4th gen ND Mazda MX-5 Miata

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by humfrz

My suggestion is - if you want a roadster, buy a Miata; if you prefer a coupe, buy an 86.

See, simple -
humfrz

Haha, it's not that simple. I love the roadster feel, but good lord there's nowhere to put anything inside of the vehicle. No glovebox, no door pockets, nothing. Just a small cubby in an inconvenient spot between the two seats.

Originally Posted by Entroper

It sounds like the ND is what you really want. You don't need our permission, man, go for it.

I do, but I want the added practicality that comes with the 86/BRZ. If the MX5 had more interior storage space, it'd be a much easier choice. I don't NEED a bunch of extra space, but a little bit would be nice. My STI has more space than I know what to do with haha.

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

People love to shit on the FA20 for not having enough power, but for its displacement it actually makes a lot of power, it's way up there for naturally aspirated engines. It didn't make it into Ward's 10 best for nothing. The fact we got such a well engineered motor in a 25K car is pretty impressive.

My gripe is that it's a boxer engine lol. I'm just so tired of boxer engines right now.

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

My gripe is that it's a boxer engine lol. I'm just so tired of boxer engines right now.

Just curious, why don't you like the fact that it's a boxer?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Haha, it's not that simple. I love the roadster feel, but good lord there's nowhere to put anything inside of the vehicle. No glovebox, no door pockets, nothing. Just a small cubby in an inconvenient spot between the two seats.

Yes, it really IS that simple...

If you choose the roadster (miata) you will have enough room for stuff. How? Well, if you don't have a wife/GF as a copilot, you have a whole seat beside you to put stuff. If you have a wife/GF traveling with you, just get her a huge purse/carry bag.

Here, honey, put the map, my sunglasses, my cell phone, my wallet, my smokes and these candy bars in your purse.....


humfrz

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Yes, it really IS that simple...

If you choose the roadster (miata) you will have enough room for stuff. How? Well, if you don't have a wife/GF as a copilot, you have a whole seat beside you to put stuff. If you have a wife/GF traveling with you, just get her a huge purse/carry bag.

Here, honey, put the map, my sunglasses, my cell phone, my wallet, my smokes and these candy bars in your purse.....


humfrz

Married. 7yrs (sheez where does the time go?) She's ridden in it and said that she felt a bit cramped in the passenger seat. Don't blame her though considering the big transmission hump that robs some of the foot space in her side.

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

Just curious, why don't you like the fact that it's a boxer?

Went from a '12 WRX to a '13 FRS to a '16 STI. All boxer engines. Partly just want a change of pace. Additionally, I don't care for the disadvantages of a boxer engine on this platform.

Engine is wide, which means frame rails are wide. That limits space under the front fenders. Also limits steering angle capabilities for drifting, without having to run that horrendous crab walk fitment.

Don't care for any of the negatives that come with having to do any sort of maintenance or work in the head area. Gaskets, plugs, coilpacks, etc. Coilpacks aren't too bad, but still more of a pain in the ass than a simple I4.

Plus, (I know this is stupid) but I honestly just think they're butt ugly to look at in an engine bay

[chaoskaze]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Married. 7yrs (sheez where does the time go?) She's ridden in it and said that she felt a bit cramped in the passenger seat. Don't blame her though considering the big transmission hump that robs some of the foot space in her side.

You should know new LV/Gucci/Hermès purses solves everything man. Listen to Humphrey.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Married. 7yrs (sheez where does the time go?) She's ridden in it and said that she felt a bit cramped in the passenger seat. Don't blame her though considering the big transmission hump that robs some of the foot space in her side.

Ya, I hear ya. We toured in our NC for over 80,000 miles over an eight year period. We were in our 60's at the time. mrs humfrz was a pretty good sport about our three weeks at a time, top down adventures. Yes, the passenger compartment is a bit limited of storage space, but we learned that a lot of the "stuff" we traveled with, didn't need to be accessed while driving.

Yep, that transmission tunnel does stick out there, which would have driven me nuts, but, mrs humfrz didn't complain.

Although the trunk space was limited, we just learned to travel light. Actually, now with our FR-S, we use the same custom fitted soft sided luggage.. which almost gets lost in the FR-S trunk.

As we moved into our 70's, we found the FR-S had more creature comforts. Like a glovebox, quieter ride (because coupe), "back seat" to toss stuff into, seats that will recline all the way back (for napping) and mrs humfrz is more comfortable temperature wise, because ol humfrz never know when it was too hot to have the top down.

Ah, yes, but, I do miss those top down drives …


humfrz

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by chaoskaze

You should know new LV/Gucci/Hermès purses solves everything man. Listen to Humphrey.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hahaha!

She's actually super cool and supportive with all the car stuff. She loves it damn near just as much as I do. I think she's just gotten used to larger vehicles. She had a 2nd gen XB, then a Focus ST, and now a '17 Tacoma TRD. During that time, I went from a 2nd gen TC to a '12 WRX to a '13 FRS to a '16 STI. Pretty much all of those (except the FRS) are pretty spacious.

MX5 is pretty small in comparison. I imagine if I got one, she'd get used to it within a couple weeks or so.

She just loves her truck now that she has one. An MX5 is about the most polar opposite vehicle I could get.

[R_E_L]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Plus, (I know this is stupid) but I honestly just think they're butt ugly to look at in an engine bay

Certainly you cannot say that about ALL boxer engines.

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by R_E_L

Certainly you cannot say that about ALL boxer engines.

Lol that's apples to oranges though. That engine from Singer/Porsche is nowhere near on the same level of the plastic and rubber hose line inducing coma of Subaru's boxer engines.

[SuperTom]

Originally Posted by R_E_L

Certainly you cannot say that about ALL boxer engines.

Hmm wonder what kind of crank pulley is on there. Is it a lightweight one piece? Or a stock type with a thin layer of rubber in between the inner core and outer layer? Hard to tell from the pics


Let the debate begin again!

[TylerLieberman]

The decision is even more difficult because right now, Mazda is pretty much giving 2018 MX5s away lol.

2018 Clubs (MSRP about 30k) are being sold with a bunch of incentives and stuff so people are basically walking OTD with them for lilke 24-25k.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Lol that's apples to oranges though. That engine from Singer/Porsche is nowhere near on the same level of the plastic and rubber hose line inducing coma of Subaru's boxer engines.

Could be worse.

[Entroper]

Dyno results for the ND2 are in:


These were taken on different dynos on different days, so not a 100% perfect comparison, but I think you get the idea. Blue is ND1, red is ND1+header+exhaust+tune, white is ND2.