FT-86 v.s. MX-5

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by spin9k

^ we may well get the proof of that theory.. or not... as I consider the FR-S to be both the Miata with more power (sans turbo) AND a hardtop to boot. I'm just hoping the FR-S IS a success and Mazda dutifully goes about producing something similar to reap tha 'gold mine' it has been missing.

it would be nice. mazda has already voiced that they wont be doing that though. they say they want to go the other way and build a lighter car. i dont konw how light you can get away with making an affordable car in this day but it will be cool to see

[Neutral_Eyes]

Originally Posted by fatoni

i dont know how much safer the car is going to be but i totally get wanting a safer car.

Even if it's just placebo, every time I see some mother cruising in a Suburban while texting I get nervous. I think a hardtop, more airbags, and a decade of safety standards improvements would keep me safer. Even if it doesn't.

[Ryephile]

Originally Posted by fatoni

great car. too bad they dont sell them in america

The Elise has been for sale in the USA since model year 2005. After the 2011 models are sold, it won't be back until the 3rd gen arrives in a few years.


Back on topic; I do very much look forward to the ND Miata. The Motor Trend Japanese patent office discovery and subsequent rendering are very promising. IMO, any weight loss versus the NC, and anything they do to cut down the tic-tac look and make a touch sexier will help its appeal tremendously. I also look forward to the Skyactiv-G engine being put there...but not as much as the Skyactiv-D!

[Neutral_Eyes]

Originally Posted by Ryephile

Back on topic; I do very much look forward to the ND Miata. The Motor Trend Japanese patent office discovery and subsequent rendering are very promising. IMO, any weight loss versus the NC, and anything they do to cut down the tic-tac look and make a touch sexier will help its appeal tremendously. I also look forward to the Skyactiv-G engine being put there...but not as much as the Skyactiv-D!

Amen. I wouldn't expect Mazda to stick the diesel in themselves, but I'm eager to see what happens when a tuner eventually does it. Shame the ND seems further off than I'd like.

[Gardus@Supersprint]

Why not a Miata with the 2.3 turbo engine from the MPS...

[Dark]

Originally Posted by Gardus

Why not a Miata with the 2.3 turbo engine from the MPS...

Mazda want to make next gen Miata even lighter. Slap turbo engine in that car won't make them achieve the goal. If Mazda can diet and give more hp to the car, Miata will easily run against Lotus Elise.

[Allch Chcar]

I honestly don't see a valid comparison. The Miata is lighter, has a better front suspension(which I understand is only slightly better), and a shorter wheelbase. Maybe the FT86 would be more practical? Anything short of a straight line or an oval the Miata is going to be faster...

And way to clog up a thread fatoni. I am disappoint.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

I honestly don't see a valid comparison. The Miata is lighter, has a better front suspension(which I understand is only slightly better), and a shorter wheelbase. Maybe the FT86 would be more practical? Anything short of a straight line or an oval the Miata is going to be faster...

And way to clog up a thread fatoni. I am disappoint.

Suspension development and tuning are more important than layout. I'll take a macstrut porshce or bmw over a wishbone front civic.

That said, the miata does have pretty well developed suspension.

Seems kind of silly to make statements like that before the car has been driven or is available for comparison though.

[Gardus@Supersprint]

Dampers quality, rigidity of the bushes, geometry, dimensions of strut and sway bars, weight of the wheels etc...there are so many elements that can make a suspension setup work or not, that I wouldn't judge a car from the mechanical layout.
Obviously if I see a RWD car with a live axle in the back I know it will have serious problems in finding a balance between grip and comfort.

One of the best front suspension setup in a FWD car right now is the one in the Megane RS and Focus RS; they use a McPherson. The Megane has even a live axle with non-coaxial springs and dampers at the back, but it's the best handling compact car to date!

The dampers on modern relatively cheap cars right now are the parts with more room for improvement, the stock elements are very cheap, just bolt on some Bilsteins and every car gets better.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by Sully

Suspension development and tuning are more important than layout. I'll take a macstrut porshce or bmw over a wishbone front civic.

That said, the miata does have pretty well developed suspension.

Seems kind of silly to make statements like that before the car has been driven or is available for comparison though.

I am not afraid to state my expectations. If anything, I hope I am wrong about this.

Originally Posted by Gardus

Dampers quality, rigidity of the bushes, geometry, dimensions of strut and sway bars, weight of the wheels etc...there are so many elements that can make a suspension setup work or not, that I wouldn't judge a car from the mechanical layout.
Obviously if I see a RWD car with a live axle in the back I know it will have serious problems in finding a balance between grip and comfort.

One of the best front suspension setup in a FWD car right now is the one in the Megane RS and Focus RS; they use a McPherson. The Megane has even a live axle with non-coaxial springs and dampers at the back, but it's the best handling compact car to date!

The dampers on modern relatively cheap cars right now are the parts with more room for improvement, the stock elements are very cheap, just bolt on some Bilsteins and every car gets better.

I don't disagree but the NC MX-5 has plenty other things going for it too.

[pastuch]

NA Miata for life... My favorite car of all time based on sportyness-per-dollar. 2100 pounds of awesome. My Miata is 21 years old and everything still works like it did when it was new. We paid $19000 Canadian for it in 1990. That car is magic. 140hp never felt so terrific.

If the FR-S comes anywhere close to the magic that the NA gave the world then I'll buy one.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by Gardus

Obviously if I see a RWD car with a live axle in the back I know it will have serious problems in finding a balance between grip and comfort.

I was about to say 'even then, if it's a light car with a well matched axle-EG a Lotus/Caterham 7 type car, along with good shocks and decently sprung it might not be too bad. Could even have passable comfort.'

Then I realized I was saying 'Caterham' and 'comfort' in the same sentence and it wasn't a criticism.
to myself.

[Ryephile]

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

I honestly don't see a valid comparison.

Fun, small, light, cheap. Those 4 properties embody the Miata and FT-86 concept. If none of those properties are of interest to you, then yes, you're right in that there is no valid comparison.

[4agze]

if next years MX-5 is the lighter version like what mazda is claiming to do, FT86 will have a hard chance of winning 5 lap battle in tsukuba hot version style lol