ND Miata

"DasWauto" (DasWauto) 07/24/2018 at 19:25 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping without E90M3

4

16

Stopped by the local Mazda dealer that I noticed had a couple of MX-5s on the lot to see if it would be a feasible option for me, because 6’5” . They had 2 stickshift RFs and an automatic soft top.

The good news - I fit, just.  My head sits on the roof in the RF but I have some clearance in the soft top. Having to go roof down for autoX helmet clearance is fine.

The bad news - I want one. Being able to fit meant I wanted to drive it. I took out one of the RFs because I wasn’t going to drive the automatic. It was lovely despite the roof rubbing my head. It just put a smile on my face. 

The ND has been added to my potential second car list. I’m now looking to see if I can lower the seat at all through the aftermarket.

Just Jeepin' > DasWauto 07/24/2018 at 19:27

1

Good luck, I hope it turns out like you hope. I let my nephew sell his NA since it didn’t make sense for me to buy it from him right now, but I sure wish it’d turned out differently. Such great cars.

HammerheadFistpunch > DasWauto 07/24/2018 at 19:37

7

I hear the 2019's are a big improvement for tall people, mostly on account of the telescoping wheel.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > DasWauto 07/24/2018 at 19:40

0

If you aren't in a rush, definitely wait for the newer engines with a good bump in power 

Cash Rewards > DasWauto 07/24/2018 at 20:05

2

I went autocrossing this weekend and saw several modified ones running. They sound amazing. I can't wait for the NF to come out, so I can afford a massively depreciated ND

LOREM IPSUM > DasWauto 07/24/2018 at 20:09

1

I just barely fit in the first and second gens, though not well enough to own one . Biggest problem was that even the mini-sun-visor would completely obscure my vision when it was lowered. Just visor and windshield frame, as far as the eye could see. I squinted a lot as a result. Damn fun little cars though.

DasWauto > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 07/24/2018 at 20:27

0

T his is for a second car and my current car is no slouch in the fun department so I’m in no rush. :)

DasWauto > HammerheadFistpunch 07/24/2018 at 20:29

0

A telescoping wheel would be nice but it’s not a dealbreaker for me. I’ll see what the used market is like and maybe I’ll have to drive a ‘19 to see how it feels with the extra power. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > LOREM IPSUM 07/24/2018 at 23:06

1

My visor fell off of the car while driving one day. Best unintentional mod ever! It never really did anything for me anyways since the sun just came in via the open roof either way. But now I can see so much more and never realized how annoying that visor was until it was gone. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Cash Rewards 07/24/2018 at 23:09

2

Totally stock ND Miatas are ridiculous at autocross! With just a set of RE71R and a good driver (probably bigass front sway bar though too) , they easily are in contention for FTD even without the help of PAX!!! Meanwhile the purpose built race cars get beat by a few tenths and it makes me cackle with joy. Like yeah a well modified NA/NB/NC Miata can do very well at autocross but they aint winning anything other than PAX and/or their class. Plus the ND sounds great stock too. 

Goggles Pizzano > DasWauto 07/25/2018 at 00:38

1

At 6'1" I thought I just fit. Or the driving position didn’t work. Or I have abnormally long legs, or torso. Probably legs.

bhtooefr > LOREM IPSUM 07/25/2018 at 08:00

0

I took the visors completely out of my NA6 and NB1...

(The NA6 visors were better in some ways (they folded in half, so they didn’t obstruct the top latch when stowed), worse in some ways (being folded in half, they were twice as thick when stowed, and obstructed more of the windshield.)

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > DasWauto 07/25/2018 at 09:03

0

Give in to the temptation, you know you want to...

I’m honestly   surprised you fit (6'3 here and I barely fit with the roof up , my MR2 was way roomier) . Save for swapping out the seat and seat rails, there’s no real aftermarket solution available right now. Some people have attempted a mesh-ectomy (in line with the foamectomy on the previous gens), but its effect is limited.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > DasWauto 07/25/2018 at 09:12

1

It’s such a fun little car. I fit (just) - I’m 6'1" with a 34" inseam. My knees just had clearance of the steering wheel. Thinking I’ll have to buy a ‘19+ in ~5 years...

duurtlang > Out, but with a W - has found the answer 07/25/2018 at 10:04

0

It would be interesting if he buys one though. Are you guys brothers with the same name and the same taste in cars?

DasWauto > Out, but with a W - has found the answer 07/25/2018 at 10:10

1

Yeah, fit is definitely a squeeze but given that this is meant to be a second car it might be a sacrifice I can make. An aftermarket seat/mounts is probably the way to go to really accommodate my height. 

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > duurtlang 07/25/2018 at 10:34

0

Well, I wouldn’t mind a WRX...