mx5cartalk.com

So in the episode just recently aired (S22E07) Richard had a drive - and well, I gotta say, I want one. Not enough to sell the old NA but if it were written off, I'd definitely be looking in the direction of my favourite Mazda dealer.

I don't think I'd go for the 1.5, but a 2.0L seems like it'd be the go.

I'm the opposite. After seeing the car in motion, I no longer like the look of it.

Was interesting to see that even Hammonds head was above the headrest in the NA.


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Here's the video for anyone that hasn't seen it:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=816470771756818

Typical topgear really, lots of noise, pretty lights and hyperbole to get the simpletons excited.

Did you miss the bit where he talked about the car, how it drove, what the features were and how it compared to previous incarnations?

Perfect road for an MX5!

Hamster doesn't like the headlights either - glad it's not just me. First mod is to retrofit NB8C headlights into it.

0-100km/h in about 9 secs. hmmmm

Hamster also commented that the NA's 5-speed gearbox is one of the 5 best in the past 25 years.
While some of us complain about the new car's performance being similar, we should also lament the fact that none of the subsequent Aisin 6-speed gearboxes are even close to the NA's 25 year old 5-speed gearbox.

right up to 2000 model NB8A series ones have the same 5sp box ..... I think they lightened the fly wheel somewhere in the mid 90's but I could be wrong....

Flywheel went heavy with the na8 and slimmed down slightly each model after that I believe.

The 5 speed itself was just a repurposed 626 box!


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seems like a decent car but the front/looks doesn't sell it to me.. looks like someone drove it into the back of another car, the way the bonnet & front quarter section flares are shaped..

Didn't go around the track...

sailaholic wrote:The 5 speed itself was just a repurposed 626 box!

I remember reading that the MX5 box was a parts bin one, but I always thought it was from the 929 (granted, that never really made sense since the 929 was auto only here in Aust... myabe Japan got manuals?)

Although, I do remember the box in my CB2 626 felt pretty sharp (tiny gearknob and a long bent chrome stick)

hks_kansei wrote:

sailaholic wrote:The 5 speed itself was just a repurposed 626 box!

I remember reading that the MX5 box was a parts bin one, but I always thought it was from the 929...

It was from the 929.

There you go, wonder if what I read was wrong, or if the same box was used it both? I understand it's also very similar to the rx7 box.


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sailaholic wrote:There you go, wonder if what I read was wrong, or if the same box was used it both? I understand it's also very similar to the rx7 box.

I wouldnt be surprised if it was used in both.

The early 929 and 626 both shared the MA block, so probably shared the gearbox too. Granted, the 626 was only RWD up until 1982.

The 929 stayed RWD for it's life, but as far as I know it was only Auto (who knows about Japan though)


And yeah, the early 626 (CB series) shared bits with the SA RX7, and since the HD (I think that was the code?) 929 was available in Japan with a rotary it probably shared a lot too.


Worth noting though that the CB 626 box was a 4 speed until the CB2, when an extension housing was added to house 5th. So maybe it wasn't the source of the MX5 box? (I doubt Mazda would have re-tooled to go to a 1 piece housing just for the MX5)

edit:
actually, looking at the MX5 box it may not be that different after all.
I can't find any pics of the rwd 626 box though, and can't remember it well enough to say for sure.