Faults:

CD player has stopped working.

Idle and tensioner pulleys became noisy around 2000 RPM; self replaced, an easy job.

General Comments:

The 1.8 engine feels underpowered, but can be taken to high RPM. Handling is very good, great with the (hardtop) roof down.

Fitted Continental Contact Premium 2 tyres - not sure if that was the best choice.

Apart from the CD player fault and noisy pulleys - has been totally reliable.

Would consider buying another, but only with a 2 litre engine.

Stormy blue pearlescent paint looks good, but chips very easily.

Faults:

Nowt.

General Comments:

Like me, many owners will be changing from MK2 (NB) MX5 to a MK3 (NC) MX5. So what will you like and what will you dislike?

I changed from 1.8 Sport Mk2 up to a 1.8 option pack NC.

Well for starters, I do not find any noticeable difference in performance between a 1.8 NB and 1.8 NC, honestly!

I hear the 2.0L is very fast, but if you go from a 1.8 you won't find much difference. 9.9 secs 0-60 is much less in real life. I'm looking at around 8.0 secs, which isn't bad as the old MX5 was 7.9 secs.

The NC is much plusher inside and feels a quality motor. I went for smaller wheels (16's) and standard suspension. It is great and not a problem at all. Where I live, there are lots of potholes, so this is so much nicer than the very solid 1.8 Sport.

I also do not miss the limited slip diff. The 1.8 still goes round corners well and delivers almost 40 MPG as standard, which is vital these days with UK petrol at £1.40/litre.

The downside is the looks. The MK3 is not a pretty car, not as curvy as the 1.8 Sport Mk2 - I really rated that car for its looks. At some angles it was very TVR or Jag XKR, which wasn't a bad thing. And MK3 is a bit of a throw back to straighter lines.

The cabin feels a bit more cramped, and the wheel feels a bit bigger than my old Nardi, but nothing major.

So if you have a 1.8 Mk2 - a 1.8 Mk3 is a good choice. Its mid range pull is perfectly adequate, unless you're racing on a track. Speed these days is pretty pointless if we all get stuck behind trucks.