2006 Mazda Mx-5 Grand Touring Review - Why People HATE The NC Miata (But They Shouldn't!) 

The fact that people are complaining about a 100 pound weight gain is just absurd. It’s a much more safe and substantial car than the tin cans it replaced

Mazda has never made a bad Miata. Mazda has never really made a bad sports car. Even their regular cars have an element of sportiness about them. Mazda has made themselves the Japanese brand with the driving experience, like Subaru's brand is adventurism, Honda and Toyota are old reliable something for everyone, and Mitsubishi is... cheap and used to be sort of great. Unlike GM and Saab, Ford and Mazda (and Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover and Volvo) worked out well for everyone.

I just bought one today and I'm in love with the NC! it's design isn't for everyone but I like the flared fenders and love how it drives!! incredible first "sports car" especially with how cheap they are compared the NA! anyone looking for a cheap sports car should consider the NC

I love the NC Miata. I didn't realize people hated it until you mentioned it in your club review. It's fine

I just bought a 07 NC1 PRHT as my first car. I haven't driven since I passed my test 2 1/2 years ago and even when I drive now, its still quite daunting but when I do make good shifts or take a corner well, the car feels amazing, the steering is so responsive as well. I'm still trying to gain experience and it is scary but everytime I come back from a drive, I look back and I actually enjoyed it so much. Such an awesome car.

Just drove mine and my wife’s first today and it’s a blast to drive punchy enough that I can have fun and she doesn’t feel unsafe also whipping it around, I personally really dig it. Might consider buying her one lol.

I own a NA, and 3 years ago I brought an NC. Those people have no clue that the NC and its price is head and shoulders compared to most cars, period. When they drive one, they will never comment again against. They talk without experience. Miata is the best selling, and one of the most fun cars to drive. A koolaide smile is guarented with ever miata purchase

The styling of the front of the nc1 is far better than all of the other laughing clown fronts that replaced this first itineration. I own a six-speed manual 2007 and a 1995 5 speed na. Hard to decide which one I like more. I could not disagree more with some of your opinions on this car. I don't find The styling offensive at all. I have a dark green metallic and it gets compliments everywhere I go. Nobody knows what it is and from behind the wheel it does go like mad. And this comes from a person who owns the beloved first generation, so I guess I'm not a snob

The only people that hate Miata’s have never driven one 😎👍👍

It's safer in a crash because it's based on the rx8 platform also for me it has the best gearbox feel

It’s funny this is my favorite looking Miata, favorite Gen too

I love the looks of this variant, love the simplicty of its looks. Sill looks modern today

The car is a lot better looking in real life than on videos or pictures. On image it always looks taller and thinner than it really is, in reality it's quite wide for its size and very sleek, the headlights don't look that goofy, the tail lights are incredibly good looking, and the interior feels amazing to be in.

I love my NC 2006 I can attack a corner like a mad man (past my comfort zone) 50 mile an hour around a 25 mile an hour curve ! love the shift paddles

I really like that Ford designers work

2012 NC2 PRHT GT in Black with light FM wheels/lugnuts, light MisterR suspension, FM Lightened Flywheel, and Stage 1 clutch. Her paint is not the prettiest but she's the best car I have ever driven.

Whoa this is my car, but in left hand drive. I've got a Blue 06 in Australia. I drove some good NAs in 2019, skipped the NBs and checked out NCs just in case. So glad I did. I fitted neatly in an NC and realized it was a legit daily car for the same dollars as a good NA. Never expected the NC, but zero regrets since. None. Oz only got one, pretty high spec so all the switches do something. Wish there was an ABS kill switch though. The car is stronger and the engine better overall but it ain't the rev-happy Astina 1.6 in the NA... which I miss. The soft top is sweet and what Mazda wanted for the NA but ran out of budget. I had flooded floors early on though because of the rear drains (need regular clearing with a trombone brush) and the plug/cover issue under the wipers. But these cars have an amazing amount of love and info online. And every issue is an opportunity to upgrade. I paid $9K AUD for mine which was cheap - 200KM on it but came with a warranty. I expected a 20K total over 5 years due to improving while maintaining. It's 15K at 3 years after installing coil overs and replacing the engine and and clutch. It's so interesting to see what has worn, what's been ignored etc in my car, plus the snow thing. Overall this one is in much better interior nick by far. There is grime around the edges but it's been driven by kinder, lighter people than me :-). That engine bay was a shock though and seeing the rust and degradation underneath... damn. I would want hot water sprinklers to blast the undersides of my car if I lived there. Oversharing time: I'm 47 and have driven shitboxes that I ran into the ground most of my life. It's the cheapest way to fly baby! My secondhand 07 Subaru forester in 2013 was the first car I learned to spend the time on and it made me realize that a popular car in some niches is worth seriously looking after. I've still got it at 320KM and it purrs. It's been fun fixing stuff and messing around while watching vids, phoning people etc. And owning two manual cars with better than new performance and high expectations is cheaper than one new car.

8X Car and Driver Top 10 -- more than any other Miata generation.

I think it has a good design

Lower it, stiffen it, add tires. Drive it. I used to wish my NC would feel like my NA. Now exactly the opposite.

I bought a 2006 NC Grand Touring in 2018 with 40,000 miles for $4,000 and it's the best 4 grand I ever spent on a car. It's an automatic but with a few performance upgrades it's right up there with the standard in HP. Personally I think it is the best looking MX5 especially since I lowered mine.

Looks are subjective and personally I love the look of the NC and the added bit of cabin space is no bad thing for those of us built for comfort over speed. I used to look after Mazda UK press fleet and drove brand new NA's every day, so have always had a love for all MX5 and my NC cost less than some people spend on a set of tyres for their Mercedes. The only changes I'd make are coilovers (MeisterR) and some slightly larger wheels/tyres, although I prefer not to have too much more grip on the rear. Oh and junk the exhaust manifold for a 4 branch! Even a cheap Ebay item will liberate a chunk of power, especially if you add cams and a remap.

I don't hate the nc, in fact I love it so much I brought one, oh and I think it's looks are stunning. What a sports car. Drive one and you will know what nc owners know. Brilliant car... oh and I 6 feet tall, fits me like a glove... john

Very nice

Nice little cars. Used to be common in Ireland

The NC1 is literally NA styling with integrated headlights and fender flares. But I agree, it's my least favorite of the NC styles. I think Mazda finally dialed it in with the NC3. This gen has the highest performance capabilities with the robust trans and MZR engine which is a huge selling point people overlook.

Own na, nb, and now an Nc. I am favorable to the increased interior space. I think the Nc w 6 spd is more fun just do to the slight power increase.

1:14 Mazda did that in the 2000's. Give you less power for getting the automatic transmission. They did the same thing with the RX-8. And 5:14 the same style of key the RX-8 used. I don't know if all their cars used that type of key, or it was just for the sports cars.

This is actually my favorite gen!

Is that Mercedes SUV coming out on Friday?

Watching this in my mazda3 gt with bose speakers

I love these things

Bubbly but not in a bad way imo

200th Like for the NC !!!!

Do you have an ND review?

nc prettiest miata

I hate doing this but first for the one's who like saying this

no pulls and giggles??

i dont hate it , its just ugly to me/doesnt fit into my cuteness of mx5s

If Mazda listened to the purists the car would have appeal to only a limited customer base. The NC appeals to a much wider customer base, and I would call that good marketing.

Wow so the guy who designed the NC also designed mostly ugly cars, yuck

The design is kind of soulless idk any other way to put it, probably really fun to drive though

Doesn't look anything like those Fords. More like the RX-8. Quite a stretch for the tangent.

The Mazda Miata MX-5 is an incomparable car. What does that mean you say? It means it is not to be compared to anything. It stands alone. It is an experience. It is an effort to provide a joy to the driver. If you start comparing it to other cars, you have already missed the point.

Mazda without shitty ford interfering is insane like the 2.0 L mazdaprotegerspeed is insane the 2,3 is trash because its a ford and known to be unreliable, sad :(

Shhhh!!! This is the heaviest POS ever don't buy

I have an 06....I lovvvve driving it, I'm 54...and it is the most reliable, and FUN car I've ever owned, it's my everyday driver in the summer/nice weather months, I actually get a little depressed when the middle of October hits...I drive a Jeep in the winter, so, I shouldn't complain, it's also fun/reliable, but nothing compares to my MX-5 💕❤️🪄