As a fellow Miata owner, we all know that the point is how much fun it is to drive on the road. I've had a couple of Audi S4's and driving a fast car at 3/10ths isn't that much fun. They would go faster on a track, and haul more people and stuff, but I would much rather drive the Miata.
I also have a 2018 Audi S4 that can wipe the floor with a Miata, but I’m always exited to take my 124 spider (Fiata) out in the spring/summer. So much fun!
That is so funny because there's this guy I have seen a few times around my building parking lot that owns a Miata and perfectly fits the description Lol
@@ZACH_95_ I don't believe I've ever seen anyone in their 20s with a Miata. They would much rather drive a BRZ, WRX, Mustang, M3, M2, or even just a Wrangler. Those are much more practical for someone who can only own 1 car.
ND miata for me soon hopefully. I mistakenly sold my 95 miata for a sporty practical lexus for 3 years with 0 smiles. I loved driving the miata and getting lost and making an amazing adventure of every little drive.
I really appreciate when y'all do the lap view and have the minimap showing speeds at certain points on the track. It's really informative about how some cars are slower through turns or faster on the straights.
CanningPetto Women make me feel bad for not being tall at 5.7 But then I fit every single motorcycle and every single performance car made. Fuck it I’ll take that I feel bad for big dudes can’t get into cars they like and get stuck with only large cars
Get a GTI. Lots of MK7 GTI guys who have driven both prefer the GTI over the R for weight and fun factor. Everyone has their own reasons but you can get a GTI for half the price of an R and tune for more HP, saving you a lot of money
I owned a MK 7 Golf R with manual transmission for 4 years, drove it for 60,000km and sold it last year and bought a 2016 MX5 with only 16,000km on the clock. It's manual transmission of course, and I also got $8,000 back from this change. In the 4 years of owning the Golf, I almost never go out just for a drive. Since I got the MX5, I go to the mountains pretty much every weekend LOL. POWER doesn't equal to FUN, especially on the streets. The dynamics & the way the car makes you feel is way more important.
In Italy a Golf R starts from €48100 (with mandatory five doors & DSG gearshift), while the MX-5 Sport with the new upgraded 2L engine (184 HP) and soft top starts from €32000: that's a €16000, more or less $17500 USD difference. In Canada, the two cars' prices (I checked that the equipment be the same) are $3603 apart instead of €16100. If you wonder why, that is because the 101% or maybe the 200% of people in Italy will buy the Golf (if they can't an A Class, A3, or 1 Series, that is), no matter how it drives, handles, what equipment it comes with, what the competition, Mazda for instance, is offering under those respects. This reflects in the companies' attitudes, starting from how they price their cars (and not limited to that).
In Europe (I am located in Austria) it is a little different - here the Golf R starts at € 55.980,- and the MX5 incl. Bilsteins and Recaros at € 35.890,-
@@kainanchen in germany the LSD is onboard at every 2l model - i have a 2l preFacelift Roadster "Sportsline" with 160hp from 2016 and it has mounted the LSD!
@@LZKaiMarc I am very confused recently, too. Because I got the answer directly from Mazda Deutschland email support. But I went to the dealer last week and they told me it has to be there. The dealer will anyway contact Mazda again to confirm, let's see what would they say😂
@@kainanchen i am sorry for confusing you - but i only can speak for the german market. But it sounds strange because the RF model came later. My model is one of the first, i bought it last year as used car from a mazda-dealer and when i did research for buying, i got this information. For me it was very important to get a model with LSD. In two weeks i am on the asia-arena meeting in Oschersleben and my MX5 has its first time on the track. All My mates have more powerful cars with around 200hp and they can't outrun me. The MX5 is a car wich will often be underestimated. For me it is my dreamcar which i ride everyday. And for riding it very sporty it don't need much petrol - around 7-8l per 100 km.
I dont think golf has 285hp, some people say it has 280 and some say it has 300.... Knowing VW they probably lie about how much hp the golf actually has I was watching a drag race between 320hp type r and 300hp golf r and golf was noticably faster It probably has like 320-330hp
@@patrick7695 If the manufacturer declares 285hp then thats the lowest possible number..usually when you get it actually tested you will find that they have more power.
fellas, your editing and cinematic skills are improving exponentially! combined with great personalities, and silly antics, you deserve every single of those 200k subscriptions! Onto a million! Keep up the good work!
Miata, really ! She's in the garage and each morning starting the day with a banana smile when i push the start button. Even through bad weather, dislock the ESP and test a gently drift! Coming back from the Corse Island, it was so magnifique.
This is what top gear used to be, before it became less about the cars and more about the script / special effects. You guys have a winning recipe right here, great chemistry, superb content and driver focused. Please never change!!
I’ve owned an MX-5 (NC 6-speed, 2006) for 8yrs, and 18 months ago bought a 2016 Golf R DSG as a more practical daily commute / family car. (And they’re both grey.) The Golf R is amazing, no doubt about it. Incredible performance, and can get you from A to B very quickly indeed. But for the sheer pleasure of driving, the MX-5 wins hands down. Plus you can do most of the servicing yourself.
Golf Rs are incredible fun just not as fun as a Miata. If you need one as a daily and a track car for the weekends I'd go for the Golf R every day though.
@@jamespanda7887 the first gen correct? im talking about the newest gen, i think it only had 150 hp in its top spec when it debuted. with 184 it is probably soooo fun
I have a 92 miata and it has a very similar redline to the one you tested. It really does feel lie you're just winding the engine right out. Very satisfying.
I feel like this is a bit of a wierd comparison. A 4-door hot hatch with near to 300hp, AWD, and a $35k starting price against a 2-door convertible with 181hp and a ~$26k starting price. Still on track they might be somewhat close, though I expect the Miata to be both more fun and slower.
@@Dolby109 Didn't knew that. These guys compared type R and M2 Comp a while back, calculate the price difference there. But that video made sense as both the cars were 1-2 seconds apart on the track. Many people want to own a roadster or a hot hatch or both, this might be a video geared towards them.
@@divyangmistry7454 MT Compared the V6 1LE Camaro (which runs pretty similar lap times to the CTR) to the regular M2. The M2 won, but not by a huge margin. The SS 1LE was still cheaper than the base M2, but I think they wanted it a bit closer performance wise than price.
Dude you need to accelerate at those corners with the miata, it might seem scary at first, but it's the magic of a roadster, you can oversteer confidently, if you dont give power to the back in corners you lose more grip
.... don’t want to be overly harsh but the fact that you (finally) understand that a Golf is a better daily driver than a Miata doesn’t cast a positive light on your general smartness....
jogu123 NEGATIVE smart guy, the fact that I gave the other tubers my choice & my reason for that choice does not indicate that I’m just finding this out
I love the Golf R. It flies under the radar, but with bolt-ons and tune, it's a different animal. I love the Miata too, but 40K goes a LONG way on the used sports car market.
Dan Lee exactly. You could even get a used GT350 for that price OR an E46 Manual all tracked out with a supercharger and clean as hell with top maintenance, and still get that for cheaper than a new slow as hell Miata. The E46 M3’s would outhandle the Miata all fay
@@Polarbear428773 I have a Stage 2 Golf R. It's a tick over 30k miles and I've had nothing but problem free daily fun with it. It's honestly the best DD out there. I have some accel tests on my channel too if you wanna take a look.
"...which is good cause I got "five" reasons!" That banter right there was the reason why I subscribed. It feels like two friends having fun and review cars. I love it.
The miata should be easier to maintain unless it has reliability problems and more fun around corners, better as a track toy but it seems really expensive if it costs as much as the golfR, 40k?! The cup version at only 900kg+ and racing dampers and coils can do like 5 seconds faster on a 2 minute track so it’s one of the fastest turning production cars with no aero kit. As a family fast and fun car I would take the golfR Track toy- mx5
Impressive finish for the MX-5 given the massive power difference. I wouldn't trade my '21 GT for anything, it's the most fun I've ever had behind the wheel.
Thanks for all the dedication and work you obviously put in to each and every video. No one out there quite like you guys. Makes for very enjoyable videos. Well deserved 200K. Keep up the excellent work.
its because in the Miata you go thru the corners so fast ya crap your pants so having the window down helps keep the smell in check.…. the other car is just..well..just another car :-) I hope that explanation helps clear it up for ya a little
Two of my favorite cars (at any price.) I've always lusted after a Miata but never owned one. That's the result of competing priorities in terms of passenger capacity and versatility. I don't own a Golf R either, but my Stage I tuned GTI provides the power of a stock Golf R while lacking the advantage of AWD. I wouldn't give up my beloved VW but when the kid goes off to college and the dog dies, I would consider adding a Miata to the family fleet.
You can get a Miata with reasonable miles and fair condition quite cheap. I just did. My main/sensible/family car is a EV, which of course is auto, heavy, wallowy. Can you guess which one makes me grin like a loon when I drive it?
Wow!! That's insanely cheap. In Denmark a MX-5 (the cheapest version with 184HP), costs: 71.700 Canadian Dollars!!! A Golf R (300HP, 4-motion), costs....drumroll: 125.500 Canadian Dollars.
When everything is expensive shouldn't that just adjust your vision of what a normal price is? I expect with the price of cars in Denmark the average annual income is also a bit higher than average.
Wow. That's insane! Or course you have got public transit options. Here in the US I'm looking at used cars around $10,000 and if you're ok with a few miles you can get a pretty nice car
For me, it's all about the fun factor. I am no racing driver. I am no Lewis Hamilton. I am a regular guy who wants to feel like a good driver without getting into problems. I love the MX-5.... THX for the review guys! (love the Shark gloves :) )
I had a Golf R. Great daily car. Due to the Covid lockdown I wasnt driving it as much and when I did take it out it didnt give me that special driving feel that a true sports car does. Even though my Golf R was modified, it still didn’t feel special enough to be a weekend only car. I sold it and bought a ND miata and turbocharged it. What an amazing car! It feels so much faster than the Golf R even though it’s a little bit slower. Driving it feels like an occasion everytime no matter how fast or slow you’re going.
@@pikachupowers Not sure. The instructor from BMW driving experience was saying that 5 series xdrive is faster through 30sec auto x course than non xdrive model.
I have a 2001 NB MX5 with coilovers and a stock engine. It isn't fast, it's noisy, and the ride is not what you'd call comfortable on anything other than new road surfaces. It's hard to get in and out of, especially when you're 51 like me, and the equipment level isn't so much thin as anorexic. I love it. I buy cars based on how they make me feel, and the MX5 is just so much fun. No matter what kind of a shit day I've had, I get the MX5 out, drop the roof, head for the coast road....and the day's stresses just melt away. What a car.
Soooo I've known Jakub and Yuri for years and they're personal friends of mine and I love their channel.....buuuuuuuut YOU GUYS ARE ABOUT TO PASS THEM HARD IN THE LEFT LANE ;)
@@DeeJayAdverb You can tell they would be. They are also excellent at their work. Always love their intros too. "I'm Jakub, I'm Yuri and we're going for a ride."
I find that the straightpipes guys changed with time... They are now a bit full of themselves and arrogant. Still good content but disconnected. I could be wrong but it’s the feeling I’m getting.
i thought the golf would be much faster than the Miata! Amazing what 180hp can do with such a light car! And you dont have to worry after 3 laps that something is going to overheat
In racing, 2.3 seconds is still a lot of time lap after lap. a win is a win. 2.3 seconds is enough to be able to deal with lap traffic without much worry. most are not racing these cars Wheel to wheel though. Most who truely care about their car's health while tracking upgrade cooling if needed. But you are right. you have to be more careful with turbo vehicles. From what I've read, the Golf R has done better stock to stock than most other turbo cars on track in regards to over heating.
I went from a 2016 manual Golf R to a 2017 MX5 RF. The miata had way more personality. Less practical, sure, but more fun. And I regretted not getting the DSG in the Golf R because the manual is programmed to aggressively cut power on launch to save the clutch; takes away a lot of the fun of having that much torque on tap.
I like the nod to tire degradation in the Golf R. Do about 20-30 laps straight. There's a good chance the MX-5 will have a faster cumulative time due to lightness.
Good video. A professional race car driver would probably end up with closer - and more consistent - times but, the results would probably be similar. The Miata is such fun to drive - it always has been.
@@djengomd6285 The S3 is the same as the Golf R. In NA, we don't get the hatch version of the S3, but other places do. From what I've seen, the Audi is a bit quicker on the track. Perhaps the suspension is tuned more for the track than the Golf is.
When it comes to car pricing, VAT, etc, Canada is like a different Continent from the USA. Here are the list (MSRP) prices without the requisite, almost $1,000 destination charge that they all command: For those of you in other markets in which Mazda may not be using the RF designation, RF means Retractable Fastback or in other words Convertible (Targa-like in this case) Hardtop. 1) Miata Sport - $28,875 2) GTI 2.0T S - $30,315 3) Miata Club - $31,835 - The Handler, the one I would buy soft top. 4) GTI 2.0T SE - $33,915 5) Miata GT - $33,140 6) Miata RF Club - $34,590 - The Hard-Top Convertible Handler. 7) Miata RF GT - $35,695 8) GTI 2.0T Autobahn - $38,215 9) Golf R Manual - $41,290 So as you can see: 1 vs 2 - Basic Miata is $1,440 cheaper than Basic GTI 2 vs 3 - Basic GTI is $1,520 cheaper than Miata Club RF 4 vs 6 - GTI SE is $665 cheaper than Miata Club RF If I lived in Canada, no doubt it would be an AWD vehicle, maybe a WRX or if I could afford it the Golf R.....But living here in South Florida? NO CONTEST. The Miata RF Club would be the one to own.
@@NicWir So is the Golf R. Sports cars come in all different shapes & sizes. A car that rides low to the ground and is based on performance is classified as a sports car. Just because it isn't a coupe, doesn't mean it's not a sports car.
I’ll still pick the Golf R. The Miata will always be funner to drive because you can push it to its limit wherever you go, but the opportunity to make the Golf R handle better is just a coilover swap and sway bars away. That’s less than $1500 for some good brands on those. On top of that, the Golf R is just another $1000-1500 to make it a 400+hp, 450+tq monster. You cannot make the Miata that quick for that kind of money. With all that power in the Golf R, you now have a V8 slaying, under 4 second 0-60mph, very exciting canyon carver. Yes it’s not a “real sports car” because it’s 4-door and has back seats, but damn, it’s a beast in every category for under $50k
@12:16 Currently I have both 😇 I prefer Golf R for the city/daily father duties, and mx-5 for the pure and selfish getaway from family and enjoy the ride kind of time.
I’m one person and need no more space than what the Miata has. I live in Texas where I don’t need awd, I drove the golf r before and have driven the Miata tons of times, even though the R was quicker I just didn’t really have that much fun with it and it didn’t put a smile on my face, the Miata is so much more fun and always puts a smile on my face. Some time in the beginning of next year I’m picking up a Miata club. I can’t wait
I actually have both of these cars in my garage....although mine are an '18 GTI SE manual and a '16 MX-5 Club w/brembo-BBS manual....pretty close though. I bought both of them because they are the best bang for the buck regardless. I'm still very happy with my purchases although I wish I had the newer MX-5 with the uprated engine.
@@NOFATCHICK1 other than missing the hatch, the 340i (rwd, of course) is a better car in every way, except possibly the brakes. VWs tend to have a lot of braking.
I don’t even like the R or VW in general but if you just wanted a nicer car that’s one thing, tho the R is a pretty decent sized hatch and can accommodate kids just as well as a 340.
Who cross shops a Golf and a Miata? Well, me. Last car was a GLI and I wanted something a bit smaller but I just hate the mk8 haptic touchscreen nonsense on the GTI so I ordered a Miata.
can't believe those are price matched... here in Mexico you can buy 2x MX-5 in sport trim for the price of the Golf R ... madness! here the miata is a no-brainer
I've spent a bunch of time in each, they are both great fun to drive. The Golf is by far the most functional day to day car because of the additional room and seating. I own a Miata.
I'd have thought the Golf GTI would be the more classic comparison. In any case, if you need the extra seats and practicality, the Golf is a great proposition. If you don't, and you have decent twisty roads near you, it would be the MX-5 all day long for me (and indeed I had a MK1 for quite a few years back in the day - loved that car).
Nice video - just picked up a Golf R manual last week, but only after practicality talked me out of the new MX-5! I'm hoping some circumstances with other cars in the household will change and I can trade one of those in for a nice CPO 2019 MX-5 And achieve that dream garage...
The mx5 is a great car but it's quite expensive for what you get on paper! However after driving one you'd probably forget the cost, it's just so much fun to drive! I would definitely keep one for the weekends if I have a good car for the weekdays.
On paper can be deceiving. The S2k, for example, is superior on paper with only 300lbs heavier and 240hp and a 9k rpm redline. In the seat, a 181hp MX5 beats it in every aspect. Hell, a 250lbs heavier SLK250 is faster than the S2k with only 198hp. Anyway it is an absolute thrill to drive, and the engine power delivery never has you feeling like you are lacking. Power delivery is early in at about 2.8k to 3k rpm and doesn't wind down till after redline at 7.2k. Body roll is a joke also in the car despite many complaining about it.
As a fellow Miata owner, we all know that the point is how much fun it is to drive on the road. I've had a couple of Audi S4's and driving a fast car at 3/10ths isn't that much fun. They would go faster on a track, and haul more people and stuff, but I would much rather drive the Miata.
I also have a 2018 Audi S4 that can wipe the floor with a Miata, but I’m always exited to take my 124 spider (Fiata) out in the spring/summer. So much fun!
You can have your 2.33 seconds, I'll still take the Miata.
Me too!
me too!
And i will keep my 4 seats lol
Balram I’ve never heard someone bragging about having extra seats in a sports car.
@@motionelco it was a joke btw.
How to identify the MX5 driver: The guy with the year round tan arriving at work with a grin on his face.
That is so funny because there's this guy I have seen a few times around my building parking lot that owns a Miata and perfectly fits the description Lol
That's me... when I have a job.
And typically age 50+
80's Boombox Collector naa not really. Most people that have miatas are younger. 👏🏻👏🏻
@@ZACH_95_ I don't believe I've ever seen anyone in their 20s with a Miata. They would much rather drive a BRZ, WRX, Mustang, M3, M2, or even just a Wrangler. Those are much more practical for someone who can only own 1 car.
Both are 42k? Here in Spain you could buy 1 and a half MX5 for the price of a Golf R, Miatas go for 20-30k while the Golf Rs go for 45k+
Similar in the UK
In Switzerland it's even worse. The Golf R starts at around 51k and ends at 80k swiss-francs
yep, I couldn't believe it either but they cost the same in Canada
Golf R $41k MX-5 $31k ($35k Fully loaded, LSD, Bilstein, Tower brace, Interior, Appearance, Weather, lighting packages) in US
@@sadmanh0 Europeans paying for the competitive pricing elsewhere
ND miata for me soon hopefully. I mistakenly sold my 95 miata for a sporty practical lexus for 3 years with 0 smiles. I loved driving the miata and getting lost and making an amazing adventure of every little drive.
I really appreciate when y'all do the lap view and have the minimap showing speeds at certain points on the track. It's really informative about how some cars are slower through turns or faster on the straights.
Mx-5 is my favourite car in asseto corsa. Was crushed when I went to test drive one.
I'm 6'3" I was literally crushed.
I'm 6'3" I fit nicely in my R my dad has a 2018 mini cooper and I fit nicely in that car as well and that thing handles really nice in the twistys
Guys I drive a 2018 base golf. Love it and want an R so bad.
CanningPetto Women make me feel bad for not being tall at 5.7
But then I fit every single motorcycle and every single performance car made.
Fuck it I’ll take that I feel bad for big dudes can’t get into cars they like and get stuck with only large cars
I'm 6'2 and my NC miata has plenty of space.... have u tried an NC?
CanningPetto that's why chu X drive them. Smaller car for smaller chix.
These are my exact realistic dream cars. I want both.
Clint's Reptiles I would not expect you to be watching throttle house 😂
@@maxhall6346 same bro I saw the top comment, i was like huh that's familiar.
Clint likes lizards and Miatas?
Same actually
Get a GTI. Lots of MK7 GTI guys who have driven both prefer the GTI over the R for weight and fun factor. Everyone has their own reasons but you can get a GTI for half the price of an R and tune for more HP, saving you a lot of money
I owned a MK 7 Golf R with manual transmission for 4 years, drove it for 60,000km and sold it last year and bought a 2016 MX5 with only 16,000km on the clock. It's manual transmission of course, and I also got $8,000 back from this change. In the 4 years of owning the Golf, I almost never go out just for a drive. Since I got the MX5, I go to the mountains pretty much every weekend LOL. POWER doesn't equal to FUN, especially on the streets. The dynamics & the way the car makes you feel is way more important.
In Italy a Golf R starts from €48100 (with mandatory five doors & DSG gearshift), while the MX-5 Sport with the new upgraded 2L engine (184 HP) and soft top starts from €32000: that's a €16000, more or less $17500 USD difference.
In Canada, the two cars' prices (I checked that the equipment be the same) are $3603 apart instead of €16100.
If you wonder why, that is because the 101% or maybe the 200% of people in Italy will buy the Golf (if they can't an A Class, A3, or 1 Series, that is), no matter how it drives, handles, what equipment it comes with, what the competition, Mazda for instance, is offering under those respects.
This reflects in the companies' attitudes, starting from how they price their cars (and not limited to that).
In Europe (I am located in Austria) it is a little different - here the Golf R starts at € 55.980,- and the MX5 incl. Bilsteins and Recaros at € 35.890,-
In addition, LSD only comes to the RF with Sportline (It isn't written anywhere, I knew this by asking Mazada Deutschland).
Absolutely, my first thought was: A fair match would be the Golf GTI, not the R.
@@kainanchen in germany the LSD is onboard at every 2l model - i have a 2l preFacelift Roadster "Sportsline" with 160hp from 2016 and it has mounted the LSD!
@@LZKaiMarc I am very confused recently, too. Because I got the answer directly from Mazda Deutschland email support. But I went to the dealer last week and they told me it has to be there. The dealer will anyway contact Mazda again to confirm, let's see what would they say😂
@@kainanchen i am sorry for confusing you - but i only can speak for the german market. But it sounds strange because the RF model came later. My model is one of the first, i bought it last year as used car from a mazda-dealer and when i did research for buying, i got this information. For me it was very important to get a model with LSD. In two weeks i am on the asia-arena meeting in Oschersleben and my MX5 has its first time on the track. All My mates have more powerful cars with around 200hp and they can't outrun me. The MX5 is a car wich will often be underestimated. For me it is my dreamcar which i ride everyday. And for riding it very sporty it don't need much petrol - around 7-8l per 100 km.
Remember folks, it's AWD+285hp vs RWD+181hp. The MX5 time is pretty good with two big disadvantages.
Isn’t the golf technically a front wheel drive and only engages all 4 wheel if it detects slippage?
I dont think golf has 285hp, some people say it has 280 and some say it has 300.... Knowing VW they probably lie about how much hp the golf actually has
I was watching a drag race between 320hp type r and 300hp golf r and golf was noticably faster
It probably has like 320-330hp
@@patrick7695 If the manufacturer declares 285hp then thats the lowest possible number..usually when you get it actually tested you will find that they have more power.
@@patrick7695 likely the dsg made it faster
In europe it's 320 horse power. I think it depends on the market.
fellas, your editing and cinematic skills are improving exponentially! combined with great personalities, and silly antics, you deserve every single of those 200k subscriptions! Onto a million! Keep up the good work!
Mr expert hahaha
4:18 that was straight top gear R8 Vs 911 and I love it
link??
@@delahozlife4978 ruclips.net/video/oaENG1vt6-Y/видео.html
Andrés Arbeláez que santa maravilla
Miata, really ! She's in the garage and each morning starting the day with a banana smile when i push the start button. Even through bad weather, dislock the ESP and test a gently drift! Coming back from the Corse Island, it was so magnifique.
This is what top gear used to be, before it became less about the cars and more about the script / special effects.
You guys have a winning recipe right here, great chemistry, superb content and driver focused. Please never change!!
Mx5 vs. Brz would be a fantastic comparison.
Absolutely! Great idea.
I have a 2017 MX5 - cost me $41K AUD - Golf R $60K AUD, Golf R is DSG only, my MX5 is manual. I don’t have kids. You can keep the damn Golf😂
Martyn Gasson until you start mods, and realize that an apr stage 2 kit is inexpensive and makes the golf r a damn rocket.
lakerforever1114 As if even more power in the golf is remotely appealing to an MX5 owner???
Golf R isn't DSG only, there's a popular manual version.
@@lakerforever1114 until you find a miata in a twisty mountain road. Do you think that we keep the crappy stock tires?
@@dmpope1527 we have the ability to have fun in the winter. There is nothing more fun than an rwd car on snow.
I’ve owned an MX-5 (NC 6-speed, 2006) for 8yrs, and 18 months ago bought a 2016 Golf R DSG as a more practical daily commute / family car. (And they’re both grey.) The Golf R is amazing, no doubt about it. Incredible performance, and can get you from A to B very quickly indeed. But for the sheer pleasure of driving, the MX-5 wins hands down. Plus you can do most of the servicing yourself.
Great video gents. In Australia the VW is 15 to 20 k more expensive. My garage is a 2016 Mx-5 ND and a BMW M140i. Love em both!
Dream Garage😍😍
Nice video. And congrats on 200k! Very well deserved. Here's to the next 200! 🍻
I'll take fun over speed any day. Not everything humans do has to be completed in the shortest time possible 😉
Golf Rs are incredible fun just not as fun as a Miata. If you need one as a daily and a track car for the weekends I'd go for the Golf R every day though.
But its fun overtaking slowpokes
that's what my wife says.....
but Golf R can be your only vehicle, a miata just can't
@@sadmanh0 i have only a miata.... but i agree it is a lot less practical than a golf
I’ll take the Miata in a heartbeat. It’s a roadster and rear wheel drive for xtra fun
the mazda came out it only had 150 hp, now it has 180 so ya its probably fun as hell
@@miguelsanchez6465
184
@@miguelsanchez6465 miata only had 110hp originally
@@jamespanda7887 the first gen correct? im talking about the newest gen, i think it only had 150 hp in its top spec when it debuted. with 184 it is probably soooo fun
@@miguelsanchez6465 I have a 2003 mx5 turbo project happening soon. it has a stock 140hp. but run 7psi turbo and you'll get 220whp reliably.
4:20 was just like that old Top Gear scene with the R8 vs 911. Epic!
Can someone put the video?
@@delahozlife4978 It's not R8 vs 911, but it's similar moment ruclips.net/video/DaZExdTHHjY/видео.html
@@delahozlife4978 ruclips.net/video/oaENG1vt6-Y/видео.html
Yeah noticed that to I think it was intentional
I was searching for the name of the Topgear video for almost two years now. I only remembered the 911 and not the other.
Thanks to you, now I do.
All of the Miatas look so cool, and every time someone reviews them, they talk about how much fun they are. That is my dream car.
Yeehaaaahhhh! I'm on my 4th (two NBs an NC and now an ND) and they amazingly just keep getting better!!
They aren't wrong. I finally bought a 2020 RF. I'm learning on it, and it is an absolute blast to drive. Slow, fast - anytime.
M iata
I s
A lways
T he
A nswer
because traction is overrated
Wish the window was closed on track, I really think it makes a difference
A Balakrishnan drifting is garbage
They woulda put some pilot sports on that miata it would have destroyed the golf
@@Th3_0_h8 Thank you. Comparing cars on a track should be done with same tire compound
the car is so light, you barely even need traction which makes it so easy and forgiving to drive.
I have a 92 miata and it has a very similar redline to the one you tested. It really does feel lie you're just winding the engine right out. Very satisfying.
I feel like this is a bit of a wierd comparison.
A 4-door hot hatch with near to 300hp, AWD, and a $35k starting price
against a 2-door convertible with 181hp and a ~$26k starting price.
Still on track they might be somewhat close, though I expect the Miata to be both more fun and slower.
The miata featured here has a more powerful engine and LSD, bumps up the price
@@divyangmistry7454 The LSD might, although it really shouldn't much.
The more powerful 181hp engine is simply standard for 2019+ MX-5's.
@@Dolby109 Didn't knew that.
These guys compared type R and M2 Comp a while back, calculate the price difference there.
But that video made sense as both the cars were 1-2 seconds apart on the track.
Many people want to own a roadster or a hot hatch or both, this might be a video geared towards them.
@@divyangmistry7454 MT Compared the V6 1LE Camaro (which runs pretty similar lap times to the CTR) to the regular M2. The M2 won, but not by a huge margin. The SS 1LE was still cheaper than the base M2, but I think they wanted it a bit closer performance wise than price.
@@Dolby109 Yea, cause the SS 1LE would curb stomp the M2.
Dude you need to accelerate at those corners with the miata, it might seem scary at first, but it's the magic of a roadster, you can oversteer confidently, if you dont give power to the back in corners you lose more grip
Yesssss. This is the truth.
This is why you just buy both, like I did! Except the Miata is an NA and it's a dedicated track car now, and the R is a DSG.
200k? This channel should easily be at 1mil! Either way congrats guys.
Just two of the cars I'm more interested on
Practicality vs Fun
GTI & Golf R are better all around daily drivers for me, but I do like the Miata RF!
Bruce Tumblin Jr
And that is the reason i changed from miata to gti
.... don’t want to be overly harsh but the fact that you (finally) understand that a Golf is a better daily driver than a Miata doesn’t cast a positive light on your general smartness....
jogu123 what makes you think I’m just realizing this genius?
Bruce Tumblin Jr ....the fact that you decided to post your genius message....
jogu123 NEGATIVE smart guy, the fact that I gave the other tubers my choice & my reason for that choice does not indicate that I’m just finding this out
4:20 HOLY SHIT!
Lightweight cars are worthy to drift and fall over
Unless you're being paid to turn in fast lap times, then isn't having fun really the only thing?
nice to come back to this video and know james chose both
I love the Golf R. It flies under the radar, but with bolt-ons and tune, it's a different animal. I love the Miata too, but 40K goes a LONG way on the used sports car market.
Dan Lee exactly. You could even get a used GT350 for that price OR an E46 Manual all tracked out with a supercharger and clean as hell with top maintenance, and still get that for cheaper than a new slow as hell Miata. The E46 M3’s would outhandle the Miata all fay
@@Polarbear428773 I have a Stage 2 Golf R. It's a tick over 30k miles and I've had nothing but problem free daily fun with it. It's honestly the best DD out there. I have some accel tests on my channel too if you wanna take a look.
Yep I have a 7.5 Apr stage 1 the acceleration is impressive
Bolt ons?
"...which is good cause I got "five" reasons!"
That banter right there was the reason why I subscribed. It feels like two friends having fun and review cars. I love it.
The miata should be easier to maintain unless it has reliability problems and more fun around corners, better as a track toy but it seems really expensive if it costs as much as the golfR, 40k?! The cup version at only 900kg+ and racing dampers and coils can do like 5 seconds faster on a 2 minute track so it’s one of the fastest turning production cars with no aero kit.
As a family fast and fun car I would take the golfR
Track toy- mx5
It does have reliability problems. This generation transmission will always break regardless of usage
Impressive finish for the MX-5 given the massive power difference. I wouldn't trade my '21 GT for anything, it's the most fun I've ever had behind the wheel.
I just bought a 22 MX-5 GT and I love it. I've had a couple s550 Mustangs and a couple WRX's, but they were nowhere near as fun as my MX-5
I got rid of mine for a Elantra N , I thought I'd regret it but I don't.
Giulia Quadrifoglio vs M3 CS vs C63S sedan vs Model 3 DMP please!
Daniel Marconi add the Model 3 DMP to that and do some drag racing.
Need to wait for the new M3 imo though, but good suggestion.
@@Newzchspy
No contest, the Tesla will wipe the floor with them in a drag race.
WB Wayne and in the track/handling test....
@@wbwayne8887 Model 3 is still good at drag racing, but those other three can actually beat it.
Thanks for all the dedication and work you obviously put in to each and every video. No one out there quite like you guys. Makes for very enjoyable videos. Well deserved 200K. Keep up the excellent work.
Thanks Wayne!
@@jamesengelsman9369 you should make vlogs on your channel. You're a cool guy.
Why do you run with OPEN Window in Miata, and Golf Closed???
its because in the Miata you go thru the corners so fast ya crap your pants so having the window down helps keep the smell in check.…. the other car is just..well..just another car :-) I hope that explanation helps clear it up for ya a little
Maybe it was pretty hot and he didn't want to use a/c to save power?
@@ArtemLokhovitskiy amateurish... girls probably do this. SAVAGEESE would rape this dude back to middle ages.
I got an mx-5, if the window's open you feel much air pressure insider of the car. This really makes a difference 🤔
Maybe because buffeting in a golf is so horrendous you can’t drive with windows down.
James says "the perfect garage" and 4 years later he owns both of these. Either he spoke it to existence or knew along what he really wanted. 👏🏽
Two of my favorite cars (at any price.) I've always lusted after a Miata but never owned one. That's the result of competing priorities in terms of passenger capacity and versatility. I don't own a Golf R either, but my Stage I tuned GTI provides the power of a stock Golf R while lacking the advantage of AWD. I wouldn't give up my beloved VW but when the kid goes off to college and the dog dies, I would consider adding a Miata to the family fleet.
You can get a Miata with reasonable miles and fair condition quite cheap. I just did.
My main/sensible/family car is a EV, which of course is auto, heavy, wallowy.
Can you guess which one makes me grin like a loon when I drive it?
@PaulMansfield what about having only one car? Can the miata be as practical to be a family car? Lmao
The Golf R is now nearly $10,000 more than the Miata. Give me the Miata.
Wow!! That's insanely cheap. In Denmark a MX-5 (the cheapest version with 184HP), costs: 71.700 Canadian Dollars!!!
A Golf R (300HP, 4-motion), costs....drumroll: 125.500 Canadian Dollars.
When everything is expensive shouldn't that just adjust your vision of what a normal price is? I expect with the price of cars in Denmark the average annual income is also a bit higher than average.
Wow. That's insane! Or course you have got public transit options.
Here in the US I'm looking at used cars around $10,000 and if you're ok with a few miles you can get a pretty nice car
For me, it's all about the fun factor.
I am no racing driver. I am no Lewis Hamilton.
I am a regular guy who wants to feel like a good driver without getting into problems.
I love the MX-5....
THX for the review guys! (love the Shark gloves :) )
Both cars are fun in their own way
Love that fact that both of them are a manual
Golf can't drift properly.
I had a Golf R. Great daily car. Due to the Covid lockdown I wasnt driving it as much and when I did take it out it didnt give me that special driving feel that a true sports car does. Even though my Golf R was modified, it still didn’t feel special enough to be a weekend only car. I sold it and bought a ND miata and turbocharged it. What an amazing car! It feels so much faster than the Golf R even though it’s a little bit slower. Driving it feels like an occasion everytime no matter how fast or slow you’re going.
Can you please do rwd vs awd?
BMW M240 rwd with LSD vs M240 xdrive would be very interesting.
RWD will walk all over it, even with open diff.
@@pikachupowers Not sure.
The instructor from BMW driving experience was saying that 5 series xdrive is faster through 30sec auto x course than non xdrive model.
@@tajo98 he would have to prove it then. BMW's were designed as RWD vehicles.
@@pikachupowers that is exactly why I asked these guys to do it. ;-)
This is RWD (Miata) vs AWD (Golf R)
The mist made many shots in this quite cinematic :) Even 4 years ago Throttle House was already top notch
not sure how these cars ended up price matched. the golf r is better value but I love the mx5. ps theres more time in that mx5
Still one of my fav videos from you guys, because I'm a miata owner. And whether it wins or loses isn't as important cause its always a fun time!
Sold my Miata for a Golf R. Miss my Miata but love the golf.
is it a 6MT, the golf?
It's hard to beat the do it all Golf R...especially considering the discounts you can get.
Zuby A dsg a year later lol
I have a 2001 NB MX5 with coilovers and a stock engine. It isn't fast, it's noisy, and the ride is not what you'd call comfortable on anything other than new road surfaces. It's hard to get in and out of, especially when you're 51 like me, and the equipment level isn't so much thin as anorexic. I love it. I buy cars based on how they make me feel, and the MX5 is just so much fun. No matter what kind of a shit day I've had, I get the MX5 out, drop the roof, head for the coast road....and the day's stresses just melt away. What a car.
I’m interested to see a MK 7.5 GTI would do up against a Miata. I love both cars and own both. So, it would be a win, win for me to see!
Respect to the MX5! The difference is much smaller than I would have thought. But the Miata is much more fun!
Soooo I've known Jakub and Yuri for years and they're personal friends of mine and I love their channel.....buuuuuuuut YOU GUYS ARE ABOUT TO PASS THEM HARD IN THE LEFT LANE ;)
Jakub and Yuri: (In unison) WITH FRIENDS LIKE YOU, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES. 🤣🤣
@@wbwayne8887 they're good sports ;)
@@DeeJayAdverb
You can tell they would be. They are also excellent at their work. Always love their intros too. "I'm Jakub, I'm Yuri and we're going for a ride."
@@DeeJayAdverb
Especially a few vids ago when Yuri changed it up for the Kia Tell U Ride.
I find that the straightpipes guys changed with time... They are now a bit full of themselves and arrogant. Still good content but disconnected.
I could be wrong but it’s the feeling I’m getting.
That wrist brace explanation was both perplexing and hilarious!!!!
i thought the golf would be much faster than the Miata! Amazing what 180hp can do with such a light car! And you dont have to worry after 3 laps that something is going to overheat
In racing, 2.3 seconds is still a lot of time lap after lap. a win is a win. 2.3 seconds is enough to be able to deal with lap traffic without much worry. most are not racing these cars Wheel to wheel though. Most who truely care about their car's health while tracking upgrade cooling if needed. But you are right. you have to be more careful with turbo vehicles. From what I've read, the Golf R has done better stock to stock than most other turbo cars on track in regards to over heating.
MX-5 is the most fun car to drive on mountain roads, plus you must be able to drive it in the right way, which is extremely fun. Miata for life!
Those two cars price matched? In hungary there is 1,5x rate if You speck the Golf R, either the Golf R is cheap, or the Miata is expensive AF there
I went from a 2016 manual Golf R to a 2017 MX5 RF. The miata had way more personality. Less practical, sure, but more fun. And I regretted not getting the DSG in the Golf R because the manual is programmed to aggressively cut power on launch to save the clutch; takes away a lot of the fun of having that much torque on tap.
Craig M should have gotten it tuned.
Kita I looked into it but a tune without an aftermarket clutch that can handle the torque is a risky proposition and more than I was willing to spend.
I like the nod to tire degradation in the Golf R. Do about 20-30 laps straight. There's a good chance the MX-5 will have a faster cumulative time due to lightness.
You guys may be my favorite car reviewers now
Good video. A professional race car driver would probably end up with closer - and more consistent - times but, the results would probably be similar. The Miata is such fun to drive - it always has been.
The more i watch you guys, the better i like your videos... keep it up, hope to see 500 K by the end of 2020, you deserve it.
Thanks!
Congrats on 200k subs!!
& Great entertaining video as always
this channel is soooo underrated. The content and quality is top notch!
Nice review👍🏽 However I didn’t expect to see Golf R is 4sec slower than Audi RS3, as I thought they should be neck-to-neck competitor on the track
I think you may mean the S4*
@@djengomd6285 The S3 is the same as the Golf R. In NA, we don't get the hatch version of the S3, but other places do. From what I've seen, the Audi is a bit quicker on the track. Perhaps the suspension is tuned more for the track than the Golf is.
When it comes to car pricing, VAT, etc, Canada is like a different Continent from the USA.
Here are the list (MSRP) prices without the requisite, almost $1,000 destination charge that they all command:
For those of you in other markets in which Mazda may not be using the RF designation, RF means Retractable Fastback or in other words Convertible (Targa-like in this case) Hardtop.
1) Miata Sport - $28,875
2) GTI 2.0T S - $30,315
3) Miata Club - $31,835 - The Handler, the one I would buy soft top.
4) GTI 2.0T SE - $33,915
5) Miata GT - $33,140
6) Miata RF Club - $34,590 - The Hard-Top Convertible Handler.
7) Miata RF GT - $35,695
8) GTI 2.0T Autobahn - $38,215
9) Golf R Manual - $41,290
So as you can see:
1 vs 2 - Basic Miata is $1,440 cheaper than Basic GTI
2 vs 3 - Basic GTI is $1,520 cheaper than Miata Club RF
4 vs 6 - GTI SE is $665 cheaper than Miata Club RF
If I lived in Canada, no doubt it would be an AWD vehicle, maybe a WRX or if I could afford it the Golf R.....But living here in South Florida? NO CONTEST. The Miata RF Club would be the one to own.
The Golf did pretty well for a small family hatchback. But the Mazda is far sportier looking.
Well the Mazda is a sportscar so
Niclas W. Noooo really durrrr 🤡
@@NicWir So is the Golf R. Sports cars come in all different shapes & sizes. A car that rides low to the ground and is based on performance is classified as a sports car. Just because it isn't a coupe, doesn't mean it's not a sports car.
I bought a 2016 Miata last week for 17.7k USD here in South Africa with 11000km mileage, best buy ever, my daily driver for the next decade.
You guys are flippin stupid (in a good way) and I love every minute of it. Haha.
Great that you added the pip of racetrack as you drive it, your welcome!
I’ll still pick the Golf R. The Miata will always be funner to drive because you can push it to its limit wherever you go, but the opportunity to make the Golf R handle better is just a coilover swap and sway bars away. That’s less than $1500 for some good brands on those. On top of that, the Golf R is just another $1000-1500 to make it a 400+hp, 450+tq monster. You cannot make the Miata that quick for that kind of money. With all that power in the Golf R, you now have a V8 slaying, under 4 second 0-60mph, very exciting canyon carver. Yes it’s not a “real sports car” because it’s 4-door and has back seats, but damn, it’s a beast in every category for under $50k
I just got quoted $59k US for a new Golf R. No thanks.
There hasn’t been anything from VW that interests me in a long time.
That opening fog background tho! 😲
@12:16 Currently I have both 😇
I prefer Golf R for the city/daily father duties, and mx-5 for the pure and selfish getaway from family and enjoy the ride kind of time.
These 2 cars do make up the perfect garage... as long as the golf r doesnt breakdown
I’m one person and need no more space than what the Miata has. I live in Texas where I don’t need awd, I drove the golf r before and have driven the Miata tons of times, even though the R was quicker I just didn’t really have that much fun with it and it didn’t put a smile on my face, the Miata is so much more fun and always puts a smile on my face. Some time in the beginning of next year I’m picking up a Miata club. I can’t wait
I love both cars but since I already have a small light weight 2dr spots car (lotus Elise)...I would love to go for the golf R next
I actually have both of these cars in my garage....although mine are an '18 GTI SE manual and a '16 MX-5 Club w/brembo-BBS manual....pretty close though. I bought both of them because they are the best bang for the buck regardless. I'm still very happy with my purchases although I wish I had the newer MX-5 with the uprated engine.
This was my garage, until I regrettably sold the R for a 340i, because kids.
What do you miss the most about the Golf R?
@@NOFATCHICK1 other than missing the hatch, the 340i (rwd, of course) is a better car in every way, except possibly the brakes. VWs tend to have a lot of braking.
I'm trying to figure out the logic behind that and I just do not understand 🤔
I don’t even like the R or VW in general but if you just wanted a nicer car that’s one thing, tho the R is a pretty decent sized hatch and can accommodate kids just as well as a 340.
Who cross shops a Golf and a Miata? Well, me. Last car was a GLI and I wanted something a bit smaller but I just hate the mk8 haptic touchscreen nonsense on the GTI so I ordered a Miata.
Turbo Miata is the right answer!
G. Suzuman fiat Spyder 124! Turbo’d Miata with Italian flair
This is proper apple and oranges one haha, but hey any excuse to have some fun on the track, great video guys !
can't believe those are price matched... here in Mexico you can buy 2x MX-5 in sport trim for the price of the Golf R ... madness! here the miata is a no-brainer
The RF is about 15k more than the sport
I've spent a bunch of time in each, they are both great fun to drive. The Golf is by far the most functional day to day car because of the additional room and seating. I own a Miata.
4:10 - 4:30
That’s your answer
Yeah try doing that on the road buddy....unless you are tracking the miata its not much fun. Golf r is a better everyday car
I'd have thought the Golf GTI would be the more classic comparison. In any case, if you need the extra seats and practicality, the Golf is a great proposition. If you don't, and you have decent twisty roads near you, it would be the MX-5 all day long for me (and indeed I had a MK1 for quite a few years back in the day - loved that car).
I might be a bit biased as the Golf R is already in my garage, but..... I choose the Golf R. 😈
Same and same, I like miatas but you would have to be on crack to spend Golf R money on one.
So you have a toilet in your garage. Good job!
S.T T. I’ll forgive your ignorance, my child.
@@andreportolesi6874 Oh,thank you your Canadian goose majesty!! I am delighted!
I own a 2017 Miata (MX-5) RF and it's the most fun car I know. Bought it second hand for 24k EUR, consider it an absolute bargain.
You guys are awesome! Keep up the good work with the cool hot rods! You have a new subscriber from T.O.
Thomas goes sideways. Give this man a RWD always. ALWAYS
The golf r need a rear anti sway bar! Helps a fair amount with the from end grip
need sway bar and tires the tire that comes on the Golf R suck!! sadly i have a sway bar but no good tires
@@kevinrotge4774 the golf comes with nice summer performance continentals. They are not bad. They stick pretty well.
Nice video - just picked up a Golf R manual last week, but only after practicality talked me out of the new MX-5! I'm hoping some circumstances with other cars in the household will change and I can trade one of those in for a nice CPO 2019 MX-5 And achieve that dream garage...
I’m getting grand tour vibes from this lmao
The mx5 is a great car but it's quite expensive for what you get on paper! However after driving one you'd probably forget the cost, it's just so much fun to drive! I would definitely keep one for the weekends if I have a good car for the weekdays.
On paper can be deceiving. The S2k, for example, is superior on paper with only 300lbs heavier and 240hp and a 9k rpm redline. In the seat, a 181hp MX5 beats it in every aspect. Hell, a 250lbs heavier SLK250 is faster than the S2k with only 198hp.
Anyway it is an absolute thrill to drive, and the engine power delivery never has you feeling like you are lacking. Power delivery is early in at about 2.8k to 3k rpm and doesn't wind down till after redline at 7.2k. Body roll is a joke also in the car despite many complaining about it.