As the Owner of a new 2021 MX-5 GT Automatic, I am glad to see this review. This is my fourth Miata over the years. All previous models were manual. But at 60 years old, never having tracked any of my Miatas, and just enjoying the daily driving, I am really enjoying not having to change gears anymore. If you are young, want to get all you can out of an MX-5 and plan on tracking then get the manual. If you want to enjoy it as a daily driver, you could care less about burning up tires, and too old for racing, get the automatic.
Thanks for the reply - down the road, I was looking to get one of these in automatic but worried about all the people saying the manual or nothing. This review and your reply have helped put it back at the top of my shortlist of cars. My primary likes are the RF look which I think is one of the best looking cars on the road for a sane price and that it ranked as the most reliable car on the road for 2020! When I get back to Canada I want a reliable, fun, nice-looking car. Might live in Niagara Falls. Apparently, it does great in the snow too (with snow tires of course). I like the Red - it has to be the best red in cars. I wish the Miata had that lane watch thing Hyundai has so when you put the right turn signal on a camera shows in the dashboard what is in the right lane so you can see your blind spot. In a small car likes this with big pillars that would be a great addition for the next edition of these cars that won't add any weight. Maybe the Mazda fans can badger them for it. Mazda does seem to listen to their car buyers. If Hyundai can do it - the Japanese can do it better :)
@@tonymorfin8750 bro just let the man be, any purchase of any transmission type will help support the future development of this car. I doubt mazda will ever get rid of manual even if theres a popular market for automatics for this car
I took a 2 hour manual class, and bought the manual Miata 2 days later. Stalled 20 times on the way back from the dealership, and another 20 times the next day but it was all good after that with a week's worth of practice.
You’re braver than me. I bought my manual Mazda3 never having driven stick, and just a two hour course a month before. Had to have my friend drive it home from the dealership because I was too scared.
40 stalls in two days with one of the world's most forgiving clutches and easy to learn manuals? I would get 100% of my money back from that 2hr manual class.
Thank you for this review. I'm someone who physically can't drive a manual because of a disability, and some of the comments from enthusiasts about automatics are brutal and kinda demoralizing. But I would LOVE to have a Miata RF one day, and it's great to see someone reviewing an auto version.
Not a problem my friend yea don't worry about these so-called "enthusiasts." If they were real enthusiasts they would respect your position and your continued passion for driving. I believe you will be very satisfied and will have a ton of fun in an automatic Miata, they did a great job tuning it. Thank you very much for stopping by.
@@MeynMotorGroup I’ve driven many manual cars over the years and still love it but I gotta admit I had a great experience with my 15 FRS it was an automatic and now I have a ‘10 370Z automatic the newer automatic have gotten so good frankly you get the best of both worlds.
@@MeynMotorGroup your right about these so called enthusiasts take for example the Yaris GR there all crying and bitching why we can’t get that car here in America yet you ask are they gonna fork 50K for it crickets 😂😂look at what happen to the Fiesta ST and Focus RS.
Great review on this Mazda, I was never a fan of these little sports cars always thought they were a little under powered. My niece purchased one of these 2021 models just after Christmas this year and I was alowed to take it for quick spin. Now I'm a fan on the country winding roads, was amazed just how well they perform great fun. Thanks Kevin.
That's awesome my friend glad you got the opportunity. Yea growing up I never liked the smaller cars either but driving these vehicles changed my mind as well. Thanks again!
I'm glad you mentioned that part about the guy who wanted his dream car but worried about enthusiasts shaming someone who wanted this in automatic. I was also on the fence about getting this in automatic as I've never had the pleasure of learning manual, but I live in the city and i did want something more enjoyable than my Mazda 3 Hatchback without sacrificing the comfort and technology. Thank you for this down-to-earth and honest review and I'm ready to get to this vehicle now!
My wife and I just got the grand touring hard top...we traded in her CX5...we got it w the manual transmission...GSM from the dealership taught us how to drive manual that day so we could make it home. Best decision ever. So much fun to drive!
6-02/178 - Long legs/shorter torso. Own a 2017 Grand Touring Auto. Love it. I fit fine. I’m older and wanted an auto. I had a Mustang 5.0, 5 speed in my younger days. My advice - get what you want. Who cares what other people say.
Great review! I own a 08 NC Miata hardtop convertible with automatic. I picked up one for $10k and use it as my daily. I love driving it! In fact I prefer it over my manual GT Mustang. It’s more fun because it’s very light nimble and quick.
Was on the fence about this car for the longest time. Watching your review helped me make up my mind. Pulled the trigger and took delivery on a '21 soul red gt auto today. Such a beautiful car. Keep up the good work on your videos!
Wow massive congrats my friend such an epic car really glad you took advantage of it. One of my all time favs, I would also like to own one eventually. Humbled the video helped, enjoy!
I pulled the trigger on the gt rf in auto.. been raining here and you can def get that ass sideways. Not enough to wig out but just right so you can catch it. It's a proper good ride. Good solid review man, just straight up honesty in it.
Overall a well done video, but saying that no one drives these on track is a bit misguided. Unarguably, MX-5s are some of the most tracked cars in history. Not only does Mazda currently convert consumer cars to full race-spec for the MX-5 Cup Series, a dedicated global wheel-to-wheel race series just for this platform, but the ND2 is also a controversial car in autocross, as it's so dominate in it's appropriate class that it's hard to figure out where it belongs. An appropriately set up ND can be a real weapon, so don't sleep on it for track use! The relatively modest price, abundance of aftermarket support, and availability of cars and parts makes it a really great option for those considering a track platform.
I didn't go into deep dive on the subject and break it down to a T but yes you're right Miata cup series etc its all very good but you know what I mean about the keyboard warriors that never buy these vehicles at all or the few people that do who simply stuff it in their garage and wipe it down with a silk bath robe and never drive it 😉
@@MeynMotorGroup Absolutely agree that a majority of people buying these cars new will never drive them on a track or an autocross course, especially with the core demographic being where it's at, haha. Just didn't want anyone to get the impression that they're not an excellent base for a track build, as they're super effective cars to that end (at least relatively). This video and conversation has me itchy now, haha, time to go for a drive before the weather turns! Happy driving people!
Haha of course my friend yea Miata is an epic machine accomplishes so much for the price and is loved for its wheel to wheel races as well. And absolutely, enjoy the drive!
I think is point is better said that they are setup from the factory to drive well for the street. If you are tracking it, then you may want another suspension.
Every track day I’ve ever been to has at least three or four guys in modded out NA or NB’s, stripped of everything but a seat, roll cage, steering wheel, and ducktail spoiler. I’m also man enough to admit I’ve never overtake one of these guys in my modified FR-S/ 86.
I think the manual is easier in traffic. You dont have to hold the break and feet placementis better. And in most cases. You're always engaged in first gear crawling bumper to bumper. While in automatic, you spend the whole time engaging and releasing the break pedal. I get cramps driving an automatic in traffic.
Those cars are so f****** badass. I'm sure you're aware they have a huge underground following. I definitely kept eyeballing one of those when i was saving up for the IS350. Great review.
Nah in America people only talk about sports cars but only 1% of those people talking actually pull the trigger and buy one. We buy SUVs and go to whole foods to stunt on other soccer moms that's the car culture here
That isnt true at all, definetely not concerning ferrari and mclaren. In all my life i have Seen about 3 Ferraris here, No mclarens at all. Porsche you See all the time only because they are German Brand, have been built for such a long time and now have a huge model line Up including boxster and cayman being quite cheap as used models.
First and foremost, you have to be my favorite car reviewer… I feel like you appreciate cars more than the other reviewers therefore you acknowledge more aspects of every car you review. You seem to have your own opinion about every single car you’ve driven despite whether it’s a commonly hated car or not. Second, I can’t bring myself to buy this car in a manual. Yes, I’d PREFER the automatic. The Miata is way too much car for the price tag…
I’m humbled by that my friend thank you and yea sports cars are getting up there mostly because R&D money to produce a low sales volume car isn’t an investment that’s worth it for most companies unfortunately. Appreciate your support
@@MeynMotorGroup Yeah man, I feel like all the none-luxury automakers have lost all hope in making a RWD sports car because it was no use trying to compete with the sales numbers of the BRZ/86 and Miata… I mean where’s the 124 Spider now…😂
haha wow I completely forgot about the 124 til you mentioned it there was a bunch of other random little cars like the Alfa 4c they are all gone. Only things left standing are the pseudo sports sedans like the BMW 3 series but even that will go away for “sporty” SUVs just crazy how the market is turned out, majority of people have spoken and they just want a bread box on stilts
@@MeynMotorGroup I don’t think the luxury brands have anything to worry about, especially not BMW since they have the 3 Series. The 4 Series is the 2 door 3 Series and I don’t really think it has anything to worry about either. The Z4 is going away soon sadly, but I doubt the 3 Series is going anywhere, at least not yet.
Great video and fantastic review. Thank you very much. I recently got a 2021 Mx-5. It was supposed to be for my wife, but once I started driving it, I gave her my C43 AMG (I would love to have an S class at some point, too) and I have not been looking back. It is such a great car to drive. Sure, it gets noisy at speeds above 75 mph, the audio system is not the best (mildly speaking), and the infotainment system is quite slow, but... who cares? This car is so excting. And you have talk to your thin friend to try to fit better. :D I am a big/fat guy (6.1; 265 lbs), and I fit with no problems (I even have some room left, feet- and head-wise). I just made a 2x 450 mile road trip, and I did not get tired. The car is very comfortable, and the excitment of driving is taking all the tiredness away. :) Smiles for miles!
@@hypnotechno you can buy a rail that replaces the sliding rail beneath your seat. So you trade being able to slide the seat forwards and backwards for a couple inches of extra head and leg room
Good review but plenty of these are tracked every weekend. They are perfect for autocross. A friend of mine has a auto and he tracks it all the time and it’s plenty quick.
Great review. I'm 5`7 and I can keep stuff behind the front seat, came from a CTS-V Coupe 0 to 60 in the fours MX5 0-60 in the fives, handle better, more fun to drive, better stereo retractable roof and much less than half the price 40 miles per gallon on the highway no regrets. My son is 5 foot 10 and just makes it 5 foot 11 and more shop somewhere else.
Modern Mazda's are not fast based on 1990 Car-N-Driver standards of strictly 0-60. But they haul ass once you learn them. It's called inertial speed. Once you're heading down a highway, or windy road, in a real world situation, your as fast as the big boys with no problem. I have a Mazda 3 2.0 2017 manual GT, and I can keep up with a WRX, GTI and BMW 330 going down the road with ease, windy or highway. We dance down the road, and I get 30+ mpg (41.7 is my best record!) doing it without stress. Mazda makes the best cars for the money in my experience. Oh, n yes, I've owned a Scooby, VDub, and Bimmer. and I always fall back to Mazda's. Once my youngest daughter turns 16 (1 year) I'm giving/selling:) her my 3 and getting a new MX5 manual since no more back seat needs.... :)
Thanks for an unbiased real-world review of this car with the auto :) Not many have the intelligence and thoughtfulness to be fair regarding auto boxes.
Bought this in automatic. Nope, don't really care about "maximum driving experience", man-machine connection or whatever. 🙄 I just want the convenience of an automatic. It looks really cute and stylish, and that's all I care. 😂
No body is tracking Miatas? There are national race circuits designed around almost every Miata generation. And there's also Autocross. People love to track Miatas!
First ever track day I participated in was out at Spring Mountain in Pahrump, NV. Real windy track, not a lot of straightaways. During the drivers’ meeting at the start of the day, the event coordinator asked for all the Miata drivers to put their hands up. Said, “Okay, all you new guys here with the Corvettes and M3’s and Mustangs, I want you to take note of these guys. THEY... WILL... BE... FASTER... THAN... YOU!!! You will NOT try to block them from overtaking you! You will NOT do anything stupid trying to catch up with them in the turns! If your ego gets the better of you, you WILL leave my track!” He was right. That half-dozen modified NA’s and NB’s were in a class all their own out there.
Believe it or not, I'm the guy who owned some exotic supercars and a Dodge Challenger (a V8 but not hellcat) before. And now I really want the Miara RF.
Hey Kevin, this Review popped up in my UA-cam feed, and of course I subscribed to your channel after watching this excellent video. Your comment that someone who has 3 kids and wants to know if it will work as a single family car probably shouldn’t have 3 kids in the first place was hilarious. Bought my MX5 RF in Grand Touring trim with the manual last October and I could not be more pleased. I’ve made 4 round trips between Montana and Oregon, and I can attest that the fun to drive quotient does not diminish on a 10 hour road trip. In fact, I think it goes up. Cheers!
Miata. Awesome Everything. Great bang for the buck. At 6'1 I'm not going to do well in there. Is there any way to move the seat base? To squeeze out a few more inches
@@MeynMotorGroup ok thanks for that. Your doing same videos I would do. I have a 91 LS 400 with 186k. Its a pillow with a motor in it. Keep up the good work. Thx Art
I. Am. SUPER. Jealous! I’m only 5’10”, but my legs are too long and I lift, so I do not fit. 🤬 I want to drive one so badly, but I’ll resign myself to live vicariously through you. 😜👍🏽
I think a lot depends on your upper body to leg length ratio. I'm 6'2" (220lb) and fit in my 2018 soft top fine, but there's no headroom left to play with, if I'd been half inch taller I'd be rubbing against the roof. Legroom is just about right. Everyone is slightly different, try sitting in one before ruling it out even if you are tall !!
For very tall I recommend ND2 (as you can telescope steering wheel towards you & recaro seats as you seat a bit lower. I have ND2 Soft Top Recaro and Bilsteins. I am 189cm = 6.2 in feet I guess. 100kg do about 210lb. And I fit, but just. I did 400miles journes with high speeds with no problems. As for the high speeds and loud engine sound a pair of NC headphones is the solution. Really enjoying the car. And the MX-5 community is the best.
What's funny is many forum users and group chats claim the recaros sit higher than any other seat choice but I think that is before they break in and sink into true buckets. I find the recaros probably do sit lower. At 5'11" I got about 4 inches headroom in a RF with recaros.
@@hypnotechno Meaning the newer seats in an older model or adding them in to a trim that didn't come with em? They're a bit pricy for many to consider as some other aftermarket choices work well for a lot less.
Hey bro. It's me with the XC60 and MR2 mk3 (2zz engine). Great review! If and when my MR2 falls apart, the Nd2 1.5L will be the replacement! Very tough to decide between RF and soft top though!
Anybody know how these do in the snow and rain with some good tires?? Just asking from a guy who wants one but has no idea how they handle in slippery conditions, would be a manual also.
My 08 NC with an open differential manual trans hated rain, especially on worn out roads albeit asphalt or concrete, once the tires started to show their age. Snow? I dunno. My ND2 with stock tires at almost 10k miles and LSD manual hasn't spun tires like my NC used to in the rain. I have slipped some and have intentionally broken traction but no right side pulls and fishtail because of the LSD.
Been daily driving Miatas for 30+ years. All have typically been laugh out loud fun in the snow, rain, or ice. Except for very deep snow on unplowed roads, I always look forward to driving in those weather conditions. It may seem initially counterintuitive, but I’ve often chosen to drive my Miatas in bad weather over my other vehicles because I generally feel much more confident driving in the snow, rain, or ice in a Miata because that’s what they do so well - give the driver such a strong sense of control up to and past the limits. Driven in many rain and snow storms with many cars all over the road and off the road, and I never felt concerned in a Miata. I’ve spun off the track, but never spun off the road due to weather conditions. And that’s with typically Pirelli P0s in the remote past and Michelin Pilot A/S 3+ in the past decade. This past winter my ND2 still had stock Bridgestones and was totally fine on snow and ice. On a particularly icy day this past winter, when schools and businesses were closed due to snow and ice, I chose to drive my ND2 over my wife’s Stinger GT2 AWD, because I felt safer in the Miata on ice. That decision took about 2 seconds to make. Deep snow, of course, would have been the exception.
50-50 weight distribution, so the driven rear wheels do get half the weight. With the limited slip diff, both rear tires get traction. And the lightness means less mass to move up hill. I daily drive one all winter in NH. With all season tires it has gone through snow when needed. However, in real snow, I will use my wife's AWD car.
So beautiful! I hope to buy one at some point. I love Mazda--such a great company. I have a CX-3 and plan to upgrade to a CX-5 when I need a new car. The Miata will be my fun car. I will definitely get the automatic as I have no interest in speeding. Perfect for me at 5'4''.
6,000 daily miles on my 2020 RF - very solid build, tight, NO rattles at all. May be an issue with some NBs. My 1990 NA - 160,000 miles, no real rattles 1999 NB - 80,000 miles, many rattles nearly from new 2006 NC1 150,000 miles, no rattles 2012 NC2 no rattles
@@kgm5330 obviously the newer builds will have a much rigid frame but surprisingly the NA doesnt have any rattles for you, something about the NB im not sure if the soft top has to do with anything.
I'm one of those Enthusiasts that dont buy cars so here's my critique: why is there a soft top convertible, a hard top convertible, a targa with the RF, but no coupe? Did they test focus groups and they were all against having a roof?
As an RF owner, I bought it thinking I would use it as a coupe most. Thought the targa top was just a great sunroof. I'm in cold weather, so the top is up for 5 months straight each winter and acts like a coupe as I daily drive it. But the top is down far more than I thought it would be in summer, which is whenever it is between low 60's and mid 80's
Great review man. No bullshit, which I appreciate. I'm torn , should I get the soft top or the hard top. 5K for the hard top seems steep. What do you think man?
I would personally go soft top to save the cash but I would go hard top if you are going to park it outside. Soft top cars should def be parked in a garage because bird droppings can be annoying 😅
So pros and cons of RF would be easier to daily drive and to park outside, quiter with top up, and to some like myself it does look cooler. But cons would be it is more expensive, weighs more, and rear end isn't as fish taily due to better distribution of weight. Soft top is cheaper, feels more open with top down, and can even feel mote refined with top down than RF due to less turbulence inside the cabin I suppose. Also weighs less and rear end can go loose a tad more easily. Cons of the Soft top would be you can't really park it outside or birds will take a dump on the top, and is less refined with the top up. Yea you should be able to fit although a viewer told me he was 5 10 and because he had longer legs he couldn't fit. Idk I'm 5 11 and I fit fine but for the most part shouldn't be an issue if you gave the seat all the way back. Also trunk size is the same in both soft top and hard top
Haha that's awesome yea I would probably only buy new because I think the early model years had some transmission issues with the manuals. So I would rather buy a brand new soft top base model especially since they seem to hold value
Soft top pros: Full top down Better top down visibility Quicker up or down operation Cons: Top needs replacing every 5 to 10 years Top needs special cleaning, conditioning, and protecting procedures Top can become damaged by UV, weather, improper cleaning and care, and vandalism RF pros: Less cabin noise than softtop with top up Easy to clean and care for; same products used for body work for top Better security Unique styling for this day and age Better visibility than softop with top up Cons: Slower top operation than softop Same visibility top up or down Mechanical/electrical failures possible Rain drains a little complicated to clean compared to softtop Wind noise can be very slightly louder / noticable in cross winds when top down If you've never had a convertible or tired of the 3 to 6 different convertible top care products you gotta use regularly, or like the style of the RF, I'd obviously go RF. If you know the involvement of a softtop, the roadster is always a great choice.
@@MeynMotorGroup The soft, imo, looks more classic and nostalgic. Simply have the soft top treated with a commercial protectant. Easy clean. Also, the Miata is so small, it wouldn't take any time at all to put a car cover on.
Like your realistic reviews. I consider myself an enthusiast, I do buy New Manual Transmission cars. The problem is that I keep them like my 2006 Mazda3 sedan 2.0L 5 speed manual. Now that I just retired, I want to reward myself with another New Manual Transmission car. I want a Miata but I also want a car that I can go on vacation with my wife and enough space for the luggage. I still enjoy shifting gears. What would you consider purchasing for less than $40k with enough room for vacation luggage that would also be enjoyable to drive and has a manual? I do not want an automatic of any kind regardless.
So the Toyota GR86 has a lot more room than the Miata and you can get a fully loaded model for around $32k so much better value than the Miata, it also has rear seats for additional storage. Camaro LT1 can be had for under 40k with a manual just be sure to get the NPP exhaust option since that really wakes up the car. But trunk is pretty small. Acura Integra A Spec with manual is pretty nice and spacious but a bit noisy at higher speeds and can be had for under $40k and the leases are excellent. (See the leasehackr forum) Cadillac CT4-V Black wing is expensive at $60k plus but has 4 doors and will drive amazing with a manual. Honestly, nowadays automatics are so good that I don’t mind getting a super fast shifting auto vehicle but if you want practical manuals these are the best I can think of.
@@t.k.morris no all about the same, but I just give a pass to the GR since it’s a sports car, I expected the Acura to be quieter but it’s ok, I would be happy to daily an Integra I enjoyed my 1 week with it
Car enthusiasts: "Real men want manuals. Automatics are for girly-men". Me: "Grasping and wiggling a long shaft with a knob on the end, makes you more manly? Weird, I thought it just changed gears".
As I see it, there are way more fast cars out there, in terms of 0-60 or quarter mile or whatever, and I get it, speed is fun. However, there are a lot fewer cars that feel great to drive than there are quick cars.
I sold my 2018 Mustang GT. Most frustrating car I’ve ever owned. One gear change to license-losing speed. Completely pointless for me. No fun at all. Miata here I come!
Ok we'll you should know what I mean the MAJORITY of people who buy cars like this tool around in it from Walmart and back and occasionally cars and coffee. This is the life of 99.99% of sports cars
its my plan to get a miata NB as my second car , you cant beat this formula , rwd ,lightweight , cheap to run and you have the bonus of being a convertible for when you just want to chill and get some vitamin D (going for the NB , cuz im a broke boi) . Other thing , wtf is dat shark fin on the trunk? i would hapily live without radio stations if the trade off was to get rid of that
It has 2 antennas, the fin is for connected services that allow the car to be locked, turned on, and some other things I can't remember right now, from the app on your phone and there's an old fashion antenna at the back to the right of the fin for radio reception
I test drive the automatic in a 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Club. Really liked it. Especially love the transmission has a sports mode which was more fitting for the car. However, I bought the manual one because it fits the character of the car and it is a weekend toy, not a daily driver.
LMAO I HAVE THREE KIDS TRYING TO MAKE THE MIATA WORK. I'm weeaaakk 😂🤣😅 I'm 5'5 so sounds like the car for me... actually since u can't lift the seat idk lol. Uhhhh... is that glitter on the door thoooo? If so- loves that.
im 6'2 and love mine, i was skeptical too, go test drive and try it out. drive position is excellent. ST gives you an extra inch or so but I still have decent clearance above me in my RF.
A good review but a few points. The MX-5 sells like hotcakes. They're not a high volume car but you don't find them at dealerships for very long because they get bought. Hell 2020 was a bad year and the MX-5 continued to sell versus other models. The "miata" moniker is a bit overused given it isn't on the car since the NB. The fact you can't find it anywhere on the car besides a hidden place on a single document, overusing it just feels bad. MX-5 sounds better and is found on every generation and every market. Just a nitpick there. Having owned a Boxster and an 08 NC MX-5, I do agreed that the Porsche feels wonderful, refined, stable, fast, and sounds amazing... also the easiest car I ever worked on... I didn't smile as I did in the Mazda. And I get just as much attention in my RF as I did in the Porsche.
See my 2019 Miata Soft Top vs RF Review:
ua-cam.com/video/kN__dhihmTE/v-deo.html
As the Owner of a new 2021 MX-5 GT Automatic, I am glad to see this review. This is my fourth Miata over the years. All previous models were manual. But at 60 years old, never having tracked any of my Miatas, and just enjoying the daily driving, I am really enjoying not having to change gears anymore. If you are young, want to get all you can out of an MX-5 and plan on tracking then get the manual. If you want to enjoy it as a daily driver, you could care less about burning up tires, and too old for racing, get the automatic.
Nice! Great summary sir for sure Auto is still very enjoyable
Thanks for the reply - down the road, I was looking to get one of these in automatic but worried about all the people saying the manual or nothing. This review and your reply have helped put it back at the top of my shortlist of cars. My primary likes are the RF look which I think is one of the best looking cars on the road for a sane price and that it ranked as the most reliable car on the road for 2020! When I get back to Canada I want a reliable, fun, nice-looking car. Might live in Niagara Falls. Apparently, it does great in the snow too (with snow tires of course). I like the Red - it has to be the best red in cars. I wish the Miata had that lane watch thing Hyundai has so when you put the right turn signal on a camera shows in the dashboard what is in the right lane so you can see your blind spot. In a small car likes this with big pillars that would be a great addition for the next edition of these cars that won't add any weight. Maybe the Mazda fans can badger them for it. Mazda does seem to listen to their car buyers. If Hyundai can do it - the Japanese can do it better :)
That still stands. Manual or nothing. Automatics are for old heads, disabled people, or ditsy chicks.. posers... etc. Why are you scared of a clutch?
@@tonymorfin8750 bro just let the man be, any purchase of any transmission type will help support the future development of this car. I doubt mazda will ever get rid of manual even if theres a popular market for automatics for this car
@@tonymorfin8750 get over yourself 😂
I took a 2 hour manual class, and bought the manual Miata 2 days later.
Stalled 20 times on the way back from the dealership, and another 20 times the next day but it was all good after that with a week's worth of practice.
You’re braver than me. I bought my manual Mazda3 never having driven stick, and just a two hour course a month before. Had to have my friend drive it home from the dealership because I was too scared.
I made my salesman teach me stick, but otherwise... yeah, same.
@@Maxfli82 If you ride a motorbike with a clutch. Just apply the same theory/principal. And you're good. Cheers!
I didn’t even drive an automatic until I was 40! 23 year of manuals/sticks!
40 stalls in two days with one of the world's most forgiving clutches and easy to learn manuals? I would get 100% of my money back from that 2hr manual class.
Thank you for this review. I'm someone who physically can't drive a manual because of a disability, and some of the comments from enthusiasts about automatics are brutal and kinda demoralizing. But I would LOVE to have a Miata RF one day, and it's great to see someone reviewing an auto version.
Not a problem my friend yea don't worry about these so-called "enthusiasts." If they were real enthusiasts they would respect your position and your continued passion for driving. I believe you will be very satisfied and will have a ton of fun in an automatic Miata, they did a great job tuning it. Thank you very much for stopping by.
right there with you man!
@@MeynMotorGroup 👌
@@MeynMotorGroup I’ve driven many manual cars over the years and still love it but I gotta admit I had a great experience with my 15 FRS it was an automatic and now I have a ‘10 370Z automatic the newer automatic have gotten so good frankly you get the best of both worlds.
@@MeynMotorGroup your right about these so called enthusiasts take for example the Yaris GR there all crying and bitching why we can’t get that car here in America yet you ask are they gonna fork 50K for it crickets 😂😂look at what happen to the Fiesta ST and Focus RS.
The saddest thing is that somebody cares what others say about his/her car and choose the car based on that. I feel really sorry for such people.
Perhaps but the other side needs to change first they are much worse
Great review on this Mazda, I was never a fan of these little sports cars always thought they were a little under powered. My niece purchased one of these 2021 models just after Christmas this year and I was alowed to take it for quick spin. Now I'm a fan on the country winding roads, was amazed just how well they perform great fun. Thanks Kevin.
That's awesome my friend glad you got the opportunity. Yea growing up I never liked the smaller cars either but driving these vehicles changed my mind as well. Thanks again!
I'm glad you mentioned that part about the guy who wanted his dream car but worried about enthusiasts shaming someone who wanted this in automatic. I was also on the fence about getting this in automatic as I've never had the pleasure of learning manual, but I live in the city and i did want something more enjoyable than my Mazda 3 Hatchback without sacrificing the comfort and technology. Thank you for this down-to-earth and honest review and I'm ready to get to this vehicle now!
You will enjoy it my friend, let me know when you get it
My wife and I just got the grand touring hard top...we traded in her CX5...we got it w the manual transmission...GSM from the dealership taught us how to drive manual that day so we could make it home. Best decision ever. So much fun to drive!
That is awesome!! Enjoy!
Oh my god I thought I was the only one crazy enough to get someone from the dealership to teach him to drive manual! 😆
@@davidmcleod5133 I plan to do it this way also. I want to buy this car. However, I don’t know how to drive stick, at all lolp
6-02/178 - Long legs/shorter torso. Own a 2017 Grand Touring Auto. Love it. I fit fine. I’m older and wanted an auto. I had a Mustang 5.0, 5 speed in my younger days. My advice - get what you want. Who cares what other people say.
Great review! I own a 08 NC Miata hardtop convertible with automatic. I picked up one for $10k and use it as my daily. I love driving it! In fact I prefer it over my manual GT Mustang. It’s more fun because it’s very light nimble and quick.
Was on the fence about this car for the longest time. Watching your review helped me make up my mind. Pulled the trigger and took delivery on a '21 soul red gt auto today. Such a beautiful car. Keep up the good work on your videos!
Wow massive congrats my friend such an epic car really glad you took advantage of it. One of my all time favs, I would also like to own one eventually. Humbled the video helped, enjoy!
I pulled the trigger on the gt rf in auto.. been raining here and you can def get that ass sideways. Not enough to wig out but just right so you can catch it. It's a proper good ride. Good solid review man, just straight up honesty in it.
Massive congrats my friend! Beautiful ride and thank you for the kind words, glad you found value with the review!
Your review of the MX-5 makes me smile Kevin, just like this car does to me. Nice one bro 👍
Thank you my friend glad you enjoyed!
Overall a well done video, but saying that no one drives these on track is a bit misguided. Unarguably, MX-5s are some of the most tracked cars in history. Not only does Mazda currently convert consumer cars to full race-spec for the MX-5 Cup Series, a dedicated global wheel-to-wheel race series just for this platform, but the ND2 is also a controversial car in autocross, as it's so dominate in it's appropriate class that it's hard to figure out where it belongs. An appropriately set up ND can be a real weapon, so don't sleep on it for track use! The relatively modest price, abundance of aftermarket support, and availability of cars and parts makes it a really great option for those considering a track platform.
I didn't go into deep dive on the subject and break it down to a T but yes you're right Miata cup series etc its all very good but you know what I mean about the keyboard warriors that never buy these vehicles at all or the few people that do who simply stuff it in their garage and wipe it down with a silk bath robe and never drive it 😉
@@MeynMotorGroup Absolutely agree that a majority of people buying these cars new will never drive them on a track or an autocross course, especially with the core demographic being where it's at, haha. Just didn't want anyone to get the impression that they're not an excellent base for a track build, as they're super effective cars to that end (at least relatively). This video and conversation has me itchy now, haha, time to go for a drive before the weather turns! Happy driving people!
Haha of course my friend yea Miata is an epic machine accomplishes so much for the price and is loved for its wheel to wheel races as well.
And absolutely, enjoy the drive!
I think is point is better said that they are setup from the factory to drive well for the street. If you are tracking it, then you may want another suspension.
Every track day I’ve ever been to has at least three or four guys in modded out NA or NB’s, stripped of everything but a seat, roll cage, steering wheel, and ducktail spoiler.
I’m also man enough to admit I’ve never overtake one of these guys in my modified FR-S/ 86.
I think the manual is easier in traffic. You dont have to hold the break and feet placementis better. And in most cases. You're always engaged in first gear crawling bumper to bumper. While in automatic, you spend the whole time engaging and releasing the break pedal. I get cramps driving an automatic in traffic.
Those cars are so f****** badass. I'm sure you're aware they have a huge underground following. I definitely kept eyeballing one of those when i was saving up for the IS350. Great review.
For sure my friend! Def an epic little driving machine. Thanks again for stopping by!
dream weekend car... keep it up man great video
Hey thank you my friend!
getting one of these in a month or two, can’t wait! Gonna be my only car for a while haha
Haha nice are you getting the RF?
@@MeynMotorGroup more than likely, they’re beautiful! do you think the miata would be a good first time manual car?
It's the perfect manual! So easy to drive and very smooth
Enjoy it!!
I just got the rf grand touring with the 6 speed manual. :)
here in Germany you can see more Porsche´s Ferrari´s Lambo´s and Mclaren´s as a Miata, very exotic car here.
Wow that's crazy
@@MeynMotorGroup yes unfortunately Kevin but I think the Americans like it.
Nah in America people only talk about sports cars but only 1% of those people talking actually pull the trigger and buy one. We buy SUVs and go to whole foods to stunt on other soccer moms that's the car culture here
That isnt true at all, definetely not concerning ferrari and mclaren. In all my life i have Seen about 3 Ferraris here, No mclarens at all. Porsche you See all the time only because they are German Brand, have been built for such a long time and now have a huge model line Up including boxster and cayman being quite cheap as used models.
@@maxmeier532 here around and in Stuttgart and München I see again and again Lambo´s Ferrari´s and Mclaren´s but to see a Miata is more difficult.
First and foremost, you have to be my favorite car reviewer… I feel like you appreciate cars more than the other reviewers therefore you acknowledge more aspects of every car you review. You seem to have your own opinion about every single car you’ve driven despite whether it’s a commonly hated car or not. Second, I can’t bring myself to buy this car in a manual. Yes, I’d PREFER the automatic. The Miata is way too much car for the price tag…
I’m humbled by that my friend thank you and yea sports cars are getting up there mostly because R&D money to produce a low sales volume car isn’t an investment that’s worth it for most companies unfortunately. Appreciate your support
@@MeynMotorGroup Yeah man, I feel like all the none-luxury automakers have lost all hope in making a RWD sports car because it was no use trying to compete with the sales numbers of the BRZ/86 and Miata… I mean where’s the 124 Spider now…😂
haha wow I completely forgot about the 124 til you mentioned it there was a bunch of other random little cars like the Alfa 4c they are all gone. Only things left standing are the pseudo sports sedans like the BMW 3 series but even that will go away for “sporty” SUVs just crazy how the market is turned out, majority of people have spoken and they just want a bread box on stilts
@@MeynMotorGroup I don’t think the luxury brands have anything to worry about, especially not BMW since they have the 3 Series. The 4 Series is the 2 door 3 Series and I don’t really think it has anything to worry about either. The Z4 is going away soon sadly, but I doubt the 3 Series is going anywhere, at least not yet.
Probably the best car reviewer in UA-cam I think.
I'm humbled by that my friend thank you!
Great video and fantastic review. Thank you very much. I recently got a 2021 Mx-5. It was supposed to be for my wife, but once I started driving it, I gave her my C43 AMG (I would love to have an S class at some point, too) and I have not been looking back. It is such a great car to drive. Sure, it gets noisy at speeds above 75 mph, the audio system is not the best (mildly speaking), and the infotainment system is quite slow, but... who cares? This car is so excting. And you have talk to your thin friend to try to fit better. :D I am a big/fat guy (6.1; 265 lbs), and I fit with no problems (I even have some room left, feet- and head-wise). I just made a 2x 450 mile road trip, and I did not get tired. The car is very comfortable, and the excitment of driving is taking all the tiredness away. :) Smiles for miles!
If you're too tall for it, you can lower the seats for a few extra inches of room
im 6 2 but if I grow more id be interested. Can you explain what you mean? How can you lower the seats? thanks
@@hypnotechno you can buy a rail that replaces the sliding rail beneath your seat. So you trade being able to slide the seat forwards and backwards for a couple inches of extra head and leg room
@@StudlySoldier Oh that's great. Yes, I would not need to move the seat from its fully back position. Thanks! Did you try it?
Good review but plenty of these are tracked every weekend. They are perfect for autocross. A friend of mine has a auto and he tracks it all the time and it’s plenty quick.
You know what I mean 🙂 you know 95% of buyers are nothing like your friend. Majority of people buying will use as a pavement princess
Great review. I'm 5`7 and I can keep stuff behind the front seat, came from a CTS-V Coupe 0 to 60 in the fours MX5 0-60 in the fives, handle better, more fun to drive, better stereo retractable roof and much less than half the price 40 miles per gallon on the highway no regrets. My son is 5 foot 10 and just makes it 5 foot 11 and more shop somewhere else.
Def a great car!
not true actually. 6 foot 2 and the car fits like a glove
I agree with the first point, Miata is underrated, you can never please everyone. You do you.
For sure my friend
Modern Mazda's are not fast based on 1990 Car-N-Driver standards of strictly 0-60. But they haul ass once you learn them. It's called inertial speed. Once you're heading down a highway, or windy road, in a real world situation, your as fast as the big boys with no problem. I have a Mazda 3 2.0 2017 manual GT, and I can keep up with a WRX, GTI and BMW 330 going down the road with ease, windy or highway. We dance down the road, and I get 30+ mpg (41.7 is my best record!) doing it without stress. Mazda makes the best cars for the money in my experience. Oh, n yes, I've owned a Scooby, VDub, and Bimmer. and I always fall back to Mazda's. Once my youngest daughter turns 16 (1 year) I'm giving/selling:) her my 3 and getting a new MX5 manual since no more back seat needs.... :)
6 second 0-60 was supercar status in 1990. I think the Corvette was about 5.8 in perfect conditions. Lots of supercars were slower as well.
Thanks for an unbiased real-world review of this car with the auto :) Not many have the intelligence and thoughtfulness to be fair regarding auto boxes.
Thank you my friend glad it was valuable!
Bought this in automatic.
Nope, don't really care about "maximum driving experience", man-machine connection or whatever. 🙄
I just want the convenience of an automatic.
It looks really cute and stylish, and that's all I care. 😂
@@crayonbouzu8578 and there's nothing wrong with that as long as you are happy. That's what matters most
I'm 70 years old and just waiting for my white gt automatic bad left hip so going with the automatic with the paddle shift ill still have a blast .
No body is tracking Miatas? There are national race circuits designed around almost every Miata generation. And there's also Autocross. People love to track Miatas!
I think you know what I mean lol
First ever track day I participated in was out at Spring Mountain in Pahrump, NV. Real windy track, not a lot of straightaways. During the drivers’ meeting at the start of the day, the event coordinator asked for all the Miata drivers to put their hands up. Said, “Okay, all you new guys here with the Corvettes and M3’s and Mustangs, I want you to take note of these guys. THEY... WILL... BE... FASTER... THAN... YOU!!! You will NOT try to block them from overtaking you! You will NOT do anything stupid trying to catch up with them in the turns! If your ego gets the better of you, you WILL leave my track!”
He was right. That half-dozen modified NA’s and NB’s were in a class all their own out there.
Believe it or not, I'm the guy who owned some exotic supercars and a Dodge Challenger (a V8 but not hellcat) before. And now I really want the Miara RF.
Fun car, fun review!...I’m 6 ‘ 4” and as Mark Cuban would say.... For that reason... I am out! 😎 Thanks Kevin!
Haha I understand 😅 my friend but I appreciate you stopping by
@@David_Journey Good point, thanks!!!!
Great review 👍🏽
Appreciate it my friend!
Hey Kevin, this Review popped up in my UA-cam feed, and of course I subscribed to your channel after watching this excellent video. Your comment that someone who has 3 kids and wants to know if it will work as a single family car probably shouldn’t have 3 kids in the first place was hilarious.
Bought my MX5 RF in Grand Touring trim with the manual last October and I could not be more pleased. I’ve made 4 round trips between Montana and Oregon, and I can attest that the fun to drive quotient does not diminish on a 10 hour road trip. In fact, I think it goes up. Cheers!
Hey thank you my friend for the support and massive congrats on owning this fun little ride truly is one of the best sports cars. Enjoy
400 videos on YT reviewing the manual version, so it’s refreshing to see this auto transmission version review. Love the non bias review, great vid !
Miata. Awesome Everything. Great bang for the buck. At 6'1 I'm not going to do well in there. Is there any way to move the seat base? To squeeze out a few more inches
The seat kinda reclines back you just can't adjust the height of it
@@MeynMotorGroup ok thanks for that. Your doing same videos I would do. I have a 91 LS 400 with 186k. Its a pillow with a motor in it. Keep up the good work. Thx Art
There are seat lowering options available in the aftermarket. Paco Motorsports and Aurora Auto Design both sell kits.
Nobody:
The title:..."I feel sorry if you can't fit"
Me: hAHa that's what she said! 🥴🤭
The automatic versions don't get the limited slip or the shock tower bracing.
I. Am. SUPER. Jealous!
I’m only 5’10”, but my legs are too long and I lift, so I do not fit. 🤬 I want to drive one so badly, but I’ll resign myself to live vicariously through you. 😜👍🏽
Ah no that's too bad I'm sorry to hear that but oh well, you could enjoy a v8 Camaro haha but I appreciate you stopping by sir
I would look into the 86/BRZ it’s got what the Miata has with the 2+2 seating and extra interior space or the 370z if you need more muscle.
Same here
I think a lot depends on your upper body to leg length ratio. I'm 6'2" (220lb) and fit in my 2018 soft top fine, but there's no headroom left to play with, if I'd been half inch taller I'd be rubbing against the roof. Legroom is just about right. Everyone is slightly different, try sitting in one before ruling it out even if you are tall !!
You are def right everyone is different and I encourage everyone to sit in it and see for themselves. I'm so happy you fit!
totally agree with that as I am the same. Even though I'm 6 2 I wear Small size t shirts and 32 waist so maybe its a proportion thing.
Love my automatic 2021 RF fun car
For very tall I recommend ND2 (as you can telescope steering wheel towards you & recaro seats as you seat a bit lower. I have ND2 Soft Top Recaro and Bilsteins. I am 189cm = 6.2 in feet I guess. 100kg do about 210lb. And I fit, but just. I did 400miles journes with high speeds with no problems. As for the high speeds and loud engine sound a pair of NC headphones is the solution. Really enjoying the car. And the MX-5 community is the best.
What's funny is many forum users and group chats claim the recaros sit higher than any other seat choice but I think that is before they break in and sink into true buckets. I find the recaros probably do sit lower. At 5'11" I got about 4 inches headroom in a RF with recaros.
@@EjinRenos can recaro be retrofitted to new order do you think?
@@hypnotechno Meaning the newer seats in an older model or adding them in to a trim that didn't come with em? They're a bit pricy for many to consider as some other aftermarket choices work well for a lot less.
@@EjinRenos thanks I am hoping to order the 2021 rf
7:11 i like how whoever drove the white sedan thought they were gonna smoke the Miata and Kevin just went _NOPE_
I couldn't let it happen 😅😂
Prefer the soft cloth top.
Yea I think I would go soft top route as well
i love your review i cant lie. True honesty.
Ill be buying this after 20 years. When it fully depreciates!
Haha why not just buy an 01 Miata today?
Hey bro. It's me with the XC60 and MR2 mk3 (2zz engine). Great review! If and when my MR2 falls apart, the Nd2 1.5L will be the replacement! Very tough to decide between RF and soft top though!
Hey sir how are you? Yea the Miata is great! I think I would go soft top to save the money! But RF is cool
Ok quick question does the camera go down when you put the car in reverse
Here in central america we import crashed cars since fixing them is relatively cheap. When I was looking for mine, most of them where automatic
Great reviews man! Keep it up!
Thank you my friend!
Seat lowering rails are a godsend...6'2" and feeling fine.
I'm 6'2" (220lb) and fit fine without any adjustments. that said, an inch taller and I'd be rubbing my head on the roof....
Hi Douglas, I seem to fit fine at 6 foot 2 but would like the option of these seat lowering rails. how did you do it?
@@hypnotechno pacomotorsports.com/product/nd-miata-seat-lowering-brackets/
@@desertsoldier41 wow thanks for the link do you think they work for the 2021 RF?
@@hypnotechno They should
Anybody know how these do in the snow and rain with some good tires?? Just asking from a guy who wants one but has no idea how they handle in slippery conditions, would be a manual also.
My 08 NC with an open differential manual trans hated rain, especially on worn out roads albeit asphalt or concrete, once the tires started to show their age. Snow? I dunno.
My ND2 with stock tires at almost 10k miles and LSD manual hasn't spun tires like my NC used to in the rain. I have slipped some and have intentionally broken traction but no right side pulls and fishtail because of the LSD.
Been daily driving Miatas for 30+ years. All have typically been laugh out loud fun in the snow, rain, or ice. Except for very deep snow on unplowed roads, I always look forward to driving in those weather conditions.
It may seem initially counterintuitive, but I’ve often chosen to drive my Miatas in bad weather over my other vehicles because I generally feel much more confident driving in the snow, rain, or ice in a Miata because that’s what they do so well - give the driver such a strong sense of control up to and past the limits.
Driven in many rain and snow storms with many cars all over the road and off the road, and I never felt concerned in a Miata. I’ve spun off the track, but never spun off the road due to weather conditions.
And that’s with typically Pirelli P0s in the remote past and Michelin Pilot A/S 3+ in the past decade. This past winter my ND2 still had stock Bridgestones and was totally fine on snow and ice.
On a particularly icy day this past winter, when schools and businesses were closed due to snow and ice, I chose to drive my ND2 over my wife’s Stinger GT2 AWD, because I felt safer in the Miata on ice. That decision took about 2 seconds to make. Deep snow, of course, would have been the exception.
50-50 weight distribution, so the driven rear wheels do get half the weight. With the limited slip diff, both rear tires get traction. And the lightness means less mass to move up hill. I daily drive one all winter in NH. With all season tires it has gone through snow when needed. However, in real snow, I will use my wife's AWD car.
LOL "...if you had to ask this question, you probably shouldn't have 3 kids" 😂. subscribed.
I am 6”2”” & I fit in mine. Bought a 2020 mx5 Miata rf gt
That is awesome!
same 6'2 and fit fine (soft top 2018) but I wouldn't if i was an inch taller...
im 6 2 and the car fits perfectly for me
so true what you said about "enthusiasts" buying/not buing sports cars! all talk no action.
Hey Kevin, would you get a used 2019 es350 for about 30k or a used LS460 for a similar amount? New ES or Old LS?
Hmm depends on how much you drive, if you drive a lot and need better gas mileage go for the ES 350
Great review bro.
Appreciate that my friend!
So beautiful! I hope to buy one at some point. I love Mazda--such a great company. I have a CX-3 and plan to upgrade to a CX-5 when I need a new car. The Miata will be my fun car. I will definitely get the automatic as I have no interest in speeding. Perfect for me at 5'4''.
Nice!
I’m 6 foot 1 inch tall. Can I fit into this?
Can't go wrong with a Miata, especially a manual. 😙👌
You're right about enthusiasts not putting their money where there mouth is.
Yea my friend love the Miata! And yes it is sad, this is why car makers stop producing sports cars all together
You gotta sacrifice something if you’re an enthusiast.
Does the RF have the rattle the NB has? I daily an NB and i avoid highways as the noise gets overwhelming sometimes
6,000 daily miles on my 2020 RF - very solid build, tight, NO rattles at all.
May be an issue with some NBs.
My 1990 NA - 160,000 miles, no real rattles
1999 NB - 80,000 miles, many rattles nearly from new
2006 NC1 150,000 miles, no rattles
2012 NC2 no rattles
@@kgm5330 obviously the newer builds will have a much rigid frame but surprisingly the NA doesnt have any rattles for you, something about the NB im not sure if the soft top has to do with anything.
I'm one of those Enthusiasts that dont buy cars so here's my critique: why is there a soft top convertible, a hard top convertible, a targa with the RF, but no coupe? Did they test focus groups and they were all against having a roof?
RF is your coupe!
As an RF owner, I bought it thinking I would use it as a coupe most. Thought the targa top was just a great sunroof. I'm in cold weather, so the top is up for 5 months straight each winter and acts like a coupe as I daily drive it. But the top is down far more than I thought it would be in summer, which is whenever it is between low 60's and mid 80's
That miata will be glorious if you drive it on the mountain corners and downhill turns
For sure!
Great review man. No bullshit, which I appreciate. I'm torn , should I get the soft top or the hard top. 5K for the hard top seems steep. What do you think man?
I would personally go soft top to save the cash but I would go hard top if you are going to park it outside. Soft top cars should def be parked in a garage because bird droppings can be annoying 😅
@@MeynMotorGroup I like the way you think man. It will be outside, so Ill give the hard top a long look. Quick reply from ya, appreciate it!
Not a problem my friend congrats on buying a Miata you will love it
hi what are the pros and cons of soft/hard top? I'm 5'10 would I fit okay?
So pros and cons of RF would be easier to daily drive and to park outside, quiter with top up, and to some like myself it does look cooler. But cons would be it is more expensive, weighs more, and rear end isn't as fish taily due to better distribution of weight.
Soft top is cheaper, feels more open with top down, and can even feel mote refined with top down than RF due to less turbulence inside the cabin I suppose. Also weighs less and rear end can go loose a tad more easily. Cons of the Soft top would be you can't really park it outside or birds will take a dump on the top, and is less refined with the top up.
Yea you should be able to fit although a viewer told me he was 5 10 and because he had longer legs he couldn't fit. Idk I'm 5 11 and I fit fine but for the most part shouldn't be an issue if you gave the seat all the way back. Also trunk size is the same in both soft top and hard top
@@MeynMotorGroup okay thanks, I'm going to be buying one new to support the cause instead of buying used!!
Haha that's awesome yea I would probably only buy new because I think the early model years had some transmission issues with the manuals. So I would rather buy a brand new soft top base model especially since they seem to hold value
Soft top pros:
Full top down
Better top down visibility
Quicker up or down operation
Cons:
Top needs replacing every 5 to 10 years
Top needs special cleaning, conditioning, and protecting procedures
Top can become damaged by UV, weather, improper cleaning and care, and vandalism
RF pros:
Less cabin noise than softtop with top up
Easy to clean and care for; same products used for body work for top
Better security
Unique styling for this day and age
Better visibility than softop with top up
Cons:
Slower top operation than softop
Same visibility top up or down
Mechanical/electrical failures possible
Rain drains a little complicated to clean compared to softtop
Wind noise can be very slightly louder / noticable in cross winds when top down
If you've never had a convertible or tired of the 3 to 6 different convertible top care products you gotta use regularly, or like the style of the RF, I'd obviously go RF. If you know the involvement of a softtop, the roadster is always a great choice.
@@MeynMotorGroup The soft, imo, looks more classic and nostalgic. Simply have the soft top treated with a commercial protectant. Easy clean. Also, the Miata is so small, it wouldn't take any time at all to put a car cover on.
Yup. It's sad when people judge what you buy with your own money. At least that tells you who you can cut out of your life haha
Haha true... but that would be a lot of cutting lol
Like your realistic reviews. I consider myself an enthusiast, I do buy New Manual Transmission cars. The problem is that I keep them like my 2006 Mazda3 sedan 2.0L 5 speed manual. Now that I just retired, I want to reward myself with another New Manual Transmission car. I want a Miata but I also want a car that I can go on vacation with my wife and enough space for the luggage. I still enjoy shifting gears. What would you consider purchasing for less than $40k with enough room for vacation luggage that would also be enjoyable to drive and has a manual? I do not want an automatic of any kind regardless.
So the Toyota GR86 has a lot more room than the Miata and you can get a fully loaded model for around $32k so much better value than the Miata, it also has rear seats for additional storage.
Camaro LT1 can be had for under 40k with a manual just be sure to get the NPP exhaust option since that really wakes up the car. But trunk is pretty small.
Acura Integra A Spec with manual is pretty nice and spacious but a bit noisy at higher speeds and can be had for under $40k and the leases are excellent. (See the leasehackr forum)
Cadillac CT4-V Black wing is expensive at $60k plus but has 4 doors and will drive amazing with a manual.
Honestly, nowadays automatics are so good that I don’t mind getting a super fast shifting auto vehicle but if you want practical manuals these are the best I can think of.
@@MeynMotorGroup The Integra is more noisy than the BRZ/GR86?
@@t.k.morris no all about the same, but I just give a pass to the GR since it’s a sports car, I expected the Acura to be quieter but it’s ok, I would be happy to daily an Integra I enjoyed my 1 week with it
Looks like an old school Lotus Elise in the back 👍🏼
It def does look sleek
Or even an old 71 Corvette stingray fastback.
Car enthusiasts: "Real men want manuals. Automatics are for girly-men". Me: "Grasping and wiggling a long shaft with a knob on the end, makes you more manly? Weird, I thought it just changed gears".
I bought a manual in LA. I'm glad I did, but I did second guess myself a bit.
Excellent job my friend congrats on your purchase
Those front headlights look way too small.
There's needs to be top5 videos pumping out!
Noti gang
Haha 😄 appreciate it my friend thanks so much for the support
@@MeynMotorGroup ywyw
As I see it, there are way more fast cars out there, in terms of 0-60 or quarter mile or whatever, and I get it, speed is fun. However, there are a lot fewer cars that feel great to drive than there are quick cars.
I sold my 2018 Mustang GT. Most frustrating car I’ve ever owned. One gear change to license-losing speed. Completely pointless for me. No fun at all. Miata here I come!
Joe much this car?
Definitely getting this!!
You will love it!
Go grab one.you will love it. I have17' rf manual best car ever.aloha🤙🤙🤙
Why are you driving with the ebrake on....that handle next to the shifter is your ebrake dude! Down is off lol
Wtf were you watching
5.7 secs is very fast, more than enough for the street with revenue raising govt tools everywhere, like cops!
"Nobody is actually tracking those vehicles" ... I heard the MX5 is the most raced sports car in the world
Ok we'll you should know what I mean the MAJORITY of people who buy cars like this tool around in it from Walmart and back and occasionally cars and coffee. This is the life of 99.99% of sports cars
its my plan to get a miata NB as my second car , you cant beat this formula , rwd ,lightweight , cheap to run and you have the bonus of being a convertible for when you just want to chill and get some vitamin D (going for the NB , cuz im a broke boi) .
Other thing , wtf is dat shark fin on the trunk? i would hapily live without radio stations if the trade off was to get rid of that
Haha yea I understand but NB should be epic tho.
It has 2 antennas, the fin is for connected services that allow the car to be locked, turned on, and some other things I can't remember right now, from the app on your phone and there's an old fashion antenna at the back to the right of the fin for radio reception
@@CA120N3 fuck the app , that thing is ugly would defenetly rip it off if i own one
Got a NA and a ND and no I don’t do hair .
Definitely looks like a fun car to drive bro and not bad looking 😎👍🏾👍🏾
Lol yea bro for sure but ain't no rapper going to be repping one anytime soon 😂
@@MeynMotorGroup I don’t think so either 😂🤣
Ayeeee new vid
Haha yes sir
I test drive the automatic in a 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Club. Really liked it. Especially love the transmission has a sports mode which was more fitting for the car. However, I bought the manual one because it fits the character of the car and it is a weekend toy, not a daily driver.
6' 3"
Not going to get excited...
😂
Haha that's good to know at least
@@movsesshaginyan4747 would you try seat lowering kit
Don't say "most favorite". Just say favorite.
But an automatic transmission in a Miata is a tragedy.
My most favorite Grammer analysis
2:32 most favorite defeats the purpose of the word favorite.
I'm glad that was the sum of what you took away from all this
@@MeynMotorGroup 😂✅
small little sporty and expensive car to have fun on twisty roads, thanks Kevin.
For sure my friend def a fun little car skip some options tho
@@MeynMotorGroup the car you tested Kevin with 180 HP cost here in Germany with the German Tax 48k $.
Yea price of Japanese cars is crazy in Europe it is sad
@@MeynMotorGroup GR Yaris with variable AWD and 261 HP = 40k $, the Miata is very very expensive in Germany.
Yea that's a lot
LMAO I HAVE THREE KIDS TRYING TO MAKE THE MIATA WORK. I'm weeaaakk 😂🤣😅
I'm 5'5 so sounds like the car for me... actually since u can't lift the seat idk lol. Uhhhh... is that glitter on the door thoooo? If so- loves that.
lololol glad you enjoyed that but yea at 5 5 you should easily fit but yes, sit in it first to make sure
It does have height adjustable seats.
Lol the title
Haha yea my only real complaint
I'm 6 '1.. feel sorry for me😂
Haha 😄 idk you might be able to squeeze in there but yea most likely it won't be a fun time for someone of your size
im 6'2 and love mine, i was skeptical too, go test drive and try it out. drive position is excellent. ST gives you an extra inch or so but I still have decent clearance above me in my RF.
I’m 6’2 and I have a 2017. I fit fine. I have long legs and a shorter torso.
@@autotrip5 what is ST? *(sorry)
@@hypnotechnoST is standard top as opposed to RF or retractable fastback
Thanks
11:48, BEST PART OF THIS VIDEO.
Haha glad you appreciated that rant
A good review but a few points. The MX-5 sells like hotcakes. They're not a high volume car but you don't find them at dealerships for very long because they get bought. Hell 2020 was a bad year and the MX-5 continued to sell versus other models.
The "miata" moniker is a bit overused given it isn't on the car since the NB. The fact you can't find it anywhere on the car besides a hidden place on a single document, overusing it just feels bad. MX-5 sounds better and is found on every generation and every market. Just a nitpick there.
Having owned a Boxster and an 08 NC MX-5, I do agreed that the Porsche feels wonderful, refined, stable, fast, and sounds amazing... also the easiest car I ever worked on... I didn't smile as I did in the Mazda. And I get just as much attention in my RF as I did in the Porsche.
It looks like a truncated Corvette with the front and rear cut off. Still a bit too cutesy / feminine looking for my taste.
Let’s go👊🏻
Haha 😄 for sure my friend
7:19 I see what you did there
In europe it’s still the nr1roudster.😀