Can it really be 15 years since the Mk3 Mazda MX-5 was launched? Well yes, it can, proving that time really does fly when horse and rider are one. Or having fun - one or the other, certainly. In fact, it's been so long since the launch that possibly it has been forgotten that the first Mk3s weren't received all that well. The usual gripes were mentioned about comfier this and more accommodating that, but the NC was also criticised for just being, well, not all that to drive. One review mentioned "an ultra-darty front confusing a squidgy rear", another the "glutinous resistance" of the hydraulic steering - it wasn't the auspicious start many were hoping for.
A 2009 facelift addressed many of the MX-5's problems, though, and by the end of its life the Mk3 was praised and welcomed like one of the family again. Moreover, by that time the really special versions had come along, making the most of an improved platform: there was the Jota GT special notable for fitting individual throttle bodies to an MX-5 from the showroom, and the GT270 kit from BBR showing once again what forced induction could do for Mazda's roadster.
There was another route to big power in an NC MX-5, however: supercharging. It's hard to know without direct experience, though it's easy to imagine a supercharger suiting the MX-5 experience even better than a turbo, with any lag eliminated and an even greater sense of immediacy to the additional power.
BBR launched an NC supercharger kit in 2012, boosting power and torque on a 2.0-litre car to 260hp and 208lb ft respectively - 100hp and 69lb ft up on standard. With 'charger, Cosworth designed inlet manifold, new injectors and an intercooler fitted, the BBR work was fairly substantial, making the £6k+VAT a big investment for a buyer who'd just bought a MX-5 at £20,000 or so.
Thank goodness that a few people did. This 2012 MX-5 Kuro has been fitted with the supercharger kit, the first owner taking the plunge when the car was three years old and the current owner having kept it for the past two. In that time, it has covered just 40,000 miles, with the service history to back that up and an MOT until December. For £10,000, you're not going to go much faster.
Speaking of which, any prospective buyer might want to budget a little for some extra chassis upgrades; as far as can be told here, the Kuro is still standard outside of the engine bay. And while it came as standard with a limited-slip diff and Bilstein suspension, some money spent on kit like lowering springs would further enhance the experience. The stock look is a rare one for modified MX-5s, as is basing the project on an RC hardtop, so it would be silly to mess too much - but there is definitely room for improvement (mainly in that wheelarch gap).
Otherwise this MX-5 is exactly how you might hope it to be, with recent plugs, pads and fluids, spotless pearlescent white paint and what looks like a blemish-free interior. That said, nobody would be blamed for switching out those seats for some that are a) more supportive and b) more complementary of the colour scheme. The slightly grey-tinged white is never going to look all that clever with the paint.
Beyond that subjective point, the news is nearly entirely positive for the BBR'd car: modern and refined enough to be regularly used, potent enough to put a smile on your face and affordable enough not to be too precious about. The fact that this supercharged car is for sale at exactly the same money (to the pound!) as a standard NC with just 8,000 fewer miles shows what value there is on offer here.
Indeed, while the latest MX-5 improved the recipe yet again, the third-generation car is finally enjoying some recognition as the first two iterations rust away or become too valuable to use. In time it seems likely that a similar fate might afflict the Mk3, especially given its look so faithfully evokes the original - so move now and enjoy. 15 years will become 20 before you know it...
SPECIFICATION - MAZDA MX-5 NC
Engine: 1,999cc, four-cyl supercharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 160@7,000rpm (standard car)
Torque (lb ft): 139@5,000rpm (standard car)
MPG: 36.2
CO2: 181g/km
First registered: 2012
Recorded mileage: 40,000
Price new: c. £22k
Yours for: £10,495
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