A few years later I decided it was my turn to own one. Test drove many NAs and ended up in a white '90 NA6 with a much younger NA8 motor in it.
It had a wood steering wheel, leather seats, a short shifter, & coilovers with super heavy spring rates. The paint was starting to chip off like they do.
This was the first car I'd owned that I really became attached to. But after only 1 month of ownership some guy in a BMW X5 rear ended me when I stopped suddenly to avoid a kid's ball bouncing across the road. My head hit the chrome oversized style bar, and it was a write off.
I was pretty sad about losing it. I had to have another one so I found a blue 2000 NB8B, older lady owner, 68,000kms, immaculate interior.
I loved the feedback through the steering wheel & how refined it felt. The stock split speakers with a decent Alpine headunit put out an impressive sound. It had an exhaust note that was subtle but very noticeable.
I didn't like the notchy 6 speed, it didn't feel solid like the NA's shifter did. I tried a short shifter kit from IL motorsports but this didn't help & I put the stock shifter back in.
I kept it stock apart from a HID kit. Craving more horsepower and something to better support my newly single lifestyle, I sold it to my parents to buy a 1999 RX7. They still have the NB8B today.
After owning a 220rwkw single turbo RX7 for a year, having served it's purpose, it was time to buy a more reliable & less stressful Mazda. Maybe one without a turbo rotary engine this time. MX5s are better anyway.
I bought a silver 2006 NC1 from a Mazda dealer.
I probably paid a bit too much, but I had an NC, with low kms and in good condition.
Shame it didn't have that exhaust note to make it feel fun, but at least these cars are fairly quick with plenty of torque. I admit the Bose system was just crap but I didn't bother doing a bosectomy.
After only 6 months worth of repayments I decided that since I walk to work it was a waste to have a more expensive car and I could save a lot of money having a 'fun' NA again.
Before I sold my NC I found an NA I had to grab, and holy sh*t was it was fun.
Another white '91, resprayed, 233,000kms, with air but no power steering, tein coilovers, whiteline sways, light flywheel, full exhaust, watanabes, GV front lip, LSD, etc.. I could finally pay tribute to the first MX5 I fell for, the white '90 that was written off, except this one was 1000x better.
I put a wood wheel, gear knob, & handbrake into it so it felt like the first NA I had. Every time I drove this car was a memorable experience. I'm now certain that handling is always more fun than horse power. I wanted to keep it forever.. But I was having trouble selling the NC I still had to be able to complete the downgrade.
After 6 months of almost no interest in the NC I still had for sale, I decided I couldn't keep both forever and no longer cared which I ended up keeping.
I put my perfect NA up for sale. And of course the NA sold in no time, to someone on this forum.
Then just 24hrs later the NC also sold and it was taken to Cairns by the new owner.
Instead of keeping the NC after the NA sold, I let them both go so that I could start fresh, find my 5th MX5, and end up with a cheaper car.
Then I found it. Too good to be true. A black (read: awesome) 2000 NB1. The only major MX5 model I hadn't owned yet.
Refined handling like my NB8B had (and with those same great speakers).
The same '99-'00 Nardi steering wheel as my RX7. The same incredible 5 speed box as my previous NAs.
Half the cost of the NC with less kms and better condition all around than any other car I've owned to date. 50,000km & Immaculate.
Apart from gold BBS wheels & tinted windows, it's stock.
I test drove it and it drives like new, it feels like the gearbox has done about 10kms.
Owned by a middle aged electrical engineer as a weekend car. Perfect. Acquired.
First mods:
- Installed the wood gear knob & handbrake I kept from the NA. This has become a tradition.
- Removed all 4 mud guards. They ruin the lines of the car. Another tradition.
- Spent 3-4 days removing the gold stick on '3D' dash kit. Very ugly. Didn't break or scratch anything but my fingers are sore and my car smells like eucalyptus.
Current mods in the works:
- Needs an exhaust note like the NB8B & recent NA had. Purchased x-Force rear muffler from Mania. $420. Arrives tomorrow.
- Needs keyless entry like every other car I've owned had. Purchased a remote keyless entry kit, $50. installing on tuesday.
- Needs less lofty suspension and a lower ride height to suit the BBS wheels. Purchased FM V-Maxx classic coilovers. $685.
- Front end is a bit timid looking. Contacted Tetsuya garage for a GV lip, which is the same style lip that my recent NA & my RX7 had. $265.
- Purchased another stick on dash kit to cover the glue stains on the trim from the stick on dash kit I just removed. Piano black to match the exterior, and same piano black as the dash on the NC I had. $150
- Purchased wiring harnesses mazda > ISO > Pioneer to do a proper install of my near new Pioneer headunit which I also kept from the recent NA. Should arrive tomorrow. $30
Soon:
- Thinking about taking the headlights apart and painting the chrome surround in black hi temp. Maybe not.
- Trying to find a good site for custom shift & handbrake boots to match the NB1 navy blue dash cluster, cant be bothered making some.
- Looking for NB8B seats for more support.
- Looking for an 01+ window switch for the auto down feature.
Thought of this before but was a bit apprehensive of how the 4" tip would look, but it doesn't look that menacing at all 
