Hello Fred. It just so happens... I just ordered a replacement OEM fob for my 2017 RF. I paid around 80 bucks. I have an appointment on Tuesday to get it programmed at Scott Mazda.  They are charging me me $135 I think. 

I called a bunch of locksmiths and they either can't do it, won't do it, or... the one guy said $350 to program and if it doesn't work,  too bad. 

Soooo what is Young charging you for the key? If it is a lot, maybe you should get it where I got mine.

https://northcoastkeyless.com/product/2007-2009-mazda-mx-5-miata-4-button-smart-card-key-fob-remote-fcc-bgbx1t458ske11a01-p-n-nfy7-67-5ryb/

@livetodrive Young has a similar programming fee somewhere between 120 and 135, so that puts the fob at well over $300.

I had flip key and regular transponder key made for my car at Young. With the club discount, the pair cost me a little over $400.

At the very least, I want the proximity function that unlocks the door to work. And an extra key that will work in the ignition. Following a thread on Miata.net on the subject, too.

Let me know how the programming goes. I don't think Young is receptive to programming fobs not purchased there.

Alright Fred. Here is your update. The key that I purchased has now been programmed at Scott Mazda.  The manager asked where I got the key, since it works, starting the car, etc., but it sends an error code to the dash. He believes that it isn't a true Mazda key, but a clone. 

I am planning on using it primarily as a spare at this point, so I really don't care. It works. I will let you know what error message is on my dash after driving it.

So I drove home. Left my original key in the house,  and ran to the store with my new key fob. When I start the car, I get a error message in red saying there is a key malfunction.  I press enter, and that goes away. There remains a tiny triangle on the gauge.  I doubt that your much older NC is as smart as my RF, so I don't think it could even tell you a message concerning the key. I definitely saved a lot of money. Scott told me that they can order me a key fob for $260 + programming.

@livetodrive Thanks for the update. Does Scott offer a club discount, or just Young? Seems the pricing is a bit more fair at Scott - I will ask for a quote.

@fredm 

Only Young, as a Club sponsor business, offers the 15% discount on purchased parts, Fred.

@fredm I agree that you should check at Scott. However, I have been using my replacement key on my RF several times a day now. And knowing that I got it for well under $100, makes me happy.  If I need a replacement for my NC, I will do the same thing. That is, buy a key at the link I gave above, and have Scott program it.

Update: turns out that the key fob that I purchased online only looks correct on the outside.  Inside, the guts look entirely different.  Because this was synchronized to my car, it threw an error code regardless of the key that I tried to use.

I got tired of the error code. I wound up buying a key from Scott for 2 something. Maybe I can return this cloned key? Not sure. But the error message is gone, now that the key has been un-linked.

Thanks for the update. I haven't heard back from Scott yet with a quote.

Resurrecting this thread. So an update:

Driving through Brodheadsville a couple months back, passed by a place called Key My Ride. Through email, the owner states he can provide two AKE fobs for the '08 GT for slightly less than the cost of one fob from Young. Of course, he has to order the fobs from his supplier and I would have to pay in advance for them. It's a new business, so I'm hesitant.

Anyone have any experience with Key My Ride?

(Note, there appears to be another "Key My Ride" in Allentown, but the two are not affiliated??? Not sure.)

While I pondered the decision, I ordered a new shell for the non-functioning remote because I had a feeling the battery contacts inside were separated. After all the fun of transferring the guts from one shell to the other - and confirming one of the contacts was indeed broken - I had the thrill of witnessing the little red diode light up when I pressed the unlock button.

Everything worked, keyless unlocking, trunk release, starting the car without the emergency key, no flashing lights on the dash - until it all stopped working a day later. The little light on the fob still comes on, but all the functions have stopped. No clue why.

So, I know the AKE functions do work, now I just need a working fob or two and I believe there is no escaping buying new ones at this point.

Any suggestions?