1st Top Down Drive (for V8 petrol) with the roof down 

You my friend are a worthy driver of that car. Anyone with a soft top who doesn't drop the top at every opportunity should have the car confiscated never to be returned.

"I'm getting wet now..." it's just as easy to pull the roof back up as it is to put it down, whilst sat in the drivers seat. Reach backwards over your head whilst still facing forward, grab the leading edge of the roof, where the catches are, and then lift & pull forward.

Love the NA. Had all of them, but have had 4 NA's and they are by far the most fun. Especially the imported Eunos 1.8, without power steering! Subtly lowered, with Technomagnesium alloys and Yokohama rubber. The most fun car ever and you never had to use the brakes! Just point and squirt. I need another one back in my life, but at 59? Wife thinks I'm mad!😂😂😂

That rear suspension looks incredibly bouncy, even the roof is bouncing around! Around the 2:30 - 3 min mark. I recently had an mx5 with MaxPeedoRods coilovers on it and they were truly awful, had the same experience on any unsettled road. Maybe the newer ones are adjustable as mine had the old style orange ones.

Roof down completely changes the driving experience. It also masks any squeaks and rattles.😊

Ive got to say that i actually prefer the indicator and wiper switches the Japanese way around. Seems like thats how a right hand drive car should be. It allows you to steer, change gear and indicate all at the same time. I presume we have it the other way around because that's how its done in Europe despite the steering wheel being on the other side.

In New Zealand, where these are very popular (I have a 1990), a hard top will cost you $3000 (1500quid). The hard top would be great if parked outside or used a lot in winter, but if you plan to use mostly in summer months with the top down they are a bit of a faff. And when not on the car they are another awkward thing to store.

As the owner of a Triumph Stag for 7 years now, I can certainly attest to being a fan of the top down experience. You tend to feel more like you are part of the scenery as you see / feel / smell / hear more as you are moving along through the countryside. Rain is definitely not your friend and I have been caught at a set of traffic lights when we had a sudden cloudburst. It had been spitting a bit, but kindly waited until I had stopped before opening the taps and flooding the car, but at least I now understand why the Stag was not given velour seating. Putting the lid up on a Stag is slightly more involved than the Eunos / MX5, but not much - and it's amazing how quick one can get it done while under the influence of what feels like a water blaster on one's back and head! I've been caught at other times an can attest to the 40mph threshold between getting wet and not. However, with the Stag, when you get to 70mph, the spray off the rear tyres comes back between the seats with the wind funnelling and you need to have the "internal windscreen wiper" option fitted to the car to be able to see clearly through the front window. Gotta get one of those deflector thingies, but they are more expensive than what you mentioned for a hard top for the MX5, so it will be quite a while longer..... With the (optional) hard top on the beast, the Stag goes from an open top cruiser in summer to a comfortable V8 cruiser in winter (as we use no salt on the roads in New Zealand), so I can still drive it year round. I bet the MX5 hard top would be a lot easier to manoeuvre than the Stag's one though and probably not take two people to lift into place! Trust me - if you want more convincing of the open top experience, hold onto the car until summer and THEN go topless - the experience will be life-changing.

I remember years ago walking along the dual carriageway, wet day, freezing cold, probably January, and 4 convertibles went past in a row. Mercedes CLK, roof up. Audi A4, roof up. Then-new BMW 6 Series, roof up. At the rear, Saab 9-3, roof down. I felt like cheering the Saab on - One of those weirdly memorable moments. Like the Eunos! Definitely agree that's a car that should have the roof down at every opportunity - I particularly like driving at night with the roof down, on quiet roads. Happy New Year!

I absolutely loved my MX-5. It drove superbly and the sound from the exhaust when the top was down, going through a tunnel or road cutting was absolutely unique! A shame I had to sell mine due to it getting the dreaded 'car cancer' aka rust. 😢

Fitting a glass rear screen was one of the best mods I did to my MGF. Good to see that not all MX5s have their roofs glued shut 😂

There is a mod you can do to get the headlamps to pop up when you flash them. It involves fitting a capacitor, easy to find the info on YT.

I used to drive my MX5 in the winter on very cold, sunny days. Wear a hat and a fleece, put the heater on full and you stay warm and toasty

I've just come back from an hour pootling around in my 2001 mx5 in the glorious Australian sunshine. Everyone should drive one at least once just to feel the sheer fun of them.

Love the colour of that interior, it really sets the car off. Deep, deep shine to the bodywork too. Nice bit of red lining there with some slick short shift gear changes, looks like great fun😎. Never seen you look so happy, . Enjoy, you've spent far too long underneath cars with rust falling in your eyes!

fancy meeting you here! thanks so much for the shoutout 🙏 looked like a fun drive!

The joy of the MX5. I’m sorely tempted to get mine out for a blast now the salt’s been washed away.

As long as you can stay above 30mph there's no rain in a mk1. :) My Eunos has a hood from the mk2 (with glass) and a hardtop for winter months. Both are brilliant!

Never had one of any kind, but do remember reading a review that suggested the extra weight of the hard top negatively affected the balance of the car. Seems unlikely but it's a small light car and even as little as 30 kg at the highest point could have a noticeable pendulum effect.

Brilliant to see the Eunos out on the road, it certainly sounds amazing on the move and very rev happy. I need to experiance a MX5 one day!

Seeing this makes me miss my Midget a bit, always fun with the roof down! Transforms an ordinary drive in to something fun. As you've showed in this video, smiling all the way to the petrol station and back!

I quickly get used to the indicator on the English side, Suzuki Jeep’s and my Honda Camper are all set to UK side it’s when I get back in my daily I have to get used to foreign side again…although my MX5 was 1.8 manual and that is the best gearbox, mine was 5 speed and beautiful… that car doesn’t want an Auto-Box , I always drove mine with the hood down… so involving when out in the sticks, sounds and smells… everything 😮

Love the lean to Be amazing to have a garage extension there

They are fun, if you pull the hinged bar forward when you lower the roof (the one behind your head) the roof folds easier. A glass rear window does make a difference, then you have to find a heated rear loom with the right plug though.

Welcome to the top down club😊. Great to see you got the roof fully sheeted. Gutted I've not been able to have my traditional roofless drive at New Year in Mr Z this year, it's just been way too wet even though the roof only takes 9 secs. Not too good to drop a wet multi layer fabric roof folded for any time as the linings get damp too easily, can't imagine vinyl roof suffers the same. Roll on dryer times and can't wait to see you fit that turbo kit from the unit 😉.

Nothing beats a top down experience! We did Blackpool illuminations in mid November in our 986S. Heater on and took 2 and half hours to get down the front but it was lovely and warm! We weren't the only nutters, spotted three more convertibles with the top down 😅

Oh happy memories of my '90 MX5! Definitely best at night with roof down in summer driving through a heathland area getting all the gorse and heather smells wafting in! Enjoy, Matt and Mrs Furious! BTW - the original UK spec 7 spoke wheels really suit them - as does the original Momo steering wheel........

Is seven mile lane still good for a blast...my dad and his mate used to race (at legal speeds of course) in the early eighties, usually Scimitar SE6 against a Panther lima to either the George in Trotterscliffe or Sidcup fire station from Laddingford...happy memories.

We have an MX5 NB and imho they look better with the hard top , hardcore MX5er say that you should never drive with the the top up , no matter what the weather , they are so much fun to drive in the twistys .

Very nice to see you out and about, Matt! I think the hardtop might be a good investment, maybe plan to obtain one before next winter. From experience I know that leaving a convertible outside all year with only the soft top on is not too much fun. By the way, does it have a cover for the top? You also need to clean and impregnate the top if it's cloth and grease the frame with telfon based grease, to make sure it will last.

Nice video! The Kent section of the MX5 owners club has a lot of events on each year (car shows, pub meets, etc) 👍

MGF/TF roof works exactly the same... just sayin'. A tip. Get a length of foam pipe insulation. Place in the middle of the window if folding from outside the car. Stops creasing and potential chafing of the screen on itself.

Loved the way you weren't quite sure of the date! Just as it should be over the Christmas holidays. Great video for the start of the New Year! PS. "The Little Gem" was a favourite when I lived in Maidstone in the 70s and 80s. As you say, 3+ people and it was crowded out!

Get a decent 2nd hand MK2 Hood on frame, to get the glass rear window / mohair, straight swap. Tip, slacken the roof handle, fix a small strap, then you can hook a dog lead to it & much easier to get the roof back up if it starts raining

Mice one Matt! Oddly I feel a bit of a longing for an MX5 or something like it. I drove a couple back in the later 2000's and came very close to handing over the hard earned cash but circumstances were not right at the time. They still aren't due to ongoing health but who knows in the future hopefully when that is all sorted (fingers crossed, they keep finding things). Many thanks for sharing. I'd also like to get a cooking Caterham so I have time to think about it a tad longer.

Loved that. Glad it’s been so well looked after

Matt nothing new to driving topless in my household 🤔 my wife does it all the time even when not in convertible car 😂😂, she’s gonna kill me 😉👌🏻.

Great bit of open top driving, when dropping the roof you should unzip the window and lay it flat it stops it from creasing and cracking in the middle also big SUVs don't see us because they don't pay attention

Happy New Year and many fun rides like this one.

Got an MGtf a few weeks back. Love a topless car this time of year. Heaters on roof off. I’ll give you a wave if I see you about. 😂

Love my PRHT NC3. 180hp after light mods and tuning and it's all anyone really needs. if it's your only car like it is mine then i think it's the best of both worlds.

Sounds awesome accelerating m8 ...cool drive too ....👍

I think you’ve found a car that gives more than it takes

That tartan scarf looks like Bruichladdich (tartan) a whisy distillery on the Island of Islay

Had my Mk3 seven years now, still love it.

My late wife insisted that the roof be down on her Mini Cooper Convertible all year around, otherwise there would be no point in having a convertible. Never to be sold, it still holds true to this day, as this one's daily driver.

Nice that Adventures and Naps got a mention, as I subscribe to Alanna's channel. Can't imagine any possible colab though! It would be good to see you on fellow Kentishes salvage rebuilds uk or vice versa, I'm racking my brains and am sure you were on once way back, but I can't find the vid.

Good to see you enjoying your Eunos instead of spannering/welding. Good start to the new year. Also good to enjoy someone else hooning around in what to me is familiar territory.

I think it would be a good idea to always put the cover over the roof when you put it down as all that bouncing around it did may damage it. Not to mention it being ripped of by being grabbed by the wind when going at 60 plus into a strong headwind. At least she did not bottom out on the sleeping policemen so not too low but about right.

Will that be the vehicle of choice for the March car meet. Looking really good 😊👍

I'm glad the money spent on new suspension is becoming worth it it's a good looking car , I like the colour, my Volvo is nearly the same colour

That’s the best car on your fleet currently although I do really like the Rover P6 as the first cars left Solihull the year I was born and I still think that they look stylish from when Great Britain made really good cars.

I wanna get mine out but it costs 12.50 first thanks to a certain person who I cannot stand at all now

My mx 5 hood clips are knackered, so it's currently using zip ties to keep it shut now. I just discovered a broken shock absorber spring time to move on, I think

Never mind the roof down, its the new lean to i want to see. You won't be able to enjoy the sunburn or liquid sunshine this year when tinkering 😂

Makes me miss our old saab 9-3 convertible (with a very decadent electric roof,headed glass rear screen) Heated seats on, heater hot enough to know what bread feels like in a toaster,roof down in the freezing cold👍

Whenever I see a roof flipping off I think of The Graduate and Dustin Hoffman throwing the Alfa Romeo's back as he races to Elaine's wedding.

$ 300-400 for a hardtop for a Mx-5 would be a god send here in America!! How $1500-2500 is going rate her for one.

So jealous! My snake is still in the shed, untaxed, waiting till winter is over. I am one of the people 'Top down no matter what'. Unless there is hail. Hail hurts. :P

I remember going to Aylesford Priory when I was about four or five and we had tea with one of the Friars. I must ask Mum how that came about.

Is this the best driving car ever and lsee them atound but l often forget how small they are even the latest ones still small apart from the JDM Kei cars we get in Australia haven't seen many but the Eunos MX 5s are small

You need a litter picker to pull it back up when it rains 😂

Smallest pub in England is the Nutshell in Bury St. Edmunds

I think you needed that car, after the heart wrenching rust on the crown Vic.

Great little motor

Mx5 owners club kent meet at the Brookers Oast, Paddock Wood on the 4th Sunday of every month everyone is welcome.

300 quid for a hardtop? They are over $3k AUD here 😢 I'm sure alot more people optioned them in the UK due to the weather

I miss my 25th Anniversary NC

MR2 hardtops are 1300-1500, really pricey.

Adventure and naps was not expectiong to here that channel here. 😅 do a collab with her.

A Topless drive..... Ooo err Misses!!!! 😂😂😂

Did you say 9£ 70 for shell V power omg and I though V power here in the states was a crime @ $4.25 a gallon. Just wow

Is Shell V Power a sponsor? In the U.S. gasoline cans are red, green is diesel.

Should there be some way of clipping the folded-down roof to stop it jumping about?

Don't think there is much point in putting vpower in carb cars. That is assuming that vpower isnt none ethanol in your location, If it is none ethanol then you should definitely always put it in your carb cars.

brill drive out matt through Eccles ,Aylesford, long london road etc and beyond back home.

Good video Matt ⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍👏👏

Did u use the tea shelf?😊

Well from the land of the rising Sun I must I’ve driven a lot of jdm sports cars BUT never a Miata 😂 crazy huh perhaps I may try too haha thx Matt

Looks like a little frog with those headlamps up.hah😊

My uncle had one. But unfortunately they got in an accident

Do you still have the modern Mercedes estate?

Where are you in Kent?

Not the fastest. My na miata needs a 3/4 unzipping the glass rear window. Cos glass doesnt fould

Your not the first person matt to buy max speeding rods and find the coilovers don't actually lower the car 🤣

Haven’t you got a Gulf Fuel Station near you ? Their full fat petrol is the dog's…….

I do follow Adventures & Naps put I was put out by her video about Christmas cake and pudding. She acted like it was poison!

Two words……’Eaton Supercharger.’

When’s the next video? Need some more Eunos videos!

open top driving is the only way - you don't need speed

Open top sports car tours of places. Now theres an idea for a YT channel

I thought that mx5 had a v8 for sec 😅

You should always unzip the back screen and lie it flat then fold the roof down

Is Furious Jnr now demanding to be picked up in the Eunos every day !?

talk about clickbait i waited all the way threw and still no rover

Furious junior wasn't enjoying the drive? looked like he just stared at a phone

👌👌👌👌

Shell sells children now?

Hope your Missus doesn't see this, you'll never get to drive it!

Yipee i'm 45h