4th gen ND Mazda MX-5 Miata

[SuperTom]

Id wait until end of winter to decide. Tuners by then will have the 19's and will see how much more they can get out of the new setup. If its not much more than modding the 18's then I'm sure there will still be some on the lots at a discount

[unhappymeal]

I'm happy I didn't wait. I picked up a loaded RF GT (in Canada the Bilsteins are standard) for over $4,000 off MSRP and they included Pilot A/S 3+. I've been able to enjoy over a year of top down driving instead of waiting. I drove the ND2 at the Canadian launch event and while the engine is more rev happy and the higher red line is fun, but it's not much faster in practice. The telescoping steering wheel was a non-issue for me as the car fits like a glove as is.

The only thing I thought I would miss was the reverse camera. In reality, the car is so tiny that you can see everything behind you with the side view mirrors or popping your head around the flying buttresses.

[dowroa]

I would think it would be usecase, still.

If you are just driving around? Maybe not a big deal.

If you are competing? The extra RPM room and overall speed is a big deal.

If you are tall, the telescoping steering wheel opens the car up to more buyers.

Sad to hear about the wind noise on the RF still.

[unhappymeal]

Originally Posted by dowroa

I would think it would be usecase, still.

If you are just driving around? Maybe not a big deal.

If you are competing? The extra RPM room and overall speed is a big deal.

If you are tall, the telescoping steering wheel opens the car up to more buyers.

Sad to hear about the wind noise on the RF still.

The buttresses were always going to create more wind noise with the top down. Removing the rear wind deflector helps, but it is louder than the soft top. However, the top up experience is substantially less noisy (2 - 3 dB) than the soft top and it should be even better as the 2019 has new door seals.

For me, the added wind noise on the RF with the top down was worth the added security, bad weather protection and quieter highway cruising gained with the retractable hard top.

Edit #1: Tests have found the extra speed isn't really there. The 7,500 RPM redline is a software adjustment that only occurs at full throttle. Otherwise, you're capped at 7,200 RPMs. C&D has it only a tenth faster to 60 mph and virtually the same trap speed and time in the 1/4 mile as the ND1. You are correct in that the real track time gains are in being able to hold 2nd or 3rd longer and avoiding an up shift. I thought I was going to have huge buyer's remorse, but after driving the ND2 at the Canadian launch event, I was indifferent.

Edit #2: Have a look at the torque curve differences between the ND1 and ND2.

[dowroa]

Originally Posted by unhappymeal

Edit #1: Tests have found the extra speed isn't really there. The 7,500 RPM redline is a software adjustment that only occurs at full throttle. Otherwise, you're capped at 7,200 RPMs. C&D has it only a tenth faster to 60 mph and virtually the same trap speed and time in the 1/4 mile as the ND1. You are correct in that the real track time gains are in being able to hold 2nd or 3rd longer and avoiding an up shift. I thought I was going to have huge buyer's remorse, but after driving the ND2 at the Canadian launch event, I was indifferent.

Edit #2: Have a look at the torque curve differences between the ND1 and ND2.

@unhappymeal, thanks for the data!

Still, for autoX, those numbers are all in the right place for stock classing (where the car was already pretty overdogish).

I haven't looked into the current Fasttrack... but it is a good car getting better. I am glad to see that!

Now.. for the BRZ...

[unhappymeal]

Originally Posted by dowroa

@unhappymeal, thanks for the data!

Still, for autoX, those numbers are all in the right place for stock classing (where the car was already pretty overdogish).

I haven't looked into the current Fasttrack... but it is a good car getting better. I am glad to see that!

Now.. for the BRZ...

Most of the benefit is in the feel. The engine feels happier to rev out and the power doesn't drop off as it hits the red line. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous. At the end of the day, I'm a realist and in grid locked Ontario there just aren't many opportunities or awesome back roads to redline the car.

It reminds me of my old K20 Civic Si. I had to actively look for opportunities to find enough space to run the car past the 6k VTEC switch over and up to the redline.

[Scala]

The SCCA decision as to where to class the 2019 ND will be interesting to follow for the BRZ drivers who can only hope that the new Miata is placed in the SB class and not in SC.

In the SC class a well driven 2018 ND can keep the BRZ Performance package car more than busy on some tracks, the 2019 Miata would be quite superior on most tracks.

Stay tuned and I may have a brand new 2018 tS for sale.

[Kordless]

I bought a 2019 ND2 after owning a 2013 Subaru BRZ for 2 years.

I liked the BRZ for a bit on the track, but for a street car it was very hard to drive in my opinion. The clutch is very weird, the shifter is eh, the low end torque just isnt there to get it moving anywhere in stop and go traffic without clunking or riding the clutch. I'm enjoying my ND2 a lot more so far and I've owned it for about a month now.

[unhappymeal]

Originally Posted by Kordless

I bought a 2019 ND2 after owning a 2013 Subaru BRZ for 2 years.

I liked the BRZ for a bit on the track, but for a street car it was very hard to drive in my opinion. The clutch is very weird, the shifter is eh, the low end torque just isnt there to get it moving anywhere in stop and go traffic without clunking or riding the clutch. I'm enjoying my ND2 a lot more so far and I've owned it for about a month now.

Congrats on the new ride. The FA20 is....not a great engine and the clutch is weird, but I 100% disagree about the shifter. It's not ND Miata smooth, but the throws are short and precise, if a little notchy. My main gripe with the BRZ drive train was that the FA20 is so coarse it caused my shift knob to vibrate around like crazy when in gear.

[Kordless]

Originally Posted by unhappymeal

Congrats on the new ride. The FA20 is....not a great engine and the clutch is weird, but I 100% disagree about the shifter. It's not ND Miata smooth, but the throws are short and precise, if a little notchy. My main gripe with the BRZ drive train was that the FA20 is so coarse it caused my shift knob to vibrate around like crazy when in gear.

After many track days, it became apparent the synchros on the FRS/BRZ are very weak. Yes I liked the shifter prior to the degradation of the transmission. Every track day overheats the transmission fluid to scary levels. Any fluid did not help, it all ended up a very dirty grey color.

[R_E_L]

I really wanted one of these but in the end I wasn't comfortable with the idea of parking a soft top car in some of the neighborhoods I visit for work. I don't like the RF from the back or it's price so I went with the BRZ instead. Still happy with the purchase. I had been following these cars for so long it only felt right to finally take the plunge. Congrats on the new car @Kordless

[wbradley]

It is funny that in principal I should love the MX-5 for what is is, but even the RF version looks hideous from the back to me. Kinda like something from Spongebob.

I currently commute to a small town outside the city, and I have seen a grey MX-5 RF enroute and as much as I want to like the look, whenever I follow behind it I cannot get over the lack of visual appeal.

Today on the way in, I happened to see a Fiat Spider on the road and took notice as I rarely see them here. It has more of a rear bumper than the ND MX-5 and looks a lot more like a proper car to me plus there is the power bump on the hood and a bunch of other nostalgic styling cues to the original Spider design. The original Miata was a cool concept once people in 1990 got their head around a new car that tiny. I sold cars for a bit and actually sold a brand new 1990 blue Miata to Robert McCall who was an Olympic figure skater. Sadly, he passed a year or so later. Anyway, the NB and NC did nothing for me for whatever reason. But, it is cool that at least one company makes a small sports car for the mass market. SF-R *COUGH*

Everyone here seems to adore the Mazda, so I thought I'd start a discussion since the Fiat appears to receive much less adulation.

[Gunman]

Tail lights are too far inboard, that's my only complaint.

[HKz]

I like the ND design through and through. In my eyes, all generations of the Miata are "cute" as opposed to aggressive which makes sense as they want a design that appeals both to men and women. Lots of chicks out there driving them.