Yes, I haven't had it long. Yes, it has crap tires. Yes, the stock '06 (even sport package) suspension is garbage.
I have no absolutely no confidence throwing the car into a turn (again, I know part of that is the tires)........it just feels all wallowy and ugh.
I've been strongly considering the FM setup, FM Springs/Tokico HTS/FM Sways.......however, I wish that setup sat just a tiny bit lower from it seems like in pics, maybe another 1/2"
The plan for the car is "sportier" DD with an occasional auto-X thrown in and some 17x8 or 9s with 235/245. No track work, that's what the other Miata is for.
Any other suggestions? I've thought about coilovers, but I don't know if there are any good options for the NC below $2k, which is much more than I want to spend.
Looks like Variant 1s are right around $1800 or so.
I always prefer coilovers if possible buy $3k+ for suspension/wheels/tires on the DD, is a bit more than I want to do any time in the near future.
Oh you want to spend $2k for wheels, tires, and suspension?
Ehhhh.... i'd either wait and spend more, or... i don't know.
I can't think of a total set up like that for $2k that i'd be happy with. I can't even think of all that for my NB that i'd be happy with, and it's way cheaper buying 15x9s and the rubber that goes on them. 
What do you intend to do with it? If it's serious competition, anything but "proper coilovers" is just wasting time and money in the long run.
Do you just want it lower and sportier?
^Did you read my original post?
Swank Force One wrote:
Oh you want to spend $2k for wheels, tires, and suspension?
Ehhhh.... i'd either wait and spend more, or... i don't know.
I can't think of a total set up like that for $2k that i'd be happy with. I can't even think of all that for my NB that i'd be happy with, and it's way cheaper buying 15x9s and the rubber that goes on them.
$2500 ish would get me the FM setup, TRMs and tires.......change it coilovers and it's more like $4k
z31maniac wrote:
^Did you read my original post?
Swank Force One wrote:
Oh you want to spend $2k for wheels, tires, and suspension?
Ehhhh.... i'd either wait and spend more, or... i don't know.
I can't think of a total set up like that for $2k that i'd be happy with. I can't even think of all that for my NB that i'd be happy with, and it's way cheaper buying 15x9s and the rubber that goes on them.
$2500 ish would get me the FM setup, TRMs and tires.......change it coilovers and it's more like $4k
I did....
But when you end your post with this:
"Any other suggestions? I've thought about coilovers, but I don't know if there are any good options for the NC below $2k, which is much more than I want to spend. "
It's pretty easy to figure out why i was confused. And why i mentioned a good option below $2k.
The FM setup you mentioned is also $1129, "only" $671 less than the KWs.
True, but when I said below that, I wasn't thinking $1999! As really counting. 
z31maniac wrote:
True, but when I said below that, I wasn't thinking $1999! As really counting.
Heh fair enough. 
I don't really know of any other tried and proven setups in the $1200 or under range if you want to match FM's prices.
I'd weigh in, but you already know how I went.
Really bang for the buck on FM is great, and I suppose I could be happier with more Hellaflushed Stance, but when I'm behind the wheel I don't care. It's a great setup, especially for what I spent.
Besides, I went from this...
To this...
Whatever way you go make sure the sway bars do get replaced. Those limp paper clip diameter ones are the biggest problem with the OE setup. I'm sure I've said it before, but I'll keep saying it because the NC's sway bars suck that bad.
How mcuh did those actually drop the car? I can't find my tape measure to measure the current stock height.
I'd say somewhere in the range of 1-1.5 inches. It really did go from the rolypoly looking "aww look a Miata" to a much meaner looking creature "hey is that an S2000?"
But since this is your DD the ride compliance is still there. It's slightly harsher naturally, but I forgot about the difference within a week or two.
Hmm, with beefier rubber that might just be alright.
Seems the only other real option is Progress/Koni..........most of the published rates of springs seem far too low for the amount of lowering. Sitting on the bump stops all the time will ride even worse than it does now.
Worse being just not "sporty" it floats around like a luxury car, as you're well aware of.
Those are 245/40/17 Michelin Pilot SuperSports, something in the Extreme Summer category will probably fit more squared. And/or go to the max size 255/40's.
The 245 or 255 will require fender rolling, and TRM's seem to be the ticket as the 949 wheels appear to have a slightly more aggressive offset. A guy at an AutoX I just went to couldn't fit anything bigger than a 235 with out rubbing even with the fenders rolled with his 949 wheels.
I took "Betty" to the track this weekend on the FM suspension and it did really well - even with a 430 hp V8. Seriously. I looked for off-the-shelf options to use that would work better, and had little luck. I haven't had the chance to do a ground-up coilover set for the car yet.
FM springs, TRM 17x9, 245 or 255 tires. I've got more pics, but not readily available to me right now.
Cheating a little bit - this is with the Super20 fender flares we sell. The car weighs about 200 lbs more than stock. 255 tires.
Keith, thanks for the more well-lit lower angle pics. No offense Necro
It's probably the best option for what I want and what I want to spend. I'd like a touch lower, but...........I guess for the DD it makes sense. And since I'm a huge fan of FM's stuff so...
Although I have no problem driving the NA around with less than 3" of clearance between the lip and the ground.
We picked the ride height for function - but to me, it just looks right. The arc of the fenders matches the arc of the wheels. I like a car to look as if it was designed to sit where it sits, not one that looks as if it's been lowered from that point.
I'd like to mention that either Derek Jenkins (Mazda's current head designer) or Jeremy Barnes (head of Mazdaspeed, I think) commented that our springs put the car right where it's supposed to be 
It was a few years back, I forget which one said it. Did you know they put sandbags in the cars during the official photo shoots to get the ride height down?
z31maniac wrote:
^Did you read my original post?
Whoops missed part of it after a long day at work
Again if you're doing autocross with the intention of winning...coilovers. If it's just for fun, just get something with beefy sway bars and harder springs.
You guys are going force me to find an NC for DD-duty the way you're going.
Unfortunately, there's no way I could leave it stock. So before too long I'd end up with a second STR car. Ugh... You guys are a bad influence!
Don't assume that "coil overs = winning". GOOD coilovers, maybe. But a crap set (like a number of ones on the market) will get its clock cleaned by a good non-coilover setup.
I will have to echo what Keith is saying. I have no experience with the KWs ( I am assuming those are solid units) but anything in the 1K range seems to be crap. It is hard to beat a properly tuned setup of springs and struts from one source will surely outperform those cheap coilovers.
Keith Tanner wrote:
Don't assume that "coil overs = winning". GOOD coilovers, maybe. But a crap set (like a number of ones on the market) will get its clock cleaned by a good non-coilover setup.
Well aware!
I was just curious if there was a "VMaxx" style option on coilovers for the NC.
It does not appear so, so the FM setup will end up on the car at some point this year.
V-Maxx has an NC option, actually, but it didn't get our stamp of approval. There were a number of aspects we didn't like, so we don't carry it. I'm not sure anyone does in the US.
