I think I might have to buy a new car.

I've owned an NA for (gulp) 23 years. I drive to work in a fairly tweaked turbo example of one that I've been fine-tuning for a long, long time and which carries a range of NA and NB parts from 1990 to 2005. I've never really been tempted by the NB, it's just the same car in a different wrapper. The NC never made it on to the want list. I just keep playing with my NA.

I've got more seat time in the ND, both on the track and on the street, than anyone else at FM. This includes both the four cylinder and V8 cars. I liked it and was starting to think maybe it was time to retire the blue turbo NA. The ND just works so well but it's still playful.

Then this thing. The weather wasn't great over the weekend, and the roads are covered with gravel and sand from traction enhancement efforts. But I still got some miles. Top down, top up, solo, with a passenger. And I don't think I've ever driven a car that needs so little modification in stock form. It's really, really good. The suspension has been recalibrated from the roadsters and has got a perfectly judged primary ride with less roll. A little more vertical movement on secondary, but it's acceptable. Even the interior sound level is good for a GT, with a nice little growl that's not intrusive.

I think I need one. I haven't brought a car home from a Mazda dealer since 1993, and it was used. But I could drive this car for a long, long time.

Oh, you know I'll do something to it. I think I can still improve on the suspension a bit, but it'll be difficult. Some brakes that are stiffer and lighter, and a little tweak to the wheels. But I've got to say, Mazda set the bar high with this one.

I know what I'm driving home again tonight.

I probably should not drive one in that case. I already like everything about it looks and functionality-wise.

Do not drive one out of casual interest. This way danger lies.

I will admit to having a good laugh this weekend when I tried to fit a 12" x 36" board in the trunk. Nope! This is not the world's most practical vehicle.

They have one at the dealer near me, grand touring.

$35k before tax,tag,title ...

I dont know, but at that price, an FRS/BRZ sounds much better.

Club, or Grand Touring ??

Slippery wrote: They have one at the dealer near me, grand touring. $35k before tax,tag,title ... I dont know, but at that price, an FRS/BRZ sounds much better.

How does the retractable roof work on that one again? Is this based on experience of the two vehicles, or just general preference?

MSRP on the GT is $32,620. You have to select just about every possible option to get to $35k. That's a dealer trying to get as much as possible out of a rare car.

The one I've been driving is a GT. Personally, I'd probably buy a Club (without the Brembo/BBS package) because I like the trim level better and I'm going to toss the stock suspension/wheels/brakes anyhow.

Kieth hate to ask but do you think that Mazda will re-calibrate the suspension on the base roadsters with what they have learned on the RT. Clubs in the standard roof are getting kind of available used around me.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

I could not find the button to retract the top on the FR-S I drove . Have not driven an RF yet.

I did not pay much attn. after I saw the MSRP was higher than my S2000 new. I will try and take one for a spin one of these days.

Keith Tanner wrote: I will admit to having a good laugh this weekend when I tried to fit a 12" x 36" board in the trunk. Nope! This is not the world's most practical vehicle.

Needs moar hitch! I must admit I wasn't crazy about the looks when they 1st came out but they have really strongly grown on me. In person they are much more attractive.

I went shopping for one of those, a 124 Abarth, a Golf R or maybe even a Focus RS. I came home with a Tacoma. I feel like I'm going to have pangs of regret come spring. Or another new-to-me motorcycle.

Had a chance to take one for a few runs during a school I was teaching. For a straight from the factory, normal street car, it was the closest thing to an Elise that I have driven. At least in feel. Car just felt so amazingly light. Then I got to ride in Ron Bauer's STR preppared ND. Wow. . The want got real. Really real.

So, I was thinking. If you fine gents at FM ever needed someone to come out to the open house and lend a hand giving rides in all your project cars at the track day, I'd be willing. Like really, really willing.

Slippery wrote: In reply to Keith Tanner: I could not find the button to retract the top on the FR-S I drove . Have not driven an RF yet. I did not pay much attn. after I saw the MSRP was higher than my S2000 new. I will try and take one for a spin one of these days.

Bet you didn't include inflation.

Keith, a British magazine I read said that they experienced a lot of resonant buffeting with the roof retracted, much worse than the roadster with the top down. Did you notice that at all?

Yep. I think I am going to order one later this year to get a 2018. Hoping for a slightly better color selection, possibly a few little tweaks and a rear view camera. I'll be sorry to see the NC go but this one is so good.

I haven't had a chance to run with the top down at high speeds yet - it's been hard enough finding an opportunity to drive it when it's not actively been snowing. At 40-50 mph, no apparent resonances. When the top is up, there is a little whisper of wind noise from the driver's window at those speeds, but not the passenger's. This makes me think it's an adjustment. At 75 mph top up, the car's really quiet.

The roadsters will get the recalibrated suspension, but not immediately. I asked Mazda about that when they said the RF was better than the ragtop If there are used Clubs available, grab one and put on a good suspension. I know a guy. With good suspension and tires, these things will generate serious lateral grip. I have run down S2000s on track with this setup. C+D tested one of ours on the skidpad, I haven't seen those numbers yet.

Slippery, that window sticker doesn't match what Mazdausa.com says. But I guess it's a starting point for negotiation. You are looking at the top of the line there. If you can wrangle an S-plan code, things get cheaper.

A rear camera would be nice for sure. I've also learned that I tend to put my hand behind the passenger seat when backing up, and the clear windblocker makes that a bit awkward.

I'd been thinking I wanted black because mean, but looking at the car there's some clever use of blackout panels to make it look a little sleeker. I think a black one might look chunky around the buttress area. So now I'm thinking plan B, which is black with a wrap or a repaint in a nice metallic blue like my friendly Lexus Ultrasonic. Start with black because that way I don't have to do the door jambs or engine bay. I would do the inner door panels, having that continue from the outside is really cool.

z31maniac wrote:

Slippery wrote: In reply to Keith Tanner: I could not find the button to retract the top on the FR-S I drove . Have not driven an RF yet. I did not pay much attn. after I saw the MSRP was higher than my S2000 new. I will try and take one for a spin one of these days.

Bet you didn't include inflation.

Of course not, but even if I do it would be $38256 in todays dolars for an S2000 vs $34.9 for a Miata ... I dont see Mazda moving too many of them.

Keith Tanner wrote: Slippery, that window sticker doesn't match what Mazdausa.com says. But I guess it's a starting point for negotiation. You are looking at the top of the line there. If you can wrangle an S-plan code, things get cheaper.

I agree, that's just what I saw. I am sure if you wait a few months and shop around you can get one under $30k. But the first impression was shocking. Keep in mind I had not been to the Mazda website to look at the prices.

Keith Tanner wrote: How does the retractable roof work on that one again? Is this based on experience of the two vehicles, or just general preference?

If Mazda had seen fit to make the retractable roof fully retract - a la the NC - I'd be interested. The top-down targa does nothing for me. They should have made it a fixed roof and not wasted weight & money on the origami wizardry...

My heart literally sank when I first saw this car. Sure it looks nice in the coupe configuration, but it just wasn't what I was hoping for (a PRHT ND).

I test drove an S2000 years ago. I walked away thinking it was okay, but not something I wanted for a street car. Just not fun unless you wound it out, and then you couldn't use more than 3rd gear without getting arrested. Even at the same price, I'd chose an ND over that. Throw in a sexy looking power top at a $4000 discount and I'm in.

I don't understand why some people get so wound up about it not being "a real convertible". You can't see the stuff that stays up from the driver's seat. You get wind in your hair. And unlike the NC PRHT, you get a car that's actually attractive with the top up.

If your heart is literally sinking, see a doctor.

Ian F wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: How does the retractable roof work on that one again? Is this based on experience of the two vehicles, or just general preference?

If Mazda had seen fit to make the retractable roof fully retract - a la the NC - I'd be interested. The top-down targa does nothing for me. They should have made it a fixed roof and not wasted weight & money on the origami wizardry... My heart literally sank when I first saw this car. Sure it looks nice in the coupe configuration, but it just wasn't what I was hoping for (a PRHT ND).

And if they could fix the roof permanently and give it a lift back I'd be in line.

Maybe I'd have to drive it back to back with the roadster. I will admit rearward visibility out of modern convertibles isn't like driving my Spitfire. It's been awhile since I drove my ex's Launch Edition (like a maybe a month after she got it) and that was only for about 10 minutes on a route near her house I used to use as a test loop.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooo

Pics of the NA?

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/mazda/1990-mazda-mx-5-miata-turbo-smurf-by-flyin-miatadriven-ar165034.html

I'm looking for a gas efficient commuter that won't have to carry much besides me. The ND has been wiggling around as a want in my brain since I saw one in person, but I was seeing what they did with the hard top.

I'm a bit disappointed that rollover protection doesn't seem to be possible. As was said earlier, I'd almost prefer a fixed roof with a removable targa panel. However, that's probably not enough to be a deal breaker. I've resisted driving one so far, and I'm going to continue to do so until I'm sure I can afford it. That, and maybe until I'm sure if my knee can continue to handle driving a manual transmission.

When is forced induction coming around for these? That might make getting an automatic a bit less painful.

mazdeuce wrote: And if they could fix the roof permanently and give it a lift back I'd be in line.

And if they gave it a rotary and smoothed out the lines a bit, it'd make a great RX-9 and then I'd have to decide if I want to own three 2-seat Mazdas...