so recently ive narrowed down my decision and I really want a miata. there are plenty of them for sale in jersey where I'm located but I'm torn between the NA or the NB. creature comforts or pop up headlights?

I'm not sure which model I should get as I have only test driven an NA.

any info and reasons to pick one over the other would be appreciated to help narrow my decision down!

 

It'd help if you knew what your plans with the car are going to be, and if you have any budget concerns.

 

Why buy something where you would "need" to change the engine after a while anyway?
Cost difference between a VVT (NB2, 01-05, whatever you name them) and something older i negligible IMO.

Sure, a 89 can be made lighter...

 

Every person is going to have their own opinion. Drive both. See which one you like. 90-93 NAs had weaker diffs and down on power. NBs got new styling, VVT on later years, etc. I have owned multiples of both, currently have an NB and would never go back to a NA. However there will be 500 ppl to chime in and tell me I'm crazy, the NA is better.

 

NB2.

It is just a better car overall. Projector lens headlights for nightime visability, more room for wider tires, chassis is stiffer, better ABS (find a car with abs) better engine (vvt intake cam, larger displacement and higher compression), big (sports) brakes, 6 speed trans, stronger diff, less bump steer (iirc) ...

Cons for NB2 are leg room is less with the oem invasive door cards, and its a heavier car by a few hundred pounds.

 

For a street car, I am on the NB2 boat, but I wouldn't sell my NA for one.

 

Are you going to be modifying it? What are the regional laws for inspection etc if you're planning that?
Goals etc. are nice to know!

 

Buy both so when one brakes you have a spare.

Really though there are big trade offs for both. And the common consensus around here is the 93 and older ones you should steer clear of. Not because they are bad cars, but because you have to change literally everything. The brakes are under-size, the chassis isnt as stiff, the motor is weaker, smaller fuel tank.

If it were me I would probably get the NB2

 

I have both at the moment and had very tough time selecting one. What I've realized in the end is that it does depend mostly on the purpose and the use of the car. For daily or true dual use - NB2 all the way. Ideally 2001-2002 LS with Sport package or SE. Now if you are serious about building a track dedicated car and want to do it for less - then NA. I thought I would do a full track build and got NA, but then thought about how often I would be able to get out to the actual track and since I'm not towing how it would feel driving there on a hot summer day in Southern California and decided that some comfort features wouldn't hurt. I've found it easier to find parts for 1.8 NA at reasonable prices on second-hand market, while NB2 goodies are somewhat less common and slightly more expensive.

To me NA: lighter, less stiff, less comfortable, easier to work on, easier to pass smog (94-95), easier to find parts, easier and cheaper to build a track car, not as good for daily. Looks lean and mean with the right parts, cool retro design inside and out.
NB2: heavier, more solid feel, slightly stiffer, a bit more power, a little more comfortable, better lights, looks a bit bloated but ergonomically inside I like it.

I would go for 01-02 NB2 SE or LS+Sport because: bigger brakes (Standard on 2003-2005), more reliable LSD than 2003-2005 except MSM, stiffer due to additional bracing. I see them as the sweet spot for daily or dual use.
If NA - 94-95 (R package or whatever you can find with LSD) due to ODB1 ,especially in strict SMOG control states, 1.8L engine.

 

I'm going to question sport brakes as Performance Friction makes excellent pads that fit the standard 1.8's, but not the sports brakes. For track use. For general use, there are also many options on the standard 1.8 to fit any need, like, for instance Hawk HPS.

 

There is some good general advice here.

Since you can't make up your own mind between NA or NB, I think the overriding rule for you is going to be just find a good solid car, especially being in New Jersey where I'm assuming rust will be an issue.

Personally I think the reality is that NA and NB are so similar and there is so much interchangeability of parts that objectively it doesn't matter a whole lot which you start with. It's mostly personal preference for things like styling, and then just finding a good solid car.

As an example, I bought a 93 a few years ago, I've driven it dailyish for several years, and done a couple track days and had a ton of fun, I've slowly been improving it. I got it because it was a solid rust free runner/driver for dirt cheap, and I also had a little preference for the NA6 dash style. After a while I started to think that I had screwed up by not holding out for a 1.8 car because I was going to need to swap engines and diffs to start making power. But 2 weeks ago I was able to go to the local pick and pull and I got a torsen and the driveshaft and a couple door trim pieces out of a 95 for $82 and a couple hours of rolling around in the dirt.. And I think I might just put a kraken or mkturbo on my 1.6 for power, 1.6 haters be damned.

So, yeah, the later cars come with the better stuff already on them, which has the potential to save some time and money in the long run, but it isn't necessarily all that much if you are willing to take your time and learn and do some bargain hunting.

Now, if you don't want to wrench on it yourself, and don't want to scrounge around in junk yards, and want the absolute easy button, go straight to an NB2 and don't look back.

 

Since your criteria for a car is just creature comforts and pop ups, pick the one you like best after you test drive it, just find a clean one. Deeper performance comparisons are plentiful on this forum.

 

Depends if you want a minimalist/raw car or one with more features/add ons. Now NB stuff is 10 years newer and updated designs but can be swapped to the earlier cars in most cases.

Canadian 1.6 chassis cars are desirable up here because they are non-airbag chassis cars.

Also 90-95 (depending where you live) have a different emissions test. Up here we cant run standalones on 96+ cars so you have to factor that into your plan. I'm assuming some states have similar emissions.

 

NB2 prices are the same (or sometimes less) than ratted Dr1fT0R NA miatas. NB's are not cool yet.

Get an NB and make sure it's VVT.

 

2001-2002 NB2 is the correct answer, preferably pre-equipped with a 6-speed and Sport brakes

90-93 will get your sister pregnant and then skip town
94-97 have worse front suspension, worse interior, worse aero, worse brakes, no 6sp option, crappy cylinder head with no VVT
99-00 have a lack of VVT, crappy headlights, Satan's center console
01-02 are God's Miatas
03-05 have weaker T-F clutch LSDs

 

Why specifically 01-02?
1.8 vs sport brakes, or more so torsen vs tofu diff for the LS/SE versions? I think the LS/SE had sport brakes as well.

 

At what point did the US medical education system remove the requirement that doctoral candidates be able to read?

 

 

NB2

pop up lights are stupid. unless you enjoy not being able to see at night.

 

nevermind the other 200 reasons an NB is better