After 2.5 years of ownership I've decided that it was an appropriate time to make a reflection video. It's lengthy with rushed edits but I hope you can enjoy what you can and pardon my mistakes! Cheers!
As a fellow owner of an automatic miata, i appreciate you not dissing it for being automatic, cuz we in the same boat for why we had to get an auto lol
I have also a NB, a 10th anniversary, with the 6 speed manual and I still have a smile from ear to ear, every time I drive it :-D It's cool to hear US Miata owners greet each other. It's the same here in the Netherlands! I really envy you how cheap it is to own a Miata, over here in the Netherlands, it's very expensive, to drive a car @ all, 'cause we pay lots of taxes :-(
I'll run my auto against your manual any day. Especially when you miss a gear...... I gotta agree that that manuals are much more fun but I've found the autos are much more responsive without the shift lag. Try driving an auto sometime. You'll be really surprised..
Especially satisfying that the NB has Toyota's hand involved in its creation with the later VVTI powered engines, and the Aisin Automatic Transmission. Hoping to get an NB myself sometime in the future; love these cars.
Great video! I just bought an NB month ago and I absolutely love it :) My girlfriend hates it btw (not as girly of a car afterall huh?). I feel like every complain about a Miata is because of wrong expectations and all of these would match other oldish roadsters as well (lack of space, comfort etc). Btw. your suit matches your Miata so well I start to feel bad for how lazy I look in my jeans xd Cheers
Just a litte tip for putting on your soft top, you can still do it from the driver's seat, just use both hands, you grab the handle with your right arm, then the soft top latch with your other hand, it's much easier to put on the soft top that way
You’re kidding, that green rocks. It’s a very traditional color on roadsters. Nice Miata. I have nerve damage and can’t feel the clutch so it’s an automatic for me but I’ll always miss the manual transmission.
I love Automatic miatas - they are almost all in better condition than the manuals and a great source of spare parts ;). I do have paint and interior envy. Also, if you ever do get a stick shift, unless it is a (i think) 2004+, do NOT get the 6 speed. The Mazda 5 speed box is a lot nicer/stronger than the 6 speed they sourced until they got a better one later in the NB2 production run. I've driven both and the 1-2nd shift on the 6 speed is nasty, my 5 speed feels great. This incidentally was the same on my old '07 civic in the UK with a 6 speed - the 1-2nd shift was nasty. I think it is a thing with 6 speeds from the early noughties. I had a 5 speed civic manual before that and the shift was wonderful.
I mounted it with a kit from Amazon. I don’t remember exactly the name of it but just google miata plate mount. Not sure what the roll bar is either since I bought it like that. Song is Didn’t I by Darondo
That is the exact same colour and year and trim i think (2005 LS automatic emerald green mica?) that i am picking up on Tuesday! Glad you love it, if you don't mind me asking how many miles did it have on it when you got it? it still looks amazing
Thank you Eric! Mines actually a 2001 LS. Happy that you’re joining the emerald green Miata fam. I got it at 101k miles and I’ve put in 21k miles after 3 years.
@@samueltran620 2 weeks in and loving it. thank you for the info, hope to see you out on the road someday if you're ever in Santa Barbara area feel free to get in touch @offutteric on instagram
You literally have the same setup as mine, minus the black interior!🤣 Cali plates, headlights and all. Edit: I guess I have the slight advantage that mine is a manual. Once my Miata is finished with a complete restoration, definitely gotta hit up the Crest hwy together!
Very nice video, a bit noisy while driving but it was appropriate :) I have the almost exact same model on the way, it's on a barge and gets in tomorrow, am so excited! It's an automatic as well and I think it's just fine to have one, ...I did not know that it is cheaper to insure an automatic?? I guess it makes sense lol... Do you know if the automatic has been replaced before you bought it? I hear they can last anywhere between 80K and 110K Guess I'm going to have to get a suit now to drive it NOT!! I live in Hawaii ;) I subscribed ...probably need to ask some questions later ..
Congrats on the purchase! Glad you’re joining the miata community. I’m not sure if it’s been replaced but I’m currently at 135k on it and got it at 101k. Running very strong! Thank you for subscribing!
Didn’t know the US spec had a door lock button, what’s the function of that, I’ve got a U.K. spec ‘04 6 Speed SV-T and to lock to lock the doors you just press the door lock in
I have a 1999 NB. Same color but with black and tan leather seats. It's also an automatic. My first Miata was a 1990 NA with a 5 speed and I would put my auto up against a manual any day. Remember the old muscle cars with a 4 barrel carburetor? Well yeah, it's just like that. You might want to dig into what those rattles are because I don't have any of them.
Amazing points made! But I still need to get my hands on a manual one. I know that road was very bumpy and poorly managed but it never hurts to get a diagnosis! Glad you’re apart of the automatic Miata community!
No problems that I can recall. I had all the gaskets replaced early on. However I do have tiny problems with the seals between the window and convertible top.
I thought statistically speaking manual drivers get into less accidents and are generally better drivers than drivers who don't know how to drive standard. Insurance should reflect that i.e. be cheaper???
This video is really old but stop using a sponge to wash your car. Use a microfiber wash mitt and a different one for your wheels. And use microfibers to dry its as well. So basically microfibers for everything if your touching paint.
For the sake of the video, I used a sponge because it looked better to flop down a sponge rather than a soaking wet microfiber wash mitt. I used the sponge on the windshield. But don’t worry I use a microfiber wash mitt when I’m scrubbing the paint.
Hey, did the car come with the rollbar, or did you fit it? I'm curious because I have NEVER seen a tan roll bar cover on a hard dog hard bar. That said I have the black cover on my tan interior miata, and it works because the top of the dash is black too. I can still put my top up sitting in the car with the roll bar in place though (bring up to the bar with your right arm, then grab with your left), although that's probably cos I'm 6'1" which is overall a disadvantage in a miata lol. I did a foamectomy on the driver's seat, and if you want to refresh the leather on your seats you will be pleasantly surprised to know that a complete seat recover kit in leather is only 350 bucks for the NB2 www.lseat.com/products/2001-2005-mazda-mx-5-miata-custom-real-leather-seat-covers-front.html. Its also remarkably easy, and if you want to skip buying hog ring pliers and hog rings, just use zip ties to fit the new upholstry. Its easier than you think to refurb these yourself, takes about 30-45 minutes per per seat once you know how, give yourself a whole afternoon if its your first time. Also if your head touches the roll bar at all, I recommend taking some foam out of your seat to get below it - the padding/foam on the roll bar itself, if supplied by hard dog, is SCCA foam and is designed to cushion your head WITH A HELMET ON and will NOT protect your skull from the roll bar in a crash without one.
Thank Iain for the detailed and helpful tips! I ended up getting some fitted seat covers which worked great! I think they were called iggee seat covers. I sold this car a few months ago and I should’ve tried that foamectomy! And to answer your question on the roll bar, I bought it with a roll bar which was installed by the previous owner. Enjoy the road!!!