Miata people: na or nb? 

"Cash Rewards" (cashrewards) 05/04/2018 at 08:28 • Filed to: None

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I went and looked at a focus st, and loved it. The back seat might not work for kiddos, since it’s 4 inches smaller than my current car. But if I did, I’d hope to get the price down to trade in + $5000 out of pocket. Well, $5k gets a Miata on Craigslist. So, na or nb? What do I look for? Best Miata I can, or cheap and save money for upgrades? What’s up, Miata people?

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 08:45

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Hell, $5k gets a first or second year NC near me. Oh wait we’re not supposed to like those are we?

Cash Rewards > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/04/2018 at 08:47

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I like the look, but I have heard overweight in comparison, and lost some of the magic. Is there truth in that? No idea.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 08:48

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Also, that was pretty much my biggest issue with the ST. The GTI does much better in the back seat department and I couldn’t feel too much of a difference in speed on actual roads. But the discounts on the ST make it much cheaper to actually buy. And of course after driving both and talking about how great they are I went out and bought a Forester instead so you probably shouldn’t listen to me about anything really :)

Chuckles > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 08:48

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I’m biased, but I’d recommend a later NA with the 1.8L instead of the 1.6L. You get the better engine, plus pop-up headlights.

Chuckles > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/04/2018 at 08:49

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Miatas are like pizza. Even when it’s bad, it’s good.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 08:49

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I haven’t driven one, so I can’t say for sure. I will say that I’ve seen plenty of NC’s at autocross so they probably aren’t terrible. The simple fact that they are newer would probably tempt me to check one out if there was one in budget, but not to buy before also driving a well-sorted NA/NB.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 08:52

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MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 08:54

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C4

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/d/1986-chevrolet-corvette-4-spd/6579334860.html

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 09:09

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Both

someassemblyrequired > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 09:12

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I have a late NA, which is great. 1.8L and pop-ups are a big plus, but my attachment to the car may be more that I’ve taken it all over the US (26 states, coast to coast twice). But you give up a lot of safety features, and creature comforts are pretty minimal on the base cars (it’s really an 80s Japanese interior).

I have driven NB’s and NC’s. NB’s are a bit more pleasant on the inside, and have a better top. Some of the early ones had issues, but the later ones are pretty bulletproof. NC’s are in that 5K range now, they are heavier than the earlier cars (about 300 or so lbs). I think the thing that’s most noticeable is the height vs. the NA, and the cabin feels more cramped as a result. Drivingwise it’s just as fun, and has ABS/traction control/a zillion airbags. Plus it has an integral roll hoop, as well as a top you can single hand open/closed.

Any of them will be fun, but later is always better if the kiddos will be riding. Driving an NA now is like driving a bike - you don’t get seen. An NC will be more useful in town, and has an airbag defeat if you need to use a kid seat in a pinch (some of the NB’s have a key switch, late NA’s are no good for kids as airbag can’t be turned on and off).

Honestly, in your shoes, I’d probably buy an NC. There are so many nicely kept, low mile NC’s for $5K.

Spanfeller is a twat > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 09:15

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I personally like the NB more, but I know little else about Miatas.

Get the one with OBDII

Arrivederci > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 09:47

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I’d vote NB2 or NC. I’ve previously owned a NC (2006 Sport) and it’s faster than both the NA and (non-MSM) NB , but also a little fatter. Now, this is fatness in the Miata context, so it still only weighs about 2500lbs, which is featherlight in today’s world.

Early NC’s had a lousy thermostat design, so plan on fixing that if hasn’t already been done. Mine went at about 100k miles. They have timing chains, so you don’t have to worry about timing belt/water pump every 60k like you do on a NA/NB.

NC’s also have a larger interior, which I found more comfy for my 5'11" frame.

If I could convince my wife to let me get a cheap Miata, I’d look at NCs first.

Captain of the Enterprise > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 09:57

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NC all day

Chuckles > someassemblyrequired 05/04/2018 at 10:06

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My 94 NA has an airbag defeat in that it just doesn’t have functioning airbags.

I always tell people to just think of it as a really safe motorcycle instead of the very unsafe car that it is.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 10:11

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I think NBs are actually a little cheaper for what you get, the NAs are starting to be hit with the “collectible” bug a little, not to mention that cheap ones rust away after being bought as something other than a toy or second car.

Personally, I’d be looking for an NC, as realistically I’d be using it for roadtrips and backroad bombing, so the incremental inferiority in weight is outweighed by comfort, lower miles, and available hardtops.

jonny11quest > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 10:36

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Buy mine!

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/d/1990-mazda-miata/6577717267.html

Priced high because I expect to be talked down.

jonny11quest > jonny11quest 05/04/2018 at 10:38

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ateamfan42 > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 11:17

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Biased opinion here for the NB2:

VVT engine makes fun mid-range torque

sport brakes + Bilstein suspension + LSD package is pretty common

6-speed is an option if you are so inclined

All of the above can be swapped into an NA if desired. The NB does carry a small weight penalty over an NA, and of course no pop-up headlights (if that is your fetish).

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 11:18

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We’ve had four NA or NB miatas over the years between my dad and I. My recommendation would to make sure any miata you buy has an LSD in it. They’re not nearly as much fun with an open diff. I’d shoot for an NB. The 1.6l cars will leave you always wanting more power. The NB really kept everything good about the NA and made incremental improvements on a lot of things. No pop up lights, more suspension travel, enough HP to get out of its own way most of the time, better ergonomics via things like an armrest on the door (and on later ones) cupholders that can actually do more than just hold your garage remote. The Bose stereo package is good too on an NB. It may not be an audiophiles delight, but it has enough to actually be able to hear the radio at 80mph if you crank it all the way up.  

As for the various years of an NB, I’m going to take the position that it probably won’t matter much to you as long it has an LSD. The bigger brakes are nice to have, but unless you’re going forced induction you’ll never come close to exceeding what the smaller brakes can handle. The additional chassis bracing of the later NB does make a difference, but it can also be retrofitted to an earlier car easily enough.

My former 2000 miata that I used as a daily driver for a year or two:

My dad’s current daily driver, a 2005 with 58k on it:

hinsdahl00 > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 11:26

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Miata.net has a bunch of great write-ups for prospective buyers including a chart of different equipment for each generation. I was recently thinking of getting an NB myself, but if NCs are really coming down that far in price I think that’s what I’d go for (specifically a Club Edition).

My current daily is 2016 Focus ST, but I don’t have kids.

https://www.miata.net/faq/faq2.html#A

someassemblyrequired > Chuckles 05/04/2018 at 11:27

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LOL yeah, I have thought of doing that too, but in an urban area the idiot count is high. A lot of accidents where people turn left on a flashing error/end up hitting folks going straight head on near my house, so I’d like to have half a chance should that come up.

I’m stealing the really safe motorcycle line - that’s probably the most accurate description.

Chuckles > someassemblyrequired 05/04/2018 at 11:32

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My non-functioning airbags weren’t a conscious choice, they just stopped working not long after I bought the car a few years ago. I had a repair estimate. $750 each to replace the 1-4 broken sensors, plus another $750 to replace the airbag control module in the dash. On a 21 year old car with 75k miles that I had just bought for a little over 5 grand.

Now I don’t even notice the blinking air bag light.

t0ast > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 12:14

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The popular saying around the Miata community for some time was that the NC is a better car, but the NA/NB are better Miatas. I went with the NC mostly out of necessity because I’m 6'2" and it was going to be my only car for a few years. After driving and autocrossing my NC plus a few other people’s NAs and NBs, I’m inclined to agree with that assessment. The NC will be a better daily driver and has more performance potential (better chassis, more room for tires, easy 2.5L swap, etc.), but the NA/NB come with that extra lightness, simplicity, and connectedness that edge out the NC in the fun-to-drive factor (though that gap narrows significantly once you upgrade the NC’s suspension). It’s really hard to go wrong either way as along as you can find a reasonably well-kept car, because at the end of the day, they’re all still very fun and very reliable.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 12:19

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I’ve owned two NB’s but have driven various NA’s and NC’s. I would go for an NB2 with a 6 speed and TORSEN diff. The NB’s feel closer to a real car but still keep all that Miata-ness. Some early NB1's had thrust bearing issues but all those failures were early on. By now, I wouldn’t worry about it. All Miata issues are cheap and easy repair. I wouldn’t have sold mine / would buy another in a heartbeat if I had the space.

daender > Cash Rewards 05/04/2018 at 18:24

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I want to recommend a NB2 but I want to get a better idea of what you have in mind for one. Are you buying it just as a daily driver for fun or do you plan on doing autocross, rallycross, or even track days with it? Do you want to build something retro or do you prefer more modern convenience? Etc. I can do a better job recommending a generation based off what you want your Miata to do for you.

Cash Rewards > daender 05/05/2018 at 08:52

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Autocross, back roads, occasionally commute on a nice day. Lots of have nb2, way more NC than I thought

daender > Cash Rewards 05/05/2018 at 09:11

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If you don’t mind the inferior headlights, center console, and seats then a NB1 would serve you quite well. It’s lighter than the NB2, doesn’t require premium gas, and it’s the more competitive of the two NBs in autocross. The NB2 is a better daily driver as it’s heavier but more comfortable to drive, especially at night.

The center console on the NB1 isn’t well thought out, the second cup holder requires you to keep the console lid open but you can swap in a NB2 center console without any modifications. The NB1 seats don’t have as much support or bolstering as a NB2 but, again, you can swap in a NB2 seat or drop an aftermarket one in.

The headlights are a little harder to address. The NB2 came standard with projectors and separate high beams while the NB1 has dual-filament headlight. You can either try updating the headlights to NB2-spec, but it’s recommended you trip the bumper to better fit the newer headlights and you need to sort out the wiring, or follow some DIY threads on installing aftermarket projectors into the NB1's headlights.