I sense a disturbance in the force . . .

Don't get me wrong, the answer is still Miata, but I'm beginning to wonder if the correct answer should now be "Miata - NB". As with most here, I'm a compulsive craigslist car shopper. I've started to notice a trend. The NA prices (at least locally) seem to have started creeping up, while the NB prices have continued to drop. A good solid NA is running about 4.5K with moderate mileage, 5K(+) with low miles or exceptionally clean. I'm now starting to see close (or even equivalent) NB's in the same price range. Example: http://swmi.craigslist.org/cto/3824485969.html

Since the NB is more refined, faster and probably the new "must have" autocross car if it gets moved to ES, is the NB Miata now "the answer?"

BTW - just a theoretical question for me, the kids love my NA and would never accept a Miata that didn't have pop-up headlights.

I'd still have to have an NA- an NB is undriveable for me due to my shape.

NB is the answer. If I hadn't gotten my NA for free, I wouldnt own one. I refuse to pay NA prices when the NB exists.

NCs are getting close too. If you want to go as fastas possible in a miata, the NC poses an interesting argument.

I am noticing the same pricing trend but I don't like the NB that much. I would rather have an NC than a NB but NA miata is still the answer.

In reply to mndsm:

And here I thought I was the only one....

NC's can be found regularly for sub $10k. Saw an 06'(not wrecked) for $6500 this week. I have a 10ae I'm going to use for a dd but I'm seriously considering picking up a NC. It is a much better car

unk577 wrote: NC's can be found regularly for sub $10k. Saw an 06'(not wrecked) for $6500 this week. I have a 10ae I'm going to use for a dd but I'm seriously considering picking up a NC. It is a much better car

But it's not a better Miata...

My kids insist on the pop up headlights too.I thought I was the only one! Ive had both,I kind of like the NB a little better.If next time a NB turns out to be a better deal they are going to be disappointed.

If they hadn't gotten all fancy with the door panels that take a tight fit to a really tight fit for someone with longer legs, NB would totally be the answer. Heck. I would have never gotten rid of my MSM if that were the case.

grafmiata wrote:

unk577 wrote: NC's can be found regularly for sub $10k. Saw an 06'(not wrecked) for $6500 this week. I have a 10ae I'm going to use for a dd but I'm seriously considering picking up a NC. It is a much better car

But it's not a better Miata...

Well......from what I hear it is a better LS miata

Maybe this would be a good place to ask...

Between NA and NB, what are the reasons for the performance difference?

Motor Subframe (?) geometry Shock mounts

I want to build an exocet, but I'm going to start with an NA. Just wondering how hard it will be to correct any performance deficiencies.

So, which Miata is right for tall guys? At 6'4", I remember looking pretty closely at the top of the windshield in an NA the last time I sat in one, which was almost ten years ago. Got back into my MKII MR2 and was happy to have all the space it offers.

the NA has achieved classic status. in another three years, the first ones will be bonafide antiques.

I prefer the looks of the NB myself.

The NB definitely fit me better and I'm 6'. So I'm guessing which one fits you best depends upon whether you have long legs or a long torso. I have long legs.

From the inside you can't see whether what you are driving is good looking or ugly, but when you park it and get out the NB is the only answer to that question.

My son & I were just talking about getting another on tonight at supper. Guess Miata #4 is in our near future.

Considering the first thing every NA owner does is upgrade their suspension to NB spec, and the second is to swap in NB brakes, and the third is... you get my point.

My next Miata will be an NB.

Basically, both versions have pretty much hit the bottom of the depreciation curve, so the price is based more on condition and equipment than on model year.

Personally, I prefer the interior of the 1.6 cars, and I like the upgrade options for big shiny 7" reflectors. That's why my daily driver is based on a 1990. It still has NA suspension (can't beat FM rear mounts) and I've cherry-picked the brake parts I want (1.8 rotor sizes, big master, Sport booster, Wilwoods on all four corners, adjustable prop valve). Under the hood and from an engine management standpoint, it's mostly 2004.

If I were going to build (another) custom Miata, I'd probably start either with a late NB or an early NA again. Depends on what I was looking to achieve. Not a fan of the early NB myself, both from the interior/exterior looks (and crap headlights!) and the poor gearing choice.

The NC is a different feeling beast. It needs more in stock form to make it work properly. I want to spend more time making the steering work right. But with a V8 and the right suspension, it's a very, very good car.

ProDarwin wrote: Maybe this would be a good place to ask... Between NA and NB, what are the reasons for the performance difference? Motor Subframe (?) geometry Shock mounts I want to build an exocet, but I'm going to start with an NA. Just wondering how hard it will be to correct any performance deficiencies.

Motor, better engine management, lightly altered suspension geometry, better steering rack (especially the rare manual rack), stiffer chassis, different gearing, better ABS (2001+), better brakes (2001+). That's basically it. It really is an evolution of the platform instead of a new generation.

From a performance standpoint only, if you're Miata shopping now, absolutely follow the advice above. However, I'd say the NA does a much better job of capturing the feel of a vintage car - and not just due to the older chassis, it really captures the aura of a car 15-20 years before its time. Whereas the NB sort of just feels like the older car it is - not bad by any viewpoint, but not "classic" either.

Keith Tanner wrote: Motor, better engine management, lightly altered suspension geometry, better steering rack (especially the rare manual rack), stiffer chassis, different gearing, better ABS (2001+), better brakes (2001+). That's basically it. It really is an evolution of the platform instead of a new generation.

Hmm,

For the Exocet, the 95 motor is staying. I'd like to add boost. If/when I pop it, I can always move to an NB motor (or a different power-train all together)

Engine management will be MS.

Geometry - how was this altered, and can it be corrected? Is an NB subframe swap the ideal performance choice?

Rack - does the NB manual rack just have a better ratio? The NA I am buying has a manual, but I think the ratio is like 300:1

Gearing - probably won't bother me much :)

ABS - don't have it, its a non-issue

Brakes - NB brakes aren't necessarily better. They are bigger. Most CSP cars are still downsizing to 1.6 brakes. That's something I may consider with the Exocet unless I do a lot of track days.

Hmmmm . . . you know this is kind of ripe for a GRM "comparison" article. NA vs NB vs NC. Say an autocross/track day comparison at stock & ST prep levels? Maybe a rundown of the "magic sauce" equipment packages for each generation? Current pricing ranges for each. That sort of thing . . .

The geometry changes:

Front lower control arm mounting points moved forward. I forget the amount, 10mm or so.
Steering arm moved up by 1/4"
Rear knuckles increase the track by 5mm per side

The NA manual rack sucks. It was developed in 90 days because someone in North America claimed you couldn't have a sports car with power steering. They were wrong The NB rack has much better feel and more consistent weighting, although I think the ratio is the same as the manual NA rack. But they're rare, they only appeared on the 1999 base model and the 50 2003 Club Sports.

The brake changes don't line up with NA/NB. 1990-93, 1994-02, 2001-05. Yes, there's a two year overlap there. Autocrossers don't put any heat in their brakes so that's why they like the light baby stuff, but I'd go with the common 1994-02 "1.8" brake setup. And the 2001+ brakes ARE better in my opinion, they have a couple of different booster options, a larger master, compatibility with one or two even larger masters and different piston sizes in the calipers. There isn't actually a single part in common between the 2001+ and the earlier brakes, although most people don't know that. Well, maybe the pedal and some hard lines.

PeterAK wrote: So, which Miata is right for tall guys? At 6'4", I remember looking pretty closely at the top of the windshield in an NA the last time I sat in one, which was almost ten years ago. Got back into my MKII MR2 and was happy to have all the space it offers.

I am 6'5" and I had a NA with a foam-extomy and a door handle-extomy for my knees.

The little bump in the top gives your head room but you brain pan will be slightly above windshield. Makes for an interesting airstyle with the top down.

I am very comfortable in a NC Miata, and notice little difference in the NB and NA in the way of ergonomics for me.

Miata was never the answer......the jedi mind tricks were used to create this in the first place.

PeterAK wrote: So, which Miata is right for tall guys? At 6'4", I remember looking pretty closely at the top of the windshield in an NA the last time I sat in one, which was almost ten years ago. Got back into my MKII MR2 and was happy to have all the space it offers.

The miata for tall guys is an rx7. But anyways it depends on your proportions. Im 6'4 but all legs so i basically dont fit in any miata. 1990 to 2013

PeterAK wrote: So, which Miata is right for tall guys? At 6'4", I remember looking pretty closely at the top of the windshield in an NA the last time I sat in one, which was almost ten years ago. Got back into my MKII MR2 and was happy to have all the space it offers.

S2000. While the ingress/egress isn't great, the headroom is significantly more than a Miata.