The best Mazda MX-5 ever? // Miata NB review

The Mazda MX-5 is almost peerless in its category of fun two-seat roadsters. Full review of the second generation 'NB'.
Model on review: 2004 Mk2 Mazda MX-5 1.6 Euphonic special edition
#mx5 #mazdamx5
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[@Rjhs001]

Hi JJ. My wife had one, a 2010 model with the hard top and 1.8 engine. It was an utterly brilliant car and if it wasn't for both of us having arthritic knees, she would still have it. Just a fabulous little car and definitely the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

[@JJonCars]

Absolutely! That third gen car was great too, a bit more grown up but still a hoot. And the retractable hard top is a superb bit of kit. Cheers John

[@just_passing_through]

My 2003 NBFL is “my” perfect car. I traded in my NA in 2003, and have never wanted to change. It’s 21 years old, and still my perfect car.

[@Klayking]

Man, this is identical to my old MX-5 Euphonic. I loved that car so much. May it rust in peace.😢 Thanks for the great video! Always lovely to see older MX-5s still out being enjoyed!

[@JJonCars]

Hey, no problem, glad you enjoyed the vid :) RIP old Euphonic.

[@stefan2292]

I'm not a Miata fanatic, but just had my 2002 NB professionally waxed. It looks like new. Such a great car!

[@novicetheaf]

The space for back seat JJ has gotten so small he got fed up this time and decided to call in sick 😂. Great video and they're great cars I'd love one myself 👌

[@JJonCars]

Haha! Nice to not have him shouting stuff at me from the back seat while I'm trying to review 😄 Thanks man.

[@modifiedwhips]

Very informative Jack , keep up the good work , it’s a shame backseat jj couldn’t attend

[@JJonCars]

Cheers! I should have put him in the boot 😄

[@jjkingkongjjracingstar8410]

Also, unlike the nc and nd, you can store things on the parcel shelf behind the two seats, eg when we toured France we had a sailing bag and put in it any bulky things like shoes etc

[@tonyblount991]

Another great video JJ 😜

[@JJonCars]

Thanks Tony 😁

[@marwintalens7066]

I recently managed to get an NB FL Phoenix (I believe theres 1200 of them), and its magnificent! Even though its only a 1.6L, its responsive and has quite good handling. A fun daily for sure!

[@jamesmacd]

NB is the best mx5

[@oldrrocr]

Had one just like this for 17 years! Got my wife a 2009 which we still have.(sitting next to my RX7). These cars are terrific!

[@zahemi914]

​@@oldrrocrRX7!! I envy you...😂

[@carlosarredondo3]

No it’s NA

[@QwertyKeyllll]

​@@carlosarredondo3 The only thing the na really offer is the headlights 😅

[@shxdowplay_]

great review jj. my current (and first) car is a 2004 mx-5 arctic edition, i love the thing. if i'd the space to store another, i'd love a euphonic as well!

[@JJonCars]

They did so many special editions... you should totally collect them all 😄 what's the Arctic got on it? Heated seats I presume!

[@shxdowplay_]

@@JJonCars that’s the dream! yup, the arctic has very similar spec to the euphonic, bar the heated mirrors and cd changer and the 1.8 models didn’t come with a LSD like the 1.8 euphonic did. the arctic had a unique colour, razor blue (most of them sold in that colour - the others were titanium grey and sunlight silver), had 20-spoke 15” alloy wheels and chromed quarterlight trims. there was an options pack available, which included chromed fuel filler cap, chromed door mirrors + handles and a style bar. i’ve added the chrome trims to mine and they suit the car particularly well arctics are as relatively rare as euphonics, with only 2,000 of each edition made. last factoid… due to some error on V5 certs, a lot of arctics are registered as euphonics… meaning that, in the search for a used mx5 euphonic, you might come across some arctic examples unintentionally! it’s a bit of a mystery as to how that happened

[@just_passing_through]

I had my 2003 ‘back-to-bare-metal’ resprayed in 2021, and they found absolutely no rust at all. Having said that, I do live in Australia, so no snow, and therefore no road salt.

[@JJonCars]

Lucky you. They're all rusty here 😄

[@Tintoycar]

We have a 2000 NB, Emerald green, two tone interior and wooden steering weel. FUN FUN FUN.

[@MicroCampers]

Great review. You should do a UK version of quirks and features too.

[@JJonCars]

Thank you. It's funny you should mention that as I've been thinking of branching out in to a few videos like that :)

[@Haydnkmiles1]

Amazing video, one thing tho where did you get your alloys from

[@JJonCars]

Thank you! These wheels are actually the original wheels that came with the Euphonic edition of the car.

[@willoffer7119]

Big fan of the MX5. ND for me just trumps this one for me. Cheers JJ, look forward to the next one 😎

[@JJonCars]

The ND certainly is a very nice car, and really impressive that Mazda has managed to keep it to the original recipe despite all of the modern rules and regulations and expectations too. Cheers Will!

[@creativeexperience6388]

I have a 01 nb2 miata special edition in the British racing green and tan top. I have to say having the 1.8 vvt motor and upgraded suspension it's definitely the best model hands down

[@willswheels283]

The MX5 has always been a great fun car, I think I’d prefer to go for the 1.8 for extra shove, no back seat JJ this time then…Maybe Boot jj? 😂 Great informative vid once again mate, thanks.👍

[@JJonCars]

Haha yes lol, be easier for me if he was in the boot. Cheers Will!

[@willswheels283]

@@JJonCars 😂 No Worries.👍

[@keithgiles6734]

I am in Australia and I have had a NB 1.8 for 15 years great car I am a member of MX5 club of Victoria these says these cars are worth 15 k here more than NC

[@PyroPlays]

Great review! How does it compare to the NC you drove a while ago? More sensation of speed? Thanks 👍

[@JJonCars]

If I can remember, Id say yes, a bit more sensation of speed because it's less refined, a little more raw. It's lighter and handles that little bit better. But I love the NC and the foldable hard top really turns it into an everyday car that's still really great to drive. If it's out and out fun you want, the NB wins.

[@PyroPlays]

@@JJonCars Thanks for the input! The NC would definitely make a great daily driver. NB looks like a hoot to drive though 😅

[@ajpdaniels]

Without getting into the rights and wrongs of it, in London and some other places, you don't get ULEZ charge on NC on. I also like the feeling of security you get with airbags and better safety. How much that helps if I'm hit by a 2 tonne SUV is debatable though.

[@PyroPlays]

@@ajpdaniels Good to hear about that some of them are ulez free. Definitely agree on the safety aspect, for me it's either daily an NC, or an NA/NB for the weekends 😅

[@ajpdaniels]

@@PyroPlays I'd love to try an NA/B for the difference. And a D for that matter!

[@markw8139]

Everyone said “buy the 1.8” when I was looking..Well when you know how to get the best out of this car the 1.6 is good enough. Most people these days have no idea how to get the best out of an engine. You’ve got to get it past 5000 Revs and it just sings..I’ve noticed it handles better than the MK1 I had and is much nicer to drive long distances and weirdly (no idea why) having the soft top up doesn’t detract from the drive. Mines lowered on HnR springs and black powder coat the 16” wheels it looks beautiful car..Get the rust spots handled and it’s simply awesome

[@JJonCars]

The MX5 isn't about out-and-out speed so the 1.6 can be lots of fun :) sounds like a nice car 👌

[@JoMammaSmurf]

A clean example of these go for 7-10 grand all day here in America. I was luck to score my 99 NB for 2k due to special circumstances.

[@JJonCars]

Wow, great deal then!

[@jbradshaw4236]

I think the 1st generation with the pop up lights are still the best. They were tremendous.

[@JJonCars]

Pop up headlights are super cool for sure. The 1st gen is the only one left I've not filmed with :)

[@Dinglezz]

In white 👌

[@JahoSelamaj]

I really, really love the body lines of the NB it looks just perfect all these sexy curves like a baby viper truly one of my favourite MX-5 designs

[@JJonCars]

Yeah definitely, I'd never really noticed the flowing lines of this car. If you look the NA or NC, they are quite straight edged compared to this curvy car

[@dariuszcalkowski6208]

I loved mine but it was made of rust and a few bits of metal. Still would swap my type R for one (with a K swap of course) ;-)

[@JJonCars]

Situation normal :D

[@dha588]

My steering is not heavy on my nb2. Anyone else?

[@mhtsos7.]

How much did it cost

[@vincenzobilottisl7598]

That’s the NBFL right?

[@JJonCars]

It is 👍

[@CurtF94]

I’m 6’2” I’m sure I will fit,perfect he said about the owner. I’m same height just 10 kilos lighter

[@JJonCars]

I knew that would help some people :) One thing to note, you'll probably have to take the sunvisors off as they'll be right in your line of view even when they're closed lol

[@CurtF94]

@@JJonCars lol I’ve only ever had small cars,I’ve had a fiesta,a panda,a corsa and a focus. But yeah I know what you’re saying I never once used the sun visor in my panda the roof itself done that job 😂

[@JJonCars]

@@CurtF94 😂

[@dowster64]

1.8l ? Ithought all the NBs were 1.8 and the NA was 1.6l. I suppose it be related to the market it was sold in.

[@JJonCars]

Must be as they definitely sold 1.6 and 1.8 here in the UK

[@just_passing_through]

The NB came in both 1.6, and 1.8. Mazda Australia, for example only ever imported the 1.8 variant, but the UK sold both variants.

[@Phosphor_Sco]

If you want to prevent rust, just use a hard top

[@jameshayes1024]

Looks great except for those oversized ugly UK license plates.

[@JJonCars]

yeah, we do have annoyingly enormous plates with enormous font, ah well

[@JeremySayers38]

what no one mentions is the handbrake to gearstick position, only car where the handbrake is beside the gear lever. it is a great ergonomics and the gear stick is closer to you than the handbrake. I used to rest my hand on the handbrake and gear stick at the same time. Name another car that has that the handbrake in that position.

[@just_passing_through]

My 1978 Holden (Isuzu) Gemini had the handbrake in exactly the same position as my NBFL.