I think it was the crickets that really dropped the reliability scores of the car and honestly I can totally understand that. I know it doesn't affect the performance of the car, but who wants to spend 30k on a brand new car only to have it sound like something is wrong with the engine?

I had the dealership install the most recent fuel pump for me and I love that I don't have crickets anymore.

This is the issue with CR. They have their ranking system and they break it up by category to a degree but they don't really tell you exactly what caused a deduction in a certain category, or how it gets weighted. Crickets, while annoying, are not a reliability issue. Marking them as such without additional clarification is highly irresponsible when you have a reader base that uses your publication to help make decisions about major purchases.

This....
http://duibe7slt06r7.cloudfront.net/...tcm87-3661.jpg

Is faster than this...
http://www.jaffapix.com/alain/redbullextra.jpg

Which would you like to take for a spin?

Yes because the difference between a 747 and a stunt was plane are totally equal to the difference between a Miata and a Mustang.


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no need for the sarcasm, we all know he probably should have used a blimp

Everyone knows the aircraft equivalent to a Mustang is obviously a Mitsubishi zero.

Well... the Mustang was a failure until they put a British Merlin engine in it.

It's an A380.

Still, doesn't change the fact that you just tried to compare an Airbus to a stunt plane.

If I had said something along the lines of man, I'd rather drive a school bus than the FRS because that thing has a whole lot more of an engine! then sure, go ahead. I get that a camry is a much different car than the FRS but it doesn't change the fact that there are many many more coupes on the market for the same price that you can get a whole lot more of car from (and that's coming from an FRS owner)

I know it depends on the model and year you get but look at it this way, I have a 2013 FRS that has the touch screen info screen. besides that everything inside the cabin feels and looks cheaply made. for 15-17k that's what you get, you're buying a drivers chassis that looks extremely sporty without the oomf. If you want to buy that extra kick of power that the car is missing you go headers and tune (so let's say $1k extra and that's being generous) or you go forced induction for a few grand of labor and parts.

As an owner of these cars, I understand where you're coming from. I love these cars for what they are, but you cannot be oblivious to the fact that most of the people who drive these cars don't buy them for one reason and that reason is that they are underpowered and don't have a consistent surge of power. How many times have you heard someone go and buy a Miata and then come home and say shit, this thing is underpowered? You don't because those cars are balanced for what they are. the FRS stock is not.

I guess you could argue all day over why someone would buy one of these cars and keep them stock, etc etc etc. Point is most of the hate behind our vehicles in the eyes of other consumers is the power of the vehicle and the price at which you're paying vs what you get for that price. I still never understood why Subaru never went ahead and threw in the boxer from the WRX into these but who knows. :offtopic:

Every 1st generation Miata owner I have met has said they are underpowered. I've driven a few myself and thought they were extremely overrated in stock form (no power, very harsh suspension, legs get cooked by the transmission tunnel, never could maintain driving in a straight line and had a spine-breaking ride on rough surfaces). When the 2nd generation hit, definitely fewer but not zero complaints about power (still couldn't maintain driving in a straight line). Heard no complaints from 3rd and 4th generation owners. The ability to stay driving in a straight line was finally cured in the 4th generation.


I find the FR-S to be a very well balanced car in stock form but that doesn't mean it can't be improved (we all know that).


Ah well, we are a pissy bunch, aren't we? LOL

This is a good point, I guess I should have made is specific to what gen I was talking too. Although still, FRS has been in production since 2012. It's going on quite a few years of barely any reasonable stock improvements which is why it receives hate. Why would you go pay $26k+ for a brand new 86 when you can put that money in another vehicle? you know what I mean? I'm not like trying to stir the pot or cause drama.

As an NA8 owner, the underpowered comment is spot on. The rest, well, isn't. There is almost no difference between the engine in an NA8 Miata and an NB. If the car isn't tracking straight, it is because the owner is a cuck and isn't properly keeping up with maintenance on an old car. Take a look at the bushings, tie rod ends, suspension, and even the tire wear and compound at all four corners.




This is spot on. These things depreciate quite a bit in the first few years. They do so to the point where you're much better off spending new MSRP on a used one plus a turbo kit, wheels, etc. You can get a much better package without even having to look outside the platform if you're okay with starting off with 20k-30k miles or so. It would still be preferable to get it with a warranty and a known history from day one though.

This isn't unique to the 86, nearly all cars depreciate as you describe.

Also, if you buy one with 20K-30K miles on it, you will have a warranty, the balance of the original 30/60K warranty.

And then if you slap a turbocharger or tune on it, you won't. At least not on the engine/trans parts.