Test drove an ND Miata

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
03/24/2018 at 20:02 • Filed to: Unnecessary car shopping with AestheticsInMotion, ND Miata, Mazda, Review

What did I think of it? What did the staff think of MY Miata? Let me tell you, using only the most professional of journalistic techniques, such as the bullet point and cell phone picture.

Grand Touring, 6spd manual, appearance package and some tech goodies. 2018, stickers at $32,000. They ONLY had grand touring models. That makes sense because it’s what sells, but I was still disappointed to not get an LSD. Still.... The Ceramic soft top Miata above was certainly a looker and the guy helping me had no problem handing me the keys. He was new, not pushy, and genuinely a nice guy. Hope he does well here.

Pros!

Look at it. It’s gorgeous. The interior color matched trim bits look fantastic, the carbon fiber wrapped trim bits are understated—and at least with this color—look great as well. First time I’ve ever said that about fake carbon fiber.

The engine! It’s no muscle car, but coming from my NA Miata (with the larger engine I might add) the ND absolutely smashes it in terms of acceleration. You put your foot down and it goes. Top down, the damn thing feels fast. I chirped the tires in a straight line shifting at redline. I’ve never felt this kind of acceleration in a stock Miata. Makes me all the more excited to try the updated engine coming soon...

The shifter! Very short, almost zero play. Firm shifts, tight spacing side to side and fairly tight spacing front to back. Round ball on top of a metal rod, as all shifters should be. 60mph on flat ground in 6th gear I was at 2400rpm. That’s fantastic. Wish my Miata had a 6th gear for cruising.

Interior

The seats get a lot of flak, but they’re not all bad. The seat heaters work amazingly, the normal heater is very strong, and everything is laid out well for an enthusiast car. Me likey.

Dislikes

The clutch is perfectly average for a new car, which is to say that it’s objectively terrible for experienced drivers. Longish throw, super light, vague, no defined engagement point. Blah. You’d get used to it, but it’s a lletdown. I’m sure learning to drive stick on it would be simple though.

Gas pedal. It’s hinged at the bottom, which makes smooth modulation a bit trickier if you’re used to just using the tip of your foot on the bottom 1/3 of the pedal. Can’t really do that here. Now, where that pedal shines in when you’re going full throttle and shifting at redline. Then it felt great. But for anything less... I wasn’t in love.

Seats. Bolstering... Is nonexistent. Which I actu didn’t mind, but if you expect to do spirited driving or race, you will need an upgrade. Also, leather quality throughout is not great. I will say that the plastic they use inside is like a much better version of NA Miata plastic, which I like.

Space. There’s none of it. Headroom specifically. My forehead was inches from the windshield surround, and I don’t think I would fit with the top up without crouching. Leg room is fine. Unfortunately the seat doesn’t lower at all.... Would definitely need to perform a foamectomy to sit down lower.

Parking brake is on the passenger side. Just personal preference, but I like it on the drivers side!

Steering wheel wasn’t great in hand, but the wheel I used last time I drove an ND was phenomenal so I imagine there’s a different one with the club Miatas.

All in all it’s a fantastic car and I can’t recommend a test drive enough. It feels well put together, they have proven to be very reliable and simple to maintain, and it truly does put a smile on your face. What a fantastic throwback to the original. At $32k it’s a bit much, but A) it’s fully loaded top trim (minus the autobox) and B) dealers are willing to take off quite a bit.

Oh and at least ten people came out of the tech and sales department to ask about my car, and tell me about the NA that they had, or are trying to buy/fix/mod. It was pretty cool. Going to a dealership and having people appreciate the time and work, instead of just seeing a beat up ricer.

Okay. AMA

DISCUSSION (46)

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 20:07

ama?

hows yer bum fer cracking wallnuts?

interstate366, now In The Industry > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 20:09

I have to deal with the odd manual/bottom-hinged gas pedal setup in the TSX. It still throws me off sometimes.

AestheticsInMotion > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
03/24/2018 at 20:09

Both fast and powerful.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 20:10

noice!

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
03/24/2018 at 20:12

How to measure? 0-60 walnuts?

interstate366, now In The Industry > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/24/2018 at 20:13

5.5 seconds

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 20:15

Good review. Various things sound antithetical to driving my mom’s NA

- Seats are bolstered and have held up very well.

- Clutch pedal... not heavy, but definitely thicc

- Headroom is actually not bad at all

... Maybe I will change my mind about buying it.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 20:16

Bottom hinged gas pedals are amazing for heel-toe downshifts. They feel strange at first but it took me all of 2 days to get used to it in my MINI.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/24/2018 at 20:16

same way you measure anything.... in hogsheads to the barrel

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 20:19

The bottom hinged gas pedal is okey if it’s really close to the brake pedal, heel and toe (toe and toe?) is still manageable on the street.

I recently drove a 135i and it was almost impossible to rev match while light braking coz the pedals were just a bit further than my Mini

AestheticsInMotion > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
03/24/2018 at 20:19

I’ll be honest, I’m not great at heel toe shifts. My current seating position makes it impossible, my knees are literally touching the wheel and the seat bolsters keep my legs in position pretty well...

The gas and brake pedals did look awfully close and at the same height

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/24/2018 at 20:23

You know, I don’t think of NA Miatas as having fantastic clutches, but compared to most new sporty cars.... They feel fantastic.

Does your mom’s Miata have leather or cloth? I’d say the ND seats hold you in similarly to the leather NA seats, but less so than the cloth.

Honestly the ND really does feel super similar to the NA. Moreso even than the NB does to the NA. It’s just as minimal and purely focused on fun.

But yes you should snag your mom’s Miata

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 20:23

I like it in my car because I can brake normally and then I only have to rotate my foot a tiny bit to get my heel onto the bottom of the gas. I have always found that with top hinged throttles I have to rotate my foot a ton to get my heel onto the gas which is really awkward to me.

E90M3 > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 20:24

I like how “unnecessary car shopping” has become a thing.

AestheticsInMotion > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
03/24/2018 at 20:25

I’ve yet to experience the joy of good heal-toeing in my Miata. Despite gaining tons of headroom and tons of legroom with a fixed back racing seat and small diameter wheel, I’ve somehow managed to get my knees in an even worse position than stock....

AestheticsInMotion > E90M3
03/24/2018 at 20:27

Haha me too. It’s a good legacy. Just think, in 5 years you’ll be the sr20, grandma’s CTS-V, shitposting.......

E90M3 > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 20:33

I really didn’t think it would become anything.

It also might be time for some actual car shopping soon. I’ve decided I want an E34 M5. If I can figure out where I’d park it, and can find a decent one, I’ll buy one. Thought, this I probably at least a year or two out.

AestheticsInMotion > E90M3
03/24/2018 at 20:45

Funny you say that. After a drive, I too am interested in e34 M5's. Maintenance would worry me though....

E90M3 > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 20:47

I haven’t looked into that yet, I just assumed it’s really expensive.

arl > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 20:57

Was the body roll bad? I’ve heard non-club models are soft and could really use a spring and sway bar upgrade.

AestheticsInMotion > arl
03/24/2018 at 21:05

I didn’t go too crazy on the test drive, but I have driven a club on track, and body roll is very noticeable in that.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
03/24/2018 at 21:21

You can heal and toe? I can never do it that way, I can manage toe and toe.

Your mini is a R53 i presume?

Aremmes > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
03/24/2018 at 21:27

Toe-and-toe. Hah! Now I’ve got a name for it, thanks!

I can’t do heel-and-toe either. My knee hits the steering column. However, I wear 12Es, so I can step on both gas and brake simultaneously.

Aremmes > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
03/24/2018 at 21:27

Toe-and-toe. Hah! Now I’ve got a name for it, thanks!

I can’t do heel-and-toe either. My knee hits the steering column. However, I wear 12Es, so I can step on both gas and brake simultaneously.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
03/24/2018 at 21:30

I have an R50. It’s more like ball and blade but I do blip the throttle with a part of my foot near the heel. I prioritize my braking over the blip so I am not confident spreading my foot across as needed to toe-toe, I always feel like I am going to slip off the brake when I try that.

AestheticsInMotion > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
03/24/2018 at 21:44

In America we use furlongs per furlough

AestheticsInMotion > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/24/2018 at 21:45

It’s strange. Maybe moreso because of how similar most things felt to my daily

Milky > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 21:47

I actually find the clutch engagement zone to be a lot smaller than a 500 Abarth or C30 Polestar. I haven’t driven a lot of manuals but those seemed more vague to me. But yea, super easy to learn manual on.

Really happy my fist manual car is a Miata.

vondon302 > E90M3
03/24/2018 at 21:54

I’ve got my gear head boss using it after he caught me prowling copart.

It might have saved me from a ass chewing.

AestheticsInMotion > Milky
03/24/2018 at 21:55

Seriously good choice. Do you see yourself keeping it for awhile?

Going back to my NA, the clutch felt like a stripped racecar application... Super tricky to use because it had a pinpoint engagement zone and almost no throw. That feeling only lasted for about 60 seconds but it was still strange!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
03/24/2018 at 22:11

I have had my foot slip twice in the last 6 months, I’m always cautious about that whenever i brake.

I’ll try the proper heal and toe some more times, i can never reach the acc with my heal when I’m light braking tho

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Aremmes
03/24/2018 at 22:12

Same here. Also, i can’t reach the acc without twisting my ankle at an absurd angle.

interstate366, now In The Industry > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 22:16

You’re dead on about the setup being best at full blast, though.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
03/24/2018 at 22:56

Heel toe shifting doesn’t really work unless you are really on the brakes.

promoted by the color red > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 23:34

Would you be willing to travel down to SoCal and race me around dead-man’s curve on the night of my high school graduation?

The clutch issue doesn’t bother me all that much, I’m used to heavy clutches as on a tractor or the aftermarket monster on my GS-R that felt like doing a 500lb leg press.

It’s a joy to drive though - I think I’ve only stalled when I was doing something dumb.

$32k is a lot, but dealers will slash the hell out of that sticker. I got like $5400 off my Club, which buys a lot of nice upgrades in the future.

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2018 at 23:43

I’m hoping that with the rumored upgraded engine next year they have a facelift, I just can’t get in to the styling of the ND. It otherwise seems fantastic.

I’m considering going out to test drive a 124 Abarth come spring, but I’m afraid I’ll need it afterwards.

AestheticsInMotion > promoted by the color red
03/25/2018 at 00:40

Yes. Yes I would.

After the long test drive, my NA clutch felt like a 500 lbs Bench Press... That said there could very well be a CPO ND in my near future. Club, of course.

AestheticsInMotion > MM54
03/25/2018 at 00:42

I may try to test an Abarth tomorrow.... And you probably will. I walked away from the ND thinking of how great a stable mate that car would make

Is it just the face or everything?

Milky > AestheticsInMotion
03/25/2018 at 09:53

Definitely going to keep it a while. I mean I had a Crossfire for 5 years.

The oldest manual car I’ve driven was a NB, but that was just learning how to take off. I need to drive more manual cars.

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion
03/25/2018 at 10:55

The squinty-face I could get used to, but paired up with the rear/tail lights its too much. Revision of either might tip the scales for me. By comparison, I’ve been in love with the looks of the 124 since they revealed it (other than how massive the badges are, but that’s all cars these days).

Nauraushaun > AestheticsInMotion
03/25/2018 at 16:34

I don’t like many new cars that aren’t like 100k. But I could own one of these. It doesn’t really have anything I need that my MR2 doesn’t. But it does have some goodies.

Chariotoflove > AestheticsInMotion
03/25/2018 at 23:50

I missed this yesterday. Now that you point it out, yes the bolstering is not good enough. That’s especially for me, who has no muscle strength to hold myself through a sharp turn. But yeah, a blast to drive.

AestheticsInMotion > Chariotoflove
03/26/2018 at 00:00

I know NA and NB Miatas had cheap metal brackets that bolted on to either side of the seat to push the cushions up and create some artificial bolsters. Seem to be pretty popular for track guys who don’t want to swap seats. I wonder if anything like that has been designed for the ND yet... Here’s hoping the new Recaro seats are quite a bit better

Kinja'd!!!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > AestheticsInMotion
03/27/2018 at 14:02

Kinja'd!!!

AestheticsInMotion > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/27/2018 at 16:09

These are what’s coming on the 2019 model, right? They look great

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > AestheticsInMotion
03/27/2018 at 16:53

SOON.