The 2019 Mazda Miata RF Club Highlights why You Need to drive a Miata - ONE TAKE
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- Опубліковано 1 бер 2020
- The 2019 Miata RF Club is a great addition to the Miata lineage and a rewarding coupe, but is it too expensive? Mazda Miatas are not only fun to drive, they're an essential experience in your driving education. Everyone needs to drive one, regardless of the year or trim or how much rust it has, at least once.
Note: I forgot to cover the media screen. It's a touch screen when you're stopped, but only lets you use the puck/wheel when you're moving. I don't love touch screens, especially on bumpy roads, and I found the puck controls to fast and intuitive. Apple CarPlay is present, thankfully.
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"It will probably change how you judge cars for the rest of your life". I can vouch for that. Very true words.
True. I never looked back after my first time with an NA. The car after that was an NB, and now the RF. All 3 were daily drivers. I don't care for the horsepower war. The driving feedback, handling, and the fact that I have full control (not a computer) is what makes driving enjoyable.
@Ivana Notyers Find a nice '85 NA MR2 manual. Same thing. Though, any Miata is better. The best transmissions I have ever rowed are 1) S2000, and 2) my NA. Utterly perfect trans, and ergonomics. The cars are efn masterpieces, and they made them by the boatload.
Agree. I own an NC 2.0 Sport and had an NB a few years back. Both daily drivers. Whenever I think of getting a new car I look for Miata qualities (responsive, fun at low speeds and in corners, ideally a purpose built sports car chassis, enthusiast car built by enthusiasts). Couldn't drive a regular city hatchback, saloon or SUV.
@@MP_pov What are your alternatives then for cheap, reliable and fun cars that are not small twoseaters? Had that argument with the dealer where I bought my ND. He agreed that no other car will match that driving feel if you don't have the money for a Porsche
@@Fritttenfrau I moved on from the Miata to a BMW e93 with a straight six. Needed more space for passengers and comfort. If we're talking used, there's choice here in the UK - BMW Z4 (2 generations), an old Boxster if you can find a well maintained example, GT86/BRZ, perhaps a 370Z... I am tempted by the GT86 now as the Beemer is too heavy and lazy (not to mention cost), and I have had two Celicas before so have a soft spot for Toyota coupes. Just have to try the engine / feel if the torque dip will be an issue...
I was a valet for years and also drove high end cars to parties for demos, shows, etc. Miatas were always my favorite
This dude knows. ZK
@@TheSmokingTire New Miata or used 987 Boxster?
@@jimj2683 Now that's a tough one. Flip a coin. 🙂
Miata reliability
This video made me miss my Miata so much. It really was such a magical experience. I was still working construction at the time, and I'd arrive to job sites in my Miata, and the feeling of pulling all of my tools out of the trunk after having a euphoric early morning drive with the top down was/is an unrivaled experience for me. That car was so thoughtful about its place in the world, and what it meant to have a good drive. I think this video convinced me that I need another Miata in my life, at some point. Thank you!
The new ones are pricey, but they really are so fun to drive. I am glad I was finally able to buy mine. I think it may be my favorite car I've ever owned. Mines a manual transmission, most of my cars are.
I drove muscle cars for years. One day, I drove the Miata and was shocked by how how much more fun it was. I bought a Miata asap. Best car I ever owned!
Same here. I traded in my Dodge Charger for a Miata RF
Audi S4 with active suspension and torque vectoring diff for Miata RF. Then traded that ND1 for a ND2.
The Miata continues to impress, I loved my 1G and you're right everyone needs to drive a Miata, any year. HP numbers are more of a distraction than anything when it comes to evaluating how good a sports car is. By the way Zack, you have really grown as a journalist over the years, you are well spoken, clever, and you carry a presence of class & distinction, nicely done.
IM CLASSY AS FUCK! *Slams a Busch light and passes out on my notebook* ZK
in a world of WHP hungry people, im glad the miata formula has remained mostly the same.
The miata is one with the mountain roads, hence all the animals coming to see what its all about
well done. ZK
I just bought a 2019 RF at the end of the year awesome deal. I freaking love it I'm 6 ft. tall and fit fine. I make excuses in my head to drive it, dang I'm almost out of laundry detergent..... well it's time to drive😁
You crazy! Ha!... And I'm jealous!
Same. Sometimes I drive just to drive it
Yeah, I purposely forget stuff on the way home, especially in nice weather. Oh, damn honey, I forgot to stop by your brother's and pick up that stuff .... I'll be back in a little while... And with the Miata, I throw the top back and drive the balls off the thing without getting arrested, and without it EVER breaking. I'm on my 4th one ... I love them all, every gen ...just get one, trust me!
That’s awesome... however, I’m 6’ 210 lbs and can not sit in it comfortably. Maybe I need a bit more recline or leg room. if I fit well I’d most likely have one too!
10 years later and I'm still making excuses. You can't help but improve your driving skills with Miata ownership, that's why the fun never stops!
Analogue gauge... perfect! I’m glad they didn’t join the digital gauge party.
I'm bit worried that mazda will replace with a digital display in the next facelift. Digital are cheaper these days.
Tomoko Kishi thats very unfortunate...
I'll gladly pay a bit more for analogue!
My MX5 is my therapy, driving at late at night topdown with my favourite 80’s music is so relaxing.
Finally someone addresses bat attacks whilst driving a convertible. Thank you good sir!
The globalists don't want us talking about it!
Zack Klapman ain’t that the truth!
Great description of what its like to floor the accelerator. Your one takes are getting better and better, keep it up!
Anyone who thinks that the Miata isn't a car worth driving is 14 and watches too many review videos of Ferraris and is just a regurgitating tool.
i drive a honda beat. not even an mx-5 beats the beat.
Why u soooo maaaaaaad tho!
Israel Munoz I don’t think he’s mad. With the way you reacted, I think he hit a nerve
Nokturnal Honda Beat, the official car of cognitive psychology on 4 wheels.
I have yet to come a cross anyone who has said anything bad about a Miata. Think those 14 year olds are just a myth.
I'd love to see more solo Zack videos. He's got a great dryness about him, yet still seems like he's really enjoying himself. This was a great vid.
As a former fighter pilot the interior is just right!
The car's fuselage design, which wraps around the driver and all the controls fall to hand, should feel familiar,
The best sports car on the market.
I LOVE my 04 Miata!! Driving it with the top down on a twisty road is therapy.
I never really thought much of the miata, but then I started an exocet project, which requires a miata donor, so I picked up a $1500 NA with a soft top falling apart, no rear window, and a body appealing to literally nobody, and drove that around for a month to make sure the engine was sound before the exocet chassis arrived.
In that 1 month of driving it I utterly fell in love with it. So small, so easy to drive, so fun to blast around town with, then I started taking it to autoX events and it was a blast there too. An absolute blast. Hopefully I finish the exocet project soon and can enjoy this fun go-kart again.
I thought it wouldn't be any more fun than a civic because of the horsepower on paper, but it is much more fun. I've owned a few liter bikes that do 0-100mph in 5 seconds and STILL, this thing makes you ear-to-ear when you're zipping around an autoX track or even around town, because it's seriously a hilarious go-kart that's a blast to drive, even if only to work.
About 6mo or 9mo ago I rented the ND for 2 days on Turo, and it was equally as fun as, it has't lost any of that spirit at all.
Would not believe that it makes you smile even more than a un liter bike 😯
@@crazycxr I should elaborate, it's a different kind of fun entirely. Winding out an R1 is life changing acceleration, totally bonkers, but you need to be semi-responsible with it because that much power can get you into a terrible situation *SO* quickly. Things just happen so fast at that levels of power that you can kill yourself very easily. You're often concentrating hard to make sure you don't screw up, especially if on a public road. A slight bump in the wrong place with that kind of acceleration (this was before traction control) can send you into a tree dead, so you're constantly assessing the pavement, making sure you can get full traction on it while WOT in 1st.
The Miata on the other hand is fun at slow speeds. You can mess around with it on public roads and still only be going 40mph. You can row through 3 gears and barely be breaking the speed limit (those liter bikes for reference can do near 100mph in 1st gear). You can pound on it without pretty much any risk of it biting you back. They're just a complete hoot in a much less dangerous situation. The car never gets away from you - it doesn't have the power to get away from you. It doesn't suddenly break traction in a straight-ish line because the pavement isn't optimal. You don't have those constant existential threats weighing over you when you have fun.
So yea, different kind of fun entirely. The liter bikes are fun b/c they're like rocket ships for the road, and can easily kill you if you don't respect them. The Miata is fun because you can have a total blast in it with very little threat. It's the type of careless fun you get when you're playing video games as a kid. Just beat on it & enjoy.
Kudos to Mazda for continuing to make a simply amazing real sports car.
Every drive - and I mean every drive - is a pleasure in my '17 RF GT.
I'm 285, 5'9", 43 and love mine. Have had one for about the past 14 years. He's spot on!
I have come to love my '17 RF... bought used a yr ago with 12k on it - a flawless garage queen - "touring" model 6-sp with all the options - brick brown leather - $24k. An absolute joy to drive even with just 155hp. If you want more Edelbrock makes a sweet supercharger kit good for 200hp+!
So glad you made this vid, I test drove one of these 16 years ago, still have the memories of that day, really want to get one now, true driving fun!
Always Designed from the start as a Club racer. Double wishbone “Indy Style” suspension front and rear. No McPherson strut economy suspension.
Potentially, one of the best reviews I have watched. There was a level of care and attention to the information being relayed that is seldom seen. I have had the pleasure of driving quite a few MX5’s across the generations, on road and on track, and also the RF when it launched. They are a barometer for feel and fun. Have to agree with a great majority of what you mentioned about feel and chassis dynamics, and then the overall value proposition. I came away from my RF drive impressed with a great many of its attributes, but fundamentally feeling like, when it came to putting hand in pocket and parting with cash, that it would be difficult to justify to myself. I have an RX8 as a track car/weekend car, (I know I know, but it has fantastic dynamics and 9k rpm...so.....) and didn’t feel that I would be a great deal more for the bucks (reliability is a diminishing factor for me considering the RX8’s usage I my life). All things said, those are subjective elements, this video however - well, this was very enjoyable!
AND ... no stupid commercial to start it off.
@@grubinski We have to pay for gas somehow.
The Miata is the only car I would ever consider buying new.
Exactly my same thoughts. I’m buying one next year.
Yes, it's worth the financial commitment to buy new, especially using Mazda's low-interest finance plan. The initial outlay is balanced off by the car being incredibly cheap to run and holding its value on the resale market.
Love your articulate reviews, Sir! No wonder Matt loves to have you by his side :)
I have a 180 mph 718 Porsche. I miss my 2019 RF club. Strange. And, my 718 T is below 3000 lbs by a little. But, it does not flow and conform like the ND2 RF. Now, the spec to get next time is the club’s Brembo and bbs wheels. That’s a lot of unsprung weight removed and completely removes brake fade on a mountain
Same, though I'm sitting in a CT4 Blackwing, also manual. For now, its my do-everything car, but once my partner and I grab The Family Car next year, I'm getting back in a Miata. I miss it too much.
Your journalism, explanations, and descriptions are on par with Chris Harris. I'm really becoming a really big fan of yours. You are a true car enthusiast's car enthusiast.
They are pretty impressive driver cars. I drove my friend's '91 about 10 years ago and it was the most fun I've ever had driving. And I had a '93 Rx-7 at the time...
When you have something annoyingly resonate at just one frequency, get a tone generator App for your phone, connect to the car stereo, find the tone and volume that makes it rattle, then go hunting. You can usually tighten a screw, pad or grease the back of the panel to eliminate the buzz.
Brilliant
I bought a 2019 RF GT last August and have greatly enjoyed it. Zero issues but one nitpick for me is the leather seats. During warm weather and the top down, my back gets sweaty; either go cloth or hope Mazda finds a way to get ventilated seats. Regarding price,well, it does feel a bit high. However, one thing to note is that it is a dedicated platform designed from the ground up. I think the cost for such a niche vehicle had to be passed to the consumer to some degree. I do not feel like I made a mistake buying it (first time Miata owner) as it is such a joy to drive.
I've had two, a 2004 Sport with LSD and currently have a 1.6 Eunos that is pretty bare bones, open diff, small brakes etc but it's still a blast to drive.
Not only did I really learn how to drive behind the wheel of these too I also taught myself a fair bit about the mechanical and maintenance side.
They're such great cars in many ways and I'm glad Mazda are keeping the spirit alive with the new model (Let's not talk about the NC :P)
So glad to see Zacks One-Takes again!
I don't think Matt could fit in this car
Excellent and honest review. There are many used clean low mileage examples where you can save thousands. Also, as you say, the base version soft top with a manual is a great option as a second weekend toy. I own a 2008 NC retractable hardtop with leather and Bose I paid $10k for. It’s my daily and I love it! Reliable cheap fun. As you correctly said this is a great car to drive. The best option is a nice used one. Wait a couple of years for the new engine to get a depreciation discount.
Nice mention of Skip Barber. I didn't think anything about Miatas until I did the 2 day Advanced School and could hardly keep up in a 911 in lead follow with the instructor. Great car...
I had a early model Miata and the one thing I remember was how much fun it was to drive.
Zack, thanks for the honest review.
Those who doubt the Miata dont deserve any explication in all honesty. All they care about is high horsepower and drag strip times
I believe in educating the people on this. People are missing out. ZK
TheSmokingTire i guess. But then there’s always people who just aren’t willing to learn sadly.
Great review Zach!
I've got a 2019 ST club and I'm loving it. It has one of the best pedal boxes I've ever had the pleasure of operating. Ranks right up there with S2K, 997, 996, 993, and the NSX. No auto rev match needed here.
Well thought out during your commentary. Looking for one in the future/retirement as a 2nd car and this looks like it ticks all the fun boxes!
Great piece of work zack
Just bought a '22 RF GT. Love it.
Great video. Great car. Is the buzz inside or does it sound like it’s coming from under the hood? Could be rattling heat shield?
The MX5 has become a very solid car. Shedding off the image of its previous name, the ND2 MX5 now outdoes the S2k in straights now stock for stock. The RF is so stylish, bringing an image of the old 72 Corvette or the Lotus Elise with its flat rear deck and fastback look. The road noise is also less than the softop unless you hit crosswinds.
No longer is it the "miata" that people remember being just a tiny and cute, yet it still remains one of the few driver cars out there. I've driven other cars like 986 Porsche boxster, S2000, Mercedes SLK r172, and even older MX5s - this car is a solid thing to enjoy on the road without needing to be faster like many others.
Sir, you are a true car lover. Your review is "genuine".
I''m smitten, I love mine. It's dumb to love a car this much. Perfectly happy. I love the look , the feel, it's just a great little toy. Don't buy it as your main car, that's not what this car is about. It's purely for fun and it is pure fun. Put the top down turn up the radio and enjoy the curves. There are faster cars sure, but I have never found one with such a playful disposition. I'm in Michigan so I'm waiting for spring until then thanks for the driving fix.
I have 2002 love it. Very reliable and cheap to repair.
I have a 90’ NA with suspension from flyin Miata stage 2.5 the best they sell. Also a hard dog double diagonal roll bar... I just had the head replaced with a fully rebuilt one from treasure coast Miata.... it has 80k miles on it and drives like a dream.... clutch is getting tired but still shifts perfectly. I would really like to get into an ND and this video reaffirms that even more... Mazda is no joke they hit a grand slam in 1989 with the first MX5 and continue the tradition of top down roadster motoring to this day. I will ALWAYS own a Miata....
This would be such a nice car as true coupe!
Yeah, the Toyota 86 needs a true competitor.
M iata I s A always T he A nswer
Get a welder and it becomes a coupe. ZK
And it would weight less with a fixed hardtop.
@@BlitzMekanika and the body will be stiffer.
I remember my first bat attack...
aninspiredname what was her name lol
It's the danger that just might be in your town next!
Very much agree with Zac here. every one should drive a miata/mx5. I used to be very against MX5s but i decided to bite the bullet and buy one 4 years ago. Even though my MX5 NC was incredibly unreliable (i got a lemon) it was a real eye opener that horsepower is not every thing. I then decided to take a leap of faith and bought a RX8. 6 months in so far and could not be happier.
Excellent review, Zack.
I traded in my 2018 Kia Cadenza for a 2020 Miata RF GT recently. I thought I had a solid car that I could enjoy driving with the Kia; and then I drove the RF. The dream car since it released back in 2016-2017. I wanted it back then for how cool it looked. Then, when I finally drove it; I wanted it even more. Went home with it at 35K, and I do not regret a single thing. It's my daily car, and I look forward to going to work and going home every time. What a wonderful little car, I only hope that Mazda keeps making this little thing for years to come; because it is that good.
The mx5 is SUCH a beautiful car💗😍
Although I have a late model mustang one of the girls that was working for me had a mx5. I took it for a spin it was totally excellent fun like fast go carting fully brilliant. Amazing gearbox. Great handling
I’ve had my 94R NA close to 20 years and it has been absolutely amazing, super reliable, always fun and just ‘right’ in so many ways.
Looking forward to picking up a used ND2 in a few years.
The interior actually feels smaller than an NA btw.
Hmmmm I think they both feel small. I'd have to sit in them side by side. ZK
Nice I have a 94 myself.
I’ve only driven the NC Miata but damn it was fun as hell to shift that 6 speed. Such a fun zippy car
Getting one next month so excited
I've driven quite a few cars, out of all of them, the Miata is the one that impressed me the most.
Great job Zack!
This is one seriously good looking car.
No car has given me as much confidence to push beyond the limits of grip. It is so well balanced, so well mannered and predictable.
The shifter throw in this car is the best I've ever felt in any car I have ever driven. Its short and very crisp. The traction control kicks in sometimes if you can do it fast enough which let's you know even the computer had trouble keeping up.
I’m Turoing one tomorrow!!! Can’t wait!
How was it??
@@gsgcarreviews fantastic!!! So much fun to drive. I fell in love with it. It was even smaller than I was expecting, though. Barely room for me and my cell phone lol. I’m 6’2
@@fhowland thats awesome! I gotta try one out myself
I'm thinking of buying one.
I'm in love. ♥️
this was a surprisingly thorough review
Fantastic review
Miata RF is so well made that even Doug likes it so much.
I had a 1997 in mint condition with 44k miles on it which I sold for top dollar and I bought a new club sport. I love it.
Great lil car, MSRP is very relative, especially in down markets. The new clubs are MSRP of $34K to $38K, but dealers are online advertising at $31-$32K, which is the start, they’ll all go down. Grand Tour RF’s(new 2019) are also advertised for $33-$34K, I mean like 50 cars. You can buy these cars new for $30k, maybe $31K all day if you’re willing to work it, especially in this down economy. I deal for a living so it’s part of the fun
My step dad just got one of those, he let me test drive it and oh man, that is one fun car to drive, takes turns really good. I almost want to get one my self now. Lol
At the end of the day it about what you like. Fast is relative. I have a 124 Spider Abarth that is built on the same chassis. The 1.4L turbo tops out at 145mph stock. For a car that is a little larger than a gocart, only weighs a shade over 2K lbs and corners like a Ferrari that's fast. With a tune and mods 220hp/250 torque is easy to achieve. Then you are driving a little rocket. The point is having fun and realizing this isn't a supercar. It's made to put a smile on you face. Mission accomplished at 1/10 the price.
I test drove a 2021 Club for a friend of mine that’s shy about test drives a few months ago, and I really wish I hadn’t…
That test drive was a life changing experience, I want one so bad it hurts!
Zach, this car suits you very well. You should get one.
Can't tell if this is kindness or a subtle burn. ZK
TheSmokingTire simply put, could be a good candidate when the time comes to replace the e46. Better if you add it in your garage. Id have to wait a few years for a used one.
The ND Miata is so much fun to drive! And also no more expensive to buy and run than a Golf. To me the stock suspension is a bit soft and doesn't quite cut it above 7/10ths, even with the optional Bilstein dampers. I'd much rather have an ND1 with really good aftermarket coilovers than a stock ND2.
Solo, without the requirement to lug much more than a laptop, you can absolutely daily these and they are comfortable too. They ride well. Light clutch, nice gearshift, and a surprisingly torquey engine, that doesn’t need a lot of cog swapping if you are not in a hurry, makes heavy traffic easy. And they run on the smell of a oily rag.
This video sold me. And I got one :)
Gonna miss my NB. Just got a lemon that breaks all the time. Picking up an i30N next week. I'd have loved an RF but I need something with space.
I had a modded ND Miata Club (exhaust, tune, coil overs). Car handled like it was on rails. With the coil overs it greatly reduced the body roll and made steering even more direct. But in the end I never really connected with the car. I ended up in a GT350 which was a lot more money, but feels so special.
The true fun is the dance you do when you leave the rails. I don't think I can dance a Mustang on local roads as easily or confidently. Maybe I need to drive a new one before I make assumptions.
I will always go for the soft top!
Me too, especially if I can't drop it all the way. I have to admit, though, that the RF lines are very appealing.
I am curious what is your opinion when comparing the soft and hard top (RF) in terms of noise, driving experience (with the 50-70kg+ weight due to the hard top if there is any?
Mazda products in general will make you feel special as a driving enthusiast even if they're slow but the Miata takes the cake.
Good review
I plan on picking up an ND Miata probably next year. Probably a Grey one with the Red Soft Top. The only thing I don't like is the rear exhaust so when I get mines I will buy the aftermarket kit that has the center exit exhaust
It's a fantastic sport car, and yes, everybody should drivetest one. The last generation is still exciting, which is a miracle for the power range in this day and age, it's just 15k too expensive.
The 30th anniversary is the ultimate miata. Heated recaros, LSD, factory short throw shifter, brembo brakes, 17 inch rays racing wheels, Alcantara all over the interior, and apple car play. Review coming soon on my channel. There are only 3000 made and only 600 in the states. I hope you can get your hands on one Matt. Stock for stock, it's an AMAZING car to drive and a ton of fun.
i dont think you should consider a 184hp MX5 to be "slow" or "not fast", i haven't driven many cars that can take roundabouts as fast as an mx5, floor it in second or third without TC and you spin the rear and then you'r doing 60 mph.
My 2nd favorite car under 50k of all time!
What's your 1st favorite?
@@judge831 it's the S2000/86 as a tie for first but realistically I love all 3 equally so it's 1A 1B and 1C for me.
The miata is a great car. I had one for 10 years with suspension mods and a supercharger. I wouldn't do that again; too much work setting it all up and keeping it running smoothly. It's plenty fun in stock form. I have a C6 corvette GS now, but I still have much respect for the Miata. I'd own one again if I couldn't afford another 'vette for some reason.
Is a brand new one like just the RF club good for daily driving? A little push here and there while living in Chicago with hot summers, rainy springs, and cold snowy winters...I would get all seasons for it and leave it stock. Just need to know before I get one in a few months here
Correction,the original Miata w the 1.6 came w only 106-115hp,it wished it had 130hp. Not knocking ur videos or even this video, please don't take it that way,I like ur videos. Anyway,ur probably right about it changing folks minds after driving it, that's exactly what changed mine. I used to hate those lil cars(hairdresser cars), til a relative bought an NB. Don't get me wrong, they're still underpowered but handle like they're on rails,and isn't that difficult to swap out that motor. No,I'm not talking bout an LS either. I'm a huge fan of the LS , esp boosted engines but, it's too much for that 2200-2500lb car. Sure anyone can put 1 in it but, if you wanna drive it regularly probably not gonna happen. Not cause it can't handle it but,cuz u can't get a wide enough wheel to actually get real traction w it. Better swaps r v6's(LFX,AJ30 etc) or even those Honda K20/24's , they'll be a ton of fun 2 drive also. Put in the 320hp LFX or a turbo K20,and it will embarrass a new mustang/Camaro in a race. I love my Camaro/mustang's too,but 30mpg and runnin 11-12's in the qtr is a lot of fun too
Heh, that "1.6 made 130hp" made me shudder a bit too :D Glad someone came out and said it so I don't have to be the dick. Would love it if my 1.6 put out 130hp though.
The duck thing is really funny. Nice review.
I am only 5 11(181cm) and I didn’t feel comfortable sitting inside the ND. I apparently have a problem with small interior space. Maybe its something I need to get used to.
I test drove my first Miata in early 2018, then test drove another a year later when I needed a newer car. Bought a 2017 RF the week after. They’re spectacular in many ways!
Edit: All of the additional power in the ND2 engines comes in after ND1 redline, so ND1s are no slouch when it comes to mid-range.
I believe it's better to turbo or supercharge the ND1.
The ND2's torque comes on lower in the rev range, resulting in a smooth and progressive power band from 4k to redline. That is the new engine's primary advantage.
@@johntechwriter Untrue. Check out comparison dyno charts online. All of the ND2's power comes in over 6000rpm. An ND1 with header and tune would likely outperform the ND2 in a 10-60 run
Awesome video as always, guys. Curious about one thing - why the decision to use lenses with such curvature/distortion? Sometimes it makes it hard to get a good sense of the actual body lines of the car, as well as the inner dimensions. I'm guessing there is some arcane technical reason for the lens choice.
The Miata RF has a relatively tight cabin; he was probably wanting to capture the entire cabin, but lenses about 20mm+ are too tight to do so.
Bat reference from Fear and Loathing?
So you can't quite choke down the price of a new Club with BBS Package like the one you test drove. The answer to that is buy a lightly used one! I was on the verge of retirement and wanted one, but did not to pay for a new one. I ended up searching for a year or so and finally found the perfect car for me and my budget, a 2018 RF Club with BBS Package and it only had 8,300 miles on the clock! It didn't come with the Recaros in 2018, but in my opinion the stock leather Mazda seats are more comfortable. It was a beautiful car that was a blast to drive! Unfortunately, it met its demise in my garage along with everything else I owned, due to a fire on June 30, 2021. I had just gotten it back from a performance shop after having an AVO Turbo installed, too. Total bummer. But I got enough out of that car to pay cash on a 2021 RF Club with BBS Package, in Machine Gray. It's just like my 2018 with a few refinements, such as a back-up camera, Recaros and an additional 26HP! It's an amazingly beautiful and fun car to drive.
Mr. Smoking Tire is 100% correct. You don't need to buy an MX 5, just go drive one and any misconceptions of this vehicle will be changed. I was in the market for a new car, test drove an RF and fell in love two miles into the drive and purchased one the same day. If you drive one and still think less of the MX 5, I'd respect that. However, if you are judging on appearance or lack of horsepower, you need to borrow one or take one for a test drive like TheSmokingTire says. Owning this car for me is like discovering my new favorite beer. I need more of this in my life...