NA vs NB vs NC miata

What do you choose?

I've already had a 1.6NA.. omg garbage.

Nc. Cheaper. Better in about every way. 20years newer tech. Cheap and Easy engine swap to a 2.5. 

Driven all three, owned a NA6, now own a NC.

Really depends on what you want the car to be and what your plans for it are but I absolutely love my NC and can't wait to get real suspension under it.

I liked my NA6 but it was also a much more raw experience. Unless you are partial to the NA styling, with where prices are going, I think the smart buys right now are the NB2 (if you want the more pure Miata) and NC (if you want a more versatile and mature-feeling Miata).

The one I have.  And the one you can get.  

The best one by a long way.  

My Miata is a dedicated autocross car, so it's a 99 base model (NB1) with the hard S package.  

If I owned one for multiple uses, I'd have an NC. They just aren't currently classed for autocross where they can be competitive.

I drove an NC with a 2.5 swap. That was the best "car" of the bunch. Most fun was the NB MSM

Again, depends on exact usage, but I'd likely go NC. 

Owned and tracked an NA, tracked an NB, owned two NCs but never got a chance to track them. 

Had a 90 and 2 1995's, just purchased at 2000.  I autocrossed one of the 95's and the 90, the other 95 morphed into a track / autox car.  The NB is more comfortable on the road, and the microscopically larger interior is appreciated as I get larger.  I don't care for the looks of the NC, so ruled them out when I was shopping for another one.  I have a friend who purchased an NC a few years ago, did some mods to it, and had a fast, comfortable, competitive car with an automatic top.  

My opinion: 1.6 NA is fun because you're racing everybody, they just don't know it.  Buzzy on the highway.  1.8 NA has a little more power, feels more solid, rewards smooth, energy conserving driving.  Brakes are the enemy.  I used to refer to driving my track NA as a religious experience, because I frequently took the Lord's name in vain as I struggled out of the racing bucket seat.   NB1 is just a little more refined than a NA, and not quite as punishing.  Your actual mileage may vary.

My use is basic "cheap" transportation with a manual. There is one at a used car place locally, 99 green with 120k for 8k. That's where I'd like to stay price wise.

I don't need to pack more miles on my Avalanche, which is at 210k. 

NC for me as I fit in it the best. But in reality, the NA/NB as similar experiences and the NC is much different.

I drove my NC more than I ever drove my NA or NB and a large part of that was because it was a better car. The NA's were fun for a weekend cruise or hitting the cones/track but not as good day to day. If I were to ever go back to another Miata for the street it would be a NC with the 2.5l and the fox suspension. 

I don't think it's going to happen for me as I'm eyeing an 86 for my next ride but never say never as I do have all of the makings for an NB track car in my basement. 

It all depends on the intended use IMO. Whichever you decide on, the boosted version is a lot more fun. I currently have a boosted 92 on E85, MS3Pro, Fox Coilovers, and much more and it is a riot. 

If street toy only, and keeping it mostly stock,  MazdaSpeed NB for me. It has the most personality, in large part because of its flaws as much as in spite of them, as well as being the best looking. The main problem with NA/NB for me, is that you have to choose either roll bar height OR bar-to-head clearance. There is no 'both' with a functional top. So if tracking it too, modded NC all the way.

But if the only thing you have to say about the 1.6 NA is "omg garbage", it sounds like you might just not be a Miata person. Perhaps take a closer look at things like BMW's and 350/370 Z's.

Driven5 said:

But if the only thing you have to say about the 1.6 NA is "omg garbage", it sounds like you might just not be a Miata person. Perhaps take a closer look at things like BMW's and 350/370 Z's.

This. I don't think a NB1 is going to scratch your itch if the NA6 didn't. For basic cheap transportation it would not be my choice either.

The Miata needle didn't really move in a meaningful way until the NC, IMO. For a combination daily/fun car they're great, but they're still a Miata. If you're just looking for basic transportation you might not be looking for a Miata.

pointofdeparture said:

Driven5 said:

But if the only thing you have to say about the 1.6 NA is "omg garbage", it sounds like you might just not be a Miata person. Perhaps take a closer look at things like BMW's and 350/370 Z's.

This. I don't think a NB1 is going to scratch your itch if the NA6 didn't. For basic cheap transportation it would not be my choice either.

The Miata needle didn't really move in a meaningful way until the NC, IMO. For a combination daily/fun car they're great, but they're still a Miata. If you're just looking for basic transportation you might not be looking for a Miata.

I'd disagree with that last sentence. They are fun to drive, cheap to run, and incredibly reliable. 

And he already has a truck for bigger needs. 

I had a 97 that was great.

I had a 93 with a 5.0 in it and it wasn't great.

I had a 99 with an Ecotec swap and it wasn't my favorite.

I had a stock 2006 and it was fine but lacked "pizazz".

I had an STR prepped 2006 and it was pretty hardcore but objectively really really good.

Now I have a 93 again (yay pop ups) but with a later year motor and turbo/MS3/good suspension, built for being a zippy DD/rapid cruiser.  NOT built to an autocross class.   I have hopes that it'll be my last Miata.

Ive had an NA NB and ND. If I was looking at another one for a street car id buy an NC

In reply to z31maniac :

I think it depends on the kind of driving you're doing. My NA6 was a bit punishing for a regular highway commute. But my comment was more geared towards OP having nothing good to say about his NA. In that context I'm not sure any Miata is going to meet his needs, it would be different if this was a "I liked X about it, but..."

I have both NB and NC currently. The NC is more usable and modern in all ways. The NB is enormous fun to drive. It engages you on a different level, but it's the car that's for sale. I'm in my seventies so that may have a bit to do with it.

In reply to pointofdeparture :

My NA was a $900 broken transmission challenge car with 226k on it. It was well past abused before I got it and I throughly abused it some more at the challenge. Now, those are 30 yrs old vehicles.
I'd like something 20-ish, manual, 100k, and under 10k. 

pointofdeparture said:

In reply to z31maniac :

I think it depends on the kind of driving you're doing. My NA6 was a bit punishing for a regular highway commute. But my comment was more geared towards OP having nothing good to say about his NA. In that context I'm not sure any Miata is going to meet his needs, it would be different if this was a "I liked X about it, but..."

NCs are dramatically better vehicles than NAs. More comfortable, more interior room, one handed top up/down thanks to the center latch, more power/torque. 

I like the NC because after driving it back to back with an NA, I still really enjoyed it in spite of the extra size and weight. I also like that it has basic roll bars built in, and while the stock hoops do look to be a little wimpy I love that it's a strong place to tie in an aftermarket bar... so I would feel a lot more comfortable taking the kiddos in a ride with it.

I also really dig how the NC3 Club model looks. Unpopular opinion but, I think it's the best looking Miata ever made.