@@BlackNAVYAmericanVET the only reason I would buy a mustang is the V8 sound and feel. A V6 in an American "muscle" makes no sense. As for Ford, I do like Broncos, the only manual SUV option still around.
Great review! I recently visited Japan and you took the words right out of my mouth. I can back with a deep respect for their culture and engineering prowess.
Great impressions! Looking forward to your future comparisons. I agree hard to decide on one car. I bought my ND2 as my only car. I wanted fun to drive, long-term, cheap, good mpg (30 mile work commutes), new, and safe. Over time I more appreciate design and luxury-ish feeling materials. 2020 other new options were veloster N or 1st Gen FRS/BRZ with less mpg. Replaced wife's civic with Lexus NX for better baby duty. If need a 3rd car would get any high mileage used cheap car/suv with 4 doors EV or gas for in town baby commuting. I'm sensitive to steering as well, somehow I like steering with traction off in the ND2 when safe.
Love my Seikos, GS. Just bought an unused sbga111 SD. Very nice older GS. Had a 90,92 autocross, and 93Le. Miss my Le big time. Currently have a 19 mustang bullitt
I have a 2019 ND2 Club RF BBR. Just placed an order for an identical 2024 yesterday. Same color and everything. The steering difference you'll probably notice is on highway on center when the EPS is basically doing nothing. There's that ever so slight bind. It's not much. But it is there. I notice it on mine. I'm hoping the new rack fixes it. I'm also excited for the new LSD. The ND2 can be VERY tail happy when pushed. Especially on the crap OE Bridgestone tires.
He's right every K series and S2000 transmission cold feel awful even when brand new. You literally need to take it out gear leave it in neutral second between shifts and go slow. Do that first 10-15 minutes then you good to rip on
Speaking of steering feedback, I think most people agree that it's one of the few weak points of the S2000. I read a forum somewhere that between the S2000 and GT86/FRS, the latter had actual feel through the wheel while the former had virtually no feel, with one comment going as far as saying it's "non-existent". The Miatas from the NA to NC generation had hydraulic steering, and I imagine that would give it a significant edge in your criteria. BTW, if you're disappointed in the 7500rpm of the MX-5, there's tuning packages like the BBR Super 220 or SPS with their "S2000" package, both of which increase the redline to 8,000rpm which is the same as the AP2 S2000. Either that, or save up for a K-swap.
Looking forward to the S2000 vs Miata video, a comparison that I am super curious about. And Miata is definitely not a girly car anymore, but then again, who cares! Another topic of curiosity: what are some mods that can be done to a Miata to make it more of a track focused car?
Yeah honestly I never cared about the stereotype of a car like the Miata First thing for Miata would be suspension mods. We have some track reviews or ND1 already on the channel too including the owners mods
my buddy just picked up his ND3. We drove back to back my ‘23 club with his ‘24 club. Mine has the alignment recommended by flyin’ Miata but with zero toe in the front. I’ll tell you, his ND3 didn’t have any discernible difference in feel or load up although mine had quicker turn in bc of more camber. I wonder how much the new steering rack really plays into the change or if Mazda also changed the OEM alignment specs for toe and caster.
Since this video was filmed I drove an ND2 stock alignment same tires and can confirm ND3 rack is noticeably better. Would be interesting to compare the two with alignment changes to the ND2
I have now driven both ND1 and ND2, Elantra N, and owned an FRS. I have decided that MX5 doesn't feel special enough for me. The ND2 feels like a superbly tuned, but normal feeling car (I didn't really like ND1 suspension). It's a sweet car but I want something that surprises me more. The Elantra N's plantedness and tuning is charming, and the FRS's rough around the edges powertrain was more interesting.
Had 2. Looks great, sounds great. Pretty quick. Heavy. I had more fun in my 06 STI, modded 99wrx, supercharger minicooper, ‘11 GTI. But I don’t regret having the g35s when I did. Not a bad choice. Currently, I would go for a Miata or BRZ on the more affordable side, or a type R on the pricier side
What's up with all the talk about the S2000? They haven't made that car since 2015 I'm thinking. I owned 2 MGB's, both bought new, but never tried to compare the MX-5 to them, nor the Triumph's or the Austin Healey's. The MX-5 is in a category all its own, affordable, fun, still a true Roadster, 4 cylinder, no turbo, manual trans, rear-wheel drive, rack and pinion steering, front Wishbone suspension and more vun to drive than anything I've driven, to include a 1964 Jaguar XKE, of which, I drove from D.C. to Ocean City, Md. in record time, although I left D.C. at 2:00 AM in the morning to create that record. Remembering doing over 100mph on Route 50 most of the way there. Now back in 1964 there were few police on that highway back then, can't do that today at any time AM or PM. I drove a Morgan once, a friend of mine owned. It reminded me of driving a TR3, but more expensive. All foreign sportscars back then had vinyl tops, the MX-5's have cloth tops with a heated glass rear window. If I could change one thing on the MX-5, I'd offer manual roll-up windows w/vent windows to keep down the wind buffeting. Nostolgia can be helpful sometimes.
To the miata community: 10/10 would recommend weekend car, please don't cancel me. Drop a like/comment on this video for your chance to win a 2024 Lotus Emira
Beautiful car. BORING setting...Ugh! If discussing "steering" is vid's main purpose, pick a drive path that's twisty and scenic, then comment. Conversation with passenger is way off-topic and adds nothing.
That synchro warming up thing in the s2000 I believe is a Honda thing. I had a 2015 si for 6 years and the shifter HATED the cold. Revs dropped faster than normal, the clutch felt off, and the synchros especially in first gear were grindy. It took like 20 minutes of driving before the car came alive, then you start to get that buttery smooth thing he mentioned. Driving in the summer is the complete opposite. Shifter is soft, clutch is scary light and the revs hang like mollasses sliding down a tree.
New rims are not attractive. Radar module in front grill is awful-looking and ruins the whole elegant design of the grill slats.Console redesign is trivial when more storage is needed behind the seats. Front dials redone? Undetectable. New nav? Meh. Only the analog clock is a nice touch. Side bolstering on standard leather seats still not improved. No hp bump to at least 200? Lame. "Aero Grey"? You mean paint primer? New headlight design? The neat fang-like DRL's were replaced by plastic vents? Are they even functional? The new LED tailights? With black plastic inserts and a rear back up light "core"? Were you thinking like a rocketship booster "look" when it comes off more like a flower in bloom? (Does wonders for the "hairdresser"/"chick car" accusations that have haunted the damn thing since Day One.) "ND 3"? C,mon, Mazda...tell the truth. This is merely a place holder, no more, no less until hybrid-time. And what then? The end of a long and venerable reputation as an iconic classic? Oh, and the steering? Two other online reviewers said "didn't feel a thing. Nothing. Nada. Zero"
@@jubbalandcars What does that mean? "not down" with the so-called "ND3?" That would be correct. I own a 2022 ND2 RF GT with the addition or the KPC vectoring, which has made itself very apparent during rough high-speed cornering on canyon roads in Los Angeles. I was eager to hear your analysis of the new steering change. Mostly, I heard a lot about the Honda S2000 and saw suburban streets with roadwork signs and wet pavement.
