NC MX-5 vs. BRZ

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Definitely. I love having different cars to drive/mess around with, even though financially it's not the brightest idea. I've even thought about picking up a cheap Miata to use as a daily. Maybe if/when I move to southern cal and there's constantly good weather to enjoy top-down motoring.

two things. first, were definitely a bunch of idiots. second, the miata is the answer in socal despite how not cool they are. sometimes i get sad that i have a hardtop bolted on since i my current miata isnt really the right choice for the street (al race seats, harnesses, roll bar, etc.). at that point i find the brz has the appropriate amount of sportiness for a street.

[glamcem]

Originally Posted by sobrz

Great article. I switched from an NC to a BRZ 3 months ago and I echo all authors opinions.

Let me add: an NC benefits a ton from a good aftermarket header and tune. My NC with Brian Goodwin's street header and a tune from @moto-mike was MUCH faster than my BRZ is. It was also a much more fun daily driver due to better bottom/mid range torque.

Unfortunately, it looks like the only real option to make the BRZ faster is a $5K SC (from what I'm reading around here, the bolt-ons and tune don't even solve the torque dip).

Don't get me wrong, I love the BRZ, but I really hope to figure out how to make it as fun as my NC was.

In case you wonder why I switched: I drive my toddler daily, the BRZ clearly beats the NC in a "toddler hauler" category.

But if fun factor is your only consideration, you're less than 6.2, and you live in a warm place like CA, I'd definitely advise you to go for NC vs an 86.

That's exactly why I did the same switch a month ago Special thanks to @moto-mike, he also tuned my NC3 Miata with PPE long tube header and I was really happy with the tune and his service, ...

involvement and the overall feeling of the Miata is awesome but it has a huge steering wheel, lacks some of the nice features of the BRZ but gives you the ability to feel the road when top is down (it's really hard to describe you have to drive both)..

and just like you, I wanted to get a car that I can fit a child seat (in the back seat!!) and take my 3 years old to daycare every day, also FRS/BRZ community is huge and seems like very involved in track/auto-x events (more than NC community), a lot more aftermarket support and much bigger interior space ( ability to put track wheels and tire setup is awesome ).. and I am 6ft tall I can fit in the car yes but I can't say Miata was really comfortable for the commute on the highway..maybe because I am not a skinny guy


after all, both are great cars

[bobaab]

I had an NC for 2 years until I crashed it a few months back...then came the era of the BRZ.

Your article is pretty good except for the suspension part. The suspension, to me, was a bit sloppy in stock form. Sure there are adjustments, but the shocks left a lot to desire, so did the swaybars.

But the good news is all it took was a set of used Hotchkis swaybars for $200 to fix it. The car stayed so flat through turns! Combine that with old, rock hard tires and the car was so much fun to drive!! The sound my NC made with the Roadster Sport II exhaust was amazing as well.

All this makes me sad that the winter weather got me. I was on Michelin Ice-X and slipped on a salt covered manhole during a turn, mad fishtailed, lost it as I tried to regain traction and unfortunately made contact with a tree and one way sign. Luckily, I wasn't hurt whatsoever. RIP Miata, you will be missed!

[Cato]

I sold a 1999 Miata with an Eaton M45 supercharger to buy the 2014 BRZ. My wife still has her 2004 factory-turbocharged Mazdaspeed MX-5.

Life is so sweet when you have choices like that (honey, do we want the top down today or do we have too much to fit in the trunk?). We autocross the BRZ.

[hmong337]

Now this is totally my opinion, but I can't see how anybody would choose the current Miata offering over the 86 twins. The rumors of the upcoming Miata are promising but for now, I'll take an FRS

Don't get me wrong, the Miata holds it's own. The truth is, the MX5 holds great prestige having been around since 1989. Says something!!!

But I'll be frank and just say that the FRS is the new standard now. I can't picture anybody walking into a Mazda dealership and wanting a Miata after the release of the 86twins. No Way!!!

The 86 is merits better than the current Miata. It's a no-brainer to go for the FRS/brz/86. For just a few G's more, you're getting an exponentially better car. Way more- unless you like convertibles which I do not. Sorry Miata fans Your reign is over in the cheap front-rwd segment. The real bonus with the 86twins are the back seats. Style and looks are purely subjective, but in a Miss Universe pageant, I'll take the FRS haha.


I'll leave these here for the viewing pleasure of ft86club members


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57TtqhKOaTU"]The D Factor with Dai Yoshihara - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8mF9vRsv7s"]Toyota 86 V/S BMW 120i, Mazda Roadster, VW Scirocco [OFFICIAL VIDEO] - YouTube[/ame]

[speargunsandracecars]

The NC was ahead of it's time. It's been around for 9 years now and counting. People want something new. Performance potential goes to the NC, as my article states. The twins aren't an exponentially better car. Not by a longshot. The NC has been winning autocrosses all over the country for YEARS. Not only that, they have their own race series. The NC has more racing pedigree than the twins, adjustable suspension geometry from the factory, and bulletproof reliable engine that's made to race.

Don't get me wrong... The twins are wonderful cars. But it's new, and claims to do what the NC has been doing for 9 whole years.

Had I not needed the practicality of the twins, I'd still have my NC. And stomping twins in autocross and track days.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by speargunsandracecars

Had I not needed the practicality of the twins, I'd still have my NC. And stomping twins in autocross and track days.

Are you making the argument that NC Miatas will "stomp" on Twins in track days? Hard to tell from the way you phrased it, but that seems to be what you're saying. If so, what level of mods? Bc I don't see that happening on a level playing field.

[hmong337]

Within a matter of two years, the 86twins have exploded onto the scene and are developing at an unbelievable rate. I can't begin to imagine how it would be like in 10 years when these cars are into the used market. I believe it will come close, if not equal, the Miata's racing heritage. Give it even longer and I believe it will best the Miata in racing and aftermarket support.

The 86twins also have their own racing series. Not in North America but in Austrailia. Just watch the videos I posted and stop reassuring yourself the NC is better. I have high hopes for the up coming Miata but for now, the 86twins are far more superior in every way against the NC. The only Miata worth mentioning to be honest is the NB turbo.

Your NC's couldn't hold a candle to the 86twins on a raceway track. Modified vs modified, unless you shove a V8 under the hood of that Miata, it will still fall short of the frs. I can't see the Miata besting the frs in any way, shape, or form. Sorry.

[speargunsandracecars]

Whatever you say guys. No use in arguing with people who've never driven both cars or competed with them and against them.

Cheers.

[Guillaume]

Good write-up. The FA20 does have VVT, though

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by speargunsandracecars

Whatever you say guys. No use in arguing with people who've never driven both cars or competed with them and against them.

Cheers.

Oh I've driven both and competed with/against them.

In my experience (and this is matched by empirical data), the NC Miata won't be stomping the Twins on the track. Not stock v. stock, or mod v. mod.

[DarkSunrise]

To bring some data into this discussion:

VIR Grand:
- BRZ: 3:18.6
- NC Miata: 3:29.3

Streets of WS:
- BRZ: 1:30.3
- NC Miata: 1:31.9

Subjective experiences can be argued, but the data is conclusive.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Are you making the argument that NC Miatas will "stomp" on Twins in track days? Hard to tell from the way you phrased it, but that seems to be what you're saying. If so, what level of mods? Bc I don't see that happening on a level playing field.

i know youre just making a counter point but i would like to point out that, at least here in america, dollar for dollar there is a large chance the miata is the better performer. what strikes me as odd is that when a car clearly outperforms the twins we tend to go to the whole drivers car argument but when we have a car that is considered a better drivers car, we go to the performance argument.

Originally Posted by hmong337

Within a matter of two years, the 86twins have exploded onto the scene and are developing at an unbelievable rate. I can't begin to imagine how it would be like in 10 years when these cars are into the used market. I believe it will come close, if not equal, the Miata's racing heritage. Give it even longer and I believe it will best the Miata in racing and aftermarket support.

The 86twins also have their own racing series. Not in North America but in Austrailia. Just watch the videos I posted and stop reassuring yourself the NC is better. I have high hopes for the up coming Miata but for now, the 86twins are far more superior in every way against the NC. The only Miata worth mentioning to be honest is the NB turbo.

Your NC's couldn't hold a candle to the 86twins on a raceway track. Modified vs modified, unless you shove a V8 under the hood of that Miata, it will still fall short of the frs. I can't see the Miata besting the frs in any way, shape, or form. Sorry.

the fact that you say the frs is exponentially better than the miata or that the mazdaspeed miata is the only one worth mentioning shows me that you dont understand miatas very well.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by fatoni

i know youre just making a counter point but i would like to point out that, at least here in america, dollar for dollar there is a large chance the miata is the better performer. what strikes me as odd is that when a car clearly outperforms the twins we tend to go to the whole drivers car argument but when we have a car that is considered a better drivers car, we go to the performance argument.

If he said he subjectively thought the Miata was the better driver's car (not sure I agree with this due to the soft suspension tuning on the NC), or had better steering feedback, that'd be one thing. For a subjective statement like that, everyone's entitled to their opinion. But saying the Miata would "stomp" on the Twins on the track struck me as very odd. Especially when it's easily disprovable with facts.

Also not sure I agree with the dollar-for-dollar argument. When I last looked at prices of comparably-equipped Miatas and FR-S's, the Miata was slightly more expensive by a few hundred dollars. I believe it was club-spec Miata vs. base FR-S for the closest comparison.

EDIT:

For the record (and I've probably stated this here or elsewhere), I think both are great cars. I've spent a lot of time driving a good friend's NC Miata and my own FR-S. I even think the Miata is the more fun car on the street due to the top-down factor. I just don't think we need to make up facts for the Miata to defend it.