The Driver's Choice? - MX5 vs FRS (Gt86, BRZ) - Everyday Driver
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- Опубликовано: 28 окт 2015
- The 2016 MX-5 Miata begins the 4th Generation of one of the most successful sports cars. With the GT86 Twins (FRS & BRZ) crowding the MX-5s price and driver's car premise, we wanted to drive them back to back on a favorite road. In addition to our Orange FR-S long term car we also brought a stock BRZ. What we found surprised us.
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After watching this video, it really makes me wish Honda would start making the S2000 again.
+UBCS Wraith I want the S660.
+Andrew Malkin s800
iliovecaRS Also cool.
+Andrew Malkin When that car comes to the States we will be getting the 1 liter with 125hp.
+UBCS Wraith Honda is playing with the idea of a baby NSX. I'm hoping Toyota will challenge them and give us a new MR2.
Mazda has never made the MX5 a hard core sports car. It has allways been a nice softtop roadster.
and this is where mazda got lost, well, especially in Indonesia, they dont sell the convertible and stick shift version. that sucks, they rape the enjoyment of having a miata.
@@Liysrigede ❄️
People made it hardcore..
My girlfriend gets to the point quicker than these guys
While having getting straight to point is convenient, having all the reasons arriving to that conclusions is, sometimes, necessary.
Epic comment!!👍👍😂😂😂
@@Kiddomike You wanna hear your girlfriend give you all the reasons? Really?
I think you will find her G-Spot faster also.
❄️
You guys have become too hardcore to be called as Everyday Driver.
+Manseung Ha yup - called them out on this on their economy hatchbacks. they scoffed and told me 'nooooo, we're trying to pick the most enjoyable one to drive everyday'
I'm hardcore enough to love these videos and drive a hardcore car everyday.
+Manseung Ha "Everyday Driver provides entertaining and informative car reviews of great vehicles real people can afford." To me "everyday" implies that it's not an exotic or uberclassic or something else you wouldn't drive around all the time.
I drive an MX-5 as my everyday car. These cars are affordable enough to buy, run and maintain for an average person. The only significant issue is lack of storage and seats. As a single man, these aren't issues for me. I can fit my weekly shopping in the boot and I rarely have a passenger, let alone two. So for my circumstances - which aren't rare - the MX-5 *is* an everyday car.
+Manseung Ha What are you talking about? I could totally see driving either of these cars every day. As it stands I DD a Fiesta ST which is stiffer than both, and roughly the same speed on track.
the way they edit this video, I don't know when they're talking about the Miata or the FRS
miata got a red door
looking at the mx5 in the wrong way, mx5 was never supposed to be a hardcore sports car why so negative
+TheTonicro Well said. They should put up the dough and buy an Alfa 4C.
It seems like both of these cars force you to keep the revs up in the power band, so both cars force you to be a better driver then in something like a Mustang GT or something with gobs of horsepower. Something a lot of people can't do so they complain about lack of power.
Great reviews guys. I really like how your getting more and more conversational - you guys have done such a great job with your "brand" i think people will enjoy the natural interaction just like the podcasts. I am looking forward to you guys testing the Club model indeed.
The new 2019 Miata has 181 hp, thats a 26hp increase.
And damn is it fun ^^
the quality of these gets better and better every episode! You guys really did a nice job on this one.
Another great video guys, these are always really fun to watch. I'm pro-Mazda, but I appreciate you guys going through not only the dynamics of the cars strengths/weaknesses, but also trying to understand what the companies were actually trying to do with their cars based on their performance level.
Things to do when you get each car...
Miata: get the club package, stiffer springs/shocks.
BRZ/FRS: Header, tune, 4.67 final drive and better tires.
+H0okemh0rns Body roll doesn't = bad handling. Especially on the street and in low speed corners a soft suspension setup can handle better than a stiff suspension set up.
+Doctor Ferdinand Exactly. I usually like their reviews, but they keep coming back to how much stiffer the frs is. Of course it is, its sprung harder, so it rides shittier as well. Compliance doesn't mean slower, but people think stiff= sporty=speed=better, when in reality stiff=less compliance=less grip on bad roads and worse ride=faster until you have really sticky tires.
+saygmo When you say "stiff"the FRS is still very soft compared to other "performance" cars. :) It rolls less because it has a low centre of gravity because of the boxer engine.
+jo23bulls Things to do when you get each car:
Miata: leave it alone and know you're a secure and sexy person
BRZ/FRS: attract the attention of other men
+Doctor Ferdinand the MotorTrend comparison spoke nicely to this. The Miata performed better, but the drivers preferred the BRZ. I heard the same thing in Paul & Todd's notes: the Miata can tackle the roads perfectly fine; the BRZ just feels better doing it.
Really loved this video guys. Production value has always been high, but this one- the editing, scenery, music- was all a step up. Keep up the great work, and thanks for making Fridays so much fun.
I’ve been watching Everyday Driver videos for quite a while now and I generally enjoy them! I like the commentary and perspective that you guys bring to the table. With that said, I can’t say I concur with a few of the major stipulations in this video:
1. You’re reviewing a Miata with the top UP! You readily admit that convertibles are more fun with the top down and then refuse to lower the top. You’re missing the point of a roadster. For the money that these cars demand, there are faster cars out there, but these two are meant for FUN! In that, by not lowering the Miata’s top you’re taking away its party piece and one of the prime reasons people actually buy them: roadsters are fun! It’s hard to replicate having the wind in your hair and the sunlight touching your face on a nice day! You have just ignored the primary reason that the Miata exists. It’s a lot like saying “I’m dating a supermodel, but I don’t want to ever look at her”; sure, she could be great at a lot of other things, but you’re missing the main attraction.
2. As mentioned multiple times above: you didn’t bring the Club edition! Seriously? You’re reviewing these cars on the premise of their sporting intentions and you neglected the bring the car with the sporty options (LSD, slightly stiffer Bilstein suspension, strut tower brace, optional lighter BBS wheels & Brembo brakes, ect). Instead you brought the LEAST sporty version of the car- the Launch Edition, which is essentially the GT package. I say least sporty because at least the base model/Sport package is lighter than the GT/LE. You claimed to be comparing the driving dynamics of these vehicles and yet you brought the fat-cat version of the Miata rather than the version intended for more serious driving. Yes, the Club still has body roll, but I don’t think many will argue that it’s not the more appropriate version to bring to a test of sporting intentions.
I saw a comment above that the Launch Edition was the only Miata available to you at the time and I’m sure that might be true. In that case, you should have considered waiting for a Club in order to give the Miata a fair sporting chance. I understand that Todd owns an FR-S and while you guys are trying hard to mask that bias, it’s still there.
+roninsoldier83 - We're very glad to have you with us and enjoying what we do!
We agree that people aren't going to buy a MX5 if they don't want a convertible. Excellent point, and good analogy. However, we left the top up to allow us to focus more on the dynamics and not the top down experience. In our upcoming all-4-generations Miata film we are top-down all the time.
Speaking of dynamics, yes, it would have been preferable to have a club model. However, as we've said, the Club model wasn't available from the Press fleet or in the entire State of Utah at the time of our shoot. It was less the ideal for this comparison, but perfect for the all-4-gen version where none of the cars are a club spec.
Vs. the FRS - every outlet we've seen that put the Club model against the FRS/BRZ has mentioned the inherent softeness of the Club model as well. The specs of that version suggest that it will feel like a focused sports car, and yet that's not the conclusions we've seen. This generation MX5 is purposely softer.
Finally - while you can easily accuse Todd of bias if you like, Paul steadily seems to likes the FRS less as time goes by. Plus, everyone on set with us (including the Miata owner... who has owned multiple cars and many Miatas) preferred the driving dynamics of the FRS in back to back driving.
All that to say - thank you for your thoughts here. We read them all, and we welcome them. We appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment!
+EverydayDriver Thanks for the reply! I'm still a big fan of your work and look forward to seeing a comparison of all 4 generations of Miata!
+EverydayDriver Have you tried to get a hold of the Club model to test since? I drove the UK equivalent spec cars and absolutely hated the softer version (a lot more than you guys did). I couldn't see past that body roll and wrote the car off. Thankfully I test drove the spec with Bilsteins et all and bought one. needless to say I thought the difference was significant.
Best comparison between these two cars ever, the different characteristics are worked out perfectly and correspond to my own experiences. Great thank you!!
You two are the best down to earth car reviewers and my favorite car review show. You guys tell everyone all about what actually matters about the cars people might be interested in. Todd if you're ever in the Portland Oregon area and would like to drive my supercharged BRZ, I'd be more than happy to let you flog it around.
Hey guys, I love all your reviews. I was hoping you can review the new 2017 BRZ and compare it to the old BRZ or FRS. thanks !
let's get one thing completely straight. Miata has not "grown softer." It has never been hard edged. The miata is the purest version of a sports car currently made, and it has been for 25 years. It's also proven to be faster than the FRS/BRZ. Miata gets my vote.
+Mathew Brady - Yes, we agree that the Miata has never been focused on a hardcore setup. However, we have a review of all four generations coming. Driving all of them back to back is something most people (and journalists) haven't done and we found the realizations quite surprising. We look forward to sharing that with you.
+EverydayDriver Actually really excited about that! I have an NA8 right now and I'll be getting either a 2nd,3rd, or 4th gen when I'm out of college. I'd love to see a comparison on them all! At the moment I'm thinking NB or NC.
+Mathew Brady miata is still gay as fuck. and LOLOL at charging WRX money for a tin can that has no power and looks like a toy for a hairdresser
+Mathew Brady I agree completely, the Miata has always had a softer suspension setup since it was first introduced for the 1990 model year. From what I understand, this was done for many reasons, such as to better emulate the 60s era sports cars that inspired the Miata (Elan, MGB, TR4, etc.) in the first place. Also with a short wheelbase, a firm suspension can be punishing on rough pavement. A softer suspension also helps to minimize the chassis flexing that is inherent in a convertible.
Regardless of why Mazda chose a relatively softer suspension, it should be noted that the stock Miata is still faster around a circuit than the twins, despite the fact that the Miata has 40 fewer bhp. To me, this indicates that the Miata suspension has been better tuned than the twins' suspension.
And consider this, if the Miata is faster than the twins despite the fact that it has a softer stock suspension, then imagine how much potential the Miata will have with upgraded aftermarket components.
+Mark Ratcliffe You came and watched the video....the "gay" Miata attracted you!
Is it just me or do they contradict themselves in every sentence? Guy; the Miata is a very track capable car, but then again not really. Other guy; you could really push this car if you wanted to, but you just don't want to. God damn their reviews are hard to watch
Every time I watch one of these I cant help but think how awesome the FRS/BRZ would be with the new WRX engine.
Give me the MX5 with the top down on a sunny day and its a no-brainer 😊💋
That drone work at 7:25... wow. You'r production quality in the past year has grown so very much. I have to say, I appreciate everything you guys do! Nice cars too...
Yeah odd result. Every other review seems to prefer the MX-5
Thanks Toyota and Subaru for giving us a real hardcore coupe as an option. Mx5 checks some people’s boxes. Mainly 50 year old middle Class men. I bought the brz cause it’s the perfect purist car. Rwd, hard top coupe. A lot of cars sold as sporty now are are just altered economy cars. Like the GTi & civic Si. Etc etc.
Perhaps you guys would have found the Club model to be a better competitor to the FRS? It's a bit more stiffer, better brakes (optional), LSD, a little lighter, even less expensive :)
+maximus9401 Very well could be. The Launch Edition car was all that was available to us.
Chance Hales hey, that gives you guys a chance to make another comparison. The real deal this time. I won't complain about more Miata vs FRS content :P
+maximus9401 Yea god forbid you make a car your own...
+maximus9401 Apparently the body roll is still there with the club
Eric Leippe Yea it's still there, but I say it's worth it for the wheels, brembos and LSD
For the Miata ND, what tires would you recommend for daily driving and weekend canyon drive?
I’d love you to do a revised review with the 2020 GT86 and the 2020 Mazda Mitia
Watching these reviews made me on my day off go and test drive the new Miata and the s2000 and I came away glad that I got the FRS and not the other ones.
Great video as usual! How close did the aerial camera get to the FR-S at 7:24? Did the FR-S driver think he was going to hit it?
+Garrick Merrill Actually, it's usually pretty difficult to even see the drone while we are shooting these shots. I was driving the BRZ for all the drone shots and only remember seeing the drone once. But yeah, when I saw that particular shot it almost looks like it bounced off the roof of the FR-S!
I really enjoy using this car , I have an automatic. But the wheel gap is too wide. I don't want lowering springs or coilover. I want to keep it stock but would like to close that gap a bit , what do you recommend ? I'm don't know much about cars . thanks for any input guys/gal.
Great review as usual. I am leaning towards towards the FR-S just because of practicality. The LE Miata was @32k I think, the base Miata is 25k.....but one they should have tested, the Club with performance pack, $32k, that may have been a fairer fight.
Would have liked to see them compare the mx-5 club trim with the Bilstein shocks and Brembo brakes.
Always, always a great review. Thanks gents👍👍👍👍. My tr k requires all Miatas to have a rollbar not just hoops. (Convo)
Great review! I purchased my MX-5 Miata GT solely off the look's! And that's both interior and exterior where my decision comes from. Point is I don't care about how much body roll or how fast it can get me from 0-60 because I wouldn't drive my car like I'm at some race track and when most people purchase cars those are not typical questions asked. To each his own, buy what you like and enjoy it to the fullest.
Hey Todd,
What kind of wheels/tires do you have on your FRS?
I have seen a ton of miata vs. frs/brz vids online, but I would like to see a miata vs hyundai genesis coupe comparison maybe because I drive an NA miata and the new version of the car or the genesys coup are the "upgrade cars" that cross my mind most, the "twins" look awesome, and should probably be compared to the genesis coupe as well, would you guys do a comparison vid when the new model year hyundai genisis coupe comes out?
Are those 225/45 SuperSports on the FRS? 7.5" wheel?
Wasn't the 1986 Toyota Trueno the Predecessor of the Scion frs? That said I also feel like the mx5 in japan and the trueno had a lot of competition back in the day as well. Just look at initial D Hard top mx5 vs AE86. 😊 great video keep them coming.
the Miata character has always include some body roll. motor trend have compared these cars, and the Miata have won in every category. this review is very bias for the frs. The Miata's quicker acceleration, better interior, faster corner speed, shorter braking was not enthused? the top down driving experience was just waived off? All other channels I've seen favor the Miata by a large margin.
+Quang Lam I feel the same way about other being biased. lol I'm not sure if they are stuck on it being new so it has to be good or that it can drop it's top or what. The more I drove the MX-5 the more I didn't care for it. It is a great car and I would still recommend it to people because you can have a blast in it but for how I like to drive (and for my height) the FR-S/BRZ was the way to go.
+Quang Lam - Since you've seen the MotorTrend comparo (which even used the more aggressive Club version) then we're sure you noticed they called out the Mx5 as feeling less precise and having a disappointing amount of Body roll. That's the same conclusion we came to. The better specs for the MX5 in that same video (as well as the track tests we've seen) are close enough to be argued as the difference between the MX5s good performance tires vs. the low-grip tires on the FRS/BRZ from the factory. Without having the same tires, it's hard to tell for sure. We've been surprised how few reviewers have mentioned that possibility. We've seen plenty of other commentary, and the body-roll concern is present in all of it. Instrumented testing is great, but we focus on feel, not specs.
As far as the top goes - as mentioned, we know top down can be influential, so we left it up while testing it against a coupe. Having said that, we've got a review of all four generations of the MX5 in the process, and there it was top-down all the way. Thanks for watching and commenting!
+EverydayDriver The Miata is alway intended to have body roll, that's it's DNA. That's easily fix by replacing lowering spring or sway bars. 0.5 second faster in the 1/4-mile is a huge margin. You can't fix that with tires. My Nc miata is still 0.1 second faster. The Miata has the lightweight advantage which is big and hard to fix. Every enthusiast know that. Braking and fuel economy, and track time are better too. Motortrend test all these, and the Miata won them all. It's a land slide. Other Channel like the Redline Review favor the MX-5 too. The topless aspect is huge for me and a lot of other people. Normally, there's a $4000 premium for a convertible. You can't just dismiss that. One could easily dismiss the body roll then. That's the only thing the FR-S have, but have a slower lap time.
+Quang Lam - We would never have a car win because of faster 0-60 or 1/4 stats, but those are industry standard tests. Lap times are intriguing, but as we mentioned, the ND and FRS have been so close in all the timed lap tests we've seen that tires really could be the deciding factor if both cars had matching sets. Now, if the deciding factor is a convertible, then there's no choice here as the MX5 will always win. We hope you noticed that both cars got high ratings in this comparison. We found the FRS more enjoyable to drive. Others may not. It comes down to driving preference at some point (which the guys discussed at the end of the film). We sincerely hope you'll get the chance to drive both them back to back and decide for yourself. Thanks for your thoughts.
+EverydayDriver Small margin? These are large Margin. In Motortrend's comparo, the MX-5 got well over 1 second better lap time. Tires can't fix that. Who's to say that the tires on the MX-5 is any better than the FR-S. The MX-5 has a lot of better attributes. I have test drove the FR-S in 2013, and I hated the interior. The center knobs are small, feel like cars from the 1990's Era. I didn't buy it and bought the Mazdaspeed 3 for better performance at a lower price. Bottom line is that the FR-S is way out class here. The MX-5 also offer many other feathers like the MMI controller with a better screen like that found in Audi cars. But lightweight is the best attribute. You can't find any car under $40K that 2300 lbs.
I have owned both a 91 and a 2002 Miata, both long term. Looking for something different on the next purchase... considering the Frs and Brz. Not sure what I am going to do.
This is the only channel whose old videos look like brand new
So if I daily a Fiesta ST and am looking for a RWD complement I should lean towards the Toyobaru twins for something more familiar since the ND suffers from muddy feedback/input?
"Dancing with orthopedic shoes".....great line!....makes me want to run out and modify an ND Mx5...love it!
7:22 how did that drone not his the FRS??
Hit*
@@santosurbina3380 thanks
haha what happened at 7:23 with the drone camera? Forgot about the frs trailing behind and got a bit too low?
If all you're comparing is driving dynamics, then you guys pretty much nailed it. The FR-S is a sharper car, plain and simple. But the elephant in the room is the convertible top. And it's the reason these two cars can't really be compared. They are wholly different animals. The FR-S is the low priced track weapon, designed to connect driver to car to road in the most direct means possible for $25k. The MX-5 is the one that takes the driving experience to a whole other level when the top is down. It's not only about the driver to car to road relationship, although that is an important part of the equation. It's about seeing, feeling, hearing and smelling the entire world around you while delighting in the drive that's taking you through it. It's the difference between seeing a movie on a 25' color T.V. and seeing it in IMAX 3D. The FR-S is a fantastic car, and if the MX-5 didn't exist, I would happily plunk my money down for one. But that convertible top adds so much more to the driving experience. I'm willing to give up a bit of sharpness to experience the drive in ways you just can't in a car with a fixed roof.
Brian Sullins Convertibles are for girls though.
as much as i like the s2k, good luck finding one under 15k that hasnt been either wrecked or doesnt have 120k miles. the only worse honda to find is a bone stock ITR. unicorns are nice for bench racing, but its not really a fair comparison.
so true, caw caw
good high quality review video, thank you.
Heyas fellas, long time watcher/fan, recent subscriber...iono why I didn't subscribe a long time ago.
Curious if the launch edition is a GT or the Club...
Also, I really want to hear what you have to say about the Miata RF when it comes out.
I had a 2013 BRZ and loved it...then my grandfather gave me his 1991 BRG Miata, so sold the BRZ. Both are great cars...plan on buying again...waiting to see the RF vs BRZv2
EDIT: Oh yeah, moved from Tacoma, WA to Boise, ID...so a convertible is way more useful now...so there is that.
Yes, body roll is something most of us are unfamiliar with because the cars we drive have a lot of roll resistance. And the front end is like a sled! But, the car goes really well, and if the roll is that alarming, you can change the springs and sway bars.
Was this the GT Miata or the Club version? I hear the club has a noticeably sharper suspension
Where was this filmed? Beautiful area and great roads! :)
why not compare a Club spec Miata with the Bilsteins and strut tower bar?
And a simple sway bar upgrade for $400 will make the Miata feel more planted.
There is another comparison review on RUclips of these 2 cars where they look at the quality of mechanical materials underneath the car as well as inside the car. To me, the MX 5 looks to be put together with better quality materials. I have also been reading reviews from consumers on the FR-S/BR-Z's since they came out. Many seem to be having quality issues with their cars? I haven't driven either car, so my comments are from what I have seen and read. I still may be more tempted to get a used Honda S2000 as opposed to either of these two cars.
Miata Club supporters, don't forget it adds $3500 to the MSRP, to $28600. These guys, in their S2000 review, called it "taut, incredibly sharp," which I think is the key difference in approach between the ND and the S. The S feels like a cat walking on its claws, a feeling I loved when I tested it. At around $20k for a clean low-mile AP2, it's a great value up against the ND.
Great video guys.
Another ... of what we have come to expect from both of you ... outstanding video!
I wish in one of your MX5 videos you would have had the Club trim. Every time you have a squishy GT. I have a Club and it’s more taut for sure, even though stiffer springs and sway bars would help. It was not an easy choice over the 86 and I still and not completely sure I have the right car. And there’s still a chance I could swap in the future.
Yeah but the Mx5 powerband is alot better then the sluggish 86 one. And the 86 clutch grab is annoying. Its not smooth at all but the steering and body is more planted and flat which is good for any back roads or serious driving.
You guys have some of the best production values and somehow the subscribers haven't gotten there yet. Keep up the vids and podcasts. This year has been great for content.
You guys should try my Supercharged FRS wiith 320whp. This is the perfect PTW ratio in my opinion. Still get the raw NA feel with a little more pep. I can't seem to find another small sports car to match driver feel and daily ability in this price point.
ok... I agree with their pick. They want the MX5 to be more performance oriented. I wanted that too. I dream all the time about strapping a turbo or supercharger onto this mazda add a better wheel/tire package and work the suspension and brakes. However I think they defeated the point of this car at the beginning of the video by saying they would not drop the top. Dropping the top is the point of the Miata. It is about cruising with a bit of zip but without the harshness of stuff suspension and neck snapping burnouts. It is a hey look at me and my wife taking a date night out away from our teenagers kind of car.
Hey guys can you do a decent review of the 2016 Jaguar XJL-R?? I really would love to see it cause im thinking about to buy one next year!!!!
Can you guys review the 2020 Miata with 181 hp?
Ok, i have 5 cars to buy really soon.
So i have in my mind
Miata NA or NB
350 or 370Z
FRS,GT86 or BRZ
S2000
Or WRX
I like more to drive in the mountains and maybe one or two time in the year go to the Track.
But don't know what it will be the best for my style.
Very good review, thanks guys! I personally believe that it has a lot to do with who buys the mx5, I see in traffic more ladies and especially elderly ladies driving Miata's then young "boy racers" or people who would track them every weekend...
Mazda should come out with a mazdaspeed mx5, with all the track goodies that really tighten up the car, I'd love more power too but who are we kidding.
+GunsCarsAndBikes That would be awesome.
That would be nice. But that will make the car cost over $35k. i like miata but with over 35k i'll rather buy Sti or New RS
+GunsCarsAndBikes You may be interested to know that the upcoming Fiat 124, which is based on the MX5, is to have a turbocharged engine, much like the the Mazdaspeed MX5 from 2004-05.
It's also worth noting that Mazdaspeed MX5 wasn't exactly a sales success for Mazda, so it's unlikely that we'll see another one any time soon.
Looks like the GT version of the Miata, I wonder how a Club version would stack up, with its harder suspension to make up for the softness.
Me driving around my 1.1t mk2 swift, 1.0L 50something hp.
What do you mean 150hp is not enough?
I love my GT86, its awesome car in anyways. and you can do any lots of style or add on to look so good looking and attractive car, so awesome car
Convertibling is pretty damn awesome though. Wind ripping past you as you're flying around a corner or listening to your engine is wicked sensory overload.
When you're out on a secluded highway with the top down with epic scenery? Coupes may be great but... for purity I think that is where a roadster takes it.
As someone considering a fun car to compliment an old pickup I keep coming back to this point. Practicality is nice, but if it's not my only vehicle, I want the full experience of top down. Now, if the Toybaru twins offered a targa top....
You guys should have tested the Club trim. Bilstein dampers and limited slip diff.
Well, you should drive the club version which comes with the blistein suspension and see what you think.
I can feel those guys so much, i reckon frs for the more hardcore (stiffer and more precise by default) drivers and mx5 for a wider audience (easy and comfy but can be modded)
Great description of the miata...I have a 2016 and I feel the same way.
I think you guys are spot on. I've owned both the FR-S and Miata, purchased only for track days (twice a month). I would pick my FR-S any day over my Miata. Don't get me wrong, they are both great cars. But for me, the FR-S was a much more enjoyable car. From a reliability perspective, the Miata is miles ahead of my FR-S. I had so many problems with my FR-S, I never trusted it on the track. My Miata was rock solid. I've since moved onto a new track car. Both cars are a lot of fun, but the FR-S gets my vote as well.
mx-5 crusing and road trips?
So throw some coilovers and a rollcage on it like you would anyway?
Which one is faster on the road or track?
great comparison guys!!
- First, the idea was to leave the top up to compare driving dynamics... but at the end you talked about what would be the better car to own... which means you have to talk about the benefits of the Miata being a convertible, because that is part of the benefits you do get when buying a Miata.
- Also, to over harp about body roll when a simple sway bar upgrade can be done for $400 seems close minded, especially since Todd spent more money than that upgrading the FRS's wheels and tires.
- Lastly, you two say $30,000 is too much for those cars, so what NEW cars would be better buys for $30,000?
The Miata is better looking and despite all their talk of the FRS being more focused the Miata is still faster, and you can always put the top down.
The better comparo for the Miata might have been a V6 Mustang with a manual, since Mazda is clearly tuning the Miata to be more of a GT car that handles rather than a sports car.
I'm very interested to see what the Fiat version of this car is like, considering the differences that it will have in power trai and FCA's desire to hot up the 124 Spider as an Abarth version. Should be interesting to have the two cars side by side in a comparo.
Was this the club version with the brembo brake package?
But... How does the "Fiata" compare to the FRS?
Very logical review.... felt satisfied listening to the points..
Whats tyres did you fit? Thanks
Last winter, I decided that I wanted a RWD sports car. But I didn't know if I wanted a Miata or a FRS/BRZ. I loved the BRZ when it first came out but I couldn't afford a new one. I drove an NA Miata and had a blast, but I wanted something newer. In the Spring I drove a used '13 BRZ Ltd and a used '13 Miata Club. Both cars were around $21k. In the end, I went with the BRZ. The flatter handling inspired more confidence, the interior is packed with more features, the fuel economy is better, and the seating position is more to my liking. I'm 5'9 and 165lbs, and when I'm in a sports car, I want to see closer to the ground; I felt like I sat too high in the Miata. The BRZ was just a better value overall. Now if only I could get people to stop bumping into and backing into it... :(
Miata looks like a BMW Z4 in 2004. Love the miata . Top down fun.
So it will take money to make it handle better ....hmmm how much would it cost to cut the top off the frs
Just go to the end for the conclusion unless you want to fall asleep.
unbelievable quality and quantity you guys are putting out
The major problems I have with the FRS/BRZ are the mid-range torque divot and the crappy sounding intake/exhaust note. The MX-5 is better in those departments.
ND Club with BBS/Brembo package. ECU tune for an extra 20 hp and a good set of coilovers to take care of the cushy ride. There, now you have the sports car you're looking for.
I currently own both the BRZ and am on my second ND1 MX5. BRZ is trash compared to the ND and even the NC. Hence my BRZ is for sale. I wouldn't not recommend the BRZ as a daily on normal roads. And If I wanted to track it, I would still prefer to have the softer ND platform. Or just add a Front Sway Bar and Coilovers if you have the money. BRZ only wins for passenger legroom and overall practicality (you can bring tyres/tools in the car for the track day). Now the ND2, that just blows everything out of the water. I cannot wait for them to depreciate so I can eventually upgrade.
I own a gt86 since 2013. Just drove the MX5 in fuerteventura for 5 days. The convertible feeling is great, but the gt86 is much more of a handling delight.
Is the FRS have more room for a taller driver? At least to be able to lean back and fit comfortably unlike the Miata? And is the FRS really reliable like the Miata?
Yes. The 86 chassis is great for tall drivers. Both our guys are 6’3” and don’t fit in Miata’s well but have no issues in the Frs/brz/86. Thanks for watching!
There is a key difference - one is convertible and the other one isn't. I cannot really compare the two and say I want the FRS over the Miata if I am looking for a $25K convertible, right?
I would like to see this same comparison done with the Club version of the MX5 and then followed with your remarks regarding the Club as opposed to the Launch Edition of the MX5.
Thank you,
Basil Smith
+Basil SMITH The Launch Edition car is all that was available to us. we also don't feel like the differences between it and the Club version would be great enough to change the outcome.
Softness usually equates to better ride quality. A supple chassis increases mechanical grip. Sticky tires would greatly help with the body roll issues.
4:59 You want more power because your roads are too big, lol. Put that same car in Asia or Europe and you will quickly realise both cars have plenty enough power. Also, keeping momentum in lightweight, low power is in its self a skill and a fun one to get right too.