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I like driving the NC quite a bit. I fit in it very comfortably. The NA and NB left me feeling cramped - especially with the top up. Long commutes would leave me not liking the NA and NB very much.
The NC has a much stiffer, better chassis, brakes and drivetrain and more interior space. From a looks perspective, it is purely subjective. From a driving perspective the NC is a much better car.
I don't care for NBs with the "appearrance package" -- the huge side skirst especially. I bet they can be removed easily, however.
Buy the best you can afford. Upgrade at will.
Like them all, but have grown to like my Second Gen MX5 (base model 2000) best. I prefer the smaller tail section of the First Gen cars, but for overall styling, I like my '00.
I realize the Third Gen cars are probably the best street cars, so I'm just going on looks.
amg_rx7 wrote:I like driving the NC quite a bit. I fit in it very comfortably. The NA and NB left me feeling cramped - especially with the top up. Long commutes would leave me not liking the NA and NB very much....
I will have to try an NC at some point. The NB was a bit cramped for me, made long trips slightly uncomfortable, but doable. It is amazing how much baggage you can get in one if you really try.
I suspect this is one of the main motivations for the changes through the years, to make them more "everydayable".
I loved my 99. For some reason I can’t get over the looks of the pop up headlights and little chrome door handles on the NA. I hated the NC when it came out but since it grew a smile I have started to appreciate them more. They did drive very nice, I almost signed up for some great lease deal a few years ago. I plan on getting another toy car next year and a 1999-2000 or 2006 Miata are high on my list. The wife wants a Boxster and I want to test drive a S2000.
OK, having read this, I understand that they're all good and all have strengths and weaknesses.
If I want a dedicated-but-street-legal track/autox Miata that I can start stock and build up, where do I begin?
I'm thinking '94-'96, as base as is regionally available (non-M). But among the various iterations, what has LSD (and which is best)? For autocross I would think that's a must-have. Certainly for fun it is.
My second choice would be an AP-1 S2000. However, I suspect that would be the more expensive, faster, and ultimately less fun route.
This customer car at work is making some friends. FM suspension, big fat 255-series Dunlop Star Specs on 17x9 wheels, Cosworth supercharger with FM ECU programming, roll bar. It's the Mazdaspeed nose that really makes it work though. Mechanically, it's the clone of our own shop car.
The 2006-08 NC needs some suspension work out of the box, Mazda goofed up pretty badly on the shocks. A friend fairly high inside Mazda (and a Spec racer) says the one to get is a 2010 5-speed. "Almost as much fun as a 1.6" according to him.
I have a 90 that I daily drive and a 95 that is my track rat / autox car. The 90 is dead stock except for the later front and rear chassis brace. It's a great car on the street, handles well, a little noisy on the highway. The 95 has GC coilovers, FM rear top mounts, racing beat exhaust, intake and front sway bar. It had it's second mechanical issue in 6 years of track and autox duty, plus it was my road car until last year. NA's rock, cheap, reliable, easy to modify and they make you laugh. You just can't go wrong. .
