Motor Trend: 2016 Miata vs 2015 BRZ

[EAGLE5]

This might be one of the reasons why I have never, ever felt comfortable driving a Miata.

[Twin4Life]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

The ND was a "Launch Edition" which a price of tag of $37K which immediately made me do this. I asked the sales person the reason for it and he said the launch-edition models are already pre-sold but the reason they have one sitting in the showroom was that a buyer backed out and I said, "I'm not surprised, who in their right mind would spend $37k on a Miata!" His body language suggested he took that personally.

.

$37K!!!!!!????????? OMG, I would have needed a doctor to give me stitches from laughing too much right there at the Stealership.

[rice_classic]

The lack of telescoping wheel was a deal breaker for me. That's a big shortcoming for a car being sold in North America where people are.. oh I don't know.. taller than 5'5".

Also not everyone of equal height has the same leg to torso ratio. I have 2 friends I share my race car with and all 3 of us are 6' tall. Two us are all legs and short torsos and the other is the opposite so when he sits in my race car he has to move the seat forward and his helmet is right at the roll cage. Telescoping steering wheels should be a basic standard feature in a car in this day and age. It's a massive ergonomic oversight IMHO.

[Sideways&Smiling]

The telescoping wheel feature is more of a luxury/gimmick, IMO. At least, that's how I feel about it in the FR-S. The range of adjustment is pretty small, and I could easily drive comfortably at any adjustment point... nor did I ever once think about it in any older sports cars that didn't have it. *shrug*

[HUNTERANGEL121]

Originally Posted by Sideways&Smiling

The telescoping wheel feature is more of a luxury/gimmick, IMO. At least, that's how I feel about it in the FR-S. The range of adjustment is pretty small, and I could easily drive comfortably at any adjustment point... nor did I ever once think about it in any older sports cars that didn't have it. *shrug*

Not a gimmick to me.

Hopping in my car, I don't have it as close as I'd like, and my legs are at a nice position now.
Hopping into dads car...(mk2 TT)
Move seat closer, angle it forward for more upright, then wheel closer to a 35-45 degree bend at my elbow. Very comfortable after that.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Rampage]

Look in this video to see one of the "God" cars he mentions:

How ironic!

[P@ul]

No telescope = weight savings. Can't please everyone, otherwise you make mediocre crap.

Originally Posted by swarb

I forgot to mention the one small detail that Mazda is trying to slip under the rug and hide from us.

NO LSD! unless you buy a package.

Miatas have always been sold like that...

[Entroper]

Motor Trend has now done a video comparo:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLtw2z_mZ6w"]2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club vs. 2015 Subaru BRZ - Head 2 Head Ep. 68 - YouTube[/ame]

There's a rather awesome side-by-side full lap video just after 19 minutes in.

It says basically the same stuff, ND is lighter, more agile, rotates quicker, BRZ is more planted and precise, with less body roll. Again I think the lap time difference would vanish if you put both cars on Star Specs.

[Scottemad123]

Yea I'm curious to see what happens when they are put on equal rubber.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by Entroper

Motor Trend has now done a video comparo:

There's a rather awesome side-by-side full lap video just after 19 minutes in.

It says basically the same stuff, ND is lighter, more agile, rotates quicker, BRZ is more planted and precise, with less body roll. Again I think the lap time difference would vanish if you put both cars on Star Specs.

Thanks for posting. Watching that video just confirmed for me that the BRZ is still the clear winner if you want a daily driver that you can track on weekends.

- No need for a roll bar/broomstick
- Less body roll - will handle track tires better
- Cargo space to fit 4 track tires and tools/parts
- 2+2 coupe body better for daily driving

Where the Miata will make more sense is as a 2nd/3rd car for people who don't track, or in the other extreme, as a dedicated track-only car. Or autocross where you don't need to worry about a roll bar.

If Mazda would release a stiffer-sprung, coupe version of the ND, that would probably be a game-changer for the weekend track guys.

[ultra]

So we're slower than a Miata. Whodathunk?

Folks will blame the tires, or speculate about how some final drive gears and stickier tires would even things out, etc. etc.

Which may or may not be missing the point.

My take is thus:
1. The Miata is good no doubt, and huge props to Mazda for nailing it.
2. People will moan about the twins' relative lack of speed but no doubt - the twins are still no slouch as a driver's car.
3. Separating the two mostly comes down to what kind of driving experience and packaging you prefer; whether it's the Miata's more compact, playful two seater droptop configuration or the more practical and more stable packaging of twins.

Both great cars, excellent review.

[zc06_kisstherain]

i've driven NA Miata before. i seriously like both Miata and Twins but for practical reason, i would keep twin if i have to choose one. i sometimes miss driving with top down on a nice day though

[Levi]

I still wonder what the number of buyers are that bought the MX-5 despite its opening roof and the number of buyers that didn't buy it because of its opening roof...


Put me in the second group, but I'll probably soon end in the first group...

[juliog]

Can only afford one car? -> FR-S/BRZ
Can afford dedicated weekend/track toy car in addition to a daily? -> MX-5