On Saturday, I went to see the new Mazda Roadster (NC) at an invitation only event in Yokohama. I signed a non-disclosure agreement not to discuss any details of the event, this is killing me inside because the event was totally cool and more than I expected it to be. Unfortunately, I could not take pictures either. This event was for Mazda’s special customers and people who reserved the car online last month. I had not done that because I had been resisting temptation and also wanted to see it for real first. Well, the NC does not disappoint. It looks awkward at certain angles in photos but in real life it is definitely a roadster. There will be no mistaking its line. If you see one on the road you’ll be able to tell what kind of car it is from any angle. This was one of the criteria in the redesign. I did not think I would be any more surprised by the car since I had been looking at the photos online but in real-life it is nice. Especially when you sit inside. It felt like a BMW Z4!! I was overwhelmed. My NB suddenly felt very outdated.
So, I went to discuss with my dealor and after a few hours we came to an agreement. I could trade in my NB for more than 50% what I paid for it. Not bad for being almost 3yrs old. And the financing (2yrs loan) works out that I don’t have to pay much per month, just a little more than my phone bill. I could keep my car until I got the new one but I decided to give it up sooner than later. I had not intended to buy a new car until next year but since my NB will probably be worthless once the NC goes on sale I figured I might as well.
I thought I would be bold and go for red or blue but then my conservative side got to me. The blue is cool but I would get tired of it easily. Red is just not me. Although the red roadster is such a beautiful car. Black I’d have to clean everyday and I don’t think roadsters look good in black anyway. White, never. Copper red..too trendy. Green, I don’t like green. So it became a toss up between gray and silver. The gray is just too gray and I really did not like it but I didn’t want silver because silver is just boring isn’t it? But finally after looking and comparing all kinds of pictures I decided that silver would be the color I could live with and not get tired of. Silver it is! Not exciting but a nice neutral color.
Here is the picture that helped me decide.
Congratulations on your new car. When will it be delivered to you?
Thanks! Not for quite a while. Maybe September or October. It’s OK. I’m not in any hurry. Anyway, top down driving in summer in Japan is horrible.
I drive my NB a lot and really enjoy it’s suppleness, light weight, intuitive steering and plaaaaaayful rear.
The NC may be more ‘grown up’, but I’m eager to know if it lives up to it’s predecessor dynamic credentials. Keep those posts coming! :)
Other than this, the NC is gorgeous, and you got it in the most I-don’t-really-want-to-shout-to-everybody-that-I-have-a-roadster colour, which is my car’s color as well!
Nice one, congratulations!
Filipe, which NB do you drive? Mine is the NB3 but in truth I prefer the less smiley NB1.
Without going into much detail about what I did at the event. Let me just say that the NC feels like the NB but more mature. Seems like there is more torque and the power curve is more even. If you like to make lots of noise on take off, the NB is better. While the NB seems speedier, the NC is faster in a more refined and smoother way.
I got mine with DSC but I can turn it off if I want to do drifting (Not that I even know how to do that).
You comment about silver is right on. Just now I was thinking maybe I should go for the red or gray…I can’t make up my mind!!
BTW, are you in Japan?
NB1 or NB3? You got me there! Do you mean NB1 the first (popping headlights) Miata, and NB3 the same version as your Limited Edition? I only know them as NA (popping headlights), NB Mk2 (mine), and MB Mk2.5 (yours).
I’d like to have a decent photo of mine, but I can only show you this: http://www.alojarfotos.com/images/flipamoroso/miatamachada.jpg (I was testing the camera :))
About the colour, I also really like grey, especially that ‘titanium look’. But because it seems to be the launching colour, the effect might wear off if everybody gets it like that.
I like the understated and discreet silver look, but if you’re feeling bolder, go red!!
I’m in sunny Portugal. Tokyo is a next-year plan :)
Nice car, I like that you put the license plate in the intake there. How did you take this photo? In a mirror?
The original MX-5/Miata/Roadster 1989-1996 is known as the NA and the second generation 1997-2005 is the NB and the new one is the NC. With each generation there are some subtle changes. The first NB is NB1 or MK2 and the change to that is NB2 or MK2.5 etc. The 2005 miata was the NB4 I think.
I like your car a little more than my NB. The front lights and mouth are quite different. Yours has a more rounded mouth and headlights while the later NB has a smiley mouth which I don’t care for.
See this picture of the front of my NB
http://blog.q-taro.com/archives/pics/miura1.html
Today, I’m thinking I will change to the gray. I’ve been looking at more and more pictures and the gray seems to have a tougher feel to it. Still deciding…
I think NB1, 2, 3 or whatever, stands for the car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). But my VIN begins with NB3, and this on a ’00 car, so go figure…
The license plate on the intake is nice, but a definite no-no on hot conditions. I’m thinking on an alternative…
I took the picture while experimenting with a Holga 120S camera, 120mm film and a fisheye lens. Go lomo man! ;) (www.lomohomes.com/flipamoroso)
Now, picture the exact day and moment when Mr. Nice Guy from Mazda hands you the keys to your beautifully shining brand new NC. Now look at what colour it comes. Are you feeling regrets you did’nt go for another one? Play this until you don’t; good luck! : )))
Filipe, LOMO coool. I should have known. I’m thinking of getting one. Any suggestions?
Well, I’d advise you to read a bit about lomo, what it is, what it stands for, you know, get a feel for it, before taking a decision. There are a lot of cameras on offer, enough for this boiling down to personal taste and expectations.
Personally, I’m all Holga! I love the way it allows you to experiment with different film sizes and techniques. It IS very crude, but it’s also cheap, and that’s a good thing. And actually, if you set your expectations to “low” about picture quality, you might end up being surprised. Anyway, end results are always a laugh, a surprise, and sometimes frustrating :)
I also have a pinhole ‘camera’ (it’s a can), and although it’s a pain, it delivers the most spectacular and gratifying pictures of the lot. Mind, it also makes people think you’re a freak. :)
On my wishlist is the Horizon 202, which is really, really cool. Those panoramic shots just kill me.
Ok, so, good advices:
1- Lomo has it’s epicentre in the LC-A camera. Have a look! They’re out of production. You can still get them on e-bay.
2- Lomography.com is about to release a new camera (no dates yet), and they’ve promised that it would be completely awesome. They usually keep true, so perhaps it’ll be worth the wait.
Yep, I do my research very quickly, seems the LOMO LC-A fits more what I’m looking for. I used to use Olympus PEN as the don’t think just shoot camera and I loved it. It was the most fun I’ve ever had with a camera and just rough enough to get that retro feel. I’m thinking of getting a LOMO off the auction sites but they are really expensive now and I’m not sure I like the idea of spending 300USD for one.