Hot takes--I'm about to get banned from Oppo edition

by "Tristan" (casselts)
Published 10/10/2017 at 03:23

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STARS: 4

#1, the ND

Soul red is a boring color. It’s just like every other new-car red in that it kinda wants to be red, but it just can’t help but be gray just like every other new car color.

Also, the ND is meh. I’ve owned 2 NA Miatas and 1 NC. I wanted to buy into the hype and love the ND, but the styling is worse than ugly. Ugly elicits an emotional response. I look at the ND and I feel nothing except maybe a little annoyance because ANGERY EYES. And as far as I can make out, the angry headlights are the only styling on the entire thing. Ihate Honda’s and Nissan’s overstyled monstrosities, sure, but the ND is understyled. It’s as though the design team called in sick. The sides are bland, the back is bland, the hood is bland, the interior is just an interior with an iPad glued awkwardly to the top of the dash, and the front has a gaping maw and angry eyes. Yes, its wonderfully engineered and blah blah clichéd superlatives, but I can get all that with an NA, NB or (unpopular opinion) NC and still enjoy looking at it.

#2, yeah... I said it. Fite me.

PT Cruiser GT convertible. I don’t hate it. It’s got woeful build quality, it’s heavy, and goofy looking as hell... But, it has a 2.4 turbo that’s capable of some serious performance, a Getrag 5 speed manual, and a drop top. 0-60 in 7 seconds and the quarter mile in 15.4 bone stock with 220 hp, and 300+ hp is just a few SRT4 mods away.

Aaaaand, if you asked me which one I’d rather own... Well, I don’t want either. I don’t like the ND, and it would be too embarrassing to be seen in public with the PT, and I assume it would hurt property values in my neighborhood.

Replies (41)

"Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction" (rustholes-are-weight-reduction)
10/10/2017 at 03:40, STARS: 1

1 - Wait what? I thought this was velocity red! I loved this color, but haven’t seen a lot of newer red Mazdas in the wild, so I can’t judge “soul red”. Still better than gray, black or white.
Dashes with tablets are on every car now, everybody seems to find them terrible, yet every car has them.
Also: NA>ND>NB>NC, stylingwise. Had they done a 2 seater RX-8 convertible, I wouldn’t care at all for the MX-5.
My take on a convertible RX-8:

2 - I wouldn’t mind the Cruiser, I would paint the top black and the sides in a red marble effect, like that:

I don’t need recognition, I just want a car that I like

"Wheelerguy" (wheelerguy)
10/10/2017 at 03:47, STARS: 1

Lukewarm takes. Here’s how it’s done:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
10/10/2017 at 03:52, STARS: 1

The ND seems like sort of an NB reboot. The NA and NC are styled like authentic roadsters with their flat profiles, but the B and D went swoopy. I’m not in the market for an MX-5 but they are all nice to drive and see on the road.     

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 03:53, STARS: 0

TECHNICALLY, the NC was a 2-seat RX-8 convertible... Same platform, just no rotary and different styling. I know I must be weird, because the NC1 is my favorite Miata.

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 03:55, STARS: 0

Poor Mr. Lowndes is about to run out of Holdens to race... :(

"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12)
10/10/2017 at 03:57, STARS: 4

The NC is far less interesting than the ND. I can see the ND being called over-done - but understyled? Especially next to the weird NC.

“gray”

"Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction" (rustholes-are-weight-reduction)
10/10/2017 at 03:58, STARS: 0

I know they shared the platform, but the styling was very very different.
I’d love to take a trashed MX-5 and put on RX-8 body panels

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 04:05, STARS: 1

For some reason Kinja won’t let me attach pics in replies, but I was going to post a pic of my red NA next to my red NC to make the point that red NA is RED and really pops, but red on new cars is boring, gray and soulless.

And I wouldn’t say it’s less interesting at all... My NC caused me to sell my NA because it was just such an all-around better car. Yeah, the NA is pure and simple, but the NC is a lot more put together and livable.

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 04:08, STARS: 0

Quite true. I do find the NC chassis to be quite wonderful, and though I’ve never experienced an RX-8, I imagine the rotary makes it even better.

"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
10/10/2017 at 04:12, STARS: 1

you trashing Craig?

;)

"Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction" (rustholes-are-weight-reduction)
10/10/2017 at 04:21, STARS: 1

I’ll have to try a NC sometime. The RX-8 is still the best driving car I’ve had so far, and I wonder how the NC compares, or any MX-5 for that matter. I’ve only sat in one MX-5 so far, it was a ND, motionless, in a showroom.

"Wheelerguy" (wheelerguy)
10/10/2017 at 04:48, STARS: 0

No, just showing a person what a real hot take looks like.

Or you know, go to Deadspin. Barry Petchesky found the source of all hot takes there.

"arl" (arl1968)
10/10/2017 at 06:31, STARS: 0

I like the new Miata. But why does it seem like all new cars have to have GIANT WHEELWELLS with lots of GAP? I seem to recall 1980's -1990's BMW’s always had great wheel to wheelwell design, with minimal gap. Yet they still rode great. Can automakers not make good handling, nice riding, cars without 4 fingers of wheel gap?

My wife had a PT Cruiser as a work car years ago. It was free. That’s about the best thing I can say about it. It was a heap of crap is the second best thing I can say about it.

"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
10/10/2017 at 06:53, STARS: 0

Soul Red is beautiful because Mazda can do no wrong, you see?

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
10/10/2017 at 08:09, STARS: 0

Thats where the NC is a better car but the NA is a better Miata. Its not about livability or specs on paper or even real world performance, its all about those “feelings” and “emotions”. I agree that Im not a huge fan of the ND styling but ANYTHING is better than the NC. At least in stock form. I think the NC takes well to mods and could be argued to be better when properly modified.

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
10/10/2017 at 08:13, STARS: 0

I do wish Mazda went with more color options for the ND. Not like Im gonna buy a new car anyways but still. Theres no blue, green, or other shades of red. I am a huge fan of the mazdaspeed and special edition colors from past generations. I would imagine the ND will have a special edition of some sort with a funky color.

"Thomas Donohue" (tomonomics)
10/10/2017 at 09:01, STARS: 0

As far as styling, I’d go NB, NF (Fiata) and maybe NA before I’d go ND.

Friends don’t let friends go NC.

"Milky" (jordanmielke)
10/10/2017 at 09:28, STARS: 0

Sounds like a new better car came out and your jealous.

I’ll take the one that doesn’t look like a bar of soap.

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
10/10/2017 at 09:48, STARS: 1

The ND is the least bland Miata ever.

I don’t fit in any of the anyways, so no matter to me.

"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
10/10/2017 at 10:12, STARS: 1

It’s just the difference between a “pure” red and a rich, complex red. Honestly, I prefer the latter to the former. I also like the styling of the ND, minus the weird cut line of the hood and the LEDs beside the grille.

"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
10/10/2017 at 10:13, STARS: 0

*took

"Milky" (jordanmielke)
10/10/2017 at 10:25, STARS: 2

Indeed. Also *you’re, before someone else does it.

"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
10/10/2017 at 10:29, STARS: 1

Haha! Gotta love the limited Kinja edit window...

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 12:07, STARS: 0

It looks like a bar of soap with angry eyes. And I am a bit jealous as a tall guy. The NA and NC are easy enough to tall guy mod, the NB had big chunky door panels and an intrusive console as well as having the firewall set back further so it’s a no, but the ND is the tiniest of the bunch. I drove one at a Mazda event and it was rough.

#endtallguydiscrimination

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
10/10/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 1

So in your opinion the ND is understyled when compared to the NA and NC, which are styled like a lozenge and a suppository, respectively?

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 12:09, STARS: 0

My wife has a 2016 RAV4 as a work car... I’d gladly trade it for a PT. Easily the worst thing I’ve ever driven.

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 12:10, STARS: 0

Needs more teal.

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 12:11, STARS: 0

Go drive an NC. Your mind will change.

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 12:11, STARS: 0

I’m 6'7". If there’s a will, there’s a way!

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 0

BUT MAH PAHPUP HEADLIGHTS! And I know I’m in the minority when it comes to my fondness for the NC.

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 12:25, STARS: 0

It could be baby shit green and they’d all still fawn over it. Honestly, I think everyone is so nuts over it because it’s the only color besides white, black, gray, other gray and also gray.

"Thomas Donohue" (tomonomics)
10/10/2017 at 12:36, STARS: 2

I guess you’re right, in so much as if I’m sitting inside one I can’t tell how bad it looks on the outside.

"arl" (arl1968)
10/10/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 0

I’ll take your RAV4 and trade you my wife’s current car, a Nissan Rogue; yet another lifeless excuse for vehicle.

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
10/10/2017 at 12:52, STARS: 0

Ehh thats my least favorite miata color. That crystal blue you are talking about?

Although it might look good on an ND, I am just a bigger fan of the darker or brighter blues. Pale/light colors dont really do anything for me.

Id love to see that Lava orange make a come back!

This one I found is cool. Other than the interior, thats a bit overboard for me.

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 13:08, STARS: 0

I need a chiropractor after I drive the RAV. The seats are medieval torture devices. I’d take literally ANYTHING else.

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 13:11, STARS: 1

Lava orange is nice, too! I just wish America’s roads had a splash of color here and there. So. Much. Gray. And gray doesn’t fit the Miata’s personality.

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
10/10/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 1

I’m 350 pounds ... there isn’t that much will.

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
10/10/2017 at 13:14, STARS: 1

Gray, white, black, silver; none of those are colors. And yet that represents easily more than 75% of the cars on the road. I dont even care what color a car is as long as its a color.

"Tristan" (casselts)
10/10/2017 at 13:22, STARS: 1

Agreed. Full disclosure: my daily/family hauler/tow pig is as gray as the Oregon sky.

"Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious" (shour)
10/10/2017 at 14:57, STARS: 1

I nearly choked on my pizza laughing at your comparisons. While my preference for the NB may lend extra weight to the amusement level, the fact is that you couldn’t have chosen more appropriate or hilarious examples.

"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12)
10/10/2017 at 18:38, STARS: 0

So you’re saying the flat bright colors of the original make the metallic red of the modern cars gray?