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I also want a good blue color for my next miata. So I will be waiting till they come out with that. The current color choices for the ND to me are so unappealing.
This!! I had money ready to buy an ND and sell all the rest of my Miatas, but freaking Mazda has no appealing colors at all. I ended up buying a Winning Blue 06, just for the color. Now it can't be registered, because the ******* who replaced the windshield in the past removed the dash VIN and put glue over it... I just want a nice, blue ND and I would sell everything to get one if Mazda would stop being stupid.
This!! I had money ready to buy an ND and sell all the rest of my Miatas, but freaking Mazda has no appealing colors at all. I ended up buying a Winning Blue 06, just for the color. Now it can't be registered, because the ******* who replaced the windshield in the past removed the dash VIN and put glue over it... I just want a nice, blue ND and I would sell everything to get one if Mazda would stop being stupid.
I could do black, but I already have 2 black NA's. My Mazda2 is bright green and I love it. I want a blue that is along the same lines. Or old school mariner/smurf blue.
Yeah, the colors are SERIOUSLY disappointing. The Arctic white is a very nice, crisp white, the black is beautiful for a black, and the Red is a fantastic red. Ceramic is interesting when you pay attention.
BUT SERIOUSLY...
3 whites
black
gray
red
silvery sortof blue on the grand touring only.
so frustrating. On the Club, all you get is Arctic white (flat single stage white), Ceramic, Black, Gray or Red. You don't even get the option of their lame-ish attempt at blue.
Yet they're parked right next to CX-3's in dynamic blue:
Bastards.
And this is the same company that produced the sapphire blue on the 10AE, and the smurf blue on the NA's, and midnight blue on the NB1's, and the winning blue on the RX-8:
At last year's Miatas @ MRLS dinner the lead ND designer god poked a bit about the color palate. A good point that he made in his response was that the first model year in 1990 only had three color options ( a fourth was added mid-year). We only think of the kaleidoscope of color options for the Miata because we see the full production run in hindsight. I expect more colors will come.
This is by far the best Miata ever. It's the perfect evolution of the Miata ethos. It's incredibly responsive with a torquey little engine. If I was deciding between keeping any other near-stock Miata and buying the ND, there would be no question.
But I have returned to the same thing I felt last time I drove an ND. The engine is just SO DAMNED BORING. It's excellent at 5 or 6 10ths, toodling around. But drive it hard, wanting to wring out all the power, and it just smiles at you and says "well... What did you expect? I'm a Miata!" Whereas with the S2000 it says "YAAAAASSSS THIS IS WHAT I WAS MADE FOOOOORRRRRR!!"
Just some more thoughts is all. I realize the ND wakes up a lot with a full exhaust and tune. Just... Having a hard time letting go of the s2k.
How does the car feel in that last 600 rpm (6500-7100)? OEM it seems to taper off pretty significantly above 6k. I don't need mad VTEC rush but a power curve that trends upwards at least through 6500 RPM would be good.
Going to San Diego in June, hoping to catch a ride in Goodwin's car. That should clarify things some more I hope.
Dude,
No stock Miata is ever gonna have that Honda VTAK powerband. You keep looking for it, but it's just not there. Don't get me wrong, I'd love that too, but it's just never even trying to be the top end screamer that the Honda is.
Yeah Vlad, I know. Dunno why I can't seem to get over this stook though. What a car. The Miata is superior in so many ways, but that feeling of the engine is fantastic.
Thanks all for the input. Still have a couple months to decide
I had an AP1. Loved it on track but got tired of the tall gearing and lack of torque on the street. Sold it and bought a C6 Z06. As a daily, the Z06 is superior in everyway. What does that have to do with the ND? The ND has low end and midrange torque that the AP2 dreams about. Reflash and a header and that increase a bunch. Like chirping the tires in 2nd shift at part throttle 4000 rpm torque. If you want an S2000, go buy one. There is really no substitute for an F20 or F22. The ND is a different animal. Handles better, is faster, looks better, more comfortable, better OEM sound system, heated seats, I could go on. We just put the stick seats back in our ND so it's a happy daily again. So much fun to drive.
I had an AP1. Loved it on track but got tired of the tall gearing and lack of torque on the street. Sold it and bought a C6 Z06. As a daily, the Z06 is superior in everyway. What does that have to do with the ND? The ND has low end and midrange torque that the AP2 dreams about. Reflash and a header and that increase a bunch. Like chirping the tires in 2nd shift at part throttle 4000 rpm torque. If you want an S2000, go buy one. There is really no substitute for an F20 or F22. The ND is a different animal. Handles better, is faster, looks better, more comfortable, better OEM sound system, heated seats, I could go on. We just put the stick seats back in our ND so it's a happy daily again. So much fun to drive.
Turbofan has an AP2. And just bought an ND. He's trying to decide which one to keep.
I have a 45k mile '04 AP2 that I love. I prefer the styling of the AP2, and I like the seats better. But I agree in every other way (though I've ordered the club model so no heated seats... but also no leather, which is a BIG plus).
I ordered an ND and it should arrive mid-July, but I am not committed to buying the car (no deposit, and the general sales manager here is fine with me leaving it for stock if I decide not to get it).
That torque of the ND though... Also way too much body roll. That'll have to change.
I think I just really need to experience one that's been properly toyed with. Perhaps I can come ride in yours mid-June, Emilio, since I don't think GWR's has the higher rev limit?
The S2000 is a finely honed weapon of a car and is a spectacular feat of engineering from the 90s. The ND is a purpose built Miata with all of the materials and engine tech from the 10s. The basics are the same (no roof, RWD, 2.0L motor), but the details are slightly off.
Stock-for-stock, the S2000 is the faster car; however, it literally bears the weight of the era. The F series motor is phenomenal, but it's a unicorn; no platform sharing. I've driven more than a few AP1s and AP2s in anger, and it's always a good time, but I don't think I could commute in it on a daily basis.
The only real way I can see for you to have your cake and eat it too is to do a K24 hybrid to make up for lost torques while keeping the top end power. I was really close to pulling the trigger on an S2000 more than a few times... personally I'm not regretting that decision too much. The ND isn't perfect, but neither is the S2000; anyone who claims otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about. Make the compromise that you're the most happy with and go from there.