No, Miata Wasn't the Answer to My Question

"-Amateur" (amateur) 10/27/2020 at 11:38 • Filed to: None

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Make no mistake, the NC MX-5 Miata is very good at what it does. You may remember I !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that slick Miata roadster back in June of this year. Out of the bunch, the newer NC and ND siblings are the most suited to daily driving duties for the masses. They have the most cabin room, plenty of punch from the engine, modern safety and a barely adequate trunk capacity...which is a plus in relativity to the rest of the Miata family.

The care-free top down cruising is intoxicating. Its bite-size footprint and super handling is the stuff of legends. I’ve never driven such a fun car in my life.

See at Mazda, they have this philosophy,“ Jinba Ittai ,” within the Miata family. That translates to the “ oneness between horse and rider. ”

And yeah, you kinda feel like the roadster is an extension of yourself. Everything is tight. The car has a nice weight to the steering and the chassis just dances . It doesn’t leave you “on read,” no it fires back a reply no questions asked.

It has such a short wheelbase and the double wishbones front and back make short work of canyon carving. The gearshifts are short, precise and crisp. The engine is front midship and boy does it love to sing.

It’s not a rocketship, it was never meant to be; 167hp in a 2500lb body makes acceleration lively at best. So what’s the problem then?

The Mx-5 filled the slot on my roster as a daily driver. It has compromises that I walked into eyes open. The obvious one is that it has 2 seats. Only one stowaway can come aboard at any given time. This became a lot of, “we’ll have to take your car,” when hanging out with friends or family.

The trunk space is probably just big enough for an overnight bag, anything more is just wishful thinking. I had my brother with me at the local Wal-Mart stacking bags of water softener salt and cases of natural spring water into the cart all nilly-willy. I had to remind him that we didn’t take his Focus ST hatchback on this trip.

Sacrifices had to made.

Life in the Midwest means snow should be coming around the corner. The car is low-slung and roads near my house don’t exactly get plowed quickly. There are plenty of fanatics out there that daily drive their Miatas in Snowmageddon to which I tip my hat to. Never mind the fact that my Miata has heated leather seats, traction control and rear glass defroster.

The car is awesome and bulletproof reliable, but in my life, it’s had a constant theme. It was always a car I had to compromise for . As a second fun car, this would be a non-issue but as a daily, it becomes the story of my life. I thought I could just get used to it, but it starts becoming a nuisance as the months pass on.

“ Well what did you expect when you bought a 2 seater convertible dummy. ” I know, I know...I just thought I could make it work, some way...some how. Maybe I’m a hopeless romantic, drunk on the Miata’s charm. It truly is a brilliant machine.

So it was time to rectify the issue.... *2011 Subaru WRX has entered the chat .

I’m a car enthusiast and I like to zoom-zoom and enjoy my daily commutes. Daily grind, bumper to bumper? Well let’s be real here, there’s no enjoying that. Going to get groceries shouldn’t be a downer but rather an event. I like cars that put smiles on my face regardless of make or model.

This Subie WRX car is definitely a downgrade in that department . Now before everyone sharpens their pitchforks, remember what car I’m coming from. The WRX is heavier just north of 3200 lbs, but it feels the part to. There are a lot of fatty cars out there today, but for the most part they tend to hide their chunkiness within smoke and mirrors and maybe some clever engineering.

On that note, it helps make the car feel planted to terra firma and that AWD only adds to its bedrock stability. The steering feel is a little vague and it’s gearbox is frustrating. It’s the total opposite of Jinbai Ittai.

This isn’t the 6 speed found on the STIs but rather the 5 speed. The gear ratios are great and works well with the meaty turbocharged 2.5L monster. The feel behind the wheel is where I’m coming from. Shifting gears is a let down. The shift gate is wide, the throws are long and it’s very numb...its not precision but more art, like throwing paint buckets at a blank canvas and hoping for the best.

I’m sure an aftermarket short throw kit will help sort that out.

The seats look cool and provide provide good bolstering but are a little tiring on longer trips. The Miata seats was no princess either, those fall in the same category.

But I don’t regret trading in the MX-5 for this. This car has a backseat, 4 doors and a generous trunk capacity. It’s plenty fast, grips like no other and is well mannered. It does whatever is asked of it without a fuss.

You want a quiet daily drive? no problem.

You want to go zoomin’ on a track day? Let’s go.

It’s a car that I want to grow with me, who knows...maybe we’ll see baby seats back there one day. Either way, It’s one for the books.

Thanks for reading! Bonus Pics:

Tripper > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 11:52

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Hey congrats! Had an 05 WRX then an 04 STi. Mine were also both silver. 

speedyboi > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 11:54

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Don’t worry, all roads lead to Miata. 

Arrivederci > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 11:59

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I dailied a Miata in the south for about 100k miles over four years. It wasn’t bad since the weather here is generally good, but I’m with you 100% on having to plan ahead on shopping trips and telling friends they’d have to drive. It gets old as your only vehicle.

That said, it’s a wonderful second car or third car, which is the space it now occupies in my home :).

Congrats on the WRX!

Milky > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 12:06

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Congrats on the WRX, but you just got that thing! D idn’t even have a chance to slide it around in the snow yet :(

feather-throttle-not-hair > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 12:13

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Congrats on the WRX! I managed to daily a 350z for 13+ years, but Zs have a bunch of storage (though the trunk is weirdly shaped.) I’d imagine a Miata would be more difficult between the storage and the top.

I didn’t mind not driving people around though ;)

The wrx will earn back the smiles once winter hits.

-Amateur > Tripper 10/27/2020 at 12:25

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Thanks! I’ve always liked silver over the traditional Subie Blue on these cars

-Amateur > Milky 10/27/2020 at 12:26

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Right?! An executive decision had to made for better or worse. 

kanadanmajava1 > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 12:27

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“Life in the Midwest means snow should be coming around the corner. The car is low-slung and roads near my house don’t exactly get plowed quickly. There are plenty of fanatics out there that daily drive their Miatas in Snowmageddon to which I tip my hat to. Never mind the fact that my Miata has heated leather seats, traction control and rear glass defroster. ”

Did you consider trying to hibernate ? That would be my ideal choice for the winter but my body temperature control and work scheduling abilities are not yet up to the task. Maybe in the next year...

MM54 > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 12:28

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Interestingly I’ve found myself compromising a lot less than anticipated dailying the 124. Not enough people willingly associate with me for “seats two” to be an issue, and the few that do are car people (and live far enough away I rarely see them) so it’s usually musical-cars when going places with more than one passenger anyway. The trunk can hold a couple weeks’ groceries (I live alone) and the seats are very comfortable. There have only been a couple times in a little over 5 months of ownership where I said “Dang, I guess I need to take the other car” and that was for either hauling all my friends and their stuff to a camp (once) or the occasional trip to Lowe’s, where an SUV is easier than having lumber sticking out the open top (maybe 4-5 times) . I’ll soon find out how winter goes.

-Amateur > feather-throttle-not-hair 10/27/2020 at 12:29

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Looking forward to it earning its keep this winter. I’ve always had a soft spot for Z’s, maybe one day 

Textured Soy Protein > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 12:30

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I doubt anyone will knock this choice. Y ou replaced a Miata with what is clearly still an enthusiast car, albeit a more practical one.

nerd_racing > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 12:37

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*fingers crossed for your rod bearings* 

adamftw > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 12:44

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Subaru uses super soft bushings on everything non-STi. A short shifter (and bushings!) will help a lot, so will stiffer motor mounts and a pitch stop mount.

WRXforScience > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 12:51

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I had a 2010 WRX before my BRZ and loved it (until a turbo seal let go and burned up 3 quarts of oil in a day, leading to rod knock). I put just over 70k miles on it in just under 5 years. A downpipe and tune added about 50hp (all said and done I had just over 300whp and 360ft-lbs of torque with a 3100lb curb weight).

I loved the seats and until my BRZ they were my all time favorites. I actually preferred them for long road trips over my Dad’s S Class with massage seats. Mine came with the factory short-throw shifter which also helped a ton with the shift feel. Aside from handling, which after lots of upgrades and tweaks made it to acceptable, the car was amazing. I prefer my BRZ though and am happy I made the switch (no snow in Texas where I live).

Just check your oil religiously and enjoy the hell out of it!

DasWauto > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 12:57

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Congrats. Winter will bring revelations on the ways of the turbo Subaru, you’re gonna love it. Install snow tires and turn the TC/ESC off when you start the car, winter is where it shines in the driving dynamics department. 

-Amateur > nerd_racing 10/27/2020 at 12:58

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I’ve heard that these have a relatively high failure rate...may God have mercy on us all!

-Amateur > Textured Soy Protein 10/27/2020 at 12:59

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I agree, It seems like a reasonable alternative that checks all the boxes

-Amateur > adamftw 10/27/2020 at 13:01

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Well that’s good knowledge, I’ll add STI spec bushings to the list o n my quest for a better shifter.

-Amateur > Arrivederci 10/27/2020 at 13:01

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Thanks! 

adamftw > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 13:03

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Go right to the aftermarket. So so so much stuff is available.

-Amateur > WRXforScience 10/27/2020 at 13:04

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Will do! Nice call on the BRZ btw

DipodomysDeserti > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 13:21

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The only car I really miss is my WRX, and it was the shitty ‘08 MY. I swapped in various suspension upgrades, bushings and braces as well a bit larger turbo, downpipe and exhaust. Tuned it myself with a Tactrix cable and RomRaider. It was ugly, but it hauled ass.

wafflesnfalafel > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 13:55

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C ompletely agree - I went from an 09 Mazda 3 hatch to my WRX and have the same general feelings, (Mazda transmission, clutch and steering feel/handling better.) But the WRX is a bit of a different kind of funsies - goofball, overpowered compact that makes loud noises and baits you into going  too fast, not the more subtle/sophisticated joys that the Mazdas offer. Congrats.

-Amateur > DipodomysDeserti 10/27/2020 at 15:32

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Ahh yes, the time before they threw on the wide fender bulg es and 235 width tires on ‘em. Clean looking car! 

-Amateur > wafflesnfalafel 10/27/2020 at 15:38

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The WRX is sneaky. It doesn’t feel like I’m going that fast on the street, then one look at my speedometer shows me easily 10-15 mph over on a residential. I still getting used to it. 

-Amateur > DasWauto 10/27/2020 at 15:40

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So I keep hearing about this Subaru bliss! It’s this cars time to shine and I’m sure it will not disappoint !

DasWauto > -Amateur 10/27/2020 at 16:36

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I’ve been semi-seriously shopping to replace my ‘17 WRX for around a year now and I just can’t seem to bring myself to do it entirely because of how it handles on snow/gravel. It is truly bliss.