The final year of NC MX-5 production. These late cars are the most refined and reliable, though all NC MX-5s now need careful inspection for rust due to their age.
The NC MX-5 is prone to misfires caused by deterioration of the thin wiring to the ignition coils, which leads to coil failure. Symptoms include rough idle, hesitation under acceleration and the engine management light. The fix is typically new coils and plugs.
The plastic rear window on the soft-top can haze or craze with age, reducing rear visibility. More seriously, the roof seals and rain rails can fail, letting water into the cabin and accelerating sill corrosion from the inside.
A loud ticking noise from the engine, especially when cold, is often caused by sticking hydraulic valve lash adjusters. This is more common on higher-mileage cars or those that have not had regular oil changes. Replacing the adjusters resolves the noise.