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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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 :)

[@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

[@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?

[@SandStormPower]

I've test drove a ND2 and had no complains. And the damping softness actually pleased me. Afteral allows me to go fast on bad roads and have fun with it in those roads. So yes, I'm a guy who loves how it is built. If I want something more harsher, I do have my daily car

[@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 👍

[@ConquerDriving]

14:20 Strange you say that about the steering feel. I've just done a 2100 mile trip around England, Wales and Scotland in mine and found the steering fine, very comfortable and easy to use and keep the car straight. That's coming from someone who has driven a VX220 for about 24,000 miles which is supposed to have great steering.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi there! I think the answer is partly in your phrasing as I would never use the words "easy to use and comfortable" to describe steering feel. The ND is probably a much better fit for you than the VX would ever be since ease of use and comfort are features that you are more sensitive about in a steering system. I don't want to be controversial for the sake of it but I cannot wrap my head around how you could prefer the ND steering to the unassisted, arguably close to perfect, M1.11 steering.

[@TassieLorenzo]

"easy to use and keep the car straight" That's what steering is supposed to do in a luxury car, not in a sportscar. Usually a (proper) sportscar will tramline a lot and have large amounts of road feedback of texture, steering weight, grip/loss of grip (or kickback if you like)... the McLaren models for example. :)

[@mattbstroud]

Isn't that just the nature of a front engine / rear wheel drive car? The "self-centering" nature that you are speaking about is what you would experience in a front wheel drive car, where there is power to the wheels.

[@operoverlord]

@@GabrielePiana Drives like a go kart. Like it. Plus, there are really bumpy roads here in Louisiana, and maybe Mazda design catered more to the US consumer base with horrible roads, so as to make it soft.

[@TiyamatFTL]

@@mattbstroud Self centering is typically a result of Suspension/Steering geometry, it doesn‘t depend on where the power is applied. FWD cars might end up effecting steering with torque steer, but they don’t nessescarily self center better.

[@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

[@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 👊🏻

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@rayongracer]

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

[@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

[@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! 😂

[@ashleybawa9658]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@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".

[@mamba109]

28:09 So the next question is, what car would you buy to satisfy what you needed and wanted? The next one is, what kind of price point would that be hitting by then? $60k, maybe even $70k+ USD? The answer is already there for you. *At that price point* at around $30k USD, what other alternatives are there. The answer is that what you want in an affordable sports car is an impossibility, unless you take away the word "affordable." Your ending statements actually proves the point that Miata, is still, always the answer

[@Barton3423]

I have a 2018 Club that I daily drive with more than 20k miles on it. While I agree with some of the critiques in this video, the comments about the steering and handling I disagree with. It seems to me that he might purchased the wrong model MX-5. Obviously handling and performance are important to this driver so maybe the Club model with the upgraded suspension and the 2 liter engine would have been a more satisfying choice.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Barton! Thanks for taking the time to watch this video and comment, we appreciate it! In the video I specifically state that I was not looking for a performance car. Ultimate performance is not what I was looking for, I was looking for "fun at low speeds" and in my opinon this car is just failing to deliver on those aspects due to the combination of dead steering and wobbly setup. The steering is objectively bad, this is pretty much agreed upon by the vast majority of owners, some suggest that alignment does miracles and others have tried to fix it to no avail. Wether or not a bad steering is something that is spoiling the experience is, on the other hand, totally subjective. To me, driving and MX5 with this kind of steering feel just spoils it completely, to the point it makes it pointless, but for others it's different, which is totally cool!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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 😂

[@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!

[@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) 🥳

[@the1beard]

What happened to the upgrades? no videos ...

[@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]

😊*

[@karkai6]

How does it compare to the NCs? I daily drive an NC and I feel it's fairly stiff, and not very comfy on the bumps. I have never driven an ND but have read and heard of it's relative softness. But, great review, and I do agree on all the other cons of any small car, they can get fairly irritating on an everyday basis.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Karthik! I don't own an NC so I cannot compare 1:1. I drove an NC on track and I had fun, I find the interior gasthly and the looks a bit odd but as a driving experience it was better than the ND. My biggest problem is not only its softness but it's steering also!

[@leoclement3801]

NIGHT & DAY!!!! If you're seriously considering an ND, I highly recommend that you simply go your Mazda dealer and test drive one. I can ABSOLUTELY assure you that you'll be pleasantly surprised, if not blown away. Although I haven't personally owned all 4 gens, I have driven several hundred miles in each of the first 3. It was only after I purchased a new ND with the "sports package" (17 inch BBS Wheels, Brembos, Recaro Seats & Bilstein Suspension) that I realized just how MASSIVE the difference is when compared to the previous 3 gens. With that said I'm not sure about 4th gen GX or the GT model, but when compared to the first 3 Miata generations the ND club with the sport package is in a completely different league. Again, NIGHT & DAY, not even remotely close. My 2 cents.

[@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

[@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

[@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 😅

[@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.

[@mikeb9569]

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

[@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!

[@petermartin9494]

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

[@xTheTOSHIBAx]

agreed

[@stephantimmermans6107]

Try the 2.0 with bilstein shocks and lsd.

[@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!

[@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

[@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).

[@jasondixon9095]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@MichaelJohnson-mh7mp]

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

[@Hinterhof-qx5ql]

14:30 I remember when I had my NB in the workshop and got an ND as a replacement... When I got back into my NB the steering was so much better!

[@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!

[@sbstn451]

I really enjoyed this review and your honest opinion. Thank you for this video. 💛

[@IguanaFilmArts]

I respect your opinion though do not agree with it or how you said it. Steering force=/=steering feedback. MX5 ND, even the 1.5L pre 2018 models have indeed delicate steering, which don't require much if any force, but even in stock form give you plenty of road feedback in order to even race it around Nurburgring Nordschleife. Rest of the steering issues you described seemed like alignment issues that can easily be tuned, or simply are your personal preferences. Other issues are easily remidied through either buying a Sport trim with better suspension or the ND2 which has a bit heavier steering. Personal preferences are always ok to share, but what you say @21:51 is your own projection of your feelings and is likely to stir a lot of people in the comment section whom think that's not true, because many (yes even track day drivers) think that's not true. Many praise the ND for feeling like a gentler NA with many modern upgrades and actually like that a lot. The delicate steering does not compromise the feeling the steering wheel gives you of the road. That's why steering force=/=steering feedback, but to each their own...I still enjoyed your video and your upfront honesty. Cheers.

[@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!

[@vivekkuna800]

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

[@tatankadog2]

If the interior sound level is too loud you should remove the sound tube. I removed mine and have no problem talking on the phone even with the top down.

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Pete! The car has no sound tube. You can of course have phone conversation at low speed but not at highway speeds, at least not without shouting and cranking the stereo up to 11! 😂

[@adam145]

Last time I've seen one at a dealer here in Poland, they were already approaching 40 000 dollars. New taxes are killing japanese cars. They run like dream for years unfortunately and even used ones are reluctant to drop in price lately.

[@GabrielePiana]

MX5 NDs are coming down quite substantially we feel, just have to be patient! :)

[@garagecedric]

Same here in sweden, new ones are over 10k more these days than when they were introduced. Which has firmed up the second hand market. The EU co2 tax is murdering toy cars for reasonable money.

[@GabrielePiana]

@@garagecedric but how can the CO2 affect 1.5? Should not be that bad

[@garagecedric]

@@GabrielePiana it's at 145g/km, which is way higher than fleet average target of around 95g, which means mazda have to pay heaps of money to the EU for every mx5 they sell. Some companies absorbed the co2 fines and spread it to all their cars, mazda (at least here) took it directly on the consumer price. The heavier the car is the more they can emmit, its all backwards (german automakers forced this rule). So the heavier the cars they sell the more they are allowed to emmit.

[@GabrielePiana]

@@garagecedric we live in Crazy times 🥺

[@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.

[@Roybatty443]

I have driven a 2019 mazda 2.0 with 182 bhp. I disagree with your points around handling. it has a front strut brace, limited slip diff and much better bilstein dampers. bigger 17" wheels too. the 1.5 lacks all of these and hence the handling softness you experienced. I do agree with the lack of self-centring for the steering and it takes a bit of getting used to. I didn't like it either. As for cabin comfort I'm 183 cm tall and found it fine. steering on 2019 models also have reach adjustment which makes a big difference. you should try one and compare as I think it might fix a few of the issues you had with the base 1.5

[@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!

[@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 :(

[@pollymarka1]

I daily drive a 2016 NA Club with the Bilstein shocks, limited-slip differential, and the Brembo brakes. I immediately replaced the anti-roll bars, installed the USB module with the Mazda 2.0 USB update, and a short shifter. I feel it is underpowered, but it doesn't roll in corners. My biggest issue is the noise.

[@ludosys4903]

Great video, but apparently you bought the wrong ND version to suit your needs. 2.0 Sport with an Eibach + Bilstein setup / LSD on the rear axle / Bose speaker system and the wonderful Recaro seats with build in speakers. And Apple CP of course to not have to use that crappy Mazda infotainment system.

[@Gadne92.5]

TOP5 things to hate @9:55 For me the most annoying thing was the seats. I had the facelift ND2 with 2.0 engine, but with standard leather seats (not the Recaros). I believe those are different than your ND1 1.5 fabric ones? Anyhow those had zero lumbar support, absolutely zero. Felt like you'd sit in some kind of ... deck chair while driving. Otherwise the driving position was comfortable for me (180cm), but lack of lumbar support made any drive over 1h long a pain in the ... well .. my back. And I'm perfectly healthy 40yo petrol head. Other thing for me was the relatively thin steering wheel. Its really thin and "hard" compared to something like your average 5-series beemer or even VW Golf. I'd like more thick one with soft leather, especially in a sports car like Miata is. The lack of USB charge power was solved by 12V plug and well, 1,5m long USB cable. As I'm not much of a Android Auto / Apple Car Play guy I could live without the Infortainment touch screen, which many owner are criticizing. Other wise I still miss her. Was so much fun at the "B-roads" and curvy mountain roads. Just enough power (2.0 184bhp) and LSD -> fun. Easy to drive at the limits of the chassis. Fun, light, agile, nimble sports car with 0 competition. But rather expensive; ND2 2.0 184bhp will cost, even without Recaro seats or Brembo brakes, something like 45k euros. That's simply too much. Ended up to trade my daily and my Miata to BMW i8 which I then dailied. Anyway going to get another ND2 but with Recaros when the prices do drop around 20-25k euros mark. Thank you for this really comprehensive and long term review!

[@baccy81]

with the noise issue, why did you not choose the targa hard top? Also, I don't own one yet, I am waiting for my order to be delivered, but I have test driven one and I have not noticed the steering flaw, now I am a bit concerned....

[@rel6294]

i use a Mazda 2 and relate to the steering feel, its so busy that sometime you think the car is moving around while in the straight

[@GabrielePiana]

Ahah, Darrel makes you wander if the just tuned the steering feel the same on the 2 and Mx5, which would explain a lot about why the MX5 makes little sense.

[@Isaki138]

Which gen Mazda2? MY20 is absolutely normal. Liked it better than the Swift Sport with its massively changing steering resistence the faster one drives. The only issue with stability is the rear hopping at low speeds on big bumps.

[@rel6294]

@@Isaki138 mine is MY20, i mean the car is perfectly stable. i like the steering feel, but in the highway it still needs small correction even in the straights. but yeah, the rear hopping thing is sometimes annoying, i aleady got a subwoofer in the back but its still hopping and throw small stuff, probably the rear is too light because mine is fwd

[@Isaki138]

@@rel6294 Ok, due to Covid I haven't driven on motorways extensively, so I didn't feel that yet. But the narrow tires do like following road grooves etc. I think with the rear it's mostly the simple and therefore stiff design of the axle. The only upgrades I wish is a strut in the trunk and better brakes. Though that problem might only be due to the tiny tires. Hope to test it on the Nordschleife soon!

[@DaBinChe]

Wonder what your alignment numbers are? What I would do besides play with alignment is sway bars. Not really stiff ones just a little bit more than stock. Megan Racing would be best for low cost and also adjustable from just a little bit more stiff than stock to a little too stiff for street.

[@GabrielePiana]

I have the alignment numbers, the car was not “off” by any mean. -0,5 camber front -1,5 camber rear 7,5* caster Toe I don’t remember but also in the window of acceptable values

[@DaBinChe]

@@GabrielePiana To keep it within OE spec range and street use I suggest: -1.3 camber front -1.6 camber rear 8* or more caster More negative camber if track use. Your front camber is not enough but rear is ok. A small amount surprisingly makes a big difference in handling performance for the ND.

[@trackeagle6013]

I was enjoying and taking your review seriously until 22nd minute you started making no sense. You seemed confused. ND is just all about having fun at under legal speeds and Mazda has blown in out of the park. You want a car to go after Porsches, Corvettes either look somewhere else or simply get ND2 and put sway-bars, coilovers, exhaust, tune, larger wheels and some super sticky tires and you’ll hang with the big boys. I track and race cars too and I totally think you don’t understand what Mazda was/is doing with this car. I had to go thru over 20 cars in my lifetime (under 70k) to finally find the perfect car for me to have SUPER fun on the streets while keeping it under 80 miles. What other cars can do that? THANK YOU Mazda for building a car that feels and drives like a 30 year old car 👏. It’s dying talent to build cars like that and thanks to Mazda we are somewhat getting to experience that “organic” feeling of driving back in 80s & 90s with a new car warranty. Dude, you as a race car driver, your comments and feedback disappointed me. You need soul searching…If Mazda was asking 60K for this car, then I would agree with you. But 26K for this car, come on man! Admit it, it’s a damn good car 🤣

[@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

[@Liniik]

If I understood correctly, you have the basic model without limited slip diff, bilstein suspension and 17" wheels - am I correct? Did you have an opportunity to try better factory spec? I suspect that the body roll or steering feeling could be partly caused by those differences in different reviews

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi there, You are correct, this is the basic 1.5 model. We have done some modifications to it now, you can check the whole playlist on the channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3qmqoiQotNki6M I am sorry to report that, while the roll was brought under control, no amount of work fixed the steering feel, so much so that we decided to sell the car.

[@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

[@petermartin9494]

Thank you so much. Your honest video is extremely helpful.

[@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!

[@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.

[@timserpette9945]

The steering feel sounds like you need an alignment.

[@SerYil1]

wow I thought it was just me about the steering wheel. I was driving from Frankfurt to Berlin, my first long distance drive after the purchase. I found myself constantly doing corrections on steering wheel. Yes it gets stiffer as you build speed which is usual with modern cars but that means there's more resistance there, and whenever I think I have it dead center it moves other direction, try and correct it, and you realise you over corrected it, a constant loop, definitely keeps your mind busy while going long distances as a plus. So frustrating though. About being a soft and too comfortable, While I agree on those, (I myself find it a little bit soft, but the gap between road and the car is massive) I am guessing that the aim was to have something comfortable, something that everyone can drive and not go to the track, go over obstacles and bumps without hustle or worry, and also have a cheap roadster and have fun not with the handling but the cool factor and open top. I suppose it's tiny bit similar people buying G wagons just to drive to get groceries but they want to look cooler and richer. Obviously mx-5 reaches more people then people like us, who looks for less body roll, and stiffer sus, but the fact is that it's just a modern road car which also excepted to make some profit.

[@timserpette9945]

Have you heard of springs and sway bars?

[@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

[@dohabandit]

I have 2021 ND Club RF. 100% on the steering. I noticed this right away compared to my C8. It's an odd feeling for sure. The model I have has adjustable wheel angles+distance and I was able to raise the seat height at the rear by getting 2 longer M10x1.25 bolts and some collars to lift the seat by 1". The RF model has a little less noise I think, but its still pretty loud. I think the 2021 ND needs better suspensing and ARB's. I am thinking to get the Fox kit with ARB from FlyinMiata. Looks like a good way to get rid of the excessive body roll. Also the OEM brakes are WEAK. I would like to be able to track the car and the OEM brakes (non-brembo) aren't enough. I am looking at a wilwood caliper and rotor upgrade.

[@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

[@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.

[@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...

[@vhockada]

I don’t think this review will help potential buyers looking for a roadster that’s affordable. If that’s you don’t watch this review. I’ve owned motorcycles, Audis, trucks, many different manuals and I just recently got an ND and it is by far the most fun I’ve ever had on the road. I cannot explain why that is but it is. I am curious what you end up getting in its place and also although I disagree with you, I actually enjoyed watching your review.

[@richfixescars]

Japanese love Retro, and that's what this car is. Be interested in if you can improve it. Suspension, exhaust, wheels and tyres?

[@GabrielePiana]

Hi Rich! Yeah, it might be so but if the really wanted retro they should have put a proper steering rack in it. 😂

[@samfurnos5852]

Grats!!! what an awesome review of your experience!! Thanks a lot.... Very honest, intelligent vid

[@duncancooper6175]

Very good review 2.0 on the bilstein shocks and lsd answers some of the comments. Self centre on the steering at least on the one I've driven, nope, but feel is totally absent. It seems set up to roll, and then weirdly the roll just stops, as you almost like someone wanted it to feel like an old MGB, it doesn't need that...Oh and the brakes feel a bit soft, but seem to actually work just fine. As a pleasant tourer driven at 7 or 8 10ths it's great. I'm sure with a bbs kit on suspension, cams, headers and full exhaust it can be more of a sports car, or...just buy an Elise and live with more noise and a harder roof, but you'll need a cheap runaround for the functional drives. Anyway great review

[@adamski-l5w]

I think I watched this video a couple of years ago as part of my search for my midlife crisis car. Other than the side on which the steering wheel is on the one I bought is almost exactly what is in this video. I love it! It’s not my family’s only car but I do use it as my daily car. And it’s great. Totally reliable, cheap to run and absolutely bags of fun!And you don’t break road rules either! Perfect enthusiast car!❤❤❤ The conclusion of this video is absurd btw. 😂 it’s the other way around. It’s the best compromise you could possibly have of reliability and fun. It’s fantastic in the corners. Noise in car at 110 kmh is not like a CX-9, well of course not, but it’s fine to make phone calls. I think the main difference in my experience with ND 1.5 and this review is that I drive mine top down about 80% of the time. And you can’t help but smile doing that 😊.

[@Nlight1981]

Bought one last year. Really lovr my ND. But what i also like is the honest review. You really go against the typical over enthusiastic youtube ND reviews. I also like to know if you got any tips on good alternatives.

[@gabor880321]

You should test / get the RF. Very nice with the hard top up compared to the soft if you like it closed. The suspension is much tighter and better tuned out of the box. (More rigid body with the extra bottom braces) The weight is not a big difference, tested both. It looks better too in my opinion.

[@gabor880321]

Oh yeas and mine goes straight :)

[@AM68635]

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