How Mazda made the Miata
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- Опубликовано: 15 апр 2024
- The Mazda Miata came to exist out of a desire to re envision the classic British Roadster. A top down, fun, sporty convertible, and arguably the greatest sports car of all time
Check out this amazing book on the history of the Miata
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
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Loved the video. I was a Product Specialist (resident gearhead) for Mazda's ad agency for 13 years, and worked on the launch of the NB and NC - your use of the footage from the '99 launch spot brought back some fond memories. I moved to California to work on the business and while out there owned an NB and then an NC - more very fond memories. Sensational cars, regardless of what the knuckledraggers think. The problem with your video is I think I need another one now.
NC supremacy 💪
@daikolirae155 I keep trying to hunt down a decent NC but it's rough in the rust belt. Found a few NB miatas but I want the extra bit of wiggle room that so many seem to hate
I'm a life-long gearhead and I had a '91 Miata for a number of years. It was by far the most fun car I've ever owned. I sold it when I was buying a house three years ago and I've regretted that decision ever since. And anyone who thinks it's just a "girl's car" has never driven one.
dumb decision bro should have kept it
@@Kabal1247 I needed a house more than I needed the car. I hope to get another NA some day.
@@veronicagee4335 You can sleep in a car, but you can´t race a house 😅
But I got your sensible decision. The day will come.
Bought a house and later a Lotus Elise. Have it for 15 years now and will only sell it if money gets to tight or my bones become too creaky 😂
I was a reluctant Miata owner, having grown up building muscle cars. Nevertheless, my dad always had a convertible, and he had some sporting iron, including an XK-140 (roadster), a MkII, a TR-3, and ultimately, in his 80's, a Miata NB - with a 5-speed. I suggested it, he loved it, and as time went on, he didn't want to drive anymore, but enjoyed motoring, and we spent his final years taking regular drives with me at the wheel of his BRG NB, top down. After Dad passed, I thought I would let the "Yatter" go, but circumstances arose that made keeping it as a "city car" sensible. Once I started driving it regularly, and not just "borrowing my dad's car", I started to really appreciate it, rebuilding the shifter, enhancing the suspension, fitting uprated wheels and tires and the like, teaching my sons to drive in it. Alas, one day I drove it a bit too enthusiastically and put it into a mid-air flat spin - a truly "Flyin' Miata"! Saddened as I was about killing my dad's last sport car, I was eager to replace it - having been bitten by the roadster bug - and lucky I was to purchase a nearly flawless Mazdaspeed Miata. I drove it enthusiastically for 5 years - I found that the LSD helped to keep it better pointed in the intended direction - until one night, I walked outside a party to find that it had been totaled while parked - by another Miata! Heartbroken but undaunted, I came to the realization that only another Miata would do, and while I did test drive a new ND, the very next day I purchased another Mazdaspeed, this one even more flawless than the last, and which I consider, with its (uprated) stiffer suspension and turbocharged mill, more dynamic and exhilarating than the ND. And so it is today, 18 years since Dad drove home with his NB, I hope to always have (one of these) perpetual grin makers in the driveway. Thank you for a great article, I thoroughly enjoyed it - Jinba Ittai, indeed!
Fascinating how the Miata has carried the torch of the classic British sports car into modern times while integrating Mazda's unique philosophy of 'jinba itai'. The part about the Miata’s development, particularly its weight management and handling that mimics old roadsters was very interesting. I wish the Miata influenced more cars today, the lightweight sports car is something we may lose in the age of electrification. Curious if anyone knows of any newer sports cars with a similar formula today?
Unfortunately I've yet to experience the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation miata. However I purchased my 1st miata, the ND-2 in 2020 just after COVID interupted our way of life. It's been a relief ever since. Absolutely love it!
Great video by the way.
Mazda is known for driver-car connection at its best. Their cars are some of the most synced I drove. as someone who's driving a lot on 81' RX-7 FB, I can really tell the shifting, pedals, and steering (even though it's not powered) is on point.
Also, I'm inviting you to check a video I uploaded lately about a Turbocharged NB we got here in Israel with 250HP. (also I got some vids about the RX-7... but that's for another day :) )
also, great video overall, thanks for the knowledge, I didn't knew most of those stuff.
I’ve had a my ‘90 NA for about 5 years now and man the connection and feel of the car is unbeatable. I’m a car salesman and anytime I drive a different sports car on the lot I drive the Miata afterward to compare. Great video man!
I can tell you, side curtains are one of the most annoying things I've ever used on my cars. Much prefer the roll up windows in my '74 Midget!
Love your videos, keep up the great work! My current "stable" includes a GR86, 67 big Healey, 60 TR3A, two Bugeye Sprites (one is a vintage race car), and of course a 97 M Edition Miata bought new. I've owned several other Healeys, Sprites, Triumphs, MGs, and Porsches over the years and will probably always keep the Miata. As the saying goes, Miata Is Always The Answer. 😊
Ive watched a load of your videos, idk why i wasn’t subscribed. You are easily my favorite car-history channel
If 57 Americans decide to buy your car, you're basically set. Pure gold 😂
I drove a 91 NA Miata as a daily driver for several years. It had this quirk: once you started to get to 50, 60 miles per hour, the interior would start to rattle, but the moment you hit 70, it stopped. I love Miatas. And so does my dad, who spent his early 20s show-jumping horses. The Miata is a mastercraft in Japanese conceptual design and I'd say their jinba ittai inspiration made something unforgettable. Today I drive a Mazda 3 sedan and I still see the design language in the interior. Wonderful essay.
Call them what you will, but the Miata perfected the 'sports car' which the British industry tried to build but never quite did.The thing which most set the Miata apart was you didn't need to constantly fix, adjust, and maintain everythibng; all you had to do is drive and enjoy. Another point was that it's shared parts were less of a compromise than the British cars. And it was as cheap as it was fun. Fast-forward to today and it's not the same; it's gotten plumper and plusher and pricey having moved away from it's roots but it's still best-in-class and to get more you have to spend a lot more money.
Great video! I have an ND and it is the first car I've had that I am planning to keep forever. It always puts a smile on my face.
As an NC owner of over a decade now, I absolutely agree. The Miata felt like a natural from the moment I drove it off the lot. I've since learned that the NC is considered "the big Miata" but I'll defend it. I still feel deeply connected to the road and appreciate its creature comforts and reliability and how it was a well-thought out piece of engineering in every aspect. It's an absolute joy to drive and does exactly what I ask of it.
One of these days, I’ll get my hands on a first gen Miata
You know.. some people actually say that the Miata is more of an American car than Japanese as crazy as that sounds.
Makes sense, as it was developed with the American market in mind.
Great video! Fun fact, the Miata/ MX5 as a concept was developed in my hometown of Worthing, England. The prototype was codenamed V705 and used a glassfibre body, an engine from a Mazda 323 and a hotch-potch of components from other Mazdas, the V705 was completed in August 1985 and transported to the States where it was driven on the roads around Santa Barbara to gauge public reaction.
Imo, the Miata is an expression of a more pure sportscar. Handling, snappy throttle response, communicative steering and suspension. It's not about being the fastest... it's about being fun.
Thanks from Australia, noticing MX5 was COTY here in Australia. We 'got it'. Cheers.
_ps: having owned/maintained a MkIII MIdget, then a B [our friend, Lucas, Prince of Darkness & SUs lol], the MX5 looked like what the MGB's successor should've been. There are no cheap MX5s here, unlike there btw._
I own, and daily drive a 1997 Mazda Miata STO.
I often find myself next to my friends helping them with issues on their newer cars, despite my own car having zero problems consistently.
The car is an absolute trooper on road trips, being able to keep up with much newer cars in significantly adverse Canadian weather, holding speeds of over 140kph.
The car gives you a true sense of control while also not having any true driving aids (other than abs) and I can truly understand how it feels like you have a bond with the car while you are driving.
I will forever say that the Miata 5 speed man tran is the best transmission ever made, although i do find it strange that the exhaust hanger is mounted to the bellhousing of the fkn transmission for some reason.
I genuinely believe that buying that car is the best purchase i have ever made.
One of my favorite miata vids
Love your videos man. Came here from the bike channel. Keep it up!
I am lucky enough to be a caretaker for my godmothers Hagerty grade 2 89 miata that is currently up to 32k original miles. Her and her late husband owned and showed clastic British cars and had several E types over the years. She bought this miata in 2015 at 14.5k miles. It is super tight and I encourage everyone to try and find an all original one with no power steering to try out.
I owned an MX5 and now own an Austin Healey 100/6. I know, it’s the six cylinder. But driving the MX5 is so simple. I don’t know which I like more. There is more history between me and the Healey though…
I had a used Miata from the last year they had pop-up headlights when I was younger. I remember pulling into a parking lot once and heard someone yell "Damn, that's a tiny ass car!"
I've owned a RX-3, RX-4, 2 RX-7s, and 3 RX-8s. My last one, a 2011 R3, I planned to keep forever. Sadly last year it was rear ended and totaled by an uninsured driver at 80,000 miles ending my love affair with the Wankel. While still pining for my R3, the dealer called me about a 2007 NC convertible with only 23,000. I decided to try it. I love the handling. It doesn't accelerate, as fast, but it loves the corners. I have joined the local Miata club and have driven it in 2 parades. I have learned to love driving it. The club takes the back roads to out of the way eating establishments. The only down side is, being an old fart, it's difficult to climb out of it. I can't imagine an EV being even close to this much fun.
I don’t understand why not more subs… gonna spread the ❤
MX-5
Is
Always
The
Answer
Zoom-zoom🥰
I had a NC3 Miata for a bit over a year, and it was just an amazingly fun car. Some people told me to engine swap it, but I thought the horsepower was perfect already without modifications.
3:02 I would support that claim!
I'm 22- young and dumb, but I had an obsession with the Miata since I realized how good it was at cornering in literally any racing game. NFS, Gran Turismo, Horizon...it was TOO good- It made no sense!
3 years ago I got a 94 'M Edition- a breed of the best of Mazda's NA's. Near-mint- aside from upkeep, it looked and felt like it came fresh from the factory. Torsen LSD, Bilstein Suspension, and the upgraded 1.8L. I couldn't have gotten a better Miata. And in all the racing games I've played, not even Underground 2 exaggerated its handling. It's this nimble car that does what you want it to do. Not much power in speed, but full power in movement. And the M-Edition isn't even the lightest NA, it's rated at something like 2,600 lbs? Heavy!
I've had some troubles, and had my own faults in the car. I felt terrible having to learn manual on its 30 y/o transmission, and I've been the sole mechanic to replace some super-essential parts. Timing Belt, Water Pump, CAS, Clutch Hydraulics, and many deep O-Rings. But I've learned so much about the Miata and it makes me love it even more.
It's the perfect size for me to upkeep and clean, and so common that parts are ACTUALLY fairly priced. And no- I haven't met one person who's disliked it. Driving it's like I'm a beam of happiness in this boring-aah world of cars. Suburbia sucks, but when I'm stuck in traffic with the top down, I only hope I'm inspiring more people to ditch the SUV and get something that makes driving actually fun. The Miata feels like it's got as much character as me, and some day my artistic side wants to get an NB and spec it out like I've been doing for years in hundreds of racing games. Cosmetically mostly- but I'd love to push that perfect handling to its absolute limit, keeping that legendary 50/50 ratio.
A few decades ago I read a newspaper article about the MX-5 and the writer casually said parts of the 1989 Miata had truck parts on it. I have never discovered what specifically Mazda took from their truck but I still wonder to this day.
I really enjoy your video essays, btw!
I have a 1975 MGB roadster, I've never heard that the term roadster was based on cars without roll up windows. In fact, at car shows (particularly British car shows that I attend here in Canada) MGBs are separated as GTs or roadsters. I honestly don't see a problem with it.
What you said about your wife thinking they are a girl's car reminds me of what a Triumph owner said to me many years ago about the MG. Their reason was that it only has a 4 cylinder motor compared to Triumph's 6.
I own one,here in Germany 🇩🇪
Version nb from 1999 … it is truly GREAT 👍
…
Oh one more thing… in five years time … here in Germany it would be a historic vehicle 🚗
I've owned my '95 M Edition for 24 years. It was late uncle's car. I wanted it from the moment I saw it. It never, never disappoints me. I love the sound, its toss-ability, and the way it fits me. While I'm a woman, this is no "girls" car. Its the real deal!
Great video! Miata has been the best selling sporting car outpacing all the British sporting cars! My wife’s hairdresser has one!😂😎
love my NC!
Waitwaitwait... I can totally get behind that bluetooth thing!
Always wanted a miata, never got one :( I resonate with that horse analogy from my crossfire tho
i saw that nb shade in there!!!! (13:12)
Shit, now I want a Miata
You guys wanna buy some COOOKIES?!
I do not grasp how anyone can view this as a girls car. Back in the era of the triumphs and MGB’s no one thought of those as girls cars. I owned an MGB back then, so I know better. The Miata is just a modern day incarnation of those cars.
I have a 94 R Edition Miata and a BMW Z3 3.0. The Z3 is more powerful but the MX-5 is a better sports car in every other way. I like the revvy six and flat handling of the Z3 but hate the leather power seats, power windows, and all stability control systems.
The Miata is just a get in and go little sports car.
As far as it being a girly car, part of being a man is not giving a rat's red ass about what other people think.
To me, in order to be a true sports car of any type means NO COMPUTERS and a manual transmission. It must be fully mechanical, and fully controllable by the driver.
Or in England Mazda MX5 that’s what they were called over here pretty car always too small for me. I’m too long and lanky enjoy your program Michael
I'm 6'4 and it's the second or third gen that I can fit just fine. The current gen was shrunk back down from the last.
I’m an oldish 6ft 3 . I bought a 2010 nc . A few simple mods & you will fit . I fitted seat lowering brackets . lowered the clutch pedal & a flat bottomed steering wheel . Perfect now .
The MAZDA MX5 as its known here in Australia was a top seller.
But unfortunately as I'm 6ft2 it was not for me.
The ND versions have been made for taller people but its very expensive even 2nd hand.
Also I think it lost the styling appeal of the original car.
I will always say… the best sounding 4 cylinder is one you can’t hear👌
Nothing against the car it’s just that 4 bangers don’t sound good
my guy compared a horse to a PS gamepad
Tuned out when you got hung up on peoples definition of roadster. Say your point and move the fu$& on. You even say you’re not going to get hung up over it and continue to harp on the point.