Mazda only seems to be releasing Miata's with $6500 in factory performance mods to the press right now (Club package with BBS+Brembo upgrade). Notice that the only U.S. tests are for Miata Club edition's? Take a look on the net.
This is a PR move by Mazda and it's been a smart one as evidenced by the sad lack of objectivity, and critical thinking shown by those in this thread trying to downplay Mazda's move. Mazda easily could have released standard Miata's to the U.S. press for apples to apples comparisons. $26k Miata vs $26k 86. Mazda purposely hasn't
. Geee, I wonder why.
There is no doubt that a standard $26k Miata is also a fun car. I also have no doubt that a $26k Miata without the $6500 worth of upgraded tires, LSD, brakes, and wheels would get it's lunch money taken by a base 86 in most performance tests. Mazda knows it too. They've benchmarked everything that could be considered a competitor and know exactly what EXTRA parts a Miata requires to show well vs. their competition. Apparently to show vs. a BRZ it costs $6500. Mazda is trying to build hype and the fanbois are eating it up. I mean, the shit people say...
1. The Club edition Bridgestone Potenza S001's are nearly on par with BRZ's Michelin Primacy HPs. Did someone seriously say this? TireRack places the Miata's ugpraded Potenza's in the Max Performance Summer tire category. These are 3 performance categories above the BRZ's Primacys HP "Grand Touring Summer" tires, and only one performance category below 200TW summer tires like Hankook RS3s.
- Other tires in Max Performance Summer that fit our cars are Michelin Pilot Super Sports, Bridgestone Potenza RE050, and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric.
- Other tires in the Grand Touring Summer category that fit the BRZ's stock size don't exist. Probably because this category is typically reserved for OEMs. The tires are good for sliding around, but horrible for a performance test. MT knows this and so does everyone on this board.
Put MPSS or another Max Performance Summer tire on a BRZ and how many seconds do you make at Willow? 2.0, we've seen it done.
2. The Miata Club's added LSD wouldn't make much difference for performance. OMFG Really? As mentioned, how many competing drivers run with an open diff? None. Coincidentally, the only way to get an LSD on a Miata is to step up from the $26k base car to a $30K+ Club edition. Meanwhile all $26k 86's get an LSD standard.
3. The Club's Brembo BBK+BBS wheel package wouldn't make for better numbers in the performance portion of the test. Hell yes it would. The loss of unsprung weight improves performance and feel exponentially. The thermal capacity throughout the whole system is a major upgrade. Also would a base Miata's steering feel as lively or be as communicative if the front end had 20 extra lbs of unsprung mass on it? Keep in mind that BBS wheels that come in the package are undoubtedly also stronger than the generic base models wheels. This improves lap times by preventing barrel deformation.
4. The Club's Bilstein shock upgrade wouldn't matter much. The Club doesn't even come with Bilstein's. Bull on both accounts. If upgraded shocks don't help keep the wheels in contact with the ground, why bother upgrading them?
Downplaying all the above is
Indeed both cars are fun and fun undoubtedly don't need to be "fast". I own two of the most fun cars a person can buy (FR-S and Abarth convertible), and I'd call neither "fast". Both are a hoot.
Still it was MT that chose to take the cars to the track for comparison.
What I learned from this test was that yes, a 2016 Miata with $6500 in factory performance mods can beat a BRZ around a track by 1.3 seconds.
Sorry but, this isn't "the best we're going to get". This was Mazda's PR team attempt to fool the fanbois and it worked. How disappointing.