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JoeyD's MX5 NC Recaro



Afternoon chaps.
A couple of weeks ago, a few of you may know, I let go of my ITB'd MK1 in the pursuit of something a bit more modern.

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It was a hell of a lot of fun, but in reality it just didn't fit what I wanted to own, and when I added up some sums on a newer car it just made sense to go for it.

The car I've replaced it with is a little bit special. It's not one of the original Recaro cars (of which there were 29 black and 1 white one) - they were all 2013 models. This one, I believe, was destined to be a Jota car but never got converted due to the lack of demand for them. From what I've read on the web, there were around 18 Recaro cars sold in 2014 bringing the total to 48. I'm not 100% on this info, so feel free to tell me I'm wrong! Either way, it's a pretty rare car. It's had one owner since new and covered just over 6,500 miles. And I'm pretty certain it's been up for sale for quite a long time too.. Not really sure why to be honest as it's in fantastic condition.

So yesterday, me and Seb set off on a 470mile round trip to pick this thing up. It was actually a perfect day for it, nice and sunny and I had the roof down for about 3 hours on the motorway home. It's a very different drive to the MK1, engine feels like it's got a hell of a lot of torque low down and it pulls right up to the limiter. It's not the fastest thing in the world, but it's definitely enough to have fun! That being said, an ND will leave it for dead for sure. Suspension is typical Bilstein MX5 - never really happy. It's kind of bumpy and it's kind of soft and I don't really know whether Mazda tried to make it sporty or comfortable, but they've not really achieved either. But everyone knows this already! And there's nowhere near as much body roll as a standard ND, so that's a bonus.

One thing I was slightly disappointed in was the road/tyre noise. It doesn't half make a racket on a less than perfect road surface! I imagine that's a combination of the tyres and the PRHT. Never mind, it'll end up being drowned out by an exhaust no doubt!

The seats... Well, they sit you around the same height as regular NC seats from what I can remember when I was last in one. But the bolsters are massive, very supportive. And the heated elements in them are fantastic - they really do burn your arse! Seem of good quality - but I'm going to have to be extra careful getting in and out as I know newer Recaros have issues with bolsters splitting etc.

All in all, I'm very happy with it at the moment. I've already added a Stubby aerial from Moss, blank number plates and I've got a HID kit waiting to go on. After that I'm not really sure. I'll perhaps look into a power package of some form and look at sorting the super high suspension. But for now I think I'm just going to enjoy it!

Here are some (rather gloomy) pictures:

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Going well thanks Toby mate, how are you?

After 5 MK1's it was time for a little bit of a change (plus it was kinda broken)! Keep eyeing up BBR's website... Must... resist...
 
You'd think so wouldn't you! But it's weird... Might be because I haven't been in the MK1 since the end of last year and I've forgotten how loud that was, but it's really, really noisy inside the white car. Seems like loads of tyre noise which is probably made worse by the solid roof which seems to echo it. Going to slap some Michelin PS4's on once I've worn these Bridgestones down I think, not going to put silly trackday tyres on again like the MK1 - they really ruin the fun!
 
That looks fab! We changed our NA to an NC last yr. The NC feels like a softer, grown up NA. We now have lowering springs and custom exhaust on it which has changed the characteristics for the better. I love it.
 

Waitey

ClioSport Club Member
  Alpina D3, AC Cobra
Goodyear eagle f1 asymmetrics are the quietest on the market mate. Try those.
 
That looks fab! We changed our NA to an NC last yr. The NC feels like a softer, grown up NA. We now have lowering springs and custom exhaust on it which has changed the characteristics for the better. I love it.

Yeah, it'll be getting some goodies at some point. I've been in one with a manifold and exhaust and it sounded fantastic - way better than the ND with similar mods.

Goodyear eagle f1 asymmetrics are the quietest on the market mate. Try those.

Oooo I'll give them a go. Yet to try them, but always hear good things.

Also, I feel I should point out the paint isn't just flat white, it's pearly. I wasn't overly keen on the colour combo at first, but it's stunning IRL

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welshname

ClioSport Club Member
Looks lovely Jerrr. What engine is in these? I really don't have a clue when it comes to MX5's. Those recaros are lovely btw, and the recaro's that have dodgy bolsters are the Sportster CS which is in the Mk3 Clio, and it's only the cloth ones tbh.
 

Euan94

ClioSport Club Member
  Volvo C30
Looks very nice, do you just leave your camera in the same place and take your cars to it? I don't think I've ever seen a picture in a different location haha.

BBR do a turbo for these don't they?
 
Looks lovely Jerrr. What engine is in these? I really don't have a clue when it comes to MX5's. Those recaros are lovely btw, and the recaro's that have dodgy bolsters are the Sportster CS which is in the Mk3 Clio, and it's only the cloth ones tbh.

Thanks love! Snap on your Clio, Cup spoiler actually suits it in your pictures you know... no idea how 😂
It's a very similar engine to the old Fiesta ST. 2.0 nasp, around 160hp, 7200rpm limiter and a smidge over 1100kg with the solid roof. Cams, remap and exhaust manifold will see 200hp so that'll be the first step I reckon. Then it's either BBR ITB's, or whack a turbo on for 270/300hp. Both are similarly priced so we'll see what the future holds!


Looks very nice, do you just leave your camera in the same place and take your cars to it? I don't think I've ever seen a picture in a different location haha.

BBR do a turbo for these don't they?

I don't know what you're talking about...

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They do indeed. £5k though, and the manifolds have been known to crack on track. Blink motorsport have started doing TDR kits from America which are supposedly much more reliable, so that's probably where my money would be going!
 

Euan94

ClioSport Club Member
  Volvo C30
I don't know what you're talking about...

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They do indeed. £5k though, and the manifolds have been known to crack on track. Blink motorsport have started doing TDR kits from America which are supposedly much more reliable, so that's probably where my money would be going!

I'm properly laughing here, that's even better than I'd thought it would be.

Yeah I saw Roddisons had some issues with them, to be fair they only need 200hp to make them perfect from what I hear.
 
  Turbo'd MX-5 MK4
Love it, i run Goodyear Asymmetrics on mine as it generates a lot of tyre noise due to the width of the tyres, the Goodyears are easily the best i've used (previously Continentals which are awful and Dunlops which were significantly better but the Goodyears are better still).
 
ND is the new angry looking one, mines NC, the MK1's were NA.
But yeah thanks Scott! I'm so weary of making it too much of a yob and ending up hating it, going to take my time with any mods - don't want to f**k it up! Lol!
 

Knuckles

ClioSport Admin
ND is the new angry looking one, mines NC, the MK1's were NA.
But yeah thanks Scott! I'm so weary of making it too much of a yob and ending up hating it, going to take my time with any mods - don't want to f**k it up! Lol!

Every day is a school day.

What happened to nb? Is that the mk1 facelift?

I'm sure you'll be reet.

You must be hella well read on mx5s now to know what works and what doesn't :D
 
  Swift Sport
...NA - Mk1, NB - Mk2 etc.

Looks great that does dude, so much better than the first Mk3's! I wonder if the Ford Mountune engine mods fit these?
 
Every day is a school day.

What happened to nb? Is that the mk1 facelift?

I'm sure you'll be reet.

You must be hella well read on mx5s now to know what works and what doesn't :D

As above, NB is MK2 - the one that @Goodj owns. Although his is the facelift so it's NBFL, or MK2.5... Mines technically Mk3.75 or NC3 because second facelift. It's a minefield TBH!

But yeah, I think this is my 6th MX5 now, and the only one that's not been a MK1. I don't like too much change... Haha

...NA - Mk1, NB - Mk2 etc.

Looks great that does dude, so much better than the first Mk3's! I wonder if the Ford Mountune engine mods fit these?

Yeah the original MK3's really don't look great in hindsight do they!
I've not actually read of anyone managing that, I think everyone just sticks to BBR, Rodders or Blink Motorsport tbh. They all offer some form of warranty on upgrades so makes sense I guess!
 
Yes! The TDR one from America - that's exactly what I'd be buying if I needed some boost in my life. (If I could afford it!)
Supposedly stronger/more reliable than the BBR kit isn't it.
 
Went for a bit of a drive today over Snake Pass & then onto the Cat & Fiddle. S**t the bed this thing's impressive! Very neutral, and silly levels of grip - you've got to be a proper idiot to get it out of shape on the road. Only criticism might be that it's lacking a little in power at the very top end. It's not really rewarding to rev it out to the limiter, although it's more than willing unlike the MK1 engines which always felt really rough and a bit wheezy. I suspect this is easily sorted with a manifold and remap, but I'm more than happy with it for now! The chassis is great once you get used to the body roll; it's great fun throwing it around.

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welshname

ClioSport Club Member
You made the right choice going that way. I headed out over dovestones today. RAMMED! I went straight on instead of heading to meltham and turned round at the huntsman as it was a waste of time. Took me 20 minutes to get back to dovestones!
 
Yeah I had a look on maps and it was all just red! Started going for walks round there on Sundays but it just attracts the whole world when the weather's nice, so went for a drive instead!
 

welshname

ClioSport Club Member
Yeah I had a look on maps and it was all just red! Started going for walks round there on Sundays but it just attracts the whole world when the weather's nice, so went for a drive instead!

I figured with it being derby day it would be dead. Sadly not :'(

Just noticed how small those exhaust tips are...I hope they don't stay that way ;)
 
Nearly 1,000 miles in and I'm still loving it!
Not really done anything to it other than add a couple of LED bulbs here and there. Averaged roughly 32mpg and that includes a good few miles of kicking its head in! Well impressed so far.
Only real gripes are the suspension which is typical Mazda/Bilstein soft yet crashy, and the tyres which aren't really very good at anything. They're noisy, feel quite spongy and vague, that said they are reasonably grippy. I've had the brakes quite hot too, so maybe some performance pads and uprated fluid would be a good idea. I'm not in a rush to go crazy with it yet anyway, I'm really rather enjoying it tbh!

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