twins vs miata (AGAIN)

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by Axel

maybe I'll even go crazy and swap out for the red pieces.. I've had on my bucket list for a long time to get an Italian car that started with an "F"...

Certainly the reviews so far have been very positive about the Abarth version.

Once it's out early next year I will be test driving it against the refreshed BRZ with PP and the Golf R, and hopefully one of them will ring all the bells. I'd say right now the BRZ is ahead by a nose as it offers a good compromise for me as my sole vehicle - more utility than the Fiat, more RWD fun than the Golf (and not as expensive as either). Test drove the new Miata and was not that impressed but the 124 may be a different experience.

[A_Phunk]

I test drove the Fiat and I absolutely loved it. The ride is not as sporty as the 86's or the miata but its a much more refined experience overall. The ride is smooth, torquey, and loud with the top down, and peaceful with the top up. I really want one, but the only thing keeping me from being wholeheartedly invested in it is the reliability concerns. The car rides almost like my dad's old Mercedes.

[FX86]

[Stang70Fastback]

I only read the OP because I'm lazy, so this might have been said already. I had my first opportunity to drive the new Miata at a "Mazda MX-5 Experience" event this weekend (clip below.)

I thought the Miata felt great, definitely felt lighter (even with a 240 lb passenger), and overall it seems like it would be at least as much fun as the BRZ...
...IF you resolve the body roll issue. We've all seen photos that suggest how much this car leans, but you really, truly don't fully grasp the situation until you drive it. In the video below, you will see a very brief "slalom" (the yellow cones). I only got three laps around the course, and every time I went through that section, the Miata took SO LONG to transition, and settle, that the slalom would up being more annoying than fun, and I completely blew my apexes all three times. The body roll completely murders the "precision" of the car, and makes it feel like you're piloting a 15-year-old Ford Explorer. It is really, truly awful, and while I appreciate the idea that "less body roll isn't always better," and that body roll can be fun in and of itself, I am completely amazed that they didn't think that it was perhaps a bit too rolley-polley in its current configuration.

Mind you, this was obviously the base Miata, and not the Clubsport or whatever the performance package is called that improves on this.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS64ydrqYlM"]Mazda MX-5 Experience - Chasing the Pro - YouTube[/ame]

[MeisterR]

The new Miata (ND) is a tricky chassis to work with.
We have been dealing with it since the first one landed in the UK, and the car's vehicle dynamic is challenging.

We are getting more and more data and will be sorting out a few new setup for race cars in the UK.
For fast road use, the suspension is conventional design.
For race use, it is slightly different from the books, but I think we got the spec pretty nail down for some good result.

But like you say, could be massively improved from OEM setup.
The body roll swing quite a bit, and can violently bite back if you aren't careful.

Jerrick

[darthpnoy1984]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

I only read the OP because I'm lazy, so this might have been said already. I had my first opportunity to drive the new Miata at a "Mazda MX-5 Experience" event this weekend (clip below.)

I thought the Miata felt great, definitely felt lighter (even with a 240 lb passenger), and overall it seems like it would be at least as much fun as the BRZ...
...IF you resolve the body roll issue. We've all seen photos that suggest how much this car leans, but you really, truly don't fully grasp the situation until you drive it. In the video below, you will see a very brief "slalom" (the yellow cones). I only got three laps around the course, and every time I went through that section, the Miata took SO LONG to transition, and settle, that the slalom would up being more annoying than fun, and I completely blew my apexes all three times. The body roll completely murders the "precision" of the car, and makes it feel like you're piloting a 15-year-old Ford Explorer. It is really, truly awful, and while I appreciate the idea that "less body roll isn't always better," and that body roll can be fun in and of itself, I am completely amazed that they didn't think that it was perhaps a bit too rolley-polley in its current configuration.

Mind you, this was obviously the base Miata, and not the Clubsport or whatever the performance package is called that improves on this.

Mazda probably knows a majority of the base buyers are gonna switch and get coilovers anyway.


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[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by darthpnoy1984

Mazda probably knows a majority of the base buyers are gonna switch and get coilovers anyway.

Yeah, and I'm not arguing against that fact at all. It's just still a LOT of body roll, even when you consider the, "anyone who wants better handling will upgrade it anyway" thought process.

It's so bad it would be like selling a BRZ with a 48 HP moped engine figuring, "Anyone who wants more power is going to upgrade it anyway."

Well, yeah... but it's still REALLY, REALLY bad, lol.

[FX86]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

I only read the OP because I'm lazy, so this might have been said already. I had my first opportunity to drive the new Miata at a "Mazda MX-5 Experience" event this weekend (clip below.)

I thought the Miata felt great, definitely felt lighter (even with a 240 lb passenger), and overall it seems like it would be at least as much fun as the BRZ...
...IF you resolve the body roll issue. We've all seen photos that suggest how much this car leans, but you really, truly don't fully grasp the situation until you drive it. In the video below, you will see a very brief "slalom" (the yellow cones). I only got three laps around the course, and every time I went through that section, the Miata took SO LONG to transition, and settle, that the slalom would up being more annoying than fun, and I completely blew my apexes all three times. The body roll completely murders the "precision" of the car, and makes it feel like you're piloting a 15-year-old Ford Explorer. It is really, truly awful, and while I appreciate the idea that "less body roll isn't always better," and that body roll can be fun in and of itself, I am completely amazed that they didn't think that it was perhaps a bit too rolley-polley in its current configuration.

Mind you, this was obviously the base Miata, and not the Clubsport or whatever the performance package is called that improves on this.

i could see it rolling like crazy just from the looking at the hood, damn!

[Zaku]

I heard the Fiat 124 doesn't have the roll characteristic of the ND maybe that would be a more fun car to drive.

[techie182]

Damn im in dilemma right now. Bought frs for trunk space and rear seat(it was my only car at that time). Now bought a suv for 2nd car so thinking about trading in frs for convertible(nd or s2000). Always wanted convertible.

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[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by techie182

Damn im in dilemma right now. Bought frs for trunk space and rear seat(it was my only car at that time). Now bought a suv for 2nd car so thinking about trading in frs for convertible(nd or s2000). Always wanted convertible.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I think the Toyobaru makes much more sense as a year-round daily driver than the Miata. I would still pick it over the Miata if given a second choice.

However, if I had a second DD vehicle, and this was more of a weekend toy and joyrider, I'd pick the Miata.

[funwheeldrive]

Originally Posted by Zaku

I heard the Fiat 124 doesn't have the roll characteristic of the ND maybe that would be a more fun car to drive.

True, but you get turbo lag and more weight.

I guess it depends on what your priorities are.

[ndreim]

I think if you put $3000 into some good coils on the miata and $3000 into the frz/brz for a catless header, tune, new tires, etc.

the frz/brz would outshine the miata.

not to mention the miata with the LSD costs a butt load still (2016)...

Pros and cons to each car but I feel that twins offer much better value. Something about the mx-5 in white is just amazing.

[jmark]

I wanted a ND. Problem is I barely fit in one. I am 6'2" 200 lbs. The other issue I have is even after you buy a Club the car still needs sway bars to cut down on the roll. Cost is quite a bit higher than a BRZ Ltd. PP as well. The BRZ driving position is SO much better than a ND. Not to mention it has more useful room in it as a daily driver.