NA or NB

I tried an na and seemed to fit (though comfortable is another matter), but I didn't get to put the top up. My thighs do hit the door pull, but I was a foamectomy would drop me below it. I haven't tried an early nb yet, but I'm hoping I fit as I prefer their styling.

Since the interior is basically the same, you'll fit an NB. You might have to do a bit of parts swapping (there are a couple of different door pull designs for the NA, for example) but there shouldn't be any show stoppers.

Buzz Killington wrote:

GregTivo wrote: I assume they'll soon be moving the NB's to ES with the NA's, which should restore their dominence.

ain't happening...not in the next 3-4 years, anyway. ES is a very popular class right now; there is no desire on anyone's part to mess with it.

Personally I would like to see NB's open for STS2. My 99 is a base model with open diff which is required/allowed for STS2. I'm at a slight disadvantage to the sports with the limited slip. Don't really understand why not since the 1.8 NA's are very close to the same underneath as the NB's. I recently installed a set of revalved Bilstiens, Racing Beat front sway bar and bought an extra set of 14" rims (Kosei) w/Kumho 710's mounted for less than it would cost to install a factory limited slip. This dramatically bettered the handling, wonder how much a limited slip would help.

I LOVED, we're talking L O V E D my aunts 6 speed 2.0L NC.

LLLLOOOOOVVVVVEEEEEDDDDDD.

I dont think I can find one for under $6k though.

Drove my friend's STS (STS2) built NA (1.6L) and it felt slow. My 89 Si with no mods feels more exciting, and I can put three bitches in back.

I'm 6'3", in college, will be a daily driver in North Carolina.

R packages are cool... but I feel like that's all they are: cool. Torsen limited slip is, well, cool. So is no power steering. :)

I wish NCs were cheaper...

Having owned 13 NA miata and 2 NB miata, I still have a preference for NA's. First there is the classic look and two, what I will refer to tunability with NA's. I follow Randy Stocker's menu and have been able to develop a responsive miata. The later cars just dont have that range but will be faster than a 1.6; just not as much soul.

I figure if you're talking 6k, you have 2 paths to take. Both are NA, but I am a little biased :). One one hand, you could spend most of that money on the nicest R package you can find, put a set of revalved bilsteins on it, and have a somewhat rare "classic" sort of Miata that will probably never be worth less than you paid for it. This gets you a car that will be competitive in ES autocross, and will always be desirable in stock or near-stock configuration. Just leave it alone and enjoy it.

OR.... if you want something that gets you going a bit more, you could find a decent 2-3000 car and spend $3-4k on suspension mods (I can help with that) and a turbo setup. Or alternatively, look for a car that is already FI, right now this may be where you find the better deal actually. It doesn't take much power for a Miata to feel overpowered on the street. This path will leave you with a car that is probably not going to retain its value, won't be competitive in autocross, and will be much more likely to break stuff and require lots of maintenance and tweaking.

Since I know you are really talking about buying TWO Miatas, one for you and one for Dad, I think you may have figured out where I am going with this . I think you need one of each. An R package for Dad would always be a "special" car going in to the future, but very street friendly and reliable, and best kept stock. And you can probably live with a less clean, less comfortable, more unruly turbo car just fine. This way you have the best of both worlds, and whenever one of you gets tired of what you have, you can trade for a while and get a fun change of pace. As long as Dad isn't a whiny bitch who can't deal with manual steering and no AC, this could really work.

I hear you there Josh.

We're considering this one:

http://www.miata.net/cgi-bin/isc/classifieds.cgi?action=detail&AdNumber=82364&CategoryID=106&SubID=0&Position=25&TotalCount=44&Session=4a2f031f15b78a6c&FirstPage=20&LastPage=40&prevaction=show

and this one

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/1247554910.html

fastmiata wrote: Having owned 13 NA miata and 2 NB miata, I still have a preference for NA's. First there is the classic look and two, what I will refer to tunability with NA's. I follow Randy Stocker's menu and have been able to develop a responsive miata. The later cars just dont have that range but will be faster than a 1.6; just not as much soul.

The NBs are just as tunable - heck, for a lot of people, the best upgrade path for an NA is to stick as many NB parts as possible inside! My rally Miata looks like a 1994 on the outside, but the engine, suspension geometry and steering are all from the NB. Randy's recipe is okay, but it's just a start. The important thing is that you can still make them dance.

It takes a lot of power for a Miata to feel overpowered if the power is delivered well and the car is set up properly. A laggy turbo setup with a sub-optimal suspension can quickly feel like too much, but a better balanced engine with a good chassis will easily swallow a lot of power. I can say that 400 hp and 400 lb/ft on a kart track is starting to probe the limits, but take that same car to a big track like Laguna and it's a lot more capable than most drivers are able to manage.

That R package is a decent deal with a hardtop. Idaho is a LONG way from here though. The '99 really does nothing for me. The low mileage is only a plus if you want to keep it that way, and really I worry more about a car that is driven that infrequently. If you really want an NB I'd look for a '99 sport, and with a lower price target. But I'd rather have a turbo NA .

My turbo NB is an amazing car to drive. My na NA was a great car too, but older, so it had a lot more rattles. Stock for stock, there's really not much difference between the cars, so pick whatever one you prefer the styling of or find a killer deal on.

On the other hand - if you've got dough to blow, Mazda NA is just about giving away late model MX-5's these days. I'd love a PRHT for under $20K (but if I had the cash in hand, I'd cave for an S2000).

I've never been completely inspired by the NC. I think it's mostly in the steering, but it just feels a bit numb. Someone needs to let me have at one for 6 weeks or so to see if I can make it dance. I've heard the '09 is much better but I haven't had the chance to drive one yet...

"The NB is a better car, but the NA is a better Miata" (attributed to Bob -- father of the Miata on Miata.net all the time).

We only have NAs -- but that's been more of a price thing than anything else. I'm currently entertaining an offer of a 2001 NB with sport package on a straight trade for my C4 Corvette.

Keith wrote:

fastmiata wrote: Having owned 13 NA miata and 2 NB miata, I still have a preference for NA's. First there is the classic look and two, what I will refer to tunability with NA's. I follow Randy Stocker's menu and have been able to develop a responsive miata. The later cars just dont have that range but will be faster than a 1.6; just not as much soul.

The NBs are just as tunable - heck, for a lot of people, the best upgrade path for an NA is to stick as many NB parts as possible inside! My rally Miata looks like a 1994 on the outside, but the engine, suspension geometry and steering are all from the NB. Randy's recipe is okay, but it's just a start. The important thing is that you can still make them dance.

Quoted for truth. My NA is slowly turning into an NB in NA clothing.

wlkelley3 wrote: Personally I would like to see NB's open for STS2. My 99 is a base model with open diff which is required/allowed for STS2. I'm at a slight disadvantage to the sports with the limited slip. Don't really understand why not since the 1.8 NA's are very close to the same underneath as the NB's. I recently installed a set of revalved Bilstiens, Racing Beat front sway bar and bought an extra set of 14" rims (Kosei) w/Kumho 710's mounted for less than it would cost to install a factory limited slip. This dramatically bettered the handling, wonder how much a limited slip would help.

sounds like you're all set for STR. just throw a diff in that thing.

don't kid yourself..the NBs would kill the NAs in STS (no longer called STS2).

I believe that STS and STS2 are two seperate classes.

mistanfo wrote: I believe that STS and STS2 are two seperate classes.

That depends on what point in time you're talking about. Starting this year, STS is the new name for STS2; it's the home for a CRX or Miata. What used to be STS (Spec Civic Si) is now classed as ST. In other news, SM2 became SSM, so I need new letters for the turbo Miata.

Does the NB have cute little cubbys behind the seats like the NC does?

It has a single, relatively large cubby that can be accessed from outside the car when the top is up or down through a body-colored panel. It also has a center console with a lid with a short-lived hinge. And, umm, that's about it.