I have a 2019 Club, same color, and completely agree with your take. It’s very fun/playful and has just the right balance of simplicity and creature comforts. I also own an S2000 and can attest that the ND2 shifter is not far behind S2k’s. They’re both among the best ever.
Great stuff. Really enjoyed that. We have an ND1 and your right the 2 does rev better and smother. But the cost difference here in the UK is massive so we opted for the 1. Nice garage btw.
Just went from a NC to a ND2 in the same color. Wonderful car. Top down in 2 seconds compared with 12 seconds plus a 300 pound loss in weight with a 25+ gain in HP.
2nd reason for an automatic aside from missing limbs - having to share a car with a wife who has really bad arthritis...however, having put up with that for a couple years, I have my very own 2018 manual MX-5 arriving tomorrow morning, can't wait to get back to a proper car!
Martin, I'm excited that you will have your own MX-5 soon! It's also wonderful to know that for a few years you had the automatic so that your wife could drive it as well :)
@@JamesPlaysWithCars Thanks James :) My wife is keeping the automatic, MX-5 arrived this morning and it's definitely as fun as everyone has been saying :)
Thanks for the great review. I got mine in the sport level as that was as basic as I need for a second car. It also seems like you are driving faster than you are
Thank you for your insights on Navigation and CarPlay. I was thinking of only getting 2020 or newer because of CarPlay. But now I know I can add it to a 2019. Thank you 👍🏻
I'm currently deciding between the ND2 Miata or Veloster N! (Currently the Miata is winning!) Are the BBS Wheels with Brembo's a huge deal-breaker? I just want a fun daily driver not necessarily for going to the track. Can dealers install that as an option later on? Though I know wheels and brakes can be changed to whatever the owner wants. It's just hard to find one for sale in my area with that package already on and I need to be flexible in my car search. Also, is the body roll as "bad" as reviewers say? Thanks =)
Assuming you want to keep things stock: To me, the Brembo's were a must-have and the BBS were less important. IMO the Brembo brake feel is far superior, more firm, although I know I am more picky than most people about brake pedal feel & response (lol you can see the semi-outrage in the comments of my Mustang Mach-E video where I criticized the brake response). I don't know of an option to install the Brembo brakes later at a dealer, but I'm guessing that even if it's possible, the $ the dealers would charge would make it more worth it to go aftermarket with, say, Wilwood. Flyin Miata has a front-only Wilwood package for $549 that I believe would make things quite comparable to the Brembo pack. As for body roll, it IS very prominent! The most accurate description I've heard is Jason Cammisa's description saying that the car flops over initially in the corners, and then grips and carves its line. It's weird at first, but I personally find it to be highly entertaining at street-legal speeds around corners.
For messing around on the street, I think the body roll actually makes the Miata extremely entertaining without driving recklessly or at felonious speeds. If you plan to do a lot of 9 or 10/10ths driving, that's when you'll want coilovers!
Have a ND 2016 German spec. Installed the small big brake kit from K Sport and ss braidet brake lines on all 4, a oil catch can , sound tube delete, Eibach springs ( from Mazda Germany with Mazda part # ! ) and have a 2. set of stock 17" rims with semi slicks. Works for me ... BBS and Brembo package not availiable in Germany. Stupid decision from Mazda Germany ...
Great review James, I'm on my second MX5 Roadster and agree with everything you've said here. The model I selected is the R-sport version, not sure but I think only available in UK. Oh, I'm very happy with my Bose sound system. Looks good in grey by the way.
Wow, the R-sport looks very nice, and according to the internet only 150 were made--so you have quite a special MX-5. If I visit Europe someday, I would love to experience the 1.5L to see how it changes the handling character of the car with the lower weight.
My previous MX5 was another 1.5 in soul red, but I wanted something slightly different this time around. I feel the polymetal grey and burgundy leather seats complement each other quite well. I’ve driven both 2.0 & 1.5 versions and personally prefer the 1,5 as it’s far more responsive. The MX5 was never really designed / intended for speed, it’s all about the handling and the closeness between car and driver. The car comes into its own whilst driving around the country lanes in Cornwall and the Lake District, this is where it feels totally at home. I feel you will be pleasantly surprised if you ever get behind the wheel of a 1.5, quite different from the 2.0. Generally the bigger engines are more popular in the US perhaps. MX5 is a drivers car.
Happened to stumble across your page and have to say I appreciate your info! I’m actually looking to buy a MX 5 Miata right now! I’m looking for a 2nd little fun play car. I’m between this and the new GR86. I do think it would be a lot of fun to have a convertible since I’ve always wanted one. I did test drive a Miata in stick. Been over 5 years since I’ve even driven a stick, and I’ve never owned one, but have to say it made the driving such a more enjoyable experience. Super easy too. Def getting one in that transmission if I do. Have you looked or driven the GR86 though? Would love to hear your thoughts or comparison. Thanks!
Hi Revell25! I've driven the current gen BRZ and compared it to the Miata. Here's the link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NMP6x2Y6MpY.html
The non Brembo club nd2 lacks initial bite imo . Anything bose sucks .... I already replaced the door speakers in my club . Cheers and hope you'll enjoy the car James ! I also love the simplicity of these cars . No electric parking brake to get stuck !
Interesting! What did you replace the door speakers with? I'm intrigued and might do it on mine if you think the sound quality improvement is worth the price.
@@JamesPlaysWithCars Hi James ! Mostly any 6 1/2" speakers will work EDIT - watch the depth though ) I use crutchfield for the most part . I hard wired / soldered some Rockford Fosgate P1650 I had laying around . They're easy to run on the stock head unit , without adding an amplifier . Check out crutchfield . Cheers ,
@@JamesPlaysWithCars It's well worth the trouble . Just remove the negative battery lead before starting if you do it - also ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-S59g0Iwkrb4.html
Thanks supercheesy107! There were multiple reasons I sold the 911, but I'll share the main one. I had bought a lightly track prepped (and super janky) 1994 Miata as a track car, and discovered that the Miata gave me 90% of the 911's fun at 10% of the ownership cost. I know not everyone will agree with this, but I really felt that outright speed was not a requirement to have fun on the street, and the Miata was just so ALIVE in every driving situation. That NA Miata got me on the MX-5 bandwagon, and led to my selling the 911!
You should do more reviews while driving and talk about how it feels, etc etc. it more fun than watching a car in a garage. Remember there are thousands of Miata videos out there with similar content. What can you say or do that’s different? I think your positive enthusiasm as an owner is your strongest point. I would have liked you showing your car and then talking about while you used it on the road. Explain why it’s fun to drive as you drive it. Show and tell is the idea. Your a sales,an and your attitude will make you unique. You do have the knowledge from your experience so,use it better. Your Personality is a big plus.👍🏻😊
Thanks for your words of advice and encouragement, Joe. I will definitely post more videos of the Miata where I'm driving and talking. In fact, I'm signed up for an autocross this Sunday, and will try to record something then!
@@JamesPlaysWithCars - Great! You will be successful I know it! Just keep up the positive attitude and the informative content on the cars people love watching. Most of the successful channels are full of interesting stuff. Honesty and avoid
@@JamesPlaysWithCars -...avoid the click baiting where channels say: things they “hate” or why “love” it. Just say what you think about the vehicles in question; be honest and informative. You have an excellent delivery and you seem experienced in public speaking and video presentation. Good job.
What if you live more in the city where you might find more traffic, I heard it’s better to get the automatic? What do you think? I have never driven a manual but I would like to learn. This would not be a weekend car, I’m looking for everyday car and this is the only car look-wise that appeals to me.
Meredith, that's a great point. If it's your only car and you live in a place where you'll often be in traffic, I think that's another reasonable situation where you'd might get the automatic!
I bought it from eBay, from a Mazda dealer in Alabama. Here's the listing! www.ebay.com/itm/Mazda-Apple-CarPlay-and-Android-Auto-Retrofit-Kit-00008FZ34/192679403436
Love the car for the most part! Personally, I love the gray color you have chosen. I would love this color with the option of a red leatherette trimmed interior combination! Although I can easily appreciate your enthusiasm, I would respectfully disagree about the color-matched paint on the interior door trim. It does add visual interest, but given that this is an area where many people will try to rest an arm during relaxed driving, it adds insult to injury as Mazda was clearly cutting manufacturing costs by not adding soft-touch surface materials in this area of the interior. It by no means a dealbreaker, but it’s definitely a point to criticize given the price point of roughly $40k MSRP. I would use this as a point of criticism along with the substandard backup camera to help lower the purchase price of the car.
Yep! Miata is quicker. Although I was admittedly unclear in that off-hand comment in the video, I just meant it would be an embarrassingly close race, esp. in the real world where you don’t abuse the clutch and synchros like the magazines do to get their 0-60 times. All of which is to say the Miata is not meant to be a drag strip car but it is truly brilliant in other ways.
Why do you like the Miata better than other similar cars, like a Boxster or Z4 or other Porsches like a GT4? There are huge reasons why people like the Miata better. Just sayin....
This is a great topic for a future video, and I've added it to my growing list of video topic ideas. Aside from the cost differential, there are indeed reasons why people might prefer a Miata over those rivals!
@@gstrader73 - I agree the money factor is the main deterrent to most others, especially the Porsche Boxster. The Miata is incredible fun and a best buy for sure!
@@JamesPlaysWithCars im 12.75r and 12.5f from center of hub to fender. the rear was 12.9 was trying for 13 and gave up but has settled a bit lower since i removed my entire rear subframe for the lsd swap into the GT trim.
Very good Video James! Wish you luck with your projects. I have the RF and believe it will outlast the ST with the wear and tear of folding and un effect! Just moi opinion! For the color, it is Feng Shuai! Sorry! But the sound note of the OEM is terrible. Check Borla, Magnaflow, gReddy's and aFe on mine. Sounds so much gooder! lol Feel free to post your channel stuff related to MX5 here. facebook.com/groups/miatamx5generations/
