I’ve ever owned is from 2004.

[@GabrielePiana]

That is a very good way to put it. The ND seems to me just like a nostalgia tribute, which would be great if they retained what made the NA great (steering) but actually they retained all the weak points and took out the advantages

[@lnxelnope]

me daily drive nd for 6 years and 230k km lol.

[@jag1963]

I have always considered a car a tool. Then i bought a 2021 Sould Red 2.0 Litre Manual Mazda MX5. I love it! i stopped riding my motorcycle. All of a sudden driving is interesting and fun. It's an amazing car. I dont agree with you on the noise or maybe its been sorted for 2021 but i have the soft top and can have the top down at 70mph and chat easily to someone. The sound comes out of the headrest and ive asked can people hear me ok and they often as not say perfectly.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Jaggy! Thanks for sharing your experience and I am very happy you have finally seen the light of what kind of emotions can a car give. I believe that having always considered cars like tools you might have been driving “dishwashers” on wheels until your ND, hence of course the ND rightfully feels like a miracle! While all this is good and awesome, if you have been bitten by the car driving bug I suggest to stick around because you might see some cars that REALLY are pure 100% driving focused on this channel and one day you might end up like us, buying 20 years old cars with no power steering and no ABS! 😂

[@hene6539]

Fuck, almost stopped procrastinating, here we go again!

[@GabrielePiana]

procrastinating increases creativity tho!

[@giovanniiurilli6667]

@@GabrielePiana actually it's right because of procastinating I learned to play the guitar

[@GabrielePiana]

@@giovanniiurilli6667 Scientific facts. That's what we are all about.

[@stefanboeykens8874]

I do confirm it is not an highway car as it needs constant input and it’s noisy but on mine it does come back 95% of the way to center. ND 1.5 rf is equipped with 17 inch and it make sense in stability, I think its the tires that have some negative input. Body roll versus comfort modification with coilovers will be a difficult choice for a daily. I have been waiting so long for this review and look forward to the mods and new tests on the ring.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hey Stefan! Glad you liked the review. Yeah, it is always difficult to strike a compromise of course but in 2020 many manufactures actually regularly manage to get close to it. Mazda instead seems further away from it than in 1989. The ND tries to please everyone and eventually it’s just not excelling anywhere

[@EFCONNECT]

When he says he doesn’t want to drive a 30 yr old feeling car I understand a bit. I always loved the looks of the 1960s Mustangs and thought I wanted to own one. Then I drove a friend’s 1965 Mustang. It was a stick, which is the set up I would’ve gotten. But, my god, the steering and the braking of this 1965 car had me feeling like I could die at any moment. The car was so floaty and the braking so slow I couldn’t believe THIS was a sports car at one time. I think that’s what the reviewer is getting at. Based on his level of experiences, the ND was his 1965 Mustang.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hey there! Yeah that’s pretty much it. Problem being that the car is being sold NEW, in 2021, with a price tag north of 30k Euros and it’s being pushed like it’s the best thing ever. I believe no 65 Mustang owner would pretend their car is the most amazing driving machine ever, but maybe I’m wrong on this 😂

[@ArisDrives]

Things Gab hates: "The usb charge!" "The manual closing electric windows!" "The noise!" "The steering wheel that adjusts only in depth!" Me stuck inside my NB... "i'M i A jOkE tO yOu?!?"

[@santalfredos17]

in the meanwhile: "what is an usb?" "at least we have electric windows, the slowest on earh but we have them" "FULL EXHAUST! with semislick, cause why not" "tiny and beatiful fixed seats produced somewhere in uk and an oldstyle steering wheel" At least is reliable, it wont stop while you're going to the Nurb..

[@ArisDrives]

@@santalfredos17 depends if you pass through Switzerland or not...

[@santalfredos17]

@@ArisDrives oh, I see.

[@GabrielePiana]

I give it all back for a proper steering man

[@ArisDrives]

@@GabrielePiana going back serious. Can’t you give more caster and negative camber and improve the thing?

[@mikemartenson4357]

I agree with you 100%! I bought mine in 2017, a 2.0 GT. I then had it completely built up, Wilwood 6 piston (way overkill) Edelbrock Supercharger, LSD, Racing clutch, complete suspension for racing and built by Long Road Racing who at the time built MX-5 Global cup cars and they termed mine the Ultimate MX-5. I do have other cars to choose from but this one is the most fun to drive, just turned 68k miles.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hey Mike! I have no doubt that it might be a fun car after so much work, but are we talking about what? 50k MX5? For that price, I can guarantee you I'd buy so many things before an MX5 :D

[@hypnotechno]

@@GabrielePiana what would u buy

[@haiboj4979]

12:50, the seating position and lack of wheel adjustment was why I upgraded to ND2 from ND1. I even further lowered my seat by 1.25 inch (3cm +) to further improve driving position using a aftermarket bracket.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hello Haibo! Yes, totally aware those are improvements in the ND2!

[@giuseppemancino5174]

Haibo J do you have the same feeling with steering on ND2?

[@haiboj4979]

@@giuseppemancino5174 steering feedback has been fixed since 2018 ND1 I think, I owned a 2016 for 3 years and a 2019 now. There is a very noticeable difference.

[@giuseppemancino5174]

@@haiboj4979 thank you!

[@tiagoadcosta]

1.5ND owner here. Just like yours, but 2016 and even more basic, with no infotainment. nor bluetooth. Only AC. I agree the car presents more body roll than expected, yes. And the feeling when you're driving on the edge is a bit loose. You're not sure what the car is doing and therefore it can be a bit umconfortable driving it fast. I'm not a race driver by any means and even i feel that. But i think you're being unreasonable. You have to understand Mazda offers upgraded suspension on other versions. And, more important than that, is the availability of tuning parts. This is valid for every japanese sports car, since like ever. Basically every JDM legend from the past is what it is because of 2 things: Brilliant engineering of the manufacturer that create cars with infinite potential, and top notch support from the various tuning companies that make use of that potential. Be it GT-R, Supra, NSX, 3000GT, Civics, S2K, etc. Each of them started as a great base, that was turned to legend on extreme versions by the manufacturers, and/or by tuning companies. This car, as is, is excellent value for both those that just want to pop the roof down and enjoy the sun, and for those that will modify the heck of it. You just can't expect a new 20k car to be perfect for you, a race driver, while being also perfect for the main customer base. A car like this, for this price, to be able to be such a good daily driver speaks volumes about the sheer brilliance of its engineering, and really, it negates you comparing it to a classic car.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hey Tiago! Thanks for sharing your thoughts first of all. It seems tho, that most of the commenters, including you, either did not watch the whole video or are just focusing on one aspect, the car setup. I literally could not care less if the car was just a bit too soft, or the alignment too safe. That is ONE of the problems but not THE problem. You say I’m being unreasonable because I need a car to satisfy my race driver needs, but in reality your assumption is wrong since I DELIBERATELY bought the ND because I believed to be a re-incarnation of the NA. Not a lot of grip, not a lot of power but incidentally a lot of fun with all the bonuses of a new car. In reality tho, as I already wrote somewhere else, the car is built to mimick what the NA would do in 1989 (I will not discuss wether or not this is acceptable in 2021 from a car that list price is over 30k) while at the same time taking out all the feeling and pleasure the NA brought to the table. I would not mind the extra roll if the car was fun and engaging. But it just is not that (to me). Hope you watched the entire video because the points you raise are addressed, and I don’t care too much that you can buy extra parts to tailor it, I know that and it’s what we will do. This tho, takes nothing away from the fact that this car is a massive let down, it’s exactly like building a “new” 1970 Porsche 911 (with all it’s obvious weaknesses and quirks) and put an electric power steering and take all the 911 feel out of it, what would be the point I ask you?

[@tiagoadcosta]

@@GabrielePiana I watched all the video. And I maintain. You bought a sports roadster that is cheap and comfortable enough do be daily driven for thousands and thousands of km of long trips. That alone speaks volumes about the quality of the car. You say it was built to mimic the NA, but doing what you did with an NA would have been a nightmare. I respect your view that the car is soft, but I don't think it's boring to drive. It's low grip, very easy to make it slide, and it has a terrific 2nd and 3rd gear. I'd say there's nothing as much fun for less money, that is also able to be such a good, albeit small, daily driver. For me the biggest problem of mine is that it is so pretty and looks quite more expensive than it is. And often people will look at it with envy. Actually one time I came back to the car after having dinner and there was a cigarrete butt and spit on the soft top. It's terrible being afraid of letting the car stay outside unnatended. It's for me the worst thing about it, but that is not the car fault but people's. Really depends on the places you take the car to.

[@GabrielePiana]

hp@@tiagoadcosta Hi Tiago! First of all thanks for watching it all and for taking the time to reply. I believe that I am not able to make my message clear enough for some reason. The ND, as a vehicle, is amazing. Reliable, cheap, comfortable, all the good boring stuff it does just as well as any other modern car, pretty much. No arguing on the engineering side of things. Also, I might add, I'm much rather have this than the opposite, an interesting car that is undrivable regularly. This is why, as we say in the video, I picked this car over more extreme options. This is also why I still have it after 3 years, since it is a good way to go from A to B. Beside the above tho, I believe we will never agree. 1- I did drive 15.000km in a single year with the RingBanana. I absolutely LOVED IT! It had no radio, no carpets, hard suspension, semi-slick tires. But it was FUN, the car was a blast to drive fast, flat out everywhere, it felt alive. I did not feel it was such a big compromise, my concern was that a 30 years old car has higher chances to break down and with 90hp it was a bit on the limit on the highways. I just wanted THIS again, with Satnav and Radio. Mazda told me that was the ND. They were lying man, if you close your eyes and drive the ND you could be in a Twingo for all that matters and you would not notice the difference. 2- Kudos to you for being able to regularly slide it around, I feel it's impossible to do it safely or in a fun way. One wheel wheel-spin, so much body roll it is pretty much impossible to slide in corners unless clutch kicking the hell out of it (and even then...), completely unpredictable behaviour due to steering feel, lack of lsd and body roll. You say it's low grip, I think it has too much grip actually! Dry road and summer tires, you have to be a complete lunatic to be able to slide it properly. 3- changing gear is fun, is one of the best features, agreed on that. 4- nothing as much fun for less money? The car is approximately 32K (1.5) and for roughly the same money you get yourself a Hyundai i30N. I was one of the instructors at launch, drove it on the Nordschleife and on the road and the car was a total blast! With regards to the looks, I agree on you that it looks more money than it is and I also agree that this is a problem rather than an advantage.

[@tiagoadcosta]

@@GabrielePiana Gabriele, thanks for replying. I think we'll have to agree to disagree. Comparing it with a regular run of the mill car makes no sense. The car feels much more alive than one of those. It's lower, and the sound is quite a bit more intense. Even with your eyes closed. But obviously if you open them it's very obvious the care that was put into it. The instrument panel for starters is really premium with its anti glare and general quality. You can really see even by the positioning of the gauges how it was thought to be put into a sports car. The gear shifting has been pretty much considered the best on the market everytime a new mx5 comes out. And you can't isolate that from the driving experience. And yes the car actively tries to slide. Maybe even too much for most people. Again, I'm no race driver, far from it, maybe its the way he does provoke the sliding that feels wrong to you? I could see that being the case, as often the car surprises with a seemingly unnecessary loss of traction before cutting it with its electronics. Maybe that's way you say it was done to mimic the NA. But then you say yours grips too much. Also you say yours steering doesn't center itself. Maybe there's differences in our cars. I can understand the car is not as focused as a driving enthusiast would want. Even I feel it could do with a bit more noise and a bit more composed suspension but i say as it is, it is a really great stock car. Shouldn't really compare with a hot hatch either. One of those would cost you much more money in maintenance I think. And it's a completely different deal. You gain usability sure with the added seats, but they are generally a bit harsh on the suspension. And you have no soft top. See, most people considering a roadster don't really want a hot hatch anyways. Maybe that would have been the ultimate best car for your use, but I think it would be more expensive to live with. As far as prices go, atleast here in Portugal starting prices for my model, the most basic, we're around 25k. But I don't think they had much stock of those as I never seen one as basic as mine. And I bought mine used. Would say realistically they sell for around 30k with a better trim level. Which yes puts it close into hot hatch territory. But then a hot hatch is not a sports roadster. Say what you will about the tuning of the car but put it into a workshop lift and observe the full aluminum suspension for instance. And the 50% weight distribution and the hoot it is to drive and see the elevated fenders at the sides of the hood. The mx5 arguagly feels and is more special, even if underperformed. I atleast thing it is a very happy car to drive, and it is actually very nice to drive slowly too. Which is a good think when you want to just enjoy the wind, the sun, or the stars. Doing that is much better on the mx5. Driving fast will be faster on any hot batch surely.

[@Isaki138]

You completely got the point. In Europe there is no sports car

[@vlenhoff]

I got me an NC2 last November, and changed the busted suspension for coil overs. I got light flow formed wheels and light lug nuts from Flyin' Miata. I replaced all fluids, and upgraded the coolant tank with the Moroso aluminium one. The NC2 has hydraulic power steering so there is great feel through the steering. The PRHT greatly reduces noise at highway speeds. I know the NC series is the most hated MX-5, but I adore this thing. An NC for less than half the price of an ND with a few mods, and it is all the car I ever wanted.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hello there! That is a cool story and I wish you a lot of happy miles with your NC! Go out, drive it as hard and as much as you can and don’t worry about what people think about it!

[@vlenhoff]

@@GabrielePiana Thanks, I'm only concerned about a car's handling, not what anyone may think about it. Cheers!

[@vlenhoff]

@@GabrielePiana I do drive the thing as it should be driven! I even make excuses to go out and drive it again. I even go on drives for the sake of the drive, lol. Again, thanks for you honesty, and your time. Have fun out there!

[@ConquerDriving]

2:40 This is exactly why I'm loving my MX5. It's great on the fun roads and the race circuit but most of these things are 100s of miles away. So you are able to get their in comfort without using too much fuel and then have your fun.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi! I am very happy you are loving it, to me unfortunately is underwhelming and lackluster on the road and straight up bad on the track, in stock form. But we are working on it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqLUZKBpm7SFe5Y

[@billbones92]

@@GabrielePiana It's hilarious how defensive you are about anyone having a positive experience with a car you personally don't like. Did you really take the time to respond to anyone and everyone who wrote a positive experience to tell them how they are wrong? Of course you phrase your comments as just an opinion, but it's pretty obvious how desperate you are to tell anyone with a different opinion that your perspective is superior. I can't tell if you are extremely insecure, or just a douche.

[@cortezcortez2150]

This review confirmed this is the car for me. I'm not looking for a fast car, that can corner great. I want something fun to drive and switch up in-between the family suv and pickup. Once again great review!

[@njctboy]

The key engineering marvel for ND is weight reduction! The keyword is Retro!Let’s not complain... I own a 2019 ND-2 Club w/ BBS wheels + Brembo brakes + Recaro seat, BTW 😜

[@GabrielePiana]

Hey! Agreed, the car is an engineering marvel in several areas, but it drives and feels nowhere near what an MX5 should! I just cannot live with an MX5 with horrible steering feel, I just cannot do that. That was the whole point of the thing!

[@TMRDAM]

I like the way this video is different from the usual ones from OLH and I especially like the honest and emotional review of the car! Also, this video is very long but once arrived at the end it didn't felt like it was, this is a big pro.

[@GabrielePiana]

Birra guadagnata

[@coldaxle]

😊*

[@paulcroft5202]

I had my 1.5 for two years. The engine I loved, it seemed to beg to be revved to the red line and I was always happy to oblige but the steering was exactly as you described - devoid of all feel and it had to be steered in a straight line because it had no self-centering. It was the only thing I really hated about the car. When the RF came out I had a go in one; it was not for me, although they'd made an attempt to fix the steering which was partially successful. After a couple of years I bought a 2.0 litre ND but it was so boring, the steering was better but the engine was a cooking two litre with a little more torque but it wouldn't rev - it had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the red line and there was no benefit and it didn't make me smile like the little 1.5 had done. After a year I was ready to give up on MX-5s then they brought out the new 2.0 litre engine. I thought I'd give it a go before I surrendered and, within a few miles, I realised they'd won me over. The engine's like the 'little' one but bigger and faster, it loves to be revved and, out on the open roads (I visit the Alps often when there are no Covid restrictions) I smile once more. The handling's not perfect but it's a bit better but, most importantly, they've solved the steering now; for an electric power setup it's a real delight. And the steering wheel is now adjustable for reach and rake. And, for a monstrously large sum of £300 UKP, they put in a USB port for Apple car play which, essentially, is more powerful - but I loathe Apple car play, it's not for me. So three of your (and my) pet hates solved. I've had this latest 2.0 litre version for two years and I don't see me getting rid of it for a while yet.

[@paulcroft5202]

Oh yes, one more thing Gabriel, this is the only time in many years I can remember sitting through 30 minutes of a car review. Well done, great comments, very perceptive and good presentation but, mostly, it was your honesty that shone through.

[@smilepermile8165]

Thank you for sharing us your ownership experience with the three NDs you went through. Would be great to hear your future updates/impressions on your ND.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Paul! Thanks for the extensive reply and for sharing your experience over three different models. I tell you, you are way more patient than I will ever be, I would have given up after the second ND 😂. I glad to hear the steering has been improved in the later models, maybe one day I will get the chance to drive one of those but unfortunately for the moment I can only base my opinion on the car I have experience with. I’m a bit concerned about the “for an electric power steering” caveat you put in there, but I reserve my judgment 😂

[@GabrielePiana]

@@paulcroft5202 thank you very much for the kind words Paul!

[@paulcroft5202]

​@@GabrielePiana I very nearly did give up after the second one but the local dealer insisted I give the ND-2 a try and lent me one for half a day and it was a revelation. I enjoy it as much now as when I first took it out and, covid permitting, I'll be back for a few days around Andermatt later this year to revisit the Furka, Susten, Grimsel and St Gotthard passes again, one of my most favourite parts of Europe. As for the power steering comment, as you will know nothing's as lovely as direct, unassisted steering.

[@PerhapsGuy]

I think I know where you're coming from regarding steering. I test drove an ND2 a while back and the steering felt more similar to my Camry than I was expecting. Not that I was complaining though! I felt right at home, and the feeling of flying down a street even at low speeds already sold me on this car! I'm probably the target audience for it, since I also rarely need to haul other people and cargo.

[@francischua3805]

I own an ND2 and I thought I was the only one having issues with the handling and steering. This is the most honest MX-5 ND review I've seen. I changed the suspension to CUSCO Sport S. Eliminated the body roll but dead steering feel is still there. Straight from the factory, my 2012 Toyota 86 has better handling and steering feel than the ND2, even with the CUSCO 24-way adjustable suspension. I have a suspicion that Mazda engineers designed the ND for a specific market: senior-aged American drivers. Sorry, I had to mention it.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Francis! I have a feeling that you are pretty much bang on the money as far as the market they went for :( So sad! Yeah our car also a lot better after the mods we did kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqLUZKBpm7SFe5Y but the steering... well... this Friday we are releasing the last episode of the series where all answers will be given!

[@HCChen86]

As a ND2 2.0 owner, I get what you say about the driving experience. My family have a 991.1 C2S and a C190 AMG GT and previous in my country I drive a S550 Mustang, the Nd with standard suspension have too much body roll... but since now I am only daily this car it’s fine and let my kind of enjoy body roll. But my plan next year to change the suspension and lower the car which will make it less body roll and make me more confident in corner.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hello H.C. As I say in the video, if you just drive it from A to B, the car is ok. The ND is a heavily compromised car but its ok as a mean of transport. My main gripe is that I don't see any particular reason to pick the ND over a Hot Hatch. Modern sporty compact cars feel extremely capable and fun, a Fiesta ST is a total blast and a lot better than the ND (also as fun factor). The MX5 was defined by how good its steerng was (especially NA/NB). With the ND this is completely gone, the steering feels completely off and to me this ruins it.

[@HCChen86]

@@GabrielePiana i get what u saying, most of the point u mention i kind of agree haha~ before buying my car i miss a nice second hand F20 BMW M140i with rear wheel drive. instead of that i choose this for mostly my personal reason. kind of like a MX-5 dream since childs but need a car that reliable and be no problem to daily it with modern safety.

[@bobreno4042]

I prefer the open air experience and rear wheel drive to the front drive hot hatches,install the lower stiffer springs and upgrade the sway bars and get a 2019 or newer with the upgraded steering rack, engine, and adjustable steering wheel and I think your opinion will improve, Cheers

[@HCChen86]

@@bobreno4042 true! mine is a 19 ND2, after i got almost free stock Bilstein + HR lowering spring the car now is way better than before. enjoy the ND still after 2 year ownership

[@dannyphamous]

Love and appreciate your honest review and thoughts! Can't wait to see if you find any noteworthy improvements. I am happy with my new ND2 2020 2.0L, I agree steering feel isn't the best, perhaps can convert to a manual steering rack? I smile every shift and turn and drive top down 95% in California beaches and canyons, closest feeling to a motorcycle on four wheels. Wanted to support lightweight manuals cars by buying a lightweight manual new. Not many options under 2500lbs here in the US. Plan to keep it for 30 years as future 2030 cars will be all electric. My second car can be a crappy whatever four door car/suv

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Danny! Thanks for watching and commenting! I have had people commenting the ND2 steering is FANTASTIC and now you come and spoil the party?! :P Btw, I feel it's quite normal for the steering to still be on the wrong side of good in the ND2 as well, since the most they could have done is a software upgrade, which fixes nothing. Swapping the rack would be an incredibly intensive job as I am sure the system is integrated with ESC, ABS and whatever else. I have no doubt this car gives smiles for your case use, it can be a good car for some customers and I am very happy it works for you! As I said in many comments, to me steering and general feel of the car are absolutely crucial metrics, for others can be annoying but not so important, horses for courses! I wish you the best with your 30 years plan, I also have a dream car to keep for that long but the ND sadly ain't it :D

[@andycalifornia426]

Props for buying Miata new! And props for saying that "crappy whatever four door car/SUV or electric car" don't need help buying new. I'm so sick of that "enthusiast" mentality where they go "don't buy a car new -- it loses its value the moment you leave the dealer!1!1" and jump used sports cars every year, yet a buy brand new "Mach E".

[@vivekkuna800]

the section about the non-existent self-centering is so true; found myself having to continually adjust on the highway

[@run_stop_restore]

Just watched until the end of your hate top5 and i tell you: get a 2nd Gen. I've switched from a my17 1.5 to a my19 2.0 30AE because i had the chance to get one and almost everything you've mentioned is fixed. The USB Ports work, even with Carplay. The Steering got heaps better and the reach is adustable, the Recaro seats provide good enough support and the Fuel Consumption is basically the same because the Gearing fits perfect (at least for 90% of my driving). I daily a ND since i bought the my17 and i'm very happy but the upgrade to the 2.0 made it perfect for me. edit: I've basically changed the dampers/springs on both ND's the day after i picked it up from the dealership and i've been running it on sps motorsport dampers ever since so i don't even know how this body roll on the stock car feels.

[@GabrielePiana]

Most of the small things are fixed in the ND2, this I am aware of. Nevertheless, I would easily put the 5 "hate" things in the "quirkiness" folder if the car was actually nice to drive, but I cannot compute an MX5 with bad steering feel. Steering feel is the whole point of the car, without it it's just a car, not an MX5.

[@run_stop_restore]

@@GabrielePiana I've literally jumped in the Car after the video to check on the steering and it doesnt to that on the ND2. I dont remember it being stuck on the ND1 either but as i said i've barely driven the car in stock form and maybe the 7-8° caster that i've dialed in helped it a bit. Go ahead ruining the ND :)

[@paulcroft5202]

@@GabrielePiana Gabriele, the steering on the 2nd gen ND2 is in a different league from the 1st gen version you had - totally fixed now.

[@mattguerra82]

Well done with the honest review, sir! I have owned a GT86, a BRZ and a ND with the 2.0. I always loved the lack of weight in the Miata and its playfulness, how well the chassis is set and how neutral it goes around corners. However, I also always wished I had the BRZ's steering in the Miata, and the BRZ's seats as well. Oh, and the BRZs superfast one click window rolling up 😂

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Matheus! Yeah, BRZ general feel and ND weight could very well be the answer, such a shame this unicorn does not exist! :D

[@bobreno4042]

The ND2 engine and gearing are so much more satisfying than the BRZ and 86 twins, I loved my 86, but the engine really let it down, looks like the new generation might be the answer.

[@mattguerra82]

@@bobreno4042 i got to say, once I did a tune with the OFT I had no issues with the BRZ engine.. before it also annoyed me a bit. That infamous torque dip is the issue. Tune it and you're good 👍 or get a MX5 which is also a brilliant car. Can't go wrong with either

[@anermand]

Stiffer springs and a better alignment fixes alot of the handling issues on the ND. Its cheap, you should consider it.

[@GabrielePiana]

We are working on it! Hopefully we can get it dialed in!

[@bricksbeersbeards9368]

Good review, don't notice these issues in my 2023 mx-5, good thing I guess, maybe a bit of roll in sharp cornering with speed, a bit more than my BMW 330i Sportwagon with MSport suspension, I think they've tweaked things from your 2017, and they tweaked again for 2024. Would be interesting for you to drive a new one and hear your impression. Cheers.

[@petermartin9494]

This is the best mx-5 review on youtube, thank you.

[@xTheTOSHIBAx]

agreed

[@mikeb9569]

3 years and 130,000 miles on my ND Club. I will always have a Miata.

[@AM68635]

I have the ND2 and i love it, calling in the car on the highway with 120km/h is no problem.

[@the1beard]

What happened to the upgrades? no videos ...

[@AGGELIAFOROS]

Your comments are spot on. But a complete transformation is very simple, addressing all the points raised beyond your expectations. At between 500-1000eu depending on your choices. Much cheaper than buying another car that will leave you "cold". I know as i have done it. If you are interested, I can tell you exactly how, provided you promise to do another video covering the changes and your personal opinion after driving it. This way others in the same "boat", which in fact are most experienced drivers/owners can benefit. Mazda has repeated similar solutions as in the NA and NB without considering today's reality and users.

[@SpykerOwner]

I have driven both the 1.5 and 2.0 ND for a couple of hundred kms. Both did self centre properly but I can imagine that it can really be a pain if it doesn't. And the (non) charging USB is not an issue anymore if you have a Mazda with Apple Carplay / Android Auto nowadays.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hello Hans! I always wondered if my car was particularly bad with regards to steering feel but after publishing this video it is apparent that is a common issue with the car. I'd say, as with everything, is horses for courses. Honestly I cannot wrap my head around an MX5 with bad steering feel, that is the whole point of the car. Taking it out makes the car totally pointless. Either you was very lucky with the two cars you drove or you simply can overlook this issue better than I can. As for the USB, yep, all these are small things that are fixed in the ND2.

[@gzk6nk]

Well, what an interesting video! I owned a new NB for 3 years then traded it for a new NC (foldy electric hardtop) in 2007 with Eibach springs because the 1st generation NCs looked like 4x4s in original form, a car I ran until last year, so 14 years! I loved it, but it was never a great 'looker' and its looks got worse with time. I could afford to replace it though it had never given any problems and was running just great. What to buy? If it was to be reliable, cheap to buy and run, look good, and be a soft top there was only one car - the ND2. I test drove a couple at dealers and noted the poor feedback of the steering compared to the NC, but it was a marginal thing - no deal breaker, and due to the electric rack instead of the NC's hydraulic rack. To me, the ND handles pretty much the same as the NC, steering feedback apart. Mine's a 2.0 'cause I'm lardy at my age. It still feels as light and responsive as the NC did, in fact even more so because of the extra power. I couldn't believe what you said about the steering not self-centering after a bend so I went out this morning to check on some twisty roads. No problem! As you wind-in the steering lock for the corner the steering wheel responds by getting harder to turn, and after the bend you can just let it run back through your fingers to self centre, which it does. Mine is the latest ND2 from May 2021 and a 2.0. maybe Mazda have improved the steering response since your early 1.5 ND as what you describe does NOT happen with my car. I'm delighted with my ND. It's better than the previous MX5s in every way except SLIGHTLY less steering feedback from the electric rack. I think you should try a 2022 2.0 ND!

[@RoadRage0]

Well, I just watched your video since I’m really interested in ND. I have pretty much experiences with every Japanese brands. Lastly I own a CX-3 Mazda already 7 years. My car is 160.000 kms. But past few years I haven’t been driven that often since I have a Corolla Hybrid. I agree with some of your comments but I disagree also. This is not a racing, Nurburgring type of car. I think you are expecting 50.000 CHF performance from 30.000 CHF car. In one year I had driven with my car 45.000 kms including heavy snows bad roads etc. I didn’t have any problem with it. Only problem I had this year was the replacing Thermostat for 1000$. This was my only extra cost besides the periodic service in 7 years! I’m from Istanbul / Turkey, like mine and most of the european countries don’t appreciate the Mazda’s reliability enough. But don’t forget ND is just for enjoying the good weather the revs, reliability and so on not racing it around the corners, drifting or a dragging etc.

[@gaivoron]

I think this is by far the most honest and objective review, especially considering its from an owner! Thank you sir for your honesty. The steering wheel not returning to center paired with body roll is not a "sports" car for me.

[@C_Suarez]

This review really tells the truth and I am glad it really talks about the negative aspects as most reviewers mask them off. I still think it’s a cool little car that’s super rare nowadays with everything going EV. I went from a Subaru STI then a BRZ Ts to an ND2 in the American market and sold it within a month. I was also disappointed with how soft it felt coming from those cars. Since I needed more room I didn’t go back to the BRZ so I went and bought a 2020 Subaru STI limited. Sometimes I am tempted to get a two seater but the STI holds its own specially in how awesome it handles. It provides what the reviewer says the ND lacks.

[@jekkOO7]

I love your honest and true review of this lovely little thing. I've got a 2015 2.0 ND, a very early one, bought it in 2017. I agree with a lot of your conclusions, but i must say i use my fathers subaru a lot in winter. Im relieved you spoke about the steering, I thought mine had that because I lowered it and have the original bilstein shocks. In some views it isnt a good car indeed, but I just love it because it is so quirky and headstrong. I agree on the suspension setup, it could have been so much better, it's like they said 'everyone is going to put coilovers or lowering springs on it, let's just slap something cheap under it' I'm not sure the 2.0l is that much better (ND1 160hp). It has more torque down low but isnt as enthousiastic athigh rpms, which the 1.5l is! The lsd is a nice thing to have though. I'm curious to see another update at 100.000km if you keep the car! =)

[@GabrielePiana]

Hello Jekk! Agree on the fact that the 2.0 is unlikely to be the silver bullet, since I would expect the steering to feel the same. Yeah, man, the steering feel is just off and wrong, every time I drive it I wonder if I have a puncture. Insane stuff!

[@junliliu4997]

For lack of steering feel you probably need to do a full wheel alignment. More caster angle will definitely improve return to center and make it stay in a straight line on highway (less frequent need of adjustment)

[@GabrielePiana]

Car is now re-aligned and we cranked the max caster we could get. Still the steering is only marginally better.

[@TassieLorenzo]

Sounds like it is an issue with the EPS programming, which is not an easy fix, unfortunately!

[@stephenhawes5391]

It can't be that bad if he used it as a daily driver for three years!

[@GabrielePiana]

Hello Stephen! The car was leased as company car hence there were other considerations also when deciding to sell it earlier. Beside this, as I clearly state in the video, the car was quite good at being a car (albeit with all the compromises), I just was heavily disappointed since it is far removed from what a “good driving car” should be. This is of course my main issue since, if an MX5 is not good at being fun then what’s the point? Indeed I believe this car, as configured, is pretty pointless.

[@stephenhawes5391]

@@GabrielePiana Hello Gabriele! I am new to your channel and opinions. I have had my MX-5 ND for a similar time but I bought mine meaning I could sell it it on at any time. But I have never felt the need since it has always remained a fun car for me. Perhaps it is because mine is the the U.K. sport spec with 2.0L engine, Bilstein shocks and LSD. Or maybe you are a much better, and therefore perceptive driver than me. I do not know or care but for me my car is certainly always FUN. Not sure how anybody can take your opinions of a car seriously when your opinion is slanted by 'lease lock in' - good or bad.

[@GabrielePiana]

@@stephenhawes5391 Hello Stephen! I really struggle to understand the connection between the car being locked in for a lease and it being good or bad? I feel you are taking this personally and getting defensive about it but I am happy the car is fun to you, as I said in the video there is undoubtedly a crowd for it, and you might be bang on in the middle of it! Nobody here is trying to convince you that you should sell it, if you enjoy it by all means keep on trucking! We are big advocates that whatever makes you tick, you should do. Given that I drive/race/test and develop cars for a living I can say with a degree of certainty that it is likely I have a much wider range of products to compare the car to, so it’s weaknesses might be more obvious to me than to someone who has a more limited experience. I believe this is what qualifies my opinion, not wether the car is leased or not.

[@dimdaisjimbo]

you didn't undestand maybe, good for daily except from the space of course but not good for sportscar

[@AMusset]

@@GabrielePiana Hi Gabriele, I think Stephen’s main point might have been that if you had one of the ND models WITH Bildstein and LSD (like he does) you might have a different opinion. I’m shopping for a Miata and must have watched all the ND videos I could and all concur: the Bilstein equipped models have much less bodyroll. Lastly I understand from Stephen is that if you were not locked-in you could have traded for a Bilstein equipped Miata ... Anyway thanks for the video

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

What a great review! Watched every second. You are very engaging and I found myself smiling throughout much of the vid. Well done guys, now subscribed 👍

[@jasondixon9095]

I have a 2021 RF it’s a great car and will be a classic

[@112deeps]

I had blue ND for 2 years! Took it to valthoren & hinter tux in april & once to zermatt! It was great fun ski & me. Much better seating for 170. Only needs thicker steering wheel

[@GabrielePiana]

Hey there! Im very happy you enjoyed your car and thanks for taking the time to comment under this video!

[@chrislox1]

This is a harsh review from someone who has a specific need from a car. As an owner of the RF version myself, not a race driver, but someone who likes to have a bit of fun now and again, this car is perfect. It regularly gets complimented, and the community surrounding it is second to none. I understand the criticisms stated here, but for the vast majority of people who will buy this, none will be bothered or even be aware of them. It's a fun to drive, well manufactured, beautifully looking, feel good car, and 99% of it's target audience will appreciate this. If you want a race car, go and buy something hot and Italian, but make sure you have deep pockets, you'll need 'em!

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Chris! I appreciate your comment and as I say in the video, this car is just not for me! I recognize there is a customer base that will enjoy it for what it is. To me, the car is impossible to justify in my head. I have no interest in how the car is perceived or complimented from outside, nor I have any interest in the community. I might agree that a certain percentage of owners might care of the above for their buying decision but for me those are irrelevant metrics. It seems some commenters are getting hung up on the fact that I am a race driver and wanted a race car but in reality this is far from true. I deliberately bought an ND because I wanted a slow fun car for the road. To you, the ND is that but to me it’s just not. It’s not a matter of the car being soft, it’s ok! I expected as much. The issue is it being INSANELY wobbly and paired with a dead steering system that does not communicate anything to the driver. This combination of aspects completely spoils the fun, especially at low speeds on the road. Begs the question wether or not it makes sense to have a compromised 2 seater car that also has the same steering feel as a Van. The frustrating part is that it could have been so easy to just keep the steering feel of an NA in a modern package but instead they just ruined it completely. Regardless of all the above, I am genuinely happy you are enjoying your RF! It is a cool looking car and does a lot right for the right customer and I wish you a lot of happy fun miles with it!

[@chrislox1]

@@GabrielePiana Hi, everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect yours, but anyone who is seriously considering this car should probably watch the Savagegeese or Exhaust Sports Auto reviews. As an owner, I would say their take on the ND is mutch closer to the actual owner experience than this review. All the best.

[@deepblueskyK]

@@chrislox1 I agree with you 100%. I drive an RF G132 (MY 2019) and use it as a daily. In everday traffic, when doing a trip on the German Autobahn or occasional trips to the countryside, this visually stunning, affordable litte convertible/targa serves all my needs. ;)

[@ragnargustafsson6637]

Given what the car costs, you can afford the suspension modifications that it needs. 1000 Euro will go a very long way to fix this 'problem'. I started of with 250 Euro Eibach springs. That really made the car a lot better. Then I a got a huge discount on Öhlins coilovers. That really transformed the car. I have been looking around, for what for I would trade in my modded Miata for, if I were serious about trading up. I land on cars that are three times as expensive to buy and four times as expensive to insure, so..... No thanks! It's very hard to beat the Miata when it comes to Smiles/100 km.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Ragnar! Well, a 1.5 with the mods you did to yours (excluding amazing one in a life time deals) is over 35k. I‘d buy a Fiesta ST EVERYDAY and use the money saved to do whatever. This does not mean that you should feel the same but I don’t subscribe entirely on the „best bang for buck“ argument, since we are talking about 35k!!! You can buy a whole range of used cars that are leap and bounds better, and there are even a few new cars that are, to me, better in EVERY way (including fun factor).

[@branislavboba1699]

I drive a car that weights 950kg and (on the road) is a rear wheel drive. It's the Suzuki Samurai - which uninformed people dismiss. Up to the speed of about 120km/h it's absolutely brilliant - much better than the BMW E39 528i I had before. But now, that I will need a car for the highway - I thought about the ND. And the thing I dreaded even before I saw this brilliant review was the steering. Because the thing I love about the Samurai the most is the feeling you only get from the car that doesn't have powersteering. So now I've just been confirmed that the ND is not for me. Thanks a lot - I can move on!

[@JuriUdre]

ND2 Sport (sway bar + Bilsteins + LSD) owner here and I just can't agree with some of your points: the steering wheels self-centers just fine, phone conversations are no problem at 90 km/h and phone charging is not an issue. Yes, MX-5 does roll and definitely is not a motorway cruiser. But the only thing that bothers after 1 year of ownership is my left feet sometimes touching ceiling of the footwell when I move it from the foot rest to the clutch pedal and back but I am 186 cm tall and have size 46 (US 13) feet. Disclaimer1: I am not a race driver Disclaimer2: my age is probably closer to your father's than yours :)

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Juri! Thanks for taking the time to comment and watch the video! Seems like some owners have no complaints and some other have just the same issues I am having as far as the steering, don’t know if it’s about perception or else. As with phone calls, yeah fair enough, at 90 is probably acceptable if you crank the volume all the way up, but at European highway speeds (120-150kph) is not so easy 😅

[@mk500]

I LOL so hard when he said “who wants something that drives like a 31 year old car”, and I’m like “hehe me”. A base model NA was my first and favorite sports car. I still feel like it was a sublime driving experience even though I have now driven modern Ferraris and such. I’m old, I know; boomer nostalgia. I ended up with a 2001 NB and think I am quite happy with it vs the ND. It’s just a far simpler car, and it sounds like the steering is a lot more “connected”. I have not driven a ND though.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hey there! I also like 31 years old cars, for sure, I'm a bit less keen on buying a NEW car (with related costs) that feels like a 31 years old car tho (for all the wrong reason, no sublime driving experience to be found).

[@mk500]

Absolutely. I like this review a lot because it is honestly reporting the reality of the situation. Mazda had good intentions with the ND; but failed to capture the spirit of the NA. I especially appreciated the explanation and example of the steering feel. Not good. I was mostly laughing at myself for what was going through my head. Luckily my NB is still like new with only 36K miles; so I can keep enjoying it for many years to come without worrying about the ND. I should stop talking and go for a drive :-)

[@MichaelJohnson-mh7mp]

Thank you, you give excellent definitions. It helps to drive a car, but your review is the next best thing.

[@bto7779]

I’m not one to defend my car in all instances but I took it for a drive after watching this cos some of the issues mentioned sounded odd. My ND definitely does not have that steering issue. There’s a definite attempt to return to center after turning. The only problem i have is that the steering is too thin and the surface too hard. I have to investigate the phone charging issue a bit more cos the usb port def charges the phone, but I’m not sure about the charge keeping up while the phone is in use. Never noticed an issue either way but will check this out. I have calls in my car all the time no problem - even zoom meetings via CarPlay. The headphone speakers make a huge difference. I don’t think the noise is too much for a roadster. The one other issue I have though is you really have to tuck your behind far into the seat in order to get adequate lumbar support. My two top things I would fix if I could - would be to get more supportive seats and a thicker, smoother surfaced steering wheel.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hey BT! Thanks for taking the time to comment after checking out the video! Highly appreciate it! If you have a .2 ND many of the quality of life issues have been addressed apparently. As for the steering, I am unsure how to interpret your phrasing „attempt to return to center“. My car also „attempts“ you could say, but it does not come back to center as it should, especially driving straight or medium radius corners. The simple matter of fact is that you end up always having to „steer out“ of a corner and even glance at the wheel to see where you are! This is bad on absolute terms already, but in an MX5? Just unacceptable to me. Nevertheless, this might be barely noticeable to you or irrelevant even and if that’s the case, well, brilliant! If you can overlook or don’t even notice the pitfalls I cannot live with, admittedly the car can be pretty good!

[@dgfn3002]

The most honest review of Mx5 ND you can find on KZbin. Bravo !

[@GabrielePiana]

Thank you for the kind words! I understand there is a degree of subjectivity to all reviews but I guarantee I said only what I really believe

[@belunerd93]

yeah, but WE WANT COOKING WITH KOSTAS!

[@GabrielePiana]

YEAHS ahahah

[@rayongracer]

I think your observation is why you get sport pack upgrade for the 2liter with bilstein suspension and added roll bar.

[@kidoctane]

4 year Abarth 124 owner here...... yes, that steering is appalling .... But infotainment in mine is crappy, as all. Really good review.

[@GabrielePiana]

Well, at least that's good in the MX5!

[@x4m123]

Have you checked the alignment of your car? After I had done an alignment on my ND2 the steering feel improved vastly and also the self centering suddenly appeared :D

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Max! We have recently aligned the car and well the car was not off at all. I'm happy that the alignment fixed it for you, for the moment we have not been so lucky.

[@HigeYatsu]

@@GabrielePiana Could I ask what your caster is set to? To improve steering centering with these cars, you really need to max out the caster to something like 7 or 8 degrees. This should be achievable while retaining decently negative camber now that you're going to be riding on coilovers. It's also good to keep in mind that the dynamic camber curve is more extreme in the rear with NDs, so you'll actually want to run more negative camber in the front than in the rear, which obviously goes against common MX-5 convention.

[@x4m123]

@@GabrielePiana Hey Gabriele, you may consider yourself lucky to have grabbed the single existing ND which isn't completely crooked :D I've seen your most recent video: I guess with the new coil overs your handling will improve massively. Also, consider different to OEM alignment specs. I personally can recommend SPS Motorsports' set up.

[@dqin0218]

@UCw9XVkuTyZ3mcaz17ieLuag Tires also make a huge difference! On my ND2, the self centering is great and strong on my summer tires, but nonexistent on my winter tires.

[@hjsckd]

I had doubts about the electric steering, but was surprised about the self-centering issue. Maybe a good set of coilovers and a proper alignment could improve your main "Problems" with the ND. I hope that was your ruining plan for the car 😂

[@GabrielePiana]

We hope too!

[@pailote67]

@@GabrielePiana adding caster helps to fix the issue

[@MadIIMike]

This reminds me a lot of the old Show "Telemotor" where cars were tested by Paul Frere. It's nice to see a honest review about cars rather than the usual "Hype or Hate" on KZbin to generate clicks. Since you also have someone with a "Eunos Roadster" that gets modified, you could also compare the improvements between the original and the new car that wants to feel like it.

[@GabrielePiana]

Well we already know how a NA feels, we actually had 7 or them at the same time few years ago and we still have 4!

[@kevingalls]

I’m a track driver and heavily modified my MX-5 myself. Come test drive mine and see what a few weekends and $5,000 of modifications can do!

[@inferno14u]

Perfect description of the shortcomings of that car. Toyota essentially did the same thing to the 86. You can't make an affordable car for enthusiasts it seems without compromising it for the masses, at least generally speaking.

[@GabrielePiana]

For sure trying to please a very wide share of market has its problems. I don’t really see how a better designed steering system would have compromised the ND for the “masses” tho

[@opmike343]

This and the savagegeese review are the most thorough overviews of these cars on KZbin. Nice hearing from someone who isn't emotionally invested. Still considering if an ND Club is right for me. What I REALLY want is for Japan to build an M235i/M240i.

[@TassieLorenzo]

370Z or 400Z would be the Japanese M240i, wouldn't it? :)

[@Kamui..]

yeah ! honesty on this car about the noise, this is rare. Didn't bought it as a daily because of this, wish it was less noisy and better steering feeling, would totally buy it

[@davidmccaughan2710]

Here in the US my friend's 30AE version came with 200TW summer tires, didn't last long enough for Kostas to make and eat a meal. Want to see Kostas cook!

[@GabrielePiana]

Your friend might want to turn the aggressiveness settings down a notch then :D :D

[@TassieLorenzo]

Fun rant at 19:25 ! I appreciate where Gabe is coming from. Sounds like Gabe wanted a Honda S2000 that happens to do 6.5L/100km, but ended up with the ND MX5 which didn't hit the mark.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Lorenzo! Probably you are summing it up really well with wanting an S2000 :D

[@DKH83]

I agree with you in relation to the usb charging port. The windows closure feature is there to protect hand being trapped. I have no issue with the steering wheel. This MX5 suits me very well. I enjoy driving it more than my F87 M2.

[@Mombasa2k3]

Loved living in Germany :) miss the Nurburgring 😆 it's a special place. Had a Camaro and later a Mustang in Germany. Now I have a 2019 ND went from 17 mpg average with the 2015 Mustang GT I had to 37 mpg 😀. Also you can upgrade the phone ports and retroactively add apple car play and android auto. Did that on my 2019 ND2. Now the ports have plenty of power. As for wind noise... get a louder exhaust ;). I went with a Goodwin Racing Roadster Sport Race exhaust. Should be below the 95 decibel limit afaik and its lighter than stock. Don't care about wind noise when I hear the exhaust :)

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Alfred! Ahahah, yeah no doubt the car will feel alive and nimble compared to what you drove before! Big step from those big engines to the little ND! Yes, other mentioned about the upgraded ports but it's still utterly unbelievable to me to think that Mazda missed it in the first place! Getting a louder exhaust would arguably be exchanging a noise for another? :D :D :D

[@BN99239]

Aftermarket springs/shocks really help this car out. I agree, it should not have come from the factory this soft, but at least it's not that expensive to fix it.

[@mikemartenson4357]

You are absolutely correct in your assessment of the stock ND. But i saw the potential. I am in the USA and I bought a new 2017 GT that comes with the 2.0, took it directly to a Mazda Motorsport Cup Car builder and if you could drive my car now you would love it! Supercharged helps too.

[@PhWeihrauch]

There is a kit, which enables the infotainment for Android Auto/Apple Carplay. It also gives you one USB Port with a much better power-output. Its about 300 to 350 € in Germany to fit by your Mazda-Dealer

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Philipp! Thanks for the comment! This was mentioned before too, good to know!

[@abogoni]

with regards to the steering it sounds like your wheel alignment is off - flying miata has a video on this and recommends the following specs: Front Caster: 8.0 degrees (basically, as much as possible) Camber: 1.8 degrees negative (again, as much as possible) Toe-in: 1/16", 0.15° or 9 arcminutes total (1/32", 0.075° or 4.5 minutes per side) Rear Camber: 1.8 degrees negative (matching the front) Toe-in: 1/16", 0.15° or 9 arcminutes total (1/32", 0.075° or 4.5 minutes per side)

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Alex! We hope that an alignment will fix it but to be honest there are several comments under this video already stating that the steering still feels the same. Hope for us it will be different. stay tuned!

[@TassieLorenzo]

Wow, 8 degrees caster that is nearly like an E Class! :) Is that really possible with the stock suspension parts?

[@GabrielePiana]

@@TassieLorenzo short answer? No :D

[@Francisco-sx7th]

Interesting review and point of view. I kind of understand your point. I'm the owner of a Miata NA 1992 and tested the ND 2.0 RF version. When the driving test finished I wondered why should I buy this car? What is so different from my NA to invest so much money in it. Seats are clearly better, global comfort too, safer car for sure but at the same time I don't drive my NA for hours and hours so the limited comfort is not really an issue. Lack of safety also makes me drive the car in a anticipation...So in the end I do keep my NA and let ND for others.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Francisco! seats, comfort, toys... everything is better. But it does not drive anywhere as cool as an NA unfortunately :(

[@Francisco-sx7th]

​@@GabrielePiana You're right, it's a modern car and will never get the charme a NA has unfortunately. Nevertheless, here in Belgium, ND is very well sold as it matches with a new vision of what a small roadster should be...

[@blackcatprojects9125]

FM geo, ARBs (sway bars) and lowering springs (Mazda) have transformed mine. The wheel does self centre and the turn in is much improved. Added each of these iteratively with the springs removing that odd floaty feeling, the geo improving turn in and the ARBs transforming flatness in the corners. Really looking forward to what you do with it next Fellow 1.5.ND person

[@GabrielePiana]

We will probably do something along those lines, let’s see!

[@onlychildren857]

People complaining about the body roll...bro just change the suspension. If you have a Club, you just need springs. If you got a Sport then change the shocks also. About the one thing I agree with Gab about is the seating position and the phone charging issue.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Alexander! Yeah, those mods will definitely fix the roll, but they won't fix the steering unfortunately, which is a shame.

[@joekawasaki]

I feel like the body lean that adds grip is needed for the older crowd. For someone that wants a more racey there's always modification needed unless you are driving that gt3 rs. Most companies don't do what's needed for that feel because most people don't want & can't handle it!

[@smilepermile8165]

I know this is an unpopular opinion (as it defeats the ethos of the MX-5 being a convertible) - but I wish Mazda produced a proper coupe version of this ND too, so that it can have better torsional rigidity and practicality to load trackday tyres. Lets be realistic, there won't be a true successor to the FD3S RX-7. In an ideal world, it would be great to have the steering feel and practicality of the 86/BRZ, with the 2.0 184ps engine, lightweight nature and the shift feel of the gearbox of the ND.

[@adam145]

Yep, it saddens me deeply that there's almost no coupes on the market except for millionaires. If they just made the car slightly bigger in order to have it a 2+2 (rear seats can be unusable, I don't care) then it would be perfect.

[@GabrielePiana]

I am not a big fan of the 86 either by the way, but regardless I think the point is that instead of building a "nostalgia" imitation of the NA, they should have built the best affordable MX5 they could, instead they did not, and that's the real shame.

[@GabrielePiana]

@@adam145 RX8?

[@smilepermile8165]

@@GabrielePiana The 'updated' NDs in 2019 (same time they've released that 184ps 2,0) reported by owners to have had improved steering feel as apparently its been shared from the electric power assist mechanism from the Abarth 124 Spider - would be curious to hear your thoughts on that, if you get your hands on a more recent ND. I'm curious to see if the modifications that you do with this car would make you appreciate it more or not.

[@GabrielePiana]

@@smilepermile8165 interesting, I am not up to date on this stuff. Regardless, does little to fix our problems :(

[@jennatyler8144]

You need the 2022 MX-5 version, they solved all of the problems you spoke about here...

[@dougiequick1]

Also living in southern California I never thought I would want heated steering wheel....until driving my ND in the mountains in winter with the top down...the heater and heated seats help but my old hands would sincerely benefit heated steering wheel rather than wearing snowmobile gloves lol....

[@albertoric75]

I have a model identical to yours and I completely agree with everything you said!

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Alberto! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! I feel better knowing I'm not alone! We are doing some work on the car maybe fixing it? kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqLUZKBpm7SFe5Y

[@LiberaceProtege]

Disgusting review. Not a review of the vehicle at all, but rather a review of his own needs and wants which of course none of us here give a damn about. I lived and worked in Europe for many, many years. It was my home. I noticed one consistent trait over and over again that was most disappointing and that is the Europeans LOVE to complain. Nothing is ever good enough. They would find fault with a cure for cancer if one was invented!!! Yes they complain that much. The Mazda MX5 is a 30,000 car. Period. Not a Porsche. Don't expect it to be anything more than what it is. For what it is it is excellent. Superb in fact. Millions of happy MX5 owners vs one unsatisfied, never ever happy, guy here on KZbin? I'd say the number of many happy MX5 owners in the world are all you need to know.

[@patekoriginal]

Good video. Probably you are right when you say that this car is for a certain target. I'm 62 yo and I buyed my MX5 1.5 lts just for fun, not for speed or track days. When I was young had a Boxster, much more performant than this. But really today I don't have more the "need for speed" but just a fun car, far different from my other everyday car (Honda Jazz hybrid last edition) and so I'm glad. Sadly, agree about the crystals and the steering wheel, furthermore adding that is a bit too large. But fortunately I've been well targeted by Mazda so my judgement is ok 90%.

[@saywhat83]

Great analysis...I owned an ND1 soft top i-sport trim with the 150hp engine and it felt like driving a small boat at times. I then owned a ND2 RFClub and the 181 hp ... feels more purposefully built. Would be interesting to get your opinion on the RFClubs

[@aerotus888]

The whole point is that it drives like you are going much faster than you are. The ideal thing if you live in a world where speed cameras are out to milk you for every cent.

[@aerotus888]

Thank you for such an honest review. When I first test drove an ND I thought the electric steering was horrid with no feedback. A far cry from my MR2 mk3 assisted hydraulic steering. Don't know why most reviewers keep praising the steering! Maybe it's unavoidable in the era of electric steering wheels?

[@MrYusuf989]

I have exactly the same opinion. Have a mk3 mr2, test drove an nd, didn't like the steering at all...

[@gapexx]

I so relate to this review ... I really wanted to love the ND-2 based on all the raving reviews, almost bought it sight unseen. Managed to get a test drive yesterday and to say I was underwhelmed would be an understatement, my bubble is burst. While ok in the showroom at 185cm (6.1ft), the ergonomics while driving were worse than I expected, but mostly coming from lack of lumbar support which is beyond me why they wouldn't design the seat with a back board and proper padding, I don't care about the 0,5kg more weight if I'm suffering after 20min. The steering, zero feedback and in my opinion the rack is actually too fast for the wheelbase, might work on track I can see that but in the real world on the tight twisties too quick. Combine the fast rack with the body roll of a Citroen 2CV and you get a car that doesn't inspire me with confidence, quite the opposite. The grip is there, it never slipped on me, but the body roll is just overkill, it doesn't make me want to push it. The engine, this is going to get a lot of flak I presume, well to me it feels like any other boring linear japanese engine I tried. The power is there and it's responsive, but it's just lackluster. I really agree with the statement that this car at least to my liking, needs a lot of work, but I would still be left with a car that comes with hard compromises. I really wanted to like it.

[@dominikv6221]

My forecast - MeisterR crd, alignment, grippy tire, better pads = SUB8,20. :) wish you luck

[@GabrielePiana]

Who knows 😉

[@zacchan265]

Finally, I got my ND2 this year, I love it so much

[@GabrielePiana]

Great news Zac! Go out and drive it as much as you can now!

[@27vasquez]

About to get mine

[@WizardTerence]

Your wrong about a phone call. You can easily have a phone call if your phone is connected to the car. The headrest speakers EASILY handle phone calls. And it's not that loud in a soft top. The new mx5 have telescopic steering wheels for reach.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Terence! I know there is headrest speakers but I am not wrong. A phone call at any speed beyond 50mph is absolute torture! I mean, this is really an objective thing, the car is loud as hell. You could argue that’s normal in a soft top but it’s still a fact. 😀

[@WizardTerence]

@@GabrielePiana well I have no problem whatsoever. Really.. its loud and clear. Do you have the volume turned up after the call is answered ? Adjust volume in call maybe ? Oh and fix your exhaust maybe ? 😆 It's not loud. I can talk to a person beside me easily. Whats wrong with your car ??? Lol

[@petervandermeulen6641]

Good te see a honest review. I own the Nc, with the sportive package. With the right suspension, lsd etc. Its a different car than without. And recently i discovered Tires (and rims) are also very important! Sad to hear they made the same kind of mistakes. Because they can be great fun cars.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Peter! Imagine all the “problems” of your stock NC plus an even worse steering 😭😭😭😭