My daily is a ‘20 Type R. My secondary is a ‘22 MX-5 club with the BBR package. My winter is a ‘22 CX-30 Turbo. I owned a ‘19 BRZ for 6 months. It was “fun” but it felt slow…always. Even on back roads while wringing it out. It was just work to get any fun out of it. So I got rid of it. The MX-5 just felt fast. Being in a true two seater with the top down is unrivaled. It’s not just the sense of speed you feel at 45-50mph, it’s how it feels to be in the car. The smells of a clear summer evening. The sun shining on your bald spot. The feeling that you’re not just driving around the country side but that you’re actually a part of it. It’s truly amazing. I drove the new GR86. It was…OK. Honestly, if I’m going to have a fixed roof my TypeR will suffice. And if I wanted a fixed roof with two seats I’d probably lean towards the BMW Supra or Nissan Z. I know, higher priced cars with more power. But when you’re talking RWD two door sports cars…I think I’d have more fun in those. The MX-5 delivers an experience in a package that’s unrivaled. It’s not just a good, affordable roadster, it’s arguably the best one you can buy.
Agree! Love my 6th Miata since 2001. Miata is always the answer…even after owning a few S2000s I came back to the Miata. I’m driving a ‘21 RF Club BBR, it’s a hoot!
I had a 2010 Mx-5 gt hardtop 6spd manual and a 2016 club with bbs/ Brembo brake package 6spd... then ordered a 2023 gr86 premium 6spd. I have a 1,000 miles on the 86 and I gotta say everyday I miss both of the Miata's over the GR86. Eventhou the GR86 is about .5 sec faster in the quarter mile. The miata's transmission and clutch are 10x better.
This was, IMO, an unusually thoughtful and balanced review. Good insights here regarding “specialness” and “where you live” - most reviewers miss those. Good job!
Interestingly seats played a big part in my decision. I was not impressed with the base ND seats I tried. They lacked lateral support for track/canyon driving. Either car is a solid platform to build on, but replacing seats is expensive and you lose airbags. Recaro club Miata would have been $36k+. Base 86/BRZ is a bargain in comparison at $28k and has dual zone climate control which I appreciate and a fixed roof for track use. Both are great cars, but I have no regrets, love my BRZ.
In the market and choices down to the RF, and twins. Leaning more towards the RF. It's just such a nimble chassis and looks so good. Plus the manual in the Miata is, imho, way better than the GRZ manuals.
I looked at both cars before buying my '23 Toyota GR86. I chose the 86 because it has more HP, has a back seat (rather a shelf) but big enough to bring my two shih tzus, the styling, and the motor track design.
HP is largely nullified by being heavier. Both are still relatively slow and comes down to handling in the corners. One of them feels significantly better and more fun.
I bought a 18 Miata club, I didn’t like the bRZ’s engine tuning then. I’m not sure about the new BRZ. I can say this, every car I get into at the track or auto cross I am thinking the same thing, that is all other cars are too heavy..
I daily drive an MX-5. I haven't driven a GR86, but did try a GT86 and found it less fun to drive than a BMW 1 series (old rwd, not current fwd). I understand the GR86 is very different, but all this is irrelevant as you can't actually get one.
In terms of driving pleasure and not practicality, Miata for me. I have driven both and the brz engine felt less refined and the suspension was too stiff for my streets.
Man, now I gotta swing by Mazda and try the Miata. I really loved my RX-8....but I want a new car. Thanks for mentioning your size. We're twins hahaha. The headroom is an issue on some of the smaller cars. The drop top is awesome!! One had? Crazy
I think by looking at the layout with the knob for the touch screen and the area you are dealing with regarding the cup holders. It might have helped the overall situation by switch the e brake to that side and the knob where the e brake is. Just as far as an arm angle vs being straight back and forward. Might help with avoiding the elbow and the seat collision yet its kind of knit picking at this point. hahah Loved the video.
I’ve had a NA and NB Miata living in SoCal. I just put a luggage rack on both of them and some bungie cords. And I was going grocery shopping no problem lol. Was soo worth it to drive those cars. Only reason I didn’t get an NC is because I had just had my son at that time. But he’s nine now and I’m getting the itch again to rock a ND Miata 🚘 I drive a Mach E and it’s soo boring, just a one trick pony… Going back to gas soon and I’m thinking it’s MX5 > GR86. Plus GR86 has markups in my area and the MX5’s they’re taking $3k off
I wish Mazda would make a 60k Mx-5 that’s track ready with a super charger and some very expensive bbs rims , special limited colors like a mica purple and glossy teal 😊
I’m 6'1 and choosing between Minata and GR86. Have to do test drive first, but your answer helped me to convince that maybe Miata is not for me, even I love to have it.
They are no longer 30k due to markups. The GR86 Premium is now about 34k MSRP. The Miata, forget about finding a new one for 30k, you are looking at 35k+. The GR86 (2023 models and earlier) have RTV issue (youtube it for folks dropping their oil pans down and the pickup being restricted by RTV). I drove both and both great, but haven't bought one cause of the crazy mark-ups still happening in March of 2024. Also, have no idea if Subaru fixed the RTV issue or not, definitely did not in 2023. I don't want a new car with silicon floating around the engine and clogging up the pick-up.
Why try comparing the MX-5 to cars with 4 doors, rear seats, etc? The MX-5 is a bonified Roadster, zero family uses period. It is for driving pleasure only.
EXACTLY! I have a Camry and a truck, so I don’t need 4 doors and a back seat. Just sold my Vette of 10 years with paddle shift auto. Now awaiting my new Miata. So want to run through the gears again! Life is too short not to have what you long to drive.
How do you get around the low power in the Mazda? It seems like a cool car but I can’t get my mind around buying a car with such a small underpowered engine. The Toyota is not that powerful but it’s not near as weak as that 2.0 liter Mazda with 180 hp.
I agree with that statement, the Mazda chassis on our poor U.K. roads shows up badly as scuttle shake, that’s seriously annoying, and hence why I went with a GR86, the roof is so important for rigidity.
@@FATmenDRIVEtrucks Your correct that it helps, but it doesn’t completely eliminate it, it’s an odd looking MX5 too, I still prefer the look of the NC3.5 or NC3.75 over the ND offerings, I wish they had stayed with the lotus look from the early model.
the gr86 is a fantastic car dont get me wrong but if you dont need the space go miata definitely. you will have more fun esp top down. and the whole subaru engine thing in the gr im not a fan of any subaru product esp their engines.
I would really love it if the CX-50 steering rack made it into the Miata. If you you have the opportunity, drive an ND2 with a good alignment (8+ deg caster) and different tires like Continental ECS. I thought the stock steering was “good enough”, but those changes elevated it to “pretty good (for EPAS)”.
Personally I couldn't do a Miata over my BRZ, it's my only car, need the cargo space - which as you said is surprisingly useful - but I'm not sure what I'd choose for a 2nd car, that's the hard question.
Gotta have both at some point. I used to have an SLK 350 and loved dropping the top even in cold weather but was missing some practicality. Then I had a Mustang and a TT and it's so great to have some back seat room and decet place to put yout stuff when traveling, but I missed dropping the top and in the Mustang I was missing the agility of a short car since I do most of my driving in the city.
A couple of corrections: 1. The MX-5's torque is 151-lb ft, not 141, as it states in your description. 2. The 2023 Club model in your Snowflake Pearl White with the BBS/Brembo/Recaro package is nowhere near your stated $30-31K. The msrp for that package is $37,610, which is $3,010 more than a Grand Touring in the same color, or $5,090 more than the total msrp ($32,520) for a 2023 Halo White GR86 Premium with a 6-speed manual. Switch to Neptune Blue for the GR86, and the msrp is only $32,095, or $5,585 less than your tested Miata. Simply put, $4,500 for the BBS/Brembo/Recaro package punts the MX-5 Club model out of the $30K-ish "affordable" category. Add a couple of accessories, and suddenly you're pushing $40K. One other huge difference between the Miata and the GR86/BRZ: their recommended fuel octane. The Miata only recommends 91 octane. The GR86/BRZ recommend 93 octane. Here in California, which is where you're testing this Miata, 93 octane is largely unavailable, and the GR86/BRZ require it. They can operate safely on our 91-grade Premium, but at reduced power, and with occasional knocking and pinging. This is why I ultimately canceled my GR86 allocation and purchased my third MX-5 GT 6-speed manual instead.
hey you seem to know your shit well, could i ask what trim level you got ur mx5 in, and if u recommend the extra $$$ for the bbs/recaro package (or club trim overall)
@@RationalAPC All three of my MX-5 Miatas (2011, 2020, 2023) have been manual 6-speed Grand Touring models with the Performance Packages, when those were still necessary, which is no longer the case since the current Grand Touring trim includes those items (stiffer Bilstein shocks, LSD, front tower strut brace) as standard equipment. As for the BBS/Brembo/Recaro Package that's available for the Club model, I would only recommend it for two types of buyers. The first buyer is the person who regularly takes his or her MX-5 to the track, either to autocross it or to do track days on lengthier circuits. That person will benefit from the Brembo brakes upgrade, as they resist fading and stop more sharply at the limit than the stock setup. The BBS wheels make absolutely zero difference, since they only weigh roughly one pound less than the stock wheel. Their only benefits are aesthetic, if you prefer that look, and the Placebo Effect, since you think you have lighter wheels. Lastly, the Recaro seats are also better for track days, as they have narrower, firmer, more substantial bolsters that offer more lateral support than the stock seats. They certainly hold you in place better, provided you fit in them, which leads me to Buyer Number Two, which is the person who simply prefers the Recaro seats to the stockers. Some people love the Recaros, while others can't stand them because they're too narrow, to the point that those people are actually sitting on rather than between the frame rails and bolsters. You'll have to sit in both seats and decide for yourself.The Recaros are certainly firmer, however, so be aware of that fact. Many people report that they're noiticeably less comfortable, even if they do fit in them. On the flipside, some people say they wouldn't buy a Miata without them. As always, YMMV. Otherwise, if you won't be taking your Miata to the track, then all you're really getting extra for your $37, 610 total msrp is the Recaro seats. On the street, the stock brakes are way more than strong enough and sufficiently fade-free to tackle any real-world canyon situation 99% of Miata owners are ever likely to ask of them. The BBS wheels serve no purpose whatsoever on the street, again, unless you simply prefer their looks, which I don't. I think the GT wheel looks much better, and far more befitting the Miata's relatively high price tag. Meanwhile, the $3,010 less expensive GT gives you a massively long list of features that are absent in the far pricier Club w/ BBS/Brembo/Recaro Package. Bottom line, one really has to covet those Recaro seats in order to justify that package for street use. For steady track use, yes, that's the model to get, even knowing you're still going to modify the bejeezus out of it anyway...provided you fit in those seats.
You mentioned S2000. Ever since I sold mine I am looking for a car that feels similar to that car in the fun department. Is GR86 close? Even the Cayman S I have does not feel like I am "one with the car" as S2K did.
As the previous owner of 4 different S2000s and now the owner of my 6th Miata I can positively recommend an ND2 Club BBR as a worthy successor to the S2000. I would highly recommend adding the GoodWin Racing SSST axle back exhaust. It transforms the car to a much more visceral experience. My ‘21 RF Club BBR is my favorite sports car ever, including a Mustang, Vette, Supra, 300ZX, the 4 S2Ks and all the Miatas.
I love the GR86/BRZ twins but in the Philippines, they're not even in the same planet price-wise vs the MX-5 The twins are US$10k more expensive than the MX-5 (US$35k). Non-negotiable, nationwide "MSRP". I tried reaching out to Toyota Philippines to ask why this is so, and they couldn't give a straight answer besides "confidential internal research" So if you're a Filo reading this, and you want an actual driving experience that's actually reasonably-priced, go MX-5.
@@jubbalandcars that's probably not the worst part. Car "journalists" here call the price "worth it" 🤣 No one here questions the price. Basically if you complain, you're poor
It comes down to this, quite simple: if you want a convertible car, get the Miata, you don’t? Get the Subaru! You want a targa and a little sicker version of the Miata at least looks wise? get the RF. I have a 2023 RF Gt because I love the looks and because it’s my first convertible and I didn’t like having to lower the top with my hand like the softop so I went for it, If I was not into convertibles, I would get the Subaru
Aside from all the technical aspects, the 86 is more of a hooligan’s car. Its practical enough to be your only vehicle, has more aggressive styling, more power, and an lsd on all trim levels… I love both but the 86 has cool factor that the Miata doesn’t
GR86 looks so much better. I have a NA MX5 and just don't like the aggressive styling of the ND. It should have been softer lines like the generations before.
I used to have an ND, but admit that I prefer the looks of the GR86. However the ND is still the best looking mx5 since the NA. Always hated the lights of the NB, looks too soft. the NC looks bloated and awkward to my eyes but it’s all personal preference. NA has always looked great.
