I drove one and is nothing special , a bit too slow and the stock suspension is quite soft I'm keeping my Elise for ever and planning to buy another one just in case
As the owner of a "tall Crosstrek", A.K.A. Forester, yeah! My "Fozzie" is naturally aspirated, but has a traditional clutch-pedal 5-speed manual transmission. 5-on-the-floor FTW (unless a 6-speed is available).
I've owned 2 Miatas a 1999 and a 2016. My 1999 was turned up to 11 with 350hp and a ton of mods. Very fun to drive and scary has hell. Most of my friends were afraid to drive it because it was so over the top. I sold the 1999 a long time ago as it was also a maintenance headache. My 2016 is bone stock and I absolutely love it. Not really planning to mod it and it's a great driving car and loads of fun without turning it up to 11. I recommend the Miata to everyone as it's so easy to drive and a car anyone can have fun in. There is a reason why all the car review guys speak so highly of the Miata.
@@neilr603spoken by a real jackass that knows nothing about the best sports car ever made. You don’t have to like them, move along. Your absolute loss.
I like that Carsandbids also feels more welcoming and appreciate a wider range of cars whether humble or exotic compared to the other famous car auction site which can be rather... snobbish.
I have a ND miata 2019 GT-S soft top manual stock. I regularly take it out to drive just for the fun of driving. It is an excellent toy that is affordable, super fun, and reliable. I loved my former 2017 Camaro SS but can honestly say I don't miss it. The light-weight performance of the miata makes up for the lesser power and with half the gasoline and maintenance expense.
The smallest, lightest car I've owned is a 1991 Civic sedan. It drove like it was on rails, handled so beautifully, and you could drive it flat out all the time since it had no power! I loved driving it through snow, fields, twisty roads... Such a blast to drive.
If we're being honest, the crosstrek and miata would be the ideal garage (mine would be a WRX and miata). The Tesla just doesn't fit. I'm sure it's fun to accelerate in a straight line every once in a while, but I'm a bit baffled that he kept the Tesla over the miata.
I wish more car enthusiasts tried small motorcycles. I love them largely for the same reasons the Miata is so sought after. Super light weight, out in the open, unlimited visibility and they’re just so engaging when you start chucking them through some bends.
Yeah, I'd love to get a motorcycle driver's license and then a motorcycle after university. It'll take at least an extra year since you can't get the full license until 24 (before that it's more limited), and I don't want to take more exams than necessary.
Motorcycles are much louder than cars due to the fact you're sitting on an engine without any soundproofing though. Also, they're significantly faster than cars (a 41hp bike like an Honda CB500F does a 0-100 in 5s) so two of the points Jason made don't fully apply. To booth they're also a lot more dangerous
I believe it! I also think I'd get myself killed on a bike, which is what prevents me from getting on one (bc I'd want to go fast, and because the drivers around where I live are absolutely clueless and frequently merge without checking if there are cars/bikes around).
I used to be a mechanic in upstate NY and I had to put a clutch into an NA Miata. It was the first time I drove one and the back roads were perfect for it!
I bought a 2022 ND Miata (2.0, 184hp) last year and it's the most fun car I've ever owned. Especially around town in slow and medium speeds, top down, unbeatable. I plan to keep it very very very long. Miata Is Always The Answer ❤ Btw always loved your wrap color. Mine is wrapped in 3M Gloss Hot Rod Red. Originally wanted your color 😁
@TML34 1,80 m, but I experienced that even taller people can drive it comfortably depending on how long your legs and your upper body are. And there're differences between the models and seats. I have the Recaro seats, they're a bit lower than the standard seats. And the RF has less room than the soft top I think. I was sitting in an RF with standard/leather seats and had noticeable less room than in my Recaro soft top.
@@TML34 187cm here. I fit in the ND, but there isn't much space left. I've daily driven it for over a year (also in snow) and I love it. But you have to really want it or otherwise you will probably hate the impracticabilities of it.
I had my ND for over a year and everyday I had fun with it. Only issue was it was my only car and I needed something bigger. If I were to have a 2nd car though it would be another Miata
As someone who daily drives a Suzuki Cappuccino, it's absolutely hilarious to me when people claim a Miata is too small/impractical. The Miata is gigantic.
@@JimPekarek True, but the miata doesn't seem to use it's size as well. I couldn't find the Cappucino specs feel like the usable trunk space are both small. Plus, two seaters are just inherently limiting passenger wise.
I own 2 of ur 3 favorites…Miata and F type R. F type is for trips, date night w wife and just plain “peacocking”. I take the Miata with no destination in mind and just find the curviest roads I can. It’s an absolute blast with limits that can be explored relatively safely on the streets. Porches, corvettes, M-series, etc. will get you at least a very big repair bill with limits dangerous if u make a mistake.
I had a 2011 PRHT (power-retractable hard top) that I kept for a few years and had a blast with it. My wife didn't understand why I bought it and kept calling it a "girl car", but it didn't bother me one bit because it put a huge smile on my face each time I rowed through the gears. People who have never owned/driven the manual transmission version of the vehicle just don't understand.
I just got a 2023 RF, the manual of this car makes driving a manual so much more fun compared to anything else. Before this I had an 06 911, and before that I had an 89' S13. Both those cars had heavier transmissions and less friendly shifting. The MX-5 is just so much more compliant.
@@apailofwater1108 I've owned an F-Type. It was a V8 S convertible and it was the most fun car I've ever driven. I originally wanted a coupe because they're so good looking, and I think the convertible looks a bit worse. Then I test drove a convertible and was blown away by the sound and the experience. HIGHLY recommend a convertible. Also, half of the experience was the sound, so I'd avoid the 4 cylinder.
What depreciation? I've looked at getting a Miata and the used ones cost almost as much as the new ones. The only ones without a five digit price tag have been driven to Saturn and back.
@@chitlitlah I am also looking at used ND Miatas. And just within the last month or so, I have started to see their prices drop quite a bit. Be it inflation, or the fact that winter is coming, they are quite a bit less than they were 6 months ago.
love the insight about visibility..... been in vietnam for 20 years and the biggest fun of all is riding a scooter with 90,000,000 other scooters... no traffic rules, not traffic rage... a real social outing...
On my 4th MX5 right now, a '20 Grand Touring. Enjoying the heck out of it, more fun to drive than the '14 Jag F-Type V6S and '21 Supra I owned in the past. Driving a slow car fast is a lot more engaging than driving a fast car slow.
My first car I learned to "drive" was our 2013 hardtop Miata. My nom wanted me to appreciate automatic drive cars, so I tried manual before anything else. It was so much fun, even though I stalled it so many times in the parking lot. Man I wish we still had that car.
“Appreciate automatic drive cars”? Maybe she meant “tolerate”? After my daughter learns on a manual transmission, I’ll let her experience the purgatory of 2 pedal driving.
I’ve owned 5 (‘91, ‘95, ‘96, ‘99, and another ‘99.) After almost 18 years owning Vettes, Boxsters and a Z4, I still smile whenever I see a Miata on the road. I would have loved a yellow one 😍
I have to say he makes a really good point about there being less road rage if we all had our tops down and could see each other. I’ve got a 1990 NA and I’ve learned that, in spite of it being bright red, people just don’t see you, or they underestimate your speed. Point being, I get cut off and pulled in front of a fair bit. I have found that people wave “sorry” or acknowledge what they did a lot more in my Miata than other cars I’ve had. I think it’s because they see me, a driver, not just a car.
I think you have a pretty interesting and important perspective on open-air driving. We really would all be nicer and less hateful if we were enjoying driving more and could see each other and not hide behind all that metal. Granted it wouldn’t exactly be that safe, but we have a 2008 Volkswagen EOS and it’s built like a freaking tank being a hardtop convertible.
I agree that auto manufacturers just don't care about weight reduction. Especially with EVs that have heavy batteries. They should be looking to take weight out wherever they can, which could then lead to smaller batteries.
It's baffling since weight affects all the metrics automakers tend to market like acceleration and fuel economy/range. With the Caterham Project V, I have some hope that EV designers will eventually get the memo. Although it's worrying that it appears to be the only example...
Because of crash and safety standards. Also, people demand modern conveniences which weigh a ton. It’s easy to make a two seat small ICE roadster light, harder to make an electric family car be light, but Tesla are quite light.
Sounds great, if he hasn't retired at that point. Seriously, I've been following the Aptera for (many) years. Best of luck to them, but let's not hold our breath.
@@g.tucker8682 Looks like they are continually behind their goals. But they did release a video recently and it seems like they had managed a significant milestone with the body panel tooling and were actually making a bunch but it was a little light on some details, such as the challenges they're facing. Seems like they'll get there, lets just hope the company doesn't collapse before then.
The 90's pre-power steering versions were absolutely brilliant. With limited slip differential, sport suspension, a short ratio gear box and high reliability, they were a blast. Most people nowadays have no idea what true connection to the road means.
How true. The qualities you listed should be standard, not optional! Nowadays auto are designed for individuals that do not like to drive. Too many people?
Cars that haven't been sullied by power steering are such an absolute joy to drive. And if you keep the weight down enough, you don't even really notice the extra steering effort.
My previous car was a Twin Turbo 3.3L Kia Stinger with a DCT. And while it’s not comparable at all in terms of sound and power, my little standard ND2 is an absolute joy to drive. Especially in the windy mountains. I have the basic sport trim with no special breaks and no LSD, but you can still put so much power down in the corners. Such a neat little car❤️
I have a 2018 ND1 Club. Fantastic cars for sure. I've really gotten to appreciate it and the challenge it provides mastering it at autocross. The community is also great.
Interesting that you made the connection between road rage (well, at least one connection!) and tinted up SUVs. I think you have a point there. I have always felt that big truck drivers do have the tendency to intimidate others (especially small car drivers) on the road, feeling like they own it. So, drive a Miata to spread the love around. Great point!
I've owned a '97 MX-5, my buddy has owned every single gen. I LOVE the miata and recently just got back into a small drivers car, but I chose the GR86. I love the available space in the GR but I do miss my convertible top. I always tell all of my friends to go rent a miata especially the ones that think it is too small of a car.
GR86/BRZ is a good alternative to consider. Especially if it's your everyday and you want/need something a bit more practical. I'd like to see someone fit a full set of mounted wheels and tires in the Miata like I have in my GR86! 😂
@@deej628I've fit a 6'4" guy (193 cm) in the back of my Hyundai Genesis coupe before lol. I'm sure it was uncomfortable, but nonetheless the rear seats are only slightly larger than those on a gr86. To be comfortable in the back of a gr86 you probably need to be max of 5'6" (173 cm).
@@karmatologist when you make the leap I assure you won’t be disappointed. The Miata just puts a smile on your face when you’re driving it or walk by it in the garage.
You are preaching the true word here. Cheap consumables, running costs, stopping power & feel, low speed turn grip and ride comfort are my favourite wins for light weight. I have to argue on those seats being comfortable. A 3hr drive in those seats will have you begging for a big heavy car with lumber support
In the late 80s I thought I had to have a go-fast (2-seater). The Miata was high on the list, but I chose an MR2 Turbo. Loved that car. I reluctantly gave it up for a pickup when I became a "family man".
To build and sell a modern sports car that weighs in as low as the 1972 Datsun 240Z I owned for 23 years is a major accomplishment. I wish I'd kept the 240Z, but I'm lucky to have owned one. To bad they didn't install the EZ30R in the FRS/BRZ/GT86 as an option. The Miata was a really good replacement for the MGB and they've improved upon it with every model update over time.
Growing up, I drove an MGB and it was a fantastic basic car with 67 hp!! My buddy had one also and we just love the hell out of those cars. Then I graduated to a Miata later in life and for 16 years, I drove a '94 Miata and it was the most fun car I have ever driven. These guys with high horsepower mustangs and challengers just don't get it. It's about balance and steering and all sorts of things.
Awesome video, thanks for sharing. I drove a borrowed topless Miata some years ago in Pennsylvania, back and forth between Pittsburg and the Fallingwater house, in a very sunny day. I must fully agree, Miata's are a true joy to drive.
9:40 - I kind of wish I was like this. If a car is good and I spend a lot of time in it, I tend to get very attached. I doubt I'll ever sell my NA and I've already owned it 10 years. My Mazda 3 manual hatch is the practical, mostly boring daily, but after only 3 happy years with it I'm already very attached to it. If anything happened to either car I'd be devastated, and I wish I wasn't materialistic in this instance. Your philosophy means you'll experience more cars, and if they get wrecked or otherwise stolen then it's not a big deal.
I had a 93 NA for about 2 years after I got out of college. It was such a joy to drive. Defintely the most fun car I have ever been behind the wheel of.
Because of my Miata I definitely learned to appreciate small hatchbacks. Even fwd it is plenty fun with 1000kg/100hp. Though even here in Europe they’re almost outnumbered by small crossovers fml
I’d say weight and transmission are probably the most important things when it comes to a fun car. Had an EP3 civic (infamous suspension, kind of appliance tier engine) for a little while and man that thing was a riot to just go all out on a backroad despite the FWD
I don't fully agree that an EV Miata would be equally as fun as the ND (Even if the weight is similar) 1. The shifter feel is amongst the best and it makes this feel so much tactile, this can't be replicated in an EV. 2. I agree that ND does not have the most special engines, but it loves to rev especially with ND2 and the noise makes you feel like you are going much faster than you actually are. I hope that we don't go bonkers with ICE regulation such that we can't have ICE to fulfil such niche application like this. It is not going to hurt the environment at scale especially with renewable fuel.
Hot take but manual is overrated. It's cool in a car that needs it like an ICE but it's completely pointless in an EV and you shouldn't miss it. It's like being nostalgic for non synchronized transmissions.
@@stark5353 I soapbox all day long that EVs are the best commuter vehicles, but in a sports car I just don't see it at all, (at current technology). They go fast in a straight line, but they're heavy as hell with current battery technology and don't give you any tactile feedback other than, "Omg, I'm going fast now". This will undoubtedly change in the future with solid state batteries and I think that future will be amazing. Manual transmissions have not been about performance since the 70s, they're all about driver control and the feeling you get from being able to dictate the driving experience you're getting at every moment. An average driver in a modern auto transmission will usually outperform a good driver in a MT, but the MT driver will be smiling the entire time and the AT person will just be along for the ride.
As long as it can take corners nearing 1g on street tires and the top comes off, an EV Miata would still have the spirit of a Miata. Battery tech needs to get a lot lighter before we get something like that.
I just want to note that 2 of your 3 cars are your favorites because of exhaust sound. Might be a hint to what your next project car is. If I was a betting man I guess I’d go GT350
I had 4, 1 1994 NA sold to Pacific Mazda in 2016 when I got my ND and then had the 2018 and 2021 100th anniversary. I just let that go last month for my CX50 GT and love that. Mazda are such good drivers cars. I needed a convertible again so I scored a 2005 350 Z ... One owner local no accidents. Surgeon owned 20000 miles. 32000 kms it's mint. I definitely like the Z. My first Z car. I will get another Miata.
It hurt to sell my first Miata. And with the price of used Miatas going up, I probably won’t ever sell my 00 NB. It just feels so good to drive. Can’t wait to make more videos with it
You need to head in to Mexico to test drive a ZC33S Suzuki Swift Sport. It’s essentially a FWD, 5 seater, ND Miata! You would love it!!! Also comes in a factory yellow 😁
I do hope EVs will have the driving dynamics of a Miata. However, I disagree that it'll be as fun. One of the great things about the Miata is the manual and running the gears! Love the vid!
I agree, shifting gears is fun and I enjoy it, but at the same time, not even once in the past few years driving mostly electric, ever actually missed it.
The existence of a power band, and lack of necessity for assists to prevent wheelspin all of the time with electric engines that have any real power, are some really big factors that make ICEs fun, they feel like living beings with their own personality, rather than just a power tap with some scripts on top of it to prevent it from being a nightmare to drive at low speeds
@@LeyvatenLoop I wouldn't call speed dependant throttle mapping an assist but OK, and yeah driving around engine limitations can be fun but at the same time, unless driving a manual without a great amount of power, with the exception of relative unresponsiveness of and ice, the same assists apply to both ice and ev. Not all personalities are good personalities though, and from my personal experience, balance of the car, steering feel and response together with predictability are much more important than the personality of an engine. I would take my e208 on a twisty road over an s5 any day of the week, but at the same time it is way behind my past smart roadster in terms of driving fun and engagement.
I so much agree that with the top down, everbody would be more polite and less nervous. When I had my Triumph TR3, with half my body out of the car, I was smiling at people, looking in their eyes, feeling so much closer to them they would never curse at me or make rude gestures. It is almost like you are in a pedestrian environment. Now I do and feel just the same with my Toyota MR2 Roadster. Not so much time to look in their eyes when I'm rushing through small tiny roads though ;-)
I’d love to see a video on trans fluid degradation, and how aftermarket vs OEM vs performance standards up. Basically the brake pad video for trans fluid.
Hey Jason, understand your rationale for selling your dream car. I went a different route. I sold my reg SUV, bought a RAV4Prime and kept my MX5 for summer fun. The R4P does all my short routes on EV only mode and seamlessly converts to Hybrid on my long trips. Cheers.
I didn't buy my Ducati Monster 1200 to drive to work, or take trips. I bought it to drive the bike. Thats it. When I took out the Monster, it was to drive. PERIOD. It was a blast to rip through the twisties around Gregory, MI, or Hocking HIlls, or the UP, which I trailered it to. Its about the thrill of driving.
Ev can’t have a manual. 😢. Also I feel the S2000 might have a leg up over the miata imho. But these are fun little sun-runners and should be seriously considered as a sports car! 👌🏻
the nd2 2.0 has the same power to weight ratio as the s2000 as much as i like the s2000 and how it looks the new miata sits in the sweet spot ... but with that said i don't care about power so much so i got the 1.5l nd2 and its a blast to drive
@camaraman Same reason a Vette won't have a manual: zero uptake. It would also have almost no purpose. You may might as well make the thing a completely computer controlled manual, with a flappy paddle to choose gears (like an auto) as you don't want slippage in the clutch. Since it isn't needed to start, slippage is just a failure mode. But that implies electronic rev matching (presumably easier with electric motors). Porsche makes a two-speed transmission for their EV, but I'm convinced it was done for union/internal politics reasons and anything improved by said transmission would have been even better with an equal amount of money/weight/R&D spent on a little more battery. I do think the computer controlled manual would work great in a plug in hybrid. Something like a Honda Accord hybrid. Just don't hold your. Reath on seeing it in a full EV.
Ive been saying this for years!! I started Turbo charging Miatas since 1995 completely transforms the car and makes it one of the best sports cars ever made! Huge fan of the NA more than any other series. 😊
I was in love with Jason until he said he doesn't love his cars...I cried when I sold one of my Miatas. I could have sworn Jason was a Nissan Z lover, but I may have misread that, hearing him talk about not loving cars. My heart just broke a little.
Lightweight BEVs still could be quite a bit heavier than a traditional car and still drive great, if the weight is down low and near the center of the car. This is where they usually try to place the battery pack. It would be interesting to somehow compare the overall mass moment of inertia in yaw about the CG and in roll about the ground centerline.
Assuming the weight is somehow the same, the miata already has a low center of gravity so the batteries being low wouldn't make a noticeable difference except for those who track their cars often. Its a case of diminishing returns. But assuming the weight goes up only, say 400 lbs, weight is weight. A heavier car means more to lug around regardless, and modification such as downforce mods wont be as effective. Thats why miatas can achieve crazy fast momentum around corners. Small wings produce enough downforce to make a huge difference in grip. With that said, a 2700lb compact 2 door sports car would still be a blast to drive. Its still light. It just wouldnt feel the same as a miata but it would stand on its own still as a fun sports car still.
@@krisztianpovazson4535catreham project v, quite a few smart roadster conversion here in Slovenia within 50kg of ice weight, and I noticed I guy with a tvr conversion in the comments too. I mean, if you want a 400 mi range, with current batteries, forget about it. But if you are fine with 200 mi, with. Making a battery part of a construction of the car, you can stay within a hundred kg of a similar ice, probably with a lower cg.
Although I have only had a test drive of a Miata, I still enjoy my 790kg last gen '93 Suzuki Swift GTi. Unmatched power to weight with right pedal feathering for hard cornering makes a long rural drive soooo pleasurable. ❤😊
One of the "fun-ist" cars I've owned was a '72 Honda 600 sedan. Noisy, slow and like a roller skate. 34 bhp. Top speed: 72 mph. Zero to 60 in all afternoon. But you could drive it flat out _all the time_.
For me, it was my 1989 VW Fox GL 4-door sedan (USA-spec Brazilian VW Gol). Reasonably utilitarian. 85-ish HP and a top speed of 100 Mph. The car came with ground clearance similar to that of a Suzuki Vitara SUV and is prone to lift-off oversteer. It takes some skill to drive flat out and to manage the tail end's propensity to swing out on lift-off/braking while taking a curve. The ground clearance means that dirt/gravel roads are fair game, too. On blacktop, one of my co-workers was following me on a work trip and he told me I was tripoding my Fox on the curves (on blacktop). His compact car had a few more horses, yet I was the one out front and he was trying to not lose sight of me (about 5 or 6 years before smartphones and we didn't have GPS devices either).
I drive a 2022 BRZ and I love the fact that it's a light sport car. I'd love to get a NA miata because of the pop up headlights once I'm done paying for my BRZ. There's something so amazing about low power sport cars that got me hooked into the car community
Always enjoy your content.. I’ve converted a 99 NB to electric with 20 kw pack & Nissan leaf motor.. within 100 lbs of stock weight.. extremely fun to drive.. and quite different than my Pantera.. agree with you.. take the weight out.. accept less range for normal drives.
Always thoigh this was the way of the future of hot rodding. When Mazda stops making rotary parts to convert an rx7 to an electric motor through the manual and esp in the first gen. 100 ft lbs is more than it ever saw
I have a '17 RF Grand Touring manual that was a garage queen with the 1st owner. Endless driving enjoyment &, it turns out, quite a fine traveling ride! From Southern MO I just got back from Charleston, S.C. and the roads through the Appalachians (especially the Cherohala Skyway & 129 (Deals Gap) were just spectacular in this car!
@3:08 heavily disagree, if u get the gwr race muffler, n put the roof down, the miata actually sounds really good, better then some crappy sounding v8s even, like bmw m5, mclaren. Has a old alfa romeo sound. Plus u gotta hear the soundtube mod that some people have done, u get orgasmic induction noise like a gt4rs
The short trip conundrum is spot on. I've owned a Mazdaspeed Miata for 12 years. I got it on college, and all my trips were about 5-10. The car is not in good shape mechanically, because almost every time I drove it, it never got up to temp, which is horrible, especially for a turbocharged car.
In 2014 I bought a new NC, which enjoyed for 6 years. Regarding sound, always wondered "what if" they just changed the crankshaft to a crossplane type, such as the Yamaha R1 motorcycle. That sole architecture change, keeping all the rest the same, would create magic sound totally sporty and far from the typical 4 in line.
ive been spoiled by my first car being an og 1989 Mazda Miata, every other car feels just not there nowm and i hate but also love it. every time i let my friends drive they enjoy it so much and i just start thinking that for me the feel is so normal to me even tho most people never drove somthing like it
I hope you get to drive the Aptera when it comes out and see if it addresses the weight issue. I know its goal isn't driving enthusiasm but it should be the lightest ev to date and seems to be designed to handle well.
@@niall21 yeah sorry i messed up. Some youtuber interviewed the CEO who said 1100 I think. Which like you said is pretty light for an EV, around the same as the new lotus I think. I think 700 is the usual weight for caterhams I think.
Boxster addresses a lot of the Miata shortcomings. More comfort, enough storage to actually do long trips, plenty of power and a stellar power to weight. Great balance of road manners and responsive handling and much better sound with your choice of exhaust. The additional weight goes to really good use like sound deadening. I started with an ND2 Miata and then upgraded to a 718 Boxster S and had both for two years and eventually sold the Miata. When I own cars together for several years there comes a time where I have a very clear and strong bias as to what I want to use when and the Miata was just a hassle. My Alfa Romeo 4C is also losing to my Boxster. With the 718s tall gearing you may think you get the car, but there is a lot to learn to really make it work and once you do the gap between the Miata and the Boxster is massive. You also need to understand the drive modes and anti-lag because the car feels like a lot more displacement more often with Sport+ and Individual mode where anti-lag is far more aggressive (basically non-existent in Sport and Normal). You also need to downshift into first and accept that rev matching makes that easier. The turbocharged 4-cylinder is a real sleeper power wise gaining 70hp and similar torque with a tune. With a high flow cat the turbo spools noticeably faster and you feel like you are waiting on the turbo less often. Stab the throttle and the engine will slam into the mounts instantly rocking the entire car (don’t do that!). High flow cats and a tune are kind of a no brainer on the turbo Porsches. So much to gain. Keep the stock exhaust and the noise is acceptable. Or wear ear plugs.
Also I too look forward to electric sports cars. The electrified Boxster should be very interesting. Unobtanium if you aren’t going to pay ADM probably, but maybe I get lucky and the distaste for electric cars gives me an opportunity. The Model S Plaid is also just so cool as to what you get for so “little” money. Such a shame it is dragged down by other things, and now with Elon’s politic’s people in my sphere frame purchasing a Tesla as a moral issue.
@@Flies2FLL can’t have turbo lag when you don’t have any power :-P 420 HP vs 321 HP and that is just peak. The area below the curve is significantly smaller on the 981S. Haven’t driven the 981S, but suspect if I owned both I would eventually come back to the power and response of the 718S platform. The sound thing definitely is what it is. TBH I don’t think the flat six sound is that special. I don’t perk up until it’s a flat plane crank V8 or 10-12 cylinders.
@ariel54cv interesting, I'm owning a 2022 ND Miata and bought a 718 Cayman T two months ago. Still need to adapt to the Cayman and learn a lot, but so far I think they're both not really comparable. The Miata is so fun in slow and medium speeds. I only drive it top down, almost always full throttle 😅 I can't do this with the Cayman. But the Cayman destroys the Miata in faster speeds of course. I love both but I wouldn't sell my Miata ❤
To further illustrate the point.. I recently got a 1993 Geo Tracker (RWD convertible) and it weighs about 2,100 lbs. I installed some alloys with a wider track and bigger tires. And it is very tossable and fun to drive quickly around town. Low weight does seem to have a huge impact on unlocking performance and fun.
In 2008ish when I was in the Navy I bought a Miata. Some of my shipmates made fun of my "girly" car. I let them drive it one day and they couldn't stop smiling.
I currently own a 2007 NC Miata and enjoy the agility of the car it is almost as much fun to drive as the 1959 Austin-Healey - Bugeye Sprite I had in High school, it weighed 1300 pounds got 40 mpg in town 60 mpg on the interstate. The Bugeye had a high performance cam, equal length header, and a small muffler with the guts removed, above 3000 RPMs my mother could hear me 1 mile from home. The Sprite cornered with zero body role. I miss it, the Miata is almost there.
I also own a ND miata is actually my first bought car, my previous one was just an old corsa inherited, and then i expent a few years without a car. I thougt i was going to say goodbye this summer, i was getting the same as i payed, but i couldnt. Its my treasure, my precious. Mine and only mine. Will be with me till for my whole life i hope
I've driven both. The Miata would be easier to drive more often. Every trip is fun and less stress. The s2000 is great, but you want to care more for it, they don't sell them, rare, and all sorts of reason why you chose your drives more. You can treat the Miata as bad or good as you want.
It's certainly true that less is more in cars. With more power comes more engine mass, which requires more structural mass and then more suspension mass, more wheel and tires and so on, which then requires even more power and we end up with where we are now. The reverse is true and is proven with the Miata.. Here is the problem though.. Less stuff costs less and makes less money, so makers have less interest in it, and people for some reason just look at HP with weight often neglected by many people.
If you are over 6' tall the Miata is not a car for you. I took one on a test drive at 6'-1" and was staring straight at the top frame of the windshield.
I'm 6' and there's a little bit of room over the head if you put the seat on the lowest settings. But I agree that the eyesight could be a bit anoying at 6'2 and +.
The Miata is one of the most fun cars to own when you don’t have F*U money. EE has had F*U money for quite a while now and def has better options available.
I can't even afford a Miata, I have "please sir, spare a nickel" money. I drive a 98 Sentra that has been in a few wrecks....but at least it is stick shift
My most fun-to-drive cars: 3. Peugeot 106 Rallye 1.6 16v 2. Mazda MX-5 1.8 second gen 1. Honda S2000. Guess what they all have in common. They are all very light!
Jason is right - every enthusiast should own a Miata at least once. I daily drive an ND1 for over 4 years. Pure joy behind the wheel every day.
Gotta be pretty short to fit. So no 😂
@@ygayovy 6'2" fit fine.
@@waynepurcell6058 196cm :(
I drove one and is nothing special , a bit too slow and the stock suspension is quite soft
I'm keeping my Elise for ever and planning to buy another one just in case
@@ocoet3575i mean the elise is so much better than this miata
lmao the example of all kinds of different cars being 3 different year crosstreks
As the owner of a "tall Crosstrek", A.K.A. Forester, yeah! My "Fozzie" is naturally aspirated, but has a traditional clutch-pedal 5-speed manual transmission. 5-on-the-floor FTW (unless a 6-speed is available).
Cross trek is CVT with a dog of an engine, that is as far away from an enthusiast car as it gets
@@artinistthe first two generations were offered with a manual, it’s a shame to see it discontinued for the latest model.
I also loled. On the other hand I've owned Porsches, BMWs, and a ton of other stuff. I *also* believe that everyone should own a Miata at some point.
@@frederickevans4113until you get on the highway and curse having only 5 speeds
I've owned 2 Miatas a 1999 and a 2016. My 1999 was turned up to 11 with 350hp and a ton of mods. Very fun to drive and scary has hell. Most of my friends were afraid to drive it because it was so over the top. I sold the 1999 a long time ago as it was also a maintenance headache. My 2016 is bone stock and I absolutely love it. Not really planning to mod it and it's a great driving car and loads of fun without turning it up to 11. I recommend the Miata to everyone as it's so easy to drive and a car anyone can have fun in. There is a reason why all the car review guys speak so highly of the Miata.
Truth.
Well said.
350hp in a 99 miata...NICE!!!!
Impractical poor man’s “sports” car. If you find the Miata enjoyable I feel sorry for you. Drive a real car.
Why didn't you just make 10 to be 350bhp, and then it would be just as fast?
@@neilr603spoken by a real jackass that knows nothing about the best sports car ever made. You don’t have to like them, move along. Your absolute loss.
Happy to have it hosted on Cars & Bids! It is a really excellent drivers car.
This... is a good comment
I like that Carsandbids also feels more welcoming and appreciate a wider range of cars whether humble or exotic compared to the other famous car auction site which can be rather... snobbish.
Thanks social media employee
I have a ND miata 2019 GT-S soft top manual stock. I regularly take it out to drive just for the fun of driving. It is an excellent toy that is affordable, super fun, and reliable. I loved my former 2017 Camaro SS but can honestly say I don't miss it. The light-weight performance of the miata makes up for the lesser power and with half the gasoline and maintenance expense.
The smallest, lightest car I've owned is a 1991 Civic sedan. It drove like it was on rails, handled so beautifully, and you could drive it flat out all the time since it had no power! I loved driving it through snow, fields, twisty roads... Such a blast to drive.
what did it weigh? i have a 91 miata
@@mr.m325 they're quoted about 2150lbs., just under the miata's weight
I’ve driven all kinds of cars: crosstrek montage 😂😂
Haha, I was gonna say, that's all you got to show?
Just showing the highlights!
If we're being honest, the crosstrek and miata would be the ideal garage (mine would be a WRX and miata). The Tesla just doesn't fit. I'm sure it's fun to accelerate in a straight line every once in a while, but I'm a bit baffled that he kept the Tesla over the miata.
I wish more car enthusiasts tried small motorcycles. I love them largely for the same reasons the Miata is so sought after. Super light weight, out in the open, unlimited visibility and they’re just so engaging when you start chucking them through some bends.
Agree. I owned a Ninja 250 and loved it. It was never fast but it was fun, tame enough for a beginner, and easy to fix.
Yeah, I'd love to get a motorcycle driver's license and then a motorcycle after university. It'll take at least an extra year since you can't get the full license until 24 (before that it's more limited), and I don't want to take more exams than necessary.
Motorcycles are much louder than cars due to the fact you're sitting on an engine without any soundproofing though. Also, they're significantly faster than cars (a 41hp bike like an Honda CB500F does a 0-100 in 5s) so two of the points Jason made don't fully apply. To booth they're also a lot more dangerous
My thought as well. Hard to beat motorcycles for high power/weight ratio and fun to ride.
I believe it! I also think I'd get myself killed on a bike, which is what prevents me from getting on one (bc I'd want to go fast, and because the drivers around where I live are absolutely clueless and frequently merge without checking if there are cars/bikes around).
I used to be a mechanic in upstate NY and I had to put a clutch into an NA Miata. It was the first time I drove one and the back roads were perfect for it!
I bought a 2022 ND Miata (2.0, 184hp) last year and it's the most fun car I've ever owned. Especially around town in slow and medium speeds, top down, unbeatable. I plan to keep it very very very long.
Miata Is Always The Answer ❤
Btw always loved your wrap color. Mine is wrapped in 3M Gloss Hot Rod Red. Originally wanted your color 😁
How tall/big are you? That’s the limiting factor to ownership.
6ft 1 here, fits perfectly@@TML34
@TML34 1,80 m, but I experienced that even taller people can drive it comfortably depending on how long your legs and your upper body are. And there're differences between the models and seats. I have the Recaro seats, they're a bit lower than the standard seats. And the RF has less room than the soft top I think. I was sitting in an RF with standard/leather seats and had noticeable less room than in my Recaro soft top.
@@TML34 187cm here. I fit in the ND, but there isn't much space left. I've daily driven it for over a year (also in snow) and I love it. But you have to really want it or otherwise you will probably hate the impracticabilities of it.
@papagei yeah 1,87m is the edge I think. For me it fits perfectly.
I had my ND for over a year and everyday I had fun with it. Only issue was it was my only car and I needed something bigger. If I were to have a 2nd car though it would be another Miata
This is the way. Miata is the very best 2nd car that isn't an Elise.
As someone who daily drives a Suzuki Cappuccino, it's absolutely hilarious to me when people claim a Miata is too small/impractical. The Miata is gigantic.
You know... 2+2 S30s are bigger.
@@JimPekarek True, but the miata doesn't seem to use it's size as well. I couldn't find the Cappucino specs feel like the usable trunk space are both small. Plus, two seaters are just inherently limiting passenger wise.
I love seeing miatas on the road! (usually in the rear view mirror)
I own 2 of ur 3 favorites…Miata and F type R. F type is for trips, date night w wife and just plain “peacocking”. I take the Miata with no destination in mind and just find the curviest roads I can. It’s an absolute blast with limits that can be explored relatively safely on the streets. Porches, corvettes, M-series, etc. will get you at least a very big repair bill with limits dangerous if u make a mistake.
Miata is always the answer. Unless you need to go somewhere with your wife and two children, in which case the answer is, of course, two miatas.
exactly!
I had a 2011 PRHT (power-retractable hard top) that I kept for a few years and had a blast with it. My wife didn't understand why I bought it and kept calling it a "girl car", but it didn't bother me one bit because it put a huge smile on my face each time I rowed through the gears. People who have never owned/driven the manual transmission version of the vehicle just don't understand.
I just got a 2023 RF, the manual of this car makes driving a manual so much more fun compared to anything else. Before this I had an 06 911, and before that I had an 89' S13. Both those cars had heavier transmissions and less friendly shifting. The MX-5 is just so much more compliant.
Sweet, I’ve owned 2 of the 3 cars that Jason thinks are the most fun to drive. This makes the depreciation slightly less painful 😅
was it the f type? im looking into one right now
@@apailofwater1108 I've owned an F-Type. It was a V8 S convertible and it was the most fun car I've ever driven. I originally wanted a coupe because they're so good looking, and I think the convertible looks a bit worse. Then I test drove a convertible and was blown away by the sound and the experience. HIGHLY recommend a convertible. Also, half of the experience was the sound, so I'd avoid the 4 cylinder.
What depreciation? I've looked at getting a Miata and the used ones cost almost as much as the new ones. The only ones without a five digit price tag have been driven to Saturn and back.
@@chitlitlah I am also looking at used ND Miatas. And just within the last month or so, I have started to see their prices drop quite a bit. Be it inflation, or the fact that winter is coming, they are quite a bit less than they were 6 months ago.
@@Stuka87 2016 -2018s can be equipped with the same Edelbrock supercharger, I believe.
love the insight about visibility..... been in vietnam for 20 years and the biggest fun of all is riding a scooter with 90,000,000 other scooters... no traffic rules, not traffic rage... a real social outing...
On my 4th MX5 right now, a '20 Grand Touring. Enjoying the heck out of it, more fun to drive than the '14 Jag F-Type V6S and '21 Supra I owned in the past. Driving a slow car fast is a lot more engaging than driving a fast car slow.
My first car I learned to "drive" was our 2013 hardtop Miata. My nom wanted me to appreciate automatic drive cars, so I tried manual before anything else. It was so much fun, even though I stalled it so many times in the parking lot. Man I wish we still had that car.
“Appreciate automatic drive cars”? Maybe she meant “tolerate”? After my daughter learns on a manual transmission, I’ll let her experience the purgatory of 2 pedal driving.
@@ghostwrench2292 the ease of driving for a 14 year old is a notable consideration🥸
I’ve owned 5 (‘91, ‘95, ‘96, ‘99, and another ‘99.) After almost 18 years owning Vettes, Boxsters and a Z4, I still smile whenever I see a Miata on the road. I would have loved a yellow one 😍
I have to say he makes a really good point about there being less road rage if we all had our tops down and could see each other. I’ve got a 1990 NA and I’ve learned that, in spite of it being bright red, people just don’t see you, or they underestimate your speed. Point being, I get cut off and pulled in front of a fair bit. I have found that people wave “sorry” or acknowledge what they did a lot more in my Miata than other cars I’ve had. I think it’s because they see me, a driver, not just a car.
I think you have a pretty interesting and important perspective on open-air driving. We really would all be nicer and less hateful if we were enjoying driving more and could see each other and not hide behind all that metal. Granted it wouldn’t exactly be that safe, but we have a 2008 Volkswagen EOS and it’s built like a freaking tank being a hardtop convertible.
I agree that auto manufacturers just don't care about weight reduction. Especially with EVs that have heavy batteries. They should be looking to take weight out wherever they can, which could then lead to smaller batteries.
It's baffling since weight affects all the metrics automakers tend to market like acceleration and fuel economy/range. With the Caterham Project V, I have some hope that EV designers will eventually get the memo. Although it's worrying that it appears to be the only example...
So you only know overweight and underpowered cars? 🎉
@@808bigisland overweight and underpowered, adequately powered, over powered.... Doesn't matter. They are all too heavy
Because of crash and safety standards. Also, people demand modern conveniences which weigh a ton. It’s easy to make a two seat small ICE roadster light, harder to make an electric family car be light, but Tesla are quite light.
Tesla must have cared about weight reduction in order to make their cars only a bit heavier than their internal combustion competition.
"Yes a dollar for the sharpie." Spoken like a true engineer.
Speaking of lightweight cars, I would love to get your take on how fun the Aptera is to drive once they've got a production-intent vehicle available.
Sounds great, if he hasn't retired at that point.
Seriously, I've been following the Aptera for (many) years. Best of luck to them, but let's not hold our breath.
Oh yea! Definitely check out the aptera!
@@g.tucker8682 Looks like they are continually behind their goals. But they did release a video recently and it seems like they had managed a significant milestone with the body panel tooling and were actually making a bunch but it was a little light on some details, such as the challenges they're facing. Seems like they'll get there, lets just hope the company doesn't collapse before then.
I don't know if anyone agrees. But I find this car to be the best looking Miata ever. Awesome vid.
The 90's pre-power steering versions were absolutely brilliant. With limited slip differential, sport suspension, a short ratio gear box and high reliability, they were a blast. Most people nowadays have no idea what true connection to the road means.
How true. The qualities you listed should be standard, not optional! Nowadays auto are designed for individuals that do not like to drive. Too many people?
I prefer the latest EPS, it’s really good.
@@nrs6956 It is confusing that cars are tailored to bus riders instead of car drivers.
Cars that haven't been sullied by power steering are such an absolute joy to drive. And if you keep the weight down enough, you don't even really notice the extra steering effort.
I have a Miata and I like my power steering.
My previous car was a Twin Turbo 3.3L Kia Stinger with a DCT. And while it’s not comparable at all in terms of sound and power, my little standard ND2 is an absolute joy to drive. Especially in the windy mountains. I have the basic sport trim with no special breaks and no LSD, but you can still put so much power down in the corners. Such a neat little car❤️
dct in the stinger? i wish
I’m keeping my Mazda Miata MX5 RF 2021 these cars will be classics
Love the not-normally-available yellow wrap. Looks fantastic with the black rims.
Why do I keep watching MX-5 videos, when I've had my new one for just over a year? Great review! Love the color (mine is soul red).
I have a 2018 ND1 Club. Fantastic cars for sure. I've really gotten to appreciate it and the challenge it provides mastering it at autocross. The community is also great.
Interesting that you made the connection between road rage (well, at least one connection!) and tinted up SUVs. I think you have a point there. I have always felt that big truck drivers do have the tendency to intimidate others (especially small car drivers) on the road, feeling like they own it. So, drive a Miata to spread the love around. Great point!
I've owned a '97 MX-5, my buddy has owned every single gen. I LOVE the miata and recently just got back into a small drivers car, but I chose the GR86. I love the available space in the GR but I do miss my convertible top. I always tell all of my friends to go rent a miata especially the ones that think it is too small of a car.
Colin Chapman was right when he focussed Lotus on reducing weight as the best way to increase road feel and performance.
Forget that Miata but I wish you had kept that beautiful yellow Honda S2000.
GR86/BRZ is a good alternative to consider. Especially if it's your everyday and you want/need something a bit more practical. I'd like to see someone fit a full set of mounted wheels and tires in the Miata like I have in my GR86! 😂
Especially if you want a car that is much less reliable.
The Miata has already proven itself to be a far superior car
Totally agree! i have the gt86 for an all around car, daily, one day at the track the next day vacation with 4 people full of bags 😂
@@Kolorado02do the 2 ppl in the back not have legs?
@@deej628I've fit a 6'4" guy (193 cm) in the back of my Hyundai Genesis coupe before lol. I'm sure it was uncomfortable, but nonetheless the rear seats are only slightly larger than those on a gr86. To be comfortable in the back of a gr86 you probably need to be max of 5'6" (173 cm).
I hope they never stop making this thing
Same. I really want one but can’t justify a “fun car” right now. Maybe in a couple of years.
@@karmatologist when you make the leap I assure you won’t be disappointed. The Miata just puts a smile on your face when you’re driving it or walk by it in the garage.
I hope they can get the EV version under 1200kg, I doubt they will make 5th generation gasoline Miata
they will
Emission regulation laws in 5 years:
hi :)
You are preaching the true word here. Cheap consumables, running costs, stopping power & feel, low speed turn grip and ride comfort are my favourite wins for light weight.
I have to argue on those seats being comfortable. A 3hr drive in those seats will have you begging for a big heavy car with lumber support
In the late 80s I thought I had to have a go-fast (2-seater). The Miata was high on the list, but I chose an MR2 Turbo. Loved that car. I reluctantly gave it up for a pickup when I became a "family man".
To build and sell a modern sports car that weighs in as low as the 1972 Datsun 240Z I owned for 23 years is a major accomplishment. I wish I'd kept the 240Z, but I'm lucky to have owned one. To bad they didn't install the EZ30R in the FRS/BRZ/GT86 as an option. The Miata was a really good replacement for the MGB and they've improved upon it with every model update over time.
Growing up, I drove an MGB and it was a fantastic basic car with 67 hp!! My buddy had one also and we just love the hell out of those cars. Then I graduated to a Miata later in life and for 16 years, I drove a '94 Miata and it was the most fun car I have ever driven. These guys with high horsepower mustangs and challengers just don't get it. It's about balance and steering and all sorts of things.
Once you said "This", I could not focus on anything else than how many "this" I am gonna hear in this video
This.
Awesome video, thanks for sharing. I drove a borrowed topless Miata some years ago in Pennsylvania, back and forth between Pittsburg and the Fallingwater house, in a very sunny day. I must fully agree, Miata's are a true joy to drive.
Love my S2000, it's fun to drive at any speed.
S2k is going down as a legend 👌🏽.
A girlfriend had one. I love my Miata, but I envied her S2000.
9:40 - I kind of wish I was like this. If a car is good and I spend a lot of time in it, I tend to get very attached. I doubt I'll ever sell my NA and I've already owned it 10 years. My Mazda 3 manual hatch is the practical, mostly boring daily, but after only 3 happy years with it I'm already very attached to it.
If anything happened to either car I'd be devastated, and I wish I wasn't materialistic in this instance. Your philosophy means you'll experience more cars, and if they get wrecked or otherwise stolen then it's not a big deal.
I concur in Toyota.
I had a 93 NA for about 2 years after I got out of college. It was such a joy to drive. Defintely the most fun car I have ever been behind the wheel of.
Because of my Miata I definitely learned to appreciate small hatchbacks. Even fwd it is plenty fun with 1000kg/100hp. Though even here in Europe they’re almost outnumbered by small crossovers fml
I’d say weight and transmission are probably the most important things when it comes to a fun car. Had an EP3 civic (infamous suspension, kind of appliance tier engine) for a little while and man that thing was a riot to just go all out on a backroad despite the FWD
I love my 100hp fiesta, its a good cross over between fun and practicality, next car was looking at a fiesta ST or a Hyundi I30N
Coming from a 2012 G37S to a 2016 ND Miata… I just filled up my tank for $45. I couldn’t be happier! This car rocks.
I don't fully agree that an EV Miata would be equally as fun as the ND (Even if the weight is similar)
1. The shifter feel is amongst the best and it makes this feel so much tactile, this can't be replicated in an EV.
2. I agree that ND does not have the most special engines, but it loves to rev especially with ND2 and the noise makes you feel like you are going much faster than you actually are.
I hope that we don't go bonkers with ICE regulation such that we can't have ICE to fulfil such niche application like this. It is not going to hurt the environment at scale especially with renewable fuel.
Hot take but manual is overrated. It's cool in a car that needs it like an ICE but it's completely pointless in an EV and you shouldn't miss it. It's like being nostalgic for non synchronized transmissions.
@@stark5353 I soapbox all day long that EVs are the best commuter vehicles, but in a sports car I just don't see it at all, (at current technology). They go fast in a straight line, but they're heavy as hell with current battery technology and don't give you any tactile feedback other than, "Omg, I'm going fast now". This will undoubtedly change in the future with solid state batteries and I think that future will be amazing. Manual transmissions have not been about performance since the 70s, they're all about driver control and the feeling you get from being able to dictate the driving experience you're getting at every moment. An average driver in a modern auto transmission will usually outperform a good driver in a MT, but the MT driver will be smiling the entire time and the AT person will just be along for the ride.
As long as it can take corners nearing 1g on street tires and the top comes off, an EV Miata would still have the spirit of a Miata.
Battery tech needs to get a lot lighter before we get something like that.
Don't worry about the exhaust sound, just turn up the music!
By the way, I have a Saturn Sky turbo with 300 HP and it is a blast.
Sounds like that friend owes you dinner!
NB owner here, absolutely adore the thing!
I just want to note that 2 of your 3 cars are your favorites because of exhaust sound.
Might be a hint to what your next project car is. If I was a betting man I guess I’d go GT350
I had 4, 1 1994 NA sold to Pacific Mazda in 2016 when I got my ND and then had the 2018 and 2021 100th anniversary. I just let that go last month for my CX50 GT and love that. Mazda are such good drivers cars. I needed a convertible again so I scored a 2005 350 Z ... One owner local no accidents. Surgeon owned 20000 miles. 32000 kms it's mint. I definitely like the Z. My first Z car. I will get another Miata.
It hurt to sell my first Miata. And with the price of used Miatas going up, I probably won’t ever sell my 00 NB. It just feels so good to drive. Can’t wait to make more videos with it
You need to head in to Mexico to test drive a ZC33S Suzuki Swift Sport.
It’s essentially a FWD, 5 seater, ND Miata! You would love it!!!
Also comes in a factory yellow 😁
I do hope EVs will have the driving dynamics of a Miata. However, I disagree that it'll be as fun. One of the great things about the Miata is the manual and running the gears! Love the vid!
I agree, shifting gears is fun and I enjoy it, but at the same time, not even once in the past few years driving mostly electric, ever actually missed it.
The existence of a power band, and lack of necessity for assists to prevent wheelspin all of the time with electric engines that have any real power, are some really big factors that make ICEs fun, they feel like living beings with their own personality, rather than just a power tap with some scripts on top of it to prevent it from being a nightmare to drive at low speeds
@@LeyvatenLoop I wouldn't call speed dependant throttle mapping an assist but OK, and yeah driving around engine limitations can be fun but at the same time, unless driving a manual without a great amount of power, with the exception of relative unresponsiveness of and ice, the same assists apply to both ice and ev.
Not all personalities are good personalities though, and from my personal experience, balance of the car, steering feel and response together with predictability are much more important than the personality of an engine. I would take my e208 on a twisty road over an s5 any day of the week, but at the same time it is way behind my past smart roadster in terms of driving fun and engagement.
Instant and abundant power is also fun though!
I so much agree that with the top down, everbody would be more polite and less nervous. When I had my Triumph TR3, with half my body out of the car, I was smiling at people, looking in their eyes, feeling so much closer to them they would never curse at me or make rude gestures. It is almost like you are in a pedestrian environment. Now I do and feel just the same with my Toyota MR2 Roadster. Not so much time to look in their eyes when I'm rushing through small tiny roads though ;-)
I’d love to see a video on trans fluid degradation, and how aftermarket vs OEM vs performance standards up. Basically the brake pad video for trans fluid.
Hey Jason, understand your rationale for selling your dream car. I went a different route. I sold my reg SUV, bought a RAV4Prime and kept my MX5 for summer fun. The R4P does all my short routes on EV only mode and seamlessly converts to Hybrid on my long trips. Cheers.
A yellow mx 5?! Beautiful 😻
I agree
I still remember the joy of driving around in an MG with the roof down. Sound didn’t matter. Just the fun of driving a light sports car. 3:20
I had to sell my beloved ND2 Miata due to limited space. If I can afford two car life style later, Miata would definitely be the 2nd car :)
I didn't buy my Ducati Monster 1200 to drive to work, or take trips. I bought it to drive the bike. Thats it. When I took out the Monster, it was to drive. PERIOD. It was a blast to rip through the twisties around Gregory, MI, or Hocking HIlls, or the UP, which I trailered it to. Its about the thrill of driving.
Ev can’t have a manual. 😢. Also I feel the S2000 might have a leg up over the miata imho. But these are fun little sun-runners and should be seriously considered as a sports car! 👌🏻
the nd2 2.0 has the same power to weight ratio as the s2000 as much as i like the s2000 and how it looks the new miata sits in the sweet spot ... but with that said i don't care about power so much so i got the 1.5l nd2 and its a blast to drive
S2000 blows away the Miata ... LOLz.
EVs could simulate manuals very good if someone was to put the necessary R&D into it. Plus, you could turn it off for city traffic.
@camaraman
Same reason a Vette won't have a manual: zero uptake. It would also have almost no purpose. You may might as well make the thing a completely computer controlled manual, with a flappy paddle to choose gears (like an auto) as you don't want slippage in the clutch. Since it isn't needed to start, slippage is just a failure mode. But that implies electronic rev matching (presumably easier with electric motors).
Porsche makes a two-speed transmission for their EV, but I'm convinced it was done for union/internal politics reasons and anything improved by said transmission would have been even better with an equal amount of money/weight/R&D spent on a little more battery.
I do think the computer controlled manual would work great in a plug in hybrid. Something like a Honda Accord hybrid. Just don't hold your. Reath on seeing it in a full EV.
Ive been saying this for years!! I started Turbo charging Miatas since 1995 completely transforms the car and makes it one of the best sports cars ever made! Huge fan of the NA more than any other series. 😊
I think the Miata sounds great when you rev it out and even better if you're able to make a small investment in an aftermarket exhaust.
That, and the ND1 notoriously wasn't designed to rev.
I was in love with Jason until he said he doesn't love his cars...I cried when I sold one of my Miatas. I could have sworn Jason was a Nissan Z lover, but I may have misread that, hearing him talk about not loving cars. My heart just broke a little.
Lightweight BEVs still could be quite a bit heavier than a traditional car and still drive great, if the weight is down low and near the center of the car. This is where they usually try to place the battery pack. It would be interesting to somehow compare the overall mass moment of inertia in yaw about the CG and in roll about the ground centerline.
Assuming the weight is somehow the same, the miata already has a low center of gravity so the batteries being low wouldn't make a noticeable difference except for those who track their cars often. Its a case of diminishing returns.
But assuming the weight goes up only, say 400 lbs, weight is weight. A heavier car means more to lug around regardless, and modification such as downforce mods wont be as effective. Thats why miatas can achieve crazy fast momentum around corners. Small wings produce enough downforce to make a huge difference in grip.
With that said, a 2700lb compact 2 door sports car would still be a blast to drive. Its still light. It just wouldnt feel the same as a miata but it would stand on its own still as a fun sports car still.
There is no such thing as a lightweight BEV. Hydrogen-electric, maybe.
@@krisztianpovazson4535 Aptera. Not a conventional vehicle but definitely a lightweight BEV at 1800 lbs including a 60 kWh battery
@@krisztianpovazson4535catreham project v, quite a few smart roadster conversion here in Slovenia within 50kg of ice weight, and I noticed I guy with a tvr conversion in the comments too.
I mean, if you want a 400 mi range, with current batteries, forget about it. But if you are fine with 200 mi, with. Making a battery part of a construction of the car, you can stay within a hundred kg of a similar ice, probably with a lower cg.
@@cheesetomatoes The Aptera is a cyclecar, and it is too heavy to be a good one.
Although I have only had a test drive of a Miata, I still enjoy my 790kg last gen '93 Suzuki Swift GTi. Unmatched power to weight with right pedal feathering for hard cornering makes a long rural drive soooo pleasurable. ❤😊
One of the "fun-ist" cars I've owned was a '72 Honda 600 sedan. Noisy, slow and like a roller skate. 34 bhp. Top speed: 72 mph. Zero to 60 in all afternoon. But you could drive it flat out _all the time_.
For me, it was my 1989 VW Fox GL 4-door sedan (USA-spec Brazilian VW Gol). Reasonably utilitarian. 85-ish HP and a top speed of 100 Mph.
The car came with ground clearance similar to that of a Suzuki Vitara SUV and is prone to lift-off oversteer. It takes some skill to drive flat out and to manage the tail end's propensity to swing out on lift-off/braking while taking a curve. The ground clearance means that dirt/gravel roads are fair game, too. On blacktop, one of my co-workers was following me on a work trip and he told me I was tripoding my Fox on the curves (on blacktop). His compact car had a few more horses, yet I was the one out front and he was trying to not lose sight of me (about 5 or 6 years before smartphones and we didn't have GPS devices either).
_Hint:_ put your underscores outside of punctuation to make them work as advertised.
I drive a 2022 BRZ and I love the fact that it's a light sport car. I'd love to get a NA miata because of the pop up headlights once I'm done paying for my BRZ. There's something so amazing about low power sport cars that got me hooked into the car community
Always enjoy your content.. I’ve converted a 99 NB to electric with 20 kw pack & Nissan leaf motor.. within 100 lbs of stock weight.. extremely fun to drive.. and quite different than my Pantera.. agree with you.. take the weight out.. accept less range for normal drives.
Always thoigh this was the way of the future of hot rodding. When Mazda stops making rotary parts to convert an rx7 to an electric motor through the manual and esp in the first gen. 100 ft lbs is more than it ever saw
I have a '17 RF Grand Touring manual that was a garage queen with the 1st owner. Endless driving enjoyment &, it turns out, quite a fine traveling ride! From Southern MO I just got back from Charleston, S.C. and the roads through the Appalachians (especially the Cherohala Skyway & 129 (Deals Gap) were just spectacular in this car!
10 k for Wrap/PPF?! That is half of what the car cost!
@3:08 heavily disagree, if u get the gwr race muffler, n put the roof down, the miata actually sounds really good, better then some crappy sounding v8s even, like bmw m5, mclaren. Has a old alfa romeo sound. Plus u gotta hear the soundtube mod that some people have done, u get orgasmic induction noise like a gt4rs
The short trip conundrum is spot on. I've owned a Mazdaspeed Miata for 12 years. I got it on college, and all my trips were about 5-10. The car is not in good shape mechanically, because almost every time I drove it, it never got up to temp, which is horrible, especially for a turbocharged car.
Ugh, yeah, most everything I need is within a few miles, so it's rare I have a 30+ minute trip and can actually have some fun!
In 2014 I bought a new NC, which enjoyed for 6 years. Regarding sound, always wondered "what if" they just changed the crankshaft to a crossplane type, such as the Yamaha R1 motorcycle. That sole architecture change, keeping all the rest the same, would create magic sound totally sporty and far from the typical 4 in line.
ND miatas are so cool.
ive been spoiled by my first car being an og 1989 Mazda Miata, every other car feels just not there nowm and i hate but also love it.
every time i let my friends drive they enjoy it so much and i just start thinking that for me the feel is so normal to me even tho most people never drove somthing like it
I hope you get to drive the Aptera when it comes out and see if it addresses the weight issue. I know its goal isn't driving enthusiasm but it should be the lightest ev to date and seems to be designed to handle well.
The caterham project V weighs only 700 kilo
Obviously that's not really on sale yet, but that's lighter than the new lotus.
@@notfunny3397 Idk where you got 700kg from, the Caterham website says 1200kg which is still very lightweight.
@@niall21 yeah sorry i messed up.
Some youtuber interviewed the CEO who said 1100 I think.
Which like you said is pretty light for an EV, around the same as the new lotus I think.
I think 700 is the usual weight for caterhams I think.
I like to believe Jason talks like this when he’s driving whether the camera is there or not
Jason: Everyone should appreciate fun cars.
Also Jason: I have a car for short trips and a car for long trips. That's all I need.
Never heard the term "mechanical empathy" before this video but it describes so much of my life
Boxster addresses a lot of the Miata shortcomings. More comfort, enough storage to actually do long trips, plenty of power and a stellar power to weight. Great balance of road manners and responsive handling and much better sound with your choice of exhaust. The additional weight goes to really good use like sound deadening.
I started with an ND2 Miata and then upgraded to a 718 Boxster S and had both for two years and eventually sold the Miata.
When I own cars together for several years there comes a time where I have a very clear and strong bias as to what I want to use when and the Miata was just a hassle.
My Alfa Romeo 4C is also losing to my Boxster.
With the 718s tall gearing you may think you get the car, but there is a lot to learn to really make it work and once you do the gap between the Miata and the Boxster is massive. You also need to understand the drive modes and anti-lag because the car feels like a lot more displacement more often with Sport+ and Individual mode where anti-lag is far more aggressive (basically non-existent in Sport and Normal). You also need to downshift into first and accept that rev matching makes that easier.
The turbocharged 4-cylinder is a real sleeper power wise gaining 70hp and similar torque with a tune. With a high flow cat the turbo spools noticeably faster and you feel like you are waiting on the turbo less often. Stab the throttle and the engine will slam into the mounts instantly rocking the entire car (don’t do that!).
High flow cats and a tune are kind of a no brainer on the turbo Porsches. So much to gain. Keep the stock exhaust and the noise is acceptable. Or wear ear plugs.
Also I too look forward to electric sports cars. The electrified Boxster should be very interesting. Unobtanium if you aren’t going to pay ADM probably, but maybe I get lucky and the distaste for electric cars gives me an opportunity.
The Model S Plaid is also just so cool as to what you get for so “little” money. Such a shame it is dragged down by other things, and now with Elon’s politic’s people in my sphere frame purchasing a Tesla as a moral issue.
Great post, but I prefer my '14 981CS with PDK. It sounds way better and no turbo lag. I put a Cantrell exhaust on mine and now it sounds even better!
@@Flies2FLL can’t have turbo lag when you don’t have any power :-P
420 HP vs 321 HP and that is just peak. The area below the curve is significantly smaller on the 981S. Haven’t driven the 981S, but suspect if I owned both I would eventually come back to the power and response of the 718S platform.
The sound thing definitely is what it is. TBH I don’t think the flat six sound is that special. I don’t perk up until it’s a flat plane crank V8 or 10-12 cylinders.
@@ariel54cv One drive in my car would likely change your tastes.....
@ariel54cv interesting, I'm owning a 2022 ND Miata and bought a 718 Cayman T two months ago. Still need to adapt to the Cayman and learn a lot, but so far I think they're both not really comparable. The Miata is so fun in slow and medium speeds. I only drive it top down, almost always full throttle 😅 I can't do this with the Cayman. But the Cayman destroys the Miata in faster speeds of course. I love both but I wouldn't sell my Miata ❤
To further illustrate the point.. I recently got a 1993 Geo Tracker (RWD convertible) and it weighs about 2,100 lbs. I installed some alloys with a wider track and bigger tires. And it is very tossable and fun to drive quickly around town. Low weight does seem to have a huge impact on unlocking performance and fun.
In 2008ish when I was in the Navy I bought a Miata. Some of my shipmates made fun of my "girly" car. I let them drive it one day and they couldn't stop smiling.
I currently own a 2007 NC Miata and enjoy the agility of the car it is almost as much fun to drive as the 1959 Austin-Healey - Bugeye Sprite I had in High school, it weighed 1300 pounds got 40 mpg in town 60 mpg on the interstate. The Bugeye had a high performance cam, equal length header, and a small muffler with the guts removed, above 3000 RPMs my mother could hear me 1 mile from home. The Sprite cornered with zero body role. I miss it, the Miata is almost there.
Nooooo! I stopped watching Doug’s channel because of his cars and bids intro every video… his annoying shenanigans are spreading through UA-cam lol
I also own a ND miata
is actually my first bought car, my previous one was just an old corsa inherited, and then i expent a few years without a car.
I thougt i was going to say goodbye this summer, i was getting the same as i payed, but i couldnt. Its my treasure, my precious. Mine and only mine. Will be with me till for my whole life i hope
Since this is a very similar car/build of your previous S2000, how do they compare? Do you prefer one over the other?
I've driven both. The Miata would be easier to drive more often. Every trip is fun and less stress. The s2000 is great, but you want to care more for it, they don't sell them, rare, and all sorts of reason why you chose your drives more. You can treat the Miata as bad or good as you want.
It's certainly true that less is more in cars. With more power comes more engine mass, which requires more structural mass and then more suspension mass, more wheel and tires and so on, which then requires even more power and we end up with where we are now. The reverse is true and is proven with the Miata..
Here is the problem though.. Less stuff costs less and makes less money, so makers have less interest in it, and people for some reason just look at HP with weight often neglected by many people.
If you are over 6' tall the Miata is not a car for you. I took one on a test drive at 6'-1" and was staring straight at the top frame of the windshield.
Fairly sure Jason is like 6’2 or taller
I know. There are lowering kits for the seat but most remove adjustability.
I had the same issue in a rented Boxster.
@@explorernateim pretty sure he lowered his seat.
GR86/BRZ, then maybe. I'm 6'2", and I can just fit in my GR86 with a helmet 😅
I'm 6' and there's a little bit of room over the head if you put the seat on the lowest settings. But I agree that the eyesight could be a bit anoying at 6'2 and +.
Love seeing car content creators collaborating, good vibes all around
Would owning and S2000 work in place of the Miata?
If only S2Ks were the prices they were a few years ago
Yes, but you're going to pay a lot for it nowadays, unless you already have one.
if i recall correctly he already owned and sold an s2000 before buying the miata
Nah, you need to buy a Honda Beat. That will make you appreciate more to your ND.... But also loving more about super light weight open sports car.
The Miata is one of the most fun cars to own when you don’t have F*U money. EE has had F*U money for quite a while now and def has better options available.
I can't even afford a Miata, I have "please sir, spare a nickel" money. I drive a 98 Sentra that has been in a few wrecks....but at least it is stick shift
My most fun-to-drive cars: 3. Peugeot 106 Rallye 1.6 16v 2. Mazda MX-5 1.8 second gen 1. Honda S2000. Guess what they all have in common. They are all very light!
Cars and flip
Your sense of humor bro! Honestly we’re you a comedian while you went to school? Love it I can never watch a video of yours and stay serious.