Anyone Driven an MX-5 and BRZ?

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

That's a very interesting thought. I wonder if steering feedback has an inverse relationship with chassis rigidity. It kind of makes sense, perhaps some of what we perceive as steering feedback is just the chassis/steering column flexing over mid-corner bumps. I'll have to think about that one.

Re. differences between the NA and NB, didn't the NA Miata also have a manual steering rack? I seem to remember the one that I used to drive (1990 or 1991 1.6) did. That might be another reason why the NB feels like it's down on steering feel compared to the NA. BTW I've only driven the NB a handful of times, so can't really comment too much on the quality of its steering feel.

there are a few nas with a manual rack. it was made as an afterthought though so it isnt any better than the power rack. my 94 miata was power and my current 90 is manual. i think the feel was actually better in the 94 although i think that i was able to dial more caster in the 94 so i was able to run a little less static camber. whether its real feel or not, the na is the better miata ,imo, but the nb is the better car.

i think what draws me to the frs is the same thing that drew me to miatas. i think you love them because of their faults and quirks. not despite them.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by fatoni

there are a few nas with a manual rack. it was made as an afterthought though so it isnt any better than the power rack. my 94 miata was power and my current 90 is manual. i think the feel was actually better in the 94 although i think that i was able to dial more caster in the 94 so i was able to run a little less static camber. whether its real feel or not, the na is the better miata ,imo, but the nb is the better car.

i think what draws me to the frs is the same thing that drew me to miatas. i think you love them because of their faults and quirks. not despite them.

Yeah all this talk of old-school Miatas is making me miss top-down motoring. Strangely I miss the NA more than the NC. Maybe it's like you said, the NA is the classic Miata, flaws and all.

BTW when are you going to post your thoughts on Miata vs. BRZ/FR-S? I thought you'd be one of the first to jump in.

[Rayme]

A miata is on my car bucket list. They keep their value way too much around here people asking like 10 000$ for a stock 22 year old car....and I'm dead serious!

My friend had a 2000 LS, and I drove it often, they are very fun car indeed.

I really wish people could just get over their stupid pride, they are great cars and certainly don't deserve all the gay association. I drove with my friend with the top down (2 guys) and it didn't bother me one bit...but then I got no pride, f'y'all!!! lol

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Yeah all this talk of old-school Miatas is making me miss top-down motoring. Strangely I miss the NA more than the NC. Maybe it's like you said, the NA is the classic Miata, flaws and all.

BTW when are you going to post your thoughts on Miata vs. BRZ/FR-S? I thought you'd be one of the first to jump in.

i think that the frs v miata thing should be held off for a couple reasons. first, the current miata is at the end of its cycle. second, the frs needs some time to see what the aftermarket/community does.

stock v stock, the frs is a much more sport oriented car than the current miata. that has pros and cons. the miata does everything well, i think it is desinged to cater to the old people looking to relive the days of their old brittish roadsters as well as the younger enthusiast crowd. i think the enthusiasts were gonna mod the car anyway so i think it was a move that works from their perspective.

the miata has a monster community that is easily as large as the the honda crowd with a fraction of the posers (although its growing). the quality of parts compared to price cant be beat. you cant go to any driving event without seeing one and that means advice and knowledge is plentiful. that aspect goes unmentioned but is invaluable. can/will the frs catch up? time well tell.

the miata takes the philosophy of the frs and amplifies it. the miata v frs is almost (not really almost but you get the point) like the frs v mustang. the only definitive upside aside from out of the box performance is the fixed roof. thats enough for me to take it over the current miata. ive heard rumors of crazy miatas around the corner so i think i am best served to just wait it out before i buy a brand new car. theres nothing wrong with what i have now.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by fatoni

i think that the frs v miata thing should be held off for a couple reasons. first, the current miata is at the end of its cycle. second, the frs needs some time to see what the aftermarket/community does.

stock v stock, the frs is a much more sport oriented car than the current miata. that has pros and cons. the miata does everything well, i think it is desinged to cater to the old people looking to relive the days of their old brittish roadsters as well as the younger enthusiast crowd. i think the enthusiasts were gonna mod the car anyway so i think it was a move that works from their perspective.

the miata has a monster community that is easily as large as the the honda crowd with a fraction of the posers (although its growing). the quality of parts compared to price cant be beat. you cant go to any driving event without seeing one and that means advice and knowledge is plentiful. that aspect goes unmentioned but is invaluable. can/will the frs catch up? time well tell.

the miata takes the philosophy of the frs and amplifies it. the miata v frs is almost (not really almost but you get the point) like the frs v mustang. the only definitive upside aside from out of the box performance is the fixed roof. thats enough for me to take it over the current miata. ive heard rumors of crazy miatas around the corner so i think i am best served to just wait it out before i buy a brand new car. theres nothing wrong with what i have now.

Yeah the Miata community is huge. I guess that's what happens when you've got the most popular roadster that's been selling continuously for over 2 decades. The FR-S/BRZ won't match that (not enough sales), but it does look like the aftermarket world is stepping up nicely and coming out with quality parts for these cars. The number of turbo and supercharger kits that came out in less than a year's time is impressive. Love that this car is almost a blank slate for tuners to work with (much like the Miata).

[Thesandlord]

My Dad has a stock automatic NA that I grew up driving. My sister and I loved that car, even with all its flaws (rear window was completely useless). I guess I grew to become very comfortable in that car, it was basically an extension of the body.

Please note I am comparing a new car to one over 15 years old.

Now the FR-S is the only car I drove (in my price range) that felt just like the Miata. It has the same contentedness to the road, the same "in control" feeling. The auto transmission in the FR-S is WAY WAY better than the auto Miata. The wheel is much heavier, but its just as good. Practicality wise, the FR-S wins hands down. Though I have fit 2 people, a guitar, and an electric drumkit in a Miata (convertible FTW I guess).

I have a friend who drove a NA stick, and he now has a FR-S also. We both love our new cars

I think the Miata has more of a "bald middle age man" stigma rather than the "gay" or "girl" stigma.

In the end, I think the FR-S is the Miata + practicality. I needed a daily driver so the choice was obvious, but if you want a 100% fun car I think a Miata with upgrades is better.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Thesandlord

I think the Miata has more of a "bald middle age man" stigma rather than the "gay" or "girl" stigma.

No, you're thinking the of the Corvette.

[Guff]

Love me a good Miata. Best cars to learn real driving on. Clutches are easy, transmissions are great, and the NA that I hooned around had no Power anything, so it was a very connected experience!

Plus you can get them for dirt, so it's an excellent budget track car!

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Guff

Plus you can get them for dirt, so it's an excellent budget track car!

Beat up 20 year old car for $3-5K...that's not dirt. Go away, noob!

[Guff]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Beat up 20 year old car for $3-5K...that's not dirt. Go away, noob!

My buddy got a mint NA 5-spd with ~130k miles for $2k. That's dirt, my boy!

[TeamJaunF1]

I really wanted one of the twins but decided on a good NB miata instead. I'm happy with that choice because I can spend more money on mods/track days and put the rest of the money towards getting a new mini van for my family. I've found that people who joke about the miata haven't spent any time driving one. I know because I use to do the same thing. For pure driving pleasure it is hard to beat a miata.

[Turbowned]

I just drove an NC Miata again; haven't driven one since they came out in '06. So much fun!!! I can confirm what pretty much all the auto journos say: the engine revs more freely and sounds better, the gearbox is excellent, the steering has nice weight to it, but there is more body roll and it feels a little more cramped in the cabin (I'm 6' 2").

Unfortunately, I am too big for this car. The roof is too low, the top of the windshield blocks my vision of stoplights, the seats don't go low enough, and the steering wheel doesn't telescope (at least it tilts now, unlike the older ones!) If I were 5' 11" I'd definitely have a hard time deciding between the MX-5 and the BRZ/FR-S. But at my height, the choice is clear.

[GTM_Challenge]

We've got two s2000s, two miatas (NA & NB), and now an FR-S here at the shop. Can you tell we like lightweight rwd platforms? I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, each just comes with its pros and cons. Figuring out which is best for you is the hardest part.

[karma003]

Originally Posted by GTM_Challenge

We've got two s2000s, two miatas (NA & NB), and now an FR-S here at the shop. Can you tell we like lightweight rwd platforms? I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, each just comes with its pros and cons. Figuring out which is best for you is the hardest part.

Very well said! I personally love my frs & miss my NB miata still dearly. Ill prob get another some day