You know, there’s just something about the Miata. Greater than the sum of its parts, it has a quality that can’t quite be measured in specs or numbers. I know of no other car that gives whoever’s driving it more smiles, giggles and laughs. Other cars generate awe, respect and excitement, but the Miata? FUN! It’s gotta be The World’s Happiest Car.
I agree, I've owned 4 Miatas and am about to purchase my 5th. There is one other car I would put next to the MX-5 in that regard, and that would be the S2000. I've owned two S2Ks and they are also amazing happy cars, I honestly couldn't tell you if my ND or S2Ks put a bigger smile on my face. The only reason I don't go for another S2000 right now is that they are now sadly just overpriced collector cars, and I can't even find a beaten-on one for much under 20k. There are however some things about the S2K that I just can't look past, for example, the S2000's transmission feels like no other car or supercar on the market, the 9000rpm redline is absolutely pure racecar insanity, and the chassis tuning is uncomparable for its class. The S2000 is the only car I could say feels like a "complete" extension of your body, the Miata does this very well too, however, there is something I can't quite pin with the S2000 that just changes your thought process of what driving a car really feels like. It's a shame Honda stopped production of their best masterpiece along with a lot of their parts. I'm just glad we still have modern alternatives that are just as good such as the MX-5 or any newer Lotus.
I cant wait to get a Miata man. I have a Mazda 2 Manual with the Skyactiv engine, and even that is so fun to drive to me with only 108hp. It is a manual as well, as well as my first manual so im sure that adds to my joy of it, but I cant imagine how amazing a Miata is going to feel.
@@Clovud If you live in LA or NYC and have to commute in heavy stop and go traffic, try rent one and see if you can bear with the hassle. Otherwise, it's a no brainer
@@Clovud That's the perfect car for you then. Even going for older gen if you are short on budget is the same level of fun, if not more raw and exciting
I am living the dream right now. I have my Soul Red Crystal '22 Club softtop and just flew to Portland and drove 615 miles back to the Bay Area in my new-to-me 2018 GTI SE finished in amazing Great Falls Green. Both are 6 speed manuals and I couldn't be happier. The Miata has a GoodWin Roadster Sport Twin Tip exhaust (a must have mod IMO), and the GTI will have a tune and an intake. 🤌🤌 Thanks, Chris for all your insight on helping me have the ultimate 2 car fleet (Wife drives an ID4 AWD Pro S).
Put down a deposit on a new manual grand touring rf in soul crystal red last week! Been wanting one since 2017 (was in undergrad) and told myself I would get one if I went to grad school. 5 years later, an MA under my belt, I am finally financially capable to pick one up :)) Took a couple weeks, but was able to negotiate a few thousand under msrp with 0% apr with the dealership. Was going to wait for nd3, but the deal was pretty good.
I first came across this channel in 2021 while researching the ND2 MX5; a few months later, I bought one. I still get excited to watch thetopher's annual reviews and drives, and I can never resist going for a drive after!
Great video as always! So I actually own the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring right now, and before I had the 2022 Subaru BRZ Limited. I'm very fortunate to have driven them both as a daily. I put decent enough miles on both cars to have a proper ownership experience. In my opinion, I have to say that when it comes to the manual transmission and the driving experience, I found the MX-5 better when compared to the BRZ. The MX-5 is fast enough, fuel efficient, smooth manual transmission, and better looking as well. And honestly the storage space is not too bad either, I can put my carry-on in the truck whenever I'm traveling and I still have some space left for my backpack and other small items. There's also a storage box behind both seats, which alot of people forget about lol. The center console is as big as a glove box which is great storage space as well. Driving this car is so much fun, it revs up to 7k RPM and with the top down you can hear that nice exhaust note. With the top up I did notice some rattling noises which is to be expected with a soft top convertible so that's fine. Some Cons of MX-5 in my opinion: 1. Honestly there's no exaggeration of how annoying that screen is. It's not a touch screen, it's button operated only and I never got used to it. 2. The cup holders are not deep enough so a standard water bottle keeps falling out when you brake or accelerate too hard. 3. The rear-view mirror is VERY big for the size of the car. It is so big that I found out an SUV was able to hide behind the mirror while looking ahead. When you sit in the car, that rear-view mirror blocks a good portion of the front view, so you have to duck down and make sure there's no cars hiding behind the mirror. I'm 6ft tall but even still they don't need to put such a massive rear-view mirror on a small car. The BRZ is also a great car and there's no denying that. BRZ corners really well and is a very fun car to practice your burnouts and drifting. It's more spacious and faster than the MX-5. I also sometimes miss that boxer engine sound. It did not have the traditional boxer rumble but it still sounded great. BRZ is a car if you want to have some track/cornering fun, have back seats for more space, and/or want a hardtop. MX-5 is a car that you just want to cruise in. It's a car to enjoy your drive and personally I would pick the MX-5 over the BRZ if space is not an issue. Both were great daily drivers and I also used both during snow. With snow/winter tires you will be fine. Both of the cars are fine for all-four seasons and both were fantastic to drive!
1. the screen in the miata is completely reasonable. it didn’t even take me getting used to it, it felt completely natural to me when first using it 2. The Mx5 has more handling capability than the Brz and doesn’t blow up the motor with too much lateral force so I would challenge your last statement
Do you feel the top would fair ok if it is parked outside in the winter uncovered (assuming you got the soft top)? That's always been my main concern aside from not fitting in it.
@@rightminddrive 1. So the reason why I mentioned the screen is because for me when I use the Android Auto it was alot easier for me to search and zoom out of the navigation with touch screen than having buttons. When the voice command didn't pick up the location I wanted to go too, I had to type it on my phone which was annoying. Also with a touch screen you can pinch zoom out to see your route but with this you cannot. Going through the car settings was confusing with buttons as well. I guess this is my first Android Auto car that didn't have a touchscreen so I'm having a hard time. 2. I want to make it clear I never tracked either of these cars and I'm not a professional driver at all. Just a regular driver who likes to speed from time to time and who enjoys going fast around corners. I never said that MX-5 was bad at handling. Personally I found the BRZ better at handling as it was alot more controllable around corners in higher speed and I had more confidence in the BRZ than the MX-5. BRZ had less of a body roll from stiffer suspension and sticky tires which made me more comfortable to drive it faster around corners. I'm sure there are people out there who would disagree with this but that's just my personal opinion.
@@smellylettuceThat's a good question. This is my first convertible car please keep that in mind. So I would advise getting a soft top cover for the snow just in case. Although that cover I have seen it also covers the windscreen which has your registration and inspection sticker (depending on the state you live in) so I don't know if you can cover your windscreen with your car parked on the streets in your state. I would do research on this. But I have seen alot of cars parked outside during snow with a soft top so I'm going to guess that it's not an issue.
My Dad owned a ND1 that we autocrossed together. For his birthday, I got him a performance oriented alignment (zero toe, but close to maximized stock negative camber). It transformed the handling at the limit. The stock alignment with only 7k miles was all over the place. Best $75 purchase, ever.
Rented one on Turo in San Diego a few months ago. Incredibly fun to drive, and there’s such a good feeling knowing you can push it and there’s not much to break on these. I ran out of courage way before running out of grip on curvy mountain roads. Just the right amount of power, and regardless of how hard you drive it you’re still averaging 30 mpg😂. My only minor complaint was the steering being ever so slightly numb (still very precise), but it was an ND1 and I hear the ND2 got better steering feedback. Additionally, even though it was on the sport suspension, the ride quality was still very decent. Just a very happy, fun car to throw around :)
Topher you must have read my mind man, I've been heavily looking into Miatas the past couple of days and now you've dropped another POV banger for me to watch! You're the best, keep it up bro!!
I see the Topher driving a Miata, I click. Simple as that. I actually like last year’s new color, Platinum Quartz Metallic better. You stating the NE is going to be a hybrid is the best news I’ve hear in a while. I thought it was going full electric. A hybrid engine can hopefully keep the manual. Thanks for taking us along for the ride.
Great choice for the test drive, great video and audio. We have a 2022 RF Black as a weekend driver. Todays it's birthday, we love it. Original owners of an ND-A. Best smiles per mile! 6'1" and fits like a glove.
I miss my 2016 ND Club with the BBS package. I bought it with 500 miles on it for only $16K after a BMW dealer got it as a trade-in and undervalued it incredibly. Sold it in 2021 for a truck at a profit, but I miss it every day.
All I did was sit in one and was immediately endeared by how the engine shakes the car. Like a jet ski. No isolation between you and the mechanical bits. I love that visceral feeling.
I put 2k miles on mine in the first 3 weeks of ownership doing these 8-10pm drives on back roads with zero traffic. Basically every night it's not raining I'm out on some twisties. I've upgraded the front sway bar, added a catch can, ceramic coating, updated all the bulbs to LEDs, trunk lid springs, hood lift pistons, and roadster sport race exhaust. It's my birthday next weekend and I treated myself to a set of springs/shocks from flyin miata. No plans to track it atm so don't really care about being able to change ride height easily so springs/shocks were a better choice than coilovers for me.
@@Erkkremlinklum Oh man I agonized over getting the recaro package for a few weeks before finalizing the order. Ultimately I went with the base club w/o the seats and brakes because all I really wanted were the seats, and I wanted to leave room for buying some dedicated track seats in the future. I don't like the bbs wheels at all and prefer the Wilwood brakes to brembos. Those recaro seats are fire, though. I can't see giving up heated seats with the Bose speakers, especially in winter, and the recaros are so much nicer than the stock ones. My suspension is currently stock Bilstein, but I have flyin Miata lowering springs and koni shocks arriving at my house this weekend. I installed the karcepts front sway bar a few weeks ago and it totally transformed the car. Can't imagine what it will feel like with an actual sport suspension as well. Very excited to find out.
@@jgalt99 yeah I went with front and rear sway bar. Felt like a fwd till I got flying Miata alignment. Thinking about going back to stock rear sway bar due to everyone saying to keep it stock and it does feel a little off
@@Erkkremlinklum Turn off traction control and it will show you it's RWD pretty quickly. Agree alignment made a big difference as well, mine actually had positive camber from the factory, the only thing set right was toe. Depending on what sway bars you got setting the front to the middle or stiffest setting and the rear to the least stiff is generally where you want to be. I got the Karcepts one, (mostly for ease of install) and it has 5 settings. I'm currently using the 3rd hole for street use and it feels amazing. Most keep the stock rear due to autocross rules only allowing you to change one, and the front one is by far the biggest factor in controlling body roll.
Found a rare 2022 Grand touring 6 speed to rent and sought out to some curvy canyon roads about 30 miles away. I was ready to call it quits on the freeway because of the insane road noise, but after I got to the canyon roads and put the top down, all was forgotten, it was love. The driving experience would have been so much better if Mazda offered an upgraded exhaust option. interior was beautiful!
High fidelity earplugs make it tolerable Goodwin racing makes exhausts that are perfection, super affordable too. I have the Superstreet on mine and it’s awesome for daily driving
If anyone is ever in Charlotte I have a 2022 Soul Red MX5 RF Grand Touring manual for rent on Turo. The car is so awesome to drive. Great review Topher!
Love the video. The color in direct sunlight at 19:26 is why I went with the Zircon Sand on my GT. I've always loved the light gold colors that came on sports cars in the 80's (Trans Ams and Z31-300ZXs especially!) and this is the closest thing to that we can get. Lots of folks online make jokes that it looks like wet cement or poop, but I don't really see the comparison. I think most ND fans are just upset that BRG, yellow, and other more contemporary or "exciting" colors have remained off the palette for so long and are venting their frustration on this new choice. I'd also say that wrapping this car in BRG and keeping the sand interior panels with some brown insert seats would make it look classy. In any case, anyone on the fence for this color should see it in person first and decide from there.
I had a 2006 NC and thought it was so much fun, I was surprised how much body roll it had compared to my other sports cars but it really made you feel what was going on, it was a great tool for me to become a better driver. I miss it.
I can't imagine a hybrid or electric Miata until we get solid state batteries that weigh a few 100 lbs rather than the 1000s that they do now. The whole spirit of this car is a lightweight, (arguably underpowered) fun, unpractical sports car that you can drive spiritedly and only get a speeding ticket rather than losing your license or freedom. Stock they're good fun. Modified they're a weapon on the track, the more technical the course the better. But all that goes away as soon as they're 4000lbs instead of 2400, no matter how much power they gain. There are plenty of 4000lb cars with 500 hp. They don't do what a miata does at all. If that's what you want, there's already so many cars that fill that niche. There's basically only the mini cooper that does what a miata does, and the styling on that car is very different. I think if they electrify the NE version with current battery tech it might kill the whole platform, which would be such a shame. I have nothing against electric cars, they're already better at being commuter cars than ICE, but you currently can't build an electric miata that does what the ICE miata can do better.
Got an E30 on daily duties rn. Thinking of this to replace it, thanks for the review. Then I can finally go on to bigger jobs with the E30. Just need a little more time
I own an MX5 ND 2015... It is indeed very reliable, has a nice sound, fun to drive and the costs are low. The only min points: (the battery could go flat during the winter + the brakes could be more powerful)
I've only driven an NA once learning manual, and while I love my small daily hatch, I'd love to have any Miata as a track car if time and space allows one day
Excellent video, I love this car, Topher, what is your watch? I've been seeing it in your videos for a while and always wondered which one it is. (Bulova?)
I owned an ND1 for 2 years. I loved it, but I am 6’4” and didn’t fit in it, so I sold it. Watched this video just to remember how glorious that car was. I wish I fit!!!
Friend, I'm 6'2" and my NB was a tight fit until I installed an aftermarket seat with a lowering bracket, which gave me a good few inches. I'm not sure what offerings there are for the ND, but that may be worth looking into.
I miss my s2000. Stupid worn out synchros on the AP1. Mx-5/brz/86 just make so much more sense with parts readily available. Some people will just never understand you don't need 500hp to have fun.
@TheTopher have you also tried the Recaro seats on the ND? which one do you prefer? I love the fact that with the standard seats you can have colored interior, but I found them very unsupportive even on the street.
I'm about a week from ordering a new car. I have a 2009 Grande Punto that I got for my driver's exam and this will be my first ever bought car. It all comes down to BMW Series 1 M Sport, Mazda 3 or Mazda Miata and I just keep watching videos of people driving those cars and my decision is changing every day...Iyesterday I was sure about the BMW and now I want a Miata....I'm getting nowhere 😂
auto nd2 miata alot of people hate but tbh it still has that handling that it is known for , only thing i dislike is that its not dual clutch and its six speed auto is behind other competitors . but it is fun to drive still and the miata is not known for speed or power so i think one can't go wrong with the manual or auto depending on your preferences and what u like at the end of the day
Miata is always the answer lol ... I love my 91 na miata , highly modified but sooo much fun, such a great car even with all I have done to mine , still reliable af and I push between 28 and 31psi depending on temps and fuel so yeah they are such great cars to own ... I can't weight to one day get me a nd2 aswell to add to my toys lol ... peace and love all keep it rad stay safe and build on l8z
Now obviously, mazda decided not to turbo that particular miata, but do you know how well these handle boost? I feel like w the tasteful mods you mentioned, you could get some reasonable punch and acceleration, not to mention the satisfying turbo noises to match the upgraded handling
🤔 did you know you were going to catch the shot in the mirror of your hand pointing at the wind buffer In the back when you pointed at it? It surprised me how it worked out. 👍🏾
any horsepower can be fun, you just really gotta know how to use it. People who complain about horsepower numbers have clearly never driven and only care about paper specs.@@disophisis
Not sure where in California you are located, but you should have tested the MX in the twisties, which is where the car delivers the most fun. That's a great little driving toy, but I wish it was a little bit more powerful. Thankfully it gives you a great sensation of speed... without speeding.
I agree, that would be a very elegant solution to tidying up the look of the cockpit. That phablet sticking out like a sore thumb, in a car this small, is honestly an eye sore. Even Mazda 3 has a better integrated navigation, mainly to shape and it being smaller in size.
Simpler solution would be to have flip down option and have a chrono clock on the back so when you flip it down, u’d be looking at an elegant chrono clock like in Porsche.
Try to get an automatic. Curious what that's like. I heard its gearing is super long which is why acceleration is worse but wanna see your opinion. I also heard that it does not always pick the high gear, it also has that sport mode button, and I heard the paddles react quickly. Also curious what the base shocks and no LSD is like. Would you miss the LSD (try drifting) and do you prefer the base shocks on Michigan roads? You'd get a less-repetitive test so it might intrigue enough people to watch it.
I have a 22 RF manual. I rest drove the automatic. It's not bad, shifts well, a little quieter on the highway. I wouldn't hesitate if I wanted an automatic but I prefer the manual.
![CHILE vs. BRASIL [1-2] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 9](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5ObJt_71AYc/mqdefault.jpg)
You know, there’s just something about the Miata. Greater than the sum of its parts, it has a quality that can’t quite be measured in specs or numbers. I know of no other car that gives whoever’s driving it more smiles, giggles and laughs. Other cars generate awe, respect and excitement, but the Miata? FUN! It’s gotta be The World’s Happiest Car.
I agree, I've owned 4 Miatas and am about to purchase my 5th. There is one other car I would put next to the MX-5 in that regard, and that would be the S2000. I've owned two S2Ks and they are also amazing happy cars, I honestly couldn't tell you if my ND or S2Ks put a bigger smile on my face. The only reason I don't go for another S2000 right now is that they are now sadly just overpriced collector cars, and I can't even find a beaten-on one for much under 20k. There are however some things about the S2K that I just can't look past, for example, the S2000's transmission feels like no other car or supercar on the market, the 9000rpm redline is absolutely pure racecar insanity, and the chassis tuning is uncomparable for its class. The S2000 is the only car I could say feels like a "complete" extension of your body, the Miata does this very well too, however, there is something I can't quite pin with the S2000 that just changes your thought process of what driving a car really feels like. It's a shame Honda stopped production of their best masterpiece along with a lot of their parts. I'm just glad we still have modern alternatives that are just as good such as the MX-5 or any newer Lotus.
I cant wait to get a Miata man. I have a Mazda 2 Manual with the Skyactiv engine, and even that is so fun to drive to me with only 108hp. It is a manual as well, as well as my first manual so im sure that adds to my joy of it, but I cant imagine how amazing a Miata is going to feel.
Fr man my dad is between getting an nd or a mini convertible and he has driven my na so it’s a really tough decision.
Rented one from Turo in June and fell in love with it. Just got one last week and it’s been a blast driving so far.
How did you find one on turo!!! Was it manual?
I’m new to cars, is it good for a first car and daily driver?
@@Clovud If you live in LA or NYC and have to commute in heavy stop and go traffic, try rent one and see if you can bear with the hassle. Otherwise, it's a no brainer
@@Mark-rt6fy I live in Sacramento and only drive to work or college. I don’t really drive much unless I need to
@@Clovud That's the perfect car for you then. Even going for older gen if you are short on budget is the same level of fun, if not more raw and exciting
I am living the dream right now. I have my Soul Red Crystal '22 Club softtop and just flew to Portland and drove 615 miles back to the Bay Area in my new-to-me 2018 GTI SE finished in amazing Great Falls Green. Both are 6 speed manuals and I couldn't be happier. The Miata has a GoodWin Roadster Sport Twin Tip exhaust (a must have mod IMO), and the GTI will have a tune and an intake. 🤌🤌
Thanks, Chris for all your insight on helping me have the ultimate 2 car fleet (Wife drives an ID4 AWD Pro S).
I can never own any of the cars you show Topher, but thanks to your videos I feel like I am driving these beautiful cars. Drive safe. 👍🏽
Dont give up 💨
you will own this car in the near future.
Don't count yourself out man, your time will come
you can absolutely own an older one of these. I have a 2017 2.0 RF and it's affordable compared to brand new :)
Put down a deposit on a new manual grand touring rf in soul crystal red last week! Been wanting one since 2017 (was in undergrad) and told myself I would get one if I went to grad school. 5 years later, an MA under my belt, I am finally financially capable to pick one up :))
Took a couple weeks, but was able to negotiate a few thousand under msrp with 0% apr with the dealership. Was going to wait for nd3, but the deal was pretty good.
“You can make A MILLION MX5 videos”; and I’ll watch all MILLION. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS BRO 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽💯💯💯
Absolutely LOVE all the Miata videos recently. Haven't actually seen the zircon sand metallic paint in-person but on video it's a nice looking color.
I first came across this channel in 2021 while researching the ND2 MX5; a few months later, I bought one. I still get excited to watch thetopher's annual reviews and drives, and I can never resist going for a drive after!
How's the car holding up?
Great video as always! So I actually own the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring right now, and before I had the 2022 Subaru BRZ Limited. I'm very fortunate to have driven them both as a daily. I put decent enough miles on both cars to have a proper ownership experience.
In my opinion, I have to say that when it comes to the manual transmission and the driving experience, I found the MX-5 better when compared to the BRZ. The MX-5 is fast enough, fuel efficient, smooth manual transmission, and better looking as well. And honestly the storage space is not too bad either, I can put my carry-on in the truck whenever I'm traveling and I still have some space left for my backpack and other small items. There's also a storage box behind both seats, which alot of people forget about lol. The center console is as big as a glove box which is great storage space as well. Driving this car is so much fun, it revs up to 7k RPM and with the top down you can hear that nice exhaust note. With the top up I did notice some rattling noises which is to be expected with a soft top convertible so that's fine.
Some Cons of MX-5 in my opinion:
1. Honestly there's no exaggeration of how annoying that screen is. It's not a touch screen, it's button operated only and I never got used to it.
2. The cup holders are not deep enough so a standard water bottle keeps falling out when you brake or accelerate too hard.
3. The rear-view mirror is VERY big for the size of the car. It is so big that I found out an SUV was able to hide behind the mirror while looking ahead. When you sit in the car, that rear-view mirror blocks a good portion of the front view, so you have to duck down and make sure there's no cars hiding behind the mirror. I'm 6ft tall but even still they don't need to put such a massive rear-view mirror on a small car.
The BRZ is also a great car and there's no denying that. BRZ corners really well and is a very fun car to practice your burnouts and drifting. It's more spacious and faster than the MX-5. I also sometimes miss that boxer engine sound. It did not have the traditional boxer rumble but it still sounded great.
BRZ is a car if you want to have some track/cornering fun, have back seats for more space, and/or want a hardtop.
MX-5 is a car that you just want to cruise in. It's a car to enjoy your drive and personally I would pick the MX-5 over the BRZ if space is not an issue.
Both were great daily drivers and I also used both during snow. With snow/winter tires you will be fine. Both of the cars are fine for all-four seasons and both were fantastic to drive!
1. the screen in the miata is completely reasonable. it didn’t even take me getting used to it, it felt completely natural to me when first using it
2. The Mx5 has more handling capability than the Brz and doesn’t blow up the motor with too much lateral force so I would challenge your last statement
Do you feel the top would fair ok if it is parked outside in the winter uncovered (assuming you got the soft top)? That's always been my main concern aside from not fitting in it.
@@rightminddrive
1. So the reason why I mentioned the screen is because for me when I use the Android Auto it was alot easier for me to search and zoom out of the navigation with touch screen than having buttons. When the voice command didn't pick up the location I wanted to go too, I had to type it on my phone which was annoying. Also with a touch screen you can pinch zoom out to see your route but with this you cannot. Going through the car settings was confusing with buttons as well. I guess this is my first Android Auto car that didn't have a touchscreen so I'm having a hard time.
2. I want to make it clear I never tracked either of these cars and I'm not a professional driver at all. Just a regular driver who likes to speed from time to time and who enjoys going fast around corners. I never said that MX-5 was bad at handling. Personally I found the BRZ better at handling as it was alot more controllable around corners in higher speed and I had more confidence in the BRZ than the MX-5. BRZ had less of a body roll from stiffer suspension and sticky tires which made me more comfortable to drive it faster around corners. I'm sure there are people out there who would disagree with this but that's just my personal opinion.
@@smellylettuceThat's a good question. This is my first convertible car please keep that in mind. So I would advise getting a soft top cover for the snow just in case. Although that cover I have seen it also covers the windscreen which has your registration and inspection sticker (depending on the state you live in) so I don't know if you can cover your windscreen with your car parked on the streets in your state. I would do research on this. But I have seen alot of cars parked outside during snow with a soft top so I'm going to guess that it's not an issue.
I really like the knob in the gen 4 mazda3
My Dad owned a ND1 that we autocrossed together. For his birthday, I got him a performance oriented alignment (zero toe, but close to maximized stock negative camber). It transformed the handling at the limit. The stock alignment with only 7k miles was all over the place. Best $75 purchase, ever.
Rented one on Turo in San Diego a few months ago. Incredibly fun to drive, and there’s such a good feeling knowing you can push it and there’s not much to break on these. I ran out of courage way before running out of grip on curvy mountain roads. Just the right amount of power, and regardless of how hard you drive it you’re still averaging 30 mpg😂. My only minor complaint was the steering being ever so slightly numb (still very precise), but it was an ND1 and I hear the ND2 got better steering feedback. Additionally, even though it was on the sport suspension, the ride quality was still very decent. Just a very happy, fun car to throw around :)
Topher you must have read my mind man, I've been heavily looking into Miatas the past couple of days and now you've dropped another POV banger for me to watch! You're the best, keep it up bro!!
I see the Topher driving a Miata, I click. Simple as that. I actually like last year’s new color, Platinum Quartz Metallic better. You stating the NE is going to be a hybrid is the best news I’ve hear in a while. I thought it was going full electric. A hybrid engine can hopefully keep the manual. Thanks for taking us along for the ride.
Great choice for the test drive, great video and audio. We have a 2022 RF Black as a weekend driver. Todays it's birthday, we love it. Original owners of an ND-A. Best smiles per mile! 6'1" and fits like a glove.
I miss my 2016 ND Club with the BBS package. I bought it with 500 miles on it for only $16K after a BMW dealer got it as a trade-in and undervalued it incredibly. Sold it in 2021 for a truck at a profit, but I miss it every day.
For a truck? For shame, sir!
@@jgalt99yeah but its prolly for work related .
Drove one my first day selling them last year, ordered one this year, it’s supposed to arrive in 3 days. They’re awesome!
All I did was sit in one and was immediately endeared by how the engine shakes the car. Like a jet ski. No isolation between you and the mechanical bits. I love that visceral feeling.
I come back to this video every couple months just to experience the Miata. Saving up to plop down cash on a '24 Miata. Can't wait!
Test drove one of these a few weeks ago and was very impressed. Just wish you could get it in British racing green.
I was ripping on some twisty back roads last night with the top down in my nd2 and it was absolutely glorious
I put 2k miles on mine in the first 3 weeks of ownership doing these 8-10pm drives on back roads with zero traffic. Basically every night it's not raining I'm out on some twisties. I've upgraded the front sway bar, added a catch can, ceramic coating, updated all the bulbs to LEDs, trunk lid springs, hood lift pistons, and roadster sport race exhaust. It's my birthday next weekend and I treated myself to a set of springs/shocks from flyin miata. No plans to track it atm so don't really care about being able to change ride height easily so springs/shocks were a better choice than coilovers for me.
@@jgalt99 yeah I’ve got the club with recaro package curious if we have the same suspension
@@Erkkremlinklum Oh man I agonized over getting the recaro package for a few weeks before finalizing the order. Ultimately I went with the base club w/o the seats and brakes because all I really wanted were the seats, and I wanted to leave room for buying some dedicated track seats in the future. I don't like the bbs wheels at all and prefer the Wilwood brakes to brembos. Those recaro seats are fire, though. I can't see giving up heated seats with the Bose speakers, especially in winter, and the recaros are so much nicer than the stock ones. My suspension is currently stock Bilstein, but I have flyin Miata lowering springs and koni shocks arriving at my house this weekend. I installed the karcepts front sway bar a few weeks ago and it totally transformed the car. Can't imagine what it will feel like with an actual sport suspension as well. Very excited to find out.
@@jgalt99 yeah I went with front and rear sway bar. Felt like a fwd till I got flying Miata alignment. Thinking about going back to stock rear sway bar due to everyone saying to keep it stock and it does feel a little off
@@Erkkremlinklum Turn off traction control and it will show you it's RWD pretty quickly. Agree alignment made a big difference as well, mine actually had positive camber from the factory, the only thing set right was toe.
Depending on what sway bars you got setting the front to the middle or stiffest setting and the rear to the least stiff is generally where you want to be. I got the Karcepts one, (mostly for ease of install) and it has 5 settings. I'm currently using the 3rd hole for street use and it feels amazing. Most keep the stock rear due to autocross rules only allowing you to change one, and the front one is by far the biggest factor in controlling body roll.
LLTM: Long Live The Miata
Literally picked my ND Miata up yesterday. Timing couldn’t have been better!
Found a rare 2022 Grand touring 6 speed to rent and sought out to some curvy canyon roads about 30 miles away. I was ready to call it quits on the freeway because of the insane road noise, but after I got to the canyon roads and put the top down, all was forgotten, it was love. The driving experience would have been so much better if Mazda offered an upgraded exhaust option. interior was beautiful!
High fidelity earplugs make it tolerable
Goodwin racing makes exhausts that are perfection, super affordable too. I have the Superstreet on mine and it’s awesome for daily driving
I love your MX5 ND videos! Addictive
If anyone is ever in Charlotte I have a 2022 Soul Red MX5 RF Grand Touring manual for rent on Turo. The car is so awesome to drive. Great review Topher!
what i really miss during this depressing winter in Berlin, Germany, is a summer breeze early in the morning, and a manual MX5 ND..
I have a 2021 Nd grand touring soft top & it's been so great. Even as a daily, it works for me & always a fun drive
The cute Miata is the definition of if it's not broken, don't fix it ❤
I had a Goodwin RoadsterSport Race muffler waiting for my new 2023 MX-5 the day I bought it.
Love the video. The color in direct sunlight at 19:26 is why I went with the Zircon Sand on my GT. I've always loved the light gold colors that came on sports cars in the 80's (Trans Ams and Z31-300ZXs especially!) and this is the closest thing to that we can get. Lots of folks online make jokes that it looks like wet cement or poop, but I don't really see the comparison. I think most ND fans are just upset that BRG, yellow, and other more contemporary or "exciting" colors have remained off the palette for so long and are venting their frustration on this new choice. I'd also say that wrapping this car in BRG and keeping the sand interior panels with some brown insert seats would make it look classy. In any case, anyone on the fence for this color should see it in person first and decide from there.
I had a 2006 NC and thought it was so much fun, I was surprised how much body roll it had compared to my other sports cars but it really made you feel what was going on, it was a great tool for me to become a better driver. I miss it.
Just bought this one in this color Valentines Day! 💝
I can't imagine a hybrid or electric Miata until we get solid state batteries that weigh a few 100 lbs rather than the 1000s that they do now. The whole spirit of this car is a lightweight, (arguably underpowered) fun, unpractical sports car that you can drive spiritedly and only get a speeding ticket rather than losing your license or freedom. Stock they're good fun. Modified they're a weapon on the track, the more technical the course the better. But all that goes away as soon as they're 4000lbs instead of 2400, no matter how much power they gain. There are plenty of 4000lb cars with 500 hp. They don't do what a miata does at all. If that's what you want, there's already so many cars that fill that niche. There's basically only the mini cooper that does what a miata does, and the styling on that car is very different. I think if they electrify the NE version with current battery tech it might kill the whole platform, which would be such a shame. I have nothing against electric cars, they're already better at being commuter cars than ICE, but you currently can't build an electric miata that does what the ICE miata can do better.
Zircon Sand Metallic is a fancy name for beige lol
Damnit. Sooo want to pull the trigger on a manual Miata (RF). These vids aren't going to help my marriage LOL
What a nice, fun, little machine!
Got an E30 on daily duties rn. Thinking of this to replace it, thanks for the review. Then I can finally go on to bigger jobs with the E30. Just need a little more time
Just curious, do you notice the weight difference between soft top and RF?
When we asked Mazda for more color options, metallic beige wasn't at the top of the list. How about a British racing green, or mariner blue?
15:07 ok that was smooth asf lmao
I own an MX5 ND 2015... It is indeed very reliable, has a nice sound, fun to drive and the costs are low. The only min points: (the battery could go flat during the winter + the brakes could be more powerful)
I've only driven an NA once learning manual, and while I love my small daily hatch, I'd love to have any Miata as a track car if time and space allows one day
in term of handling, Mazda is one of the best in the world
Nice, you went to Grattan. I live just a few miles from there. Fun track to race on :)
One of my favorite tracks!
Miata has the smoothest engine sound of all the time
Excellent video, I love this car, Topher, what is your watch? I've been seeing it in your videos for a while and always wondered which one it is. (Bulova?)
Welcome back Topher.
Apple CarPlay was added with 2020 Miata models, but I had my 2019 GT RF upgraded by the dealer when I bought my car in August 2019!
Topher, is there any chassis rigidity differences b/w the soft top and RF? And does the soft top have less body roll?
What a great looking car! Thank God they're still making silver/chrome wheels!
Try to get a base Sport. Heard the Yoko Advan tires they come on are extremely fun. They're the ones designed for the car on its original 1.5L.
I'm pretty sure this November(ish) they're announcing ND3, with the NE being more like 2028ish
Watching this made me really want one
coolest car ,but what abut the screen? Just music or gps navigation? (I get lost in my own bedroom)
I owned an ND1 for 2 years. I loved it, but I am 6’4” and didn’t fit in it, so I sold it. Watched this video just to remember how glorious that car was. I wish I fit!!!
Friend, I'm 6'2" and my NB was a tight fit until I installed an aftermarket seat with a lowering bracket, which gave me a good few inches. I'm not sure what offerings there are for the ND, but that may be worth looking into.
Miata and manual transmission is a match made in heaven
Dude you don't know how lucky you are
I got my 2021 mx5 rf hardtop and I LOVE IT! Only paid $20,500 it has 47,000 miles
Old or not, I've always had a smile on my face when I get to drive a miata. I'm waiting for a review on the new cx-90
Miata week needs to be the new shark week lol
looks like such a fun little sports car. i really want one
I miss my s2000. Stupid worn out synchros on the AP1. Mx-5/brz/86 just make so much more sense with parts readily available. Some people will just never understand you don't need 500hp to have fun.
Dealer near me has one of these in this color....so so tempting
The dream is to get a Miata club with brembo package! Maybe one day. Hopefully the next version of the Miata is even better.
Driving one of these cars is on my bucket list. I own a 1997 NA
My DD is a silver 2015 PRHT. I have spent $3,000 on the suspension; now it doesn’t drive like my mother’s Buick!
@TheTopher have you also tried the Recaro seats on the ND? which one do you prefer? I love the fact that with the standard seats you can have colored interior, but I found them very unsupportive even on the street.
I'm about a week from ordering a new car. I have a 2009 Grande Punto that I got for my driver's exam and this will be my first ever bought car. It all comes down to BMW Series 1 M Sport, Mazda 3 or Mazda Miata and I just keep watching videos of people driving those cars and my decision is changing every day...Iyesterday I was sure about the BMW and now I want a Miata....I'm getting nowhere 😂
that exterior color with black 16inch wheels would be stellar
Check the 2023 club RF in this color.
You just convinced me to buy one. I’ll edit to see what the electrification version brings to the table. I hope it’s still light
auto nd2 miata alot of people hate but tbh it still has that handling that it is known for , only thing i dislike is that its not dual clutch and its six speed auto is behind other competitors . but it is fun to drive still and the miata is not known for speed or power so i think one can't go wrong with the manual or auto depending on your preferences and what u like at the end of the day
I love me sum Miata. Really hope a fun color comes out next year. I'll throw money down asap if they do.
would be a car to buy if it got the hardtop and the new interior like in the mazda 3 or cx-60
my first manual experience was in one of these, Only stalled it once
Miata is always the answer lol ... I love my 91 na miata , highly modified but sooo much fun, such a great car even with all I have done to mine , still reliable af and I push between 28 and 31psi depending on temps and fuel so yeah they are such great cars to own ... I can't weight to one day get me a nd2 aswell to add to my toys lol ... peace and love all keep it rad stay safe and build on l8z
That's the color I want the most
18:29 never seen automatic Miata drivers smile, too.
Would apprciate seeing you review/compare to an automatic to get an expert opinion
Now obviously, mazda decided not to turbo that particular miata, but do you know how well these handle boost? I feel like w the tasteful mods you mentioned, you could get some reasonable punch and acceleration, not to mention the satisfying turbo noises to match the upgraded handling
🤔 did you know you were going to catch the shot in the mirror of your hand pointing at the wind buffer In the back when you pointed at it? It surprised me how it worked out. 👍🏾
Ahhh good ol Miata ❤
the people who would say that it doesnt have enough power dont understand how fun it would be in a car this small
Yeah I had a saturn sc2 back a long time ago and that thing was even pretty fun at ~2375 lbs. And it only had like a piddly 120hp
any horsepower can be fun, you just really gotta know how to use it. People who complain about horsepower numbers have clearly never driven and only care about paper specs.@@disophisis
Any more power and it'll have a power to weight ratio of a V8 lol
@@paulklp8262 thats actually insane lol
@RiffShark007 Mustang GT is 190kw/t, MX-5 is 130kw/t. Boost it to 200kw and you have the same power to weight.
ND3 is official for 2024 ! YESSSS ! How cool is that ?
If there's 1 feature I'm jealous of on this vs my 2018 Mazda3: This has a manual parking brake! I do not. Nice car!
Not sure where in California you are located, but you should have tested the MX in the twisties, which is where the car delivers the most fun. That's a great little driving toy, but I wish it was a little bit more powerful. Thankfully it gives you a great sensation of speed... without speeding.
can't have them all for the price. There's elise/exige and maybe atom/caterham for more power and lighter weight, but more $$$
That’s Such A Very Beautiful Looking Car😍❤️🏁🚗💨!!!
If you dont mind me asking, how tall are you? Im 6' tall and wondering if I would feel too cramped in the newer MX-5s
Nice Color!
The wife and i just bought at 09 eith 100k and this car rips i love it so much
What's your top 5 most fun cars you've ever driven?
At the very least the LCD screen should be retractable like the older Audis
I agree, that would be a very elegant solution to tidying up the look of the cockpit. That phablet sticking out like a sore thumb, in a car this small, is honestly an eye sore. Even Mazda 3 has a better integrated navigation, mainly to shape and it being smaller in size.
Simpler solution would be to have flip down option and have a chrono clock on the back so when you flip it down, u’d be looking at an elegant chrono clock like in Porsche.
@@trackeagle6013 Beautiful solution !
that would add weight and complexity
I’ve been trying to decide between this or the GR86 I know I want to track it and I’ll have another car as my daily.
in the 2017 .. in the 2023 ... hot damn
Try to get an automatic. Curious what that's like. I heard its gearing is super long which is why acceleration is worse but wanna see your opinion. I also heard that it does not always pick the high gear, it also has that sport mode button, and I heard the paddles react quickly. Also curious what the base shocks and no LSD is like. Would you miss the LSD (try drifting) and do you prefer the base shocks on Michigan roads? You'd get a less-repetitive test so it might intrigue enough people to watch it.
I have a 22 RF manual. I rest drove the automatic. It's not bad, shifts well, a little quieter on the highway. I wouldn't hesitate if I wanted an automatic but I prefer the manual.
I really need to find one I can sit in. I’m 6’1”, and I really want a Miata, I just have to make sure I’m after the right car.
I wish I could fit in a Miata. I'm almost 6'4" and I think I'd need a racing seat bolted to the floor.
i did not know u got an LSD with the grand touring? whats the sporty differences between a club vs. a grand touring then?
Is it an MX5 in the US or strictly only Miata? I get confused because Canadian dealers only call it MX5
13:38 someone had just a bit too much fun in the exit not to long before this recording lol
AP2 S2k 70k miles for 25k , NC2 miata 40k miles for 17k which is the better value/best car that i can track once a month but also daily 4days a week ?