Now that my NC is sold my mind was now in full overdrive to find its replacement
This is a weekend/track car for me so not something I was in any rush to buy, but I was very aware the market on cars like this takes a noticable shift upwards around Spring time
So wanted to try and get something at a reasonable price here in February
Initially I was looking at DC5 Integras, Honda S2000s and toying with the idea of possibly another NC MX5 which I could supercharge or that had already been supercharged
The more Hondas I looked at and the more research I did it became clear to me that regardless of how tidy an example you buy, DC5s and S2000s are 20 year old cars in most cases.
So regardless of their previous owners, they will need a significant amount of TLC (read £££) to be even close to as good as they were from factory
I then began thinking along the lines of, what is the modern day equivelant to an S20000?
Granted these ND MX5s don't quite have the firecracker under the bonnet like an F20C but the ND2s are notably improved, and rev out to 7500.
These cars also weigh in at about 1050kg - what other modern rear wheel drive 2 seat car can stake that claim?
And for any engine upgrades this platform is pretty well established, BBR over in Brackley have a kit to take them a 'claimed' 220hp and raise the limiter to 8000 rpm
Rumour is they are also working on a supercharger kit which would take these cars to 300hp!
I came across this car on a Sunday and just so happened to be over in England that week for work and was literally driving past the Village where the chap who was selling it lived - so the stars aligned and I did the deal then and there and went back a week later to collect
My initial impressions are very good, the car feels light and is very grippy - engine pulls a lot better than 180hp would suggest
The factory suspension (Bilstein dampers) and lowered springs do a decent job, only gripe is they feel a little unsettled to me even once up to speed
The Recaros, Rays Wheels and the brakes sold the car for me, and for a few grand more than a normal ND2 on the used market the 30th AE was a no-brainer for me - colour might not be to everyones taste mind but I do think it looks well in the flesh
Plans for the car initally are very simple, brake pads/lines/fluid and some Cup 2s and get it to the first track day I can
May go further from there but will get using it first
This is a weekend/track car for me so not something I was in any rush to buy, but I was very aware the market on cars like this takes a noticable shift upwards around Spring time
So wanted to try and get something at a reasonable price here in February
Initially I was looking at DC5 Integras, Honda S2000s and toying with the idea of possibly another NC MX5 which I could supercharge or that had already been supercharged
The more Hondas I looked at and the more research I did it became clear to me that regardless of how tidy an example you buy, DC5s and S2000s are 20 year old cars in most cases.
So regardless of their previous owners, they will need a significant amount of TLC (read £££) to be even close to as good as they were from factory
I then began thinking along the lines of, what is the modern day equivelant to an S20000?
Granted these ND MX5s don't quite have the firecracker under the bonnet like an F20C but the ND2s are notably improved, and rev out to 7500.
These cars also weigh in at about 1050kg - what other modern rear wheel drive 2 seat car can stake that claim?
And for any engine upgrades this platform is pretty well established, BBR over in Brackley have a kit to take them a 'claimed' 220hp and raise the limiter to 8000 rpm
Rumour is they are also working on a supercharger kit which would take these cars to 300hp!
I came across this car on a Sunday and just so happened to be over in England that week for work and was literally driving past the Village where the chap who was selling it lived - so the stars aligned and I did the deal then and there and went back a week later to collect
My initial impressions are very good, the car feels light and is very grippy - engine pulls a lot better than 180hp would suggest
The factory suspension (Bilstein dampers) and lowered springs do a decent job, only gripe is they feel a little unsettled to me even once up to speed
The Recaros, Rays Wheels and the brakes sold the car for me, and for a few grand more than a normal ND2 on the used market the 30th AE was a no-brainer for me - colour might not be to everyones taste mind but I do think it looks well in the flesh
Plans for the car initally are very simple, brake pads/lines/fluid and some Cup 2s and get it to the first track day I can
May go further from there but will get using it first
