The MX5 is the world's best selling sports car for a reason: it's affordable, accessible, practical, easy to live with, efficient, and, most importantly, it's super fun to drive at reasonable speeds.
Matt, love the fact that you're not an automotive snob and give every car an honest fair review based on its engineering and purpose. Awesome, love the one takes !!
He’s not a snob? He said that it’s fun if you’re alone but then went on to talk about “more powerful cars” and threw shade on the Miata . He’s totally an automotive snob.
You think the barely alive old people are bad, wait till you come across an old person driving and they actually died 4 years ago, zombies behind the wheel. If it doesn't happen on the driverside of their windshield, it doesn't exist to them. They can't turn their neck, let alone check their mirrors.
10:14 this is a real sports car though. It just doesn't cost $75K to buy or $900 for an oil change and tire alignment. It's an obtainable and extremely fun car. Those cars with 700HP are utilized about 2% of the time. You get to redline an MX5 all of the time.
I own the ND Miata, and I love how lightweight the car is. It gets 35mpg, and I have beaten FRS pretty badly in a drag race. It's also much faster than the NA, yet it's true to its roots. I wish I could say the same for most of the newest models of vehicles
My friend and i just concluded our month long trip of California, by taking our trusty hire car for a "spirited" drive of Angeles Crest (thanks for the tip off from your one takes)...the scenery was amazing. We are from Australia, i'm a huge fan of TST and /DRIVE and just want to say thanks for your contribution to youtube car content. your videos are top notch matt :)
Another tough day at the office. New Hurricane, New California, and now the ND. Never take what you do for granted. As for the rest of us, we'll be happily watching from our office cubicles... P.S. I miss Cali....
A sports car does not necessarily need excess power. The MX5 corners beautifully, accelerated well and has a speed that most drivers can handle and remain legal. No it’s not a muscle car but it is a sports roadster. The seats are great. Put in some coil overs and it is fantastic. The only thing I don’t like is the ledge on the door that sticks out too far and hits the drivers leg.
Thanks Matt, just now saw this video. I have had a Brembo/Club ND for a bit over a year now and it is an incredible car. I have done a few little things (coilovers, header, muffler, wheels, tune, etc) and don't think I could have more fun in another car right now.
Hey Matt, I just wanted to say I appreciate you still doing these "one takes" and "reviews" for us on RU-vid even though you've found success in other places. I have always liked you're brutal honest with vehicles and it's even steered me away from a bad choice or two. There few things out there on media that keep me intertwined as long as you have and you do it for free, thanks.
I'll have to put Latigo Road on my bucket list when I head out to California. I have a 2016 Club with the Brembo / BBS package too but in Artic White. Its been my daily drive for over four years now in Northern Illinois. Absolutely a great car that gets the heart rate up.
That was one of the finest demonstrations of sporty, open public road driving as you'll see. It's obvious Matt knows this canyon. Only a couple minor hiccups but hey, he had to host a show at the same time he was driving! This may have been one of the last MX-5 reviews, but it was far from the least.
Nice video Matt! I like the Mazda MX-5 Miata since 1989. I had the chance to drive a 1991 Miata, wonderful car. I would buy this car just for the fun, it's a roadster and the best of all "it's rear wheel drive" Yes!!
Love when you go down Latigo Canyon Road Matt. A friend of mine lives in Escondido Canyon and whenever I visit him I enjoy the drive up Latigo to get there.
Another great video Matt, Also another great car. The audio was great but we know you strive for perfection and that's awesome. I hope the cars never run out. Also I hope someone has an old American classic to let you review. hopefully some Plymouth monsters, plenty of cars came with 440s or 426. Those would be absolutely the greatest to review, nothing like them to date.
What a amazing driving. Thank you for this video. I am buying my ND soft top soon. Even I live in Poland and I will have snow on my soft top a couple of times in winter. And have no garage :-) Drove it recently and loved it. Best drivers car if you want to keep your driving licence.
Take it from a Canadian: A Miata with four snow tires is a fantastic winter car. (Buy a set of cheap steel wheels and save your alloy wheels for summer.) It’s almost impossible to get stuck, the car drifts superbly, and its great seat-of-the-pants feel keeps you aware of available traction at both ends. In snowy conditions I can drive circles around 4WD SUVs.
Man, I wish people around my parts knew anything about "Canyon Etiquette" because I am always getting caught behind other drivers who will never move over. Or maybe I need to find new roads.
+Jue_boy The best time to hit up canyon roads and mountain passes are when it is dark outside and absolutely nobody but driving enthusiasts are to be expected... though unfortunately, not all of us enthusiasts have a schedule that allows that often.
You say the Miata is not fast, but you’re moving along this twisty road at a pretty good clip. In a more powerful car how much faster could you really go without losing the all-important safety margin required for driving on the street?
Uh! I bought a Mazda ND MIATA! Trade my NC in for this one.(manual gear box). Thanks for the video review. In one week time after I bought it. I put stiffer spring and adjustable damper, strut brace already. Quite a fun car. I like to drive this ND Miata over my GT3RS and my hellcat. Haven't uncover those two cars for a month time already. This Miata is so light and fun to drive like your comments.
Do people actually complain about the audio? ive never really noticed an issue other than the legit racecars but thats expected. Keep the videos coming theyre great dont let apologize for making great reviews.
I want to do what Matt Farah does, I'd love to have the funds set aside to start up, quit my job and just do it. maybe a couple years time. If i could, i'd move to that location just to drive those roads he goes on. Number one journalist for cars on youtube imo. - long time fan.
Great video! love the MX5. slight issue on comparing it to a $100,000 and over vehicles. But I understand the need. I think the MX5 is the best bang for your buck if you love to drive.
You know what's one of the more amazing things about your videos. Where is all the traffic? Driving 7+ mins through the canyons and not running into one vehicle. I want to drive on these roads. :)
Great review. The brakes would probably do better with steel braided lines too as long as pads are on the list. As for fluid people the wet boiling point is critical for daily drivers you dont plan on changing often.
+BenXL I don't like the front of it; Pop up headlights would be cool, but the NB and NC looked fine without them. The rear however is probably the best of all the MX-5's imo.
+BenXL Many countries have banned that kind of headlights because they are dangerous. I mean, if the car hits someone in front of you, they would work somewhat like sharp blades. So no car company wants to do anything with that thing anymore.
Great Video as always Matt. Question: In the video you mention the Valentine One. Have you ever done a review on one of these before? I am in the market and would love your opinion. Thanks!
Im 6'3 myself and just enough in it with the top down it was great. Big feet sucks with pedal spacing, got my foot stuck under the brake after slipping off the clutch tho.
I think the mazda 6 driver was drunk.....almost hit the guardrail when matt came up behind him the first time, then almost drove off the road the second time
Always like your reviews. Seeing how you’ve driven the Habu and other upgraded ND Miatas, check back for my reveal video. Should be a noteworthy build and one of the few with the BBR fully forged engine.
Great quick review and sporty drive up there Matt. I would consider to buy one of these ND2... problem is here in Italy a fully equipped ND2, with BBS, Brembo calipers and black design pack easily cost about 40.000,00 €... and I'm not sure is worth that much 🤔
How often do you see skateboarders in the canyons? I miss malibu so much =( (edit): and a more serious question, if you had to choose between gt86 and miata as a daily, what would you choose/why?
I want one so Damn bad..... live in Ohio and just bought a '15 WRX last summer and loving it but I feel like I'd be enjoying life more on the daily in that
Hey Matt. I bought an NC last year because I didn't like this car in pictures but now when I see them on the road I think they are pretty nice. How do you feel the NC and ND compare?
just got the 1.5 which revs to 7500 and is even sweeter! full throttle driving pretty much within the speed limit..sold my ST Fiesta to get it (one of the worst sprung cars ever made) - and absolutely no regrets. I have the sport nav model here in the UK which comes with heated leather and bose with speakers in the headrests - so on a phone call it sounds like the person is just behind your head - brilliant.
That was some serious speed down those hills. Would have loved to give chase with my old 1998 Civic Hatch, with tokico, eibach and brembo. I think my old Civic would have kept up, doubt the Fiesta ST could.
Matt, you mentioned the V-one. In your opinion is that the best radar detector? Ive used an Escort Redline for years and love it, but have heard good things about the Valentine.
This car looks like so much fun to drive. I want to see if I get one, but I currently have a Mini r53 (Supercharged) and when I drive it through these canyons, I have so much fun with that supercharger winning and also the pops from the exhaust the R53 does when letting go of the accelerator. I don't know if this Mazda ND will be as fun as the R53.
missed your cali one takes, are you going around zuma and going just down latigo? just curious since i drive an underpowered pos, and kinda hate climbing all the way up just to go down (as you know latigo seems like it has more blind corners going uphill)
Some people comparing these to s2k's in the comments which is reasonably. A very very clean s2k is a bit over 20 grand and in a year or so you'll be able to get one of these for that price. I have always been a huge fan of the Honda and they are great cars. But for the street, I think these are more fun. I've driven quite a few of each and the way the Miata delivers power is more enjoyable for the street. The way the f20/22 "turns on" at 6k is kinda annoying after a while (again for street use) although the engineering behind it is amazing no doubt. I think for a DD, I'd take this over the Honda any day.
SkyActiv doesn't mean non turbo, as the upcoming CX-9 will have a turbo 2.5L SkyActiv engine making 227hp on regular, 250hp on premium and pushing out 310 lb-ft at 2000 rpm. But you are right, it is a totally made up word that tries to tie into the fuel efficient mantra, with the 'blue skies for the children of the future' thing. Great job on the one take, as usual.
Nice review, like you, I could not find the power outlet my first day (today). Had to look it up when I got home from the dealer. Just not sure where you found the "glove box" you mention, there is no glove box on the passenger side! Mine is a 2016 Club with the 6-speed (as God and Mazda intended).
Nice video! Smoking Tire-- Can you tell me your opinion on how is the ND MX-5 compare to NC model? I live in Trabuco Canyon and can drive through canyon road to my business everyday. I have a 2011 GT3RS but I do enjoy driving my NC more. It is just more fun with the top down. I had Ohlin and chassis brace on my NC. although it's an automatic. I bought the NC for my niece to drive to school 9yrs ago. Now, she gave the NC back to me. I put a new canvas top and tune the suspension with Ohlin, sway bars, end links and chassis brace from Japan. Do you preferred the ND more? Or not much difference due to its similar driving character. Let me know your thoughts. For the new ND, should it has to be a manual gear box? My wife doesn't drive manual. I know the manual gear box is best for this type of roadster. But I'd the auto for my current NC. It's actually not to bad. It is just more convenience if in case my wife has to move the car out of the garage or use it at time.
Cannot wait for the r32 gtr videoes! The mx-5 looks like a lot of fun though, but i'd rather take something with a little bit more power if it was my daily
