Are these still considered unloved or not true to form? I have owned three Miatas, one NA and x2 NB's. I have never driven an NC, but being a tall guy and assuming they are bigger, with prices creeping down, they are gaining my interest. How do they do on track? Looking for answers to all these and more.
Thanks,
Benjamin
Haven’t driven one on track but they are awesome on the street. I could never get comfortable in na or nb with full interiors and stock seats. The nc is roomy quick and fun
I only drove a PHRT once. The engine was definitely more agricultural feeling than the BP of the na/nb. The chassis pretty much felt like a Miata(this one was stock), and the PHRT was great if you don't mind sacrificing a bit of weight/performance for comfort.
Great cars. I've owned two (and 4 other miatai) and I can say that the NC is a much better "car" than the NA/NB. It's just easier to live with and deal with in a daily basis. The motor isn't quite as lively in stock form but a quick I/E/tune and that is solved wonderfully.
And yeah, the NC is quicker. Much quicker. No comparison, equal mods and the NC walks all over it's older brothers in performance.
I'm seeing more and more NC race cars at the track. They're really fast compared to a similarly prepared NA/NB.
In reply to ShinnyGroove (Forum Supporter) :
I have noticed this as well. In fact, I feel like I almost see more NC "race cars." I don't know if there is a special spec event for them or what?
after watching someone get ejected at a wet track event because the seat belt buckle mounting point rusts through and is not visible then rips loose.....I'd probably run one with a bar and harnesses.
I have an NC and have driven a couple of NB's. The extra room in the NC is a fair trade-off for a sightly heavier car that is not so lovingly referred to as a "boat". Car handles well and is enjoyable to spend time in. Helmet clearance with the top up is a bit lacking and I am 5'11" so dropping the seat a bit with aftermarket brackets might be needed.
I'm 6'1" and on the north side of 270lbs, I fit in my wife's NC Miata pretty well.
It was easier for me to have the top down and look over the windshield top bar rather than look through the windshield when I was first at a light though
If I was buying a Miata to take to the track, it would be a soft top NC. The main reason being the Blackbird Fabworx roll bar, that is both built right and I believe gives more 'broomstick test' headroom than is available in any other Miata (before or since) with a functioning top. I'd probably go NC1 if I was considering an eventual 2.5 swap, and NC2+ if exclusively wanting to keep the 2.0 engine.
Watch out if your tall. I'm 6'3" and I sat in an NC with the PRHT when I daily drove an NA. The NC felt much smaller inside to me. No space behind the seats and less head room.
Probably a different story with the soft top, but just thought you should know if you come across one with the PRHT.
In reply to CyberEric :
I have heard to stay away from the PRHT if you plan on tracking the car. I think it has something to do with fitting a good roll bar in there?
I can't speak with any personal experience, but I was able to dig up a few articles that might help:
Miata Mod Squad: Boosted Miatas Compared
I bought my NC as a cheap Miata on a whim and it has left me surprised. My car has over 200k and is still holding together quite well after some basic maintenance and clean up. As mentioned above, the abilities of the car are quite a bit higher than the NA and NB achieve - The extra horsepower, bigger contact patch, and relative light weight all add up quite well. I don't care much for the leather seats in my NC1, they get uncomfortable after more than an hour and a half. I wish there was more supply of cheap used parts, but that will only grow over time. If you want a nice one, go for NC2 or newer. If you want something cheap or to modify the NC1 fits the bill just fine.
For those with the 2.5L swap - do you like the character of the bigger engine? The little 2.0L isn't a Honda but it doesn't complain about getting revved out either.
I was an absolute NA purist (and frankly, only a NA 1.6 purist) but the wife talked me into a NC a few years ago. Since then, we sold off the NBs (including a MSM), hung on to the two 1.6s, and somehow accumulated three NCs. We've got a 2008 soft top (with removeable hard top), 2010 PRHT, and 2013 Club PRHT automatic. As much as I hate to admit it, the PRHT is nature's most perfect food. No more worries about having a soft top wear out or get cut, no rearranging the shed to store the hardtop in summer, better heat/AC regardless of weather, quieter cruising, etc.
I still prefer to work on NAs, they're just stupid simple. I'm coming around to NCs. We campaigned the '08 and then the '10 in national SCCA STR autocross, and now the '10 is getting prepped to take over for my beloved '90 as my primary track car. I just ordered the roll bar (https://cybul.eu/shop/mx-5-nc-roll-bar-hard-top-version/); the only other change from STR spec I anticipate is different brake pads.
I have never owned an NC, but if you can find a Cosworth supercharger and swap a 2.5 I feel like you could have an absolute weapon for an unbeatable price. I did sit in a PRHT and found it to be tight on headroom for my 6'0" self.
Are they bigger and heavier than other Miatas? Sure. Are they smaller and lighter than every single other car that comes close to the price and performance. Yes.
In reply to Claff :
Interesting. Curious about why you prefer the 1.6 cars over the 1.8 cars? I also did not know they made a removable hard top. Thanks for the input!
FWIW on the weight department, the '10 Grand Touring PRHT in STR spec (little battery, Kirkey seat, 17x9 RPF1 with 245 RE71R) was 2490 lbs on SCCA's scales with 1/4 tank of gas. That's right about on par with what the internet says a stock MSM weighs in at so you're not giving up a ton of weight going from NB to NC. Our soft top '08 was 2380 on the same scales with same equipment and gas (feel free to take SCCA's scale consistency/accuracy with a grain of salt, but it's the only data I have).
Benjamin_Casto said:In reply to Claff :
Interesting. Curious about why you prefer the 1.6 cars over the 1.8 cars? I also did not know they made a removable hard top. Thanks for the input!
All the 1.8 NAs I've driven seemed to be less lively than 1.6s. I'll admit to being spoiled by my '90 being a pretty spritely 1.6 with all the bolt-ons and antique Megasquirt tuned by Peter Florance (118 WHP/100 WTQ) but I still enjoy our '93 which has intake/header/cat but stock ECU.
The hardtops for NCs are pretty scarce, and not cheap. I fluked into a cheap one that came off of a wrecked SM5 race car. It has no interior trim and it needed to be painted since it had a painted-on purple skunk stripe when I got it, but it does a nice job of making the '08 into a cozy little coupe. I still prefer the PRHT though. There are viable aftermarket hardtops, but they have smaller rear windows and aren't nearly as attractive.
In reply to Claff :
I have always thought these cars look really mean with a proper suspension set up and wheels and tires. Your cars look awesome.
Allow me to tell you the NC is the "freak in the sheets" all the other Miata guys didn't tell you about. Anyone that talks crap about the nc being "a boat" need to line up against me on track, drag strip, or autocross. Drive one, and in One day, you'll join the yacht club.
My 07 NC 6sp GT is my first ever "sports" car, and I dont mind the hate from NA/NB owners at all. I love my little car.
Blackbird Fabworx bar and seat lowering brackets go in soon to get it ready for some autox / HPDE this year.
In reply to Vajingo :
The NC Yacht club - love it
I started working at Mazda during the final 2 years of the NC sales, never loved it in stock form.
circa 2018...My buddy wanted a good track car to move up from his mazdaspeed 3 that was RWD and fun and was better on consumables than the MS3, was interested in a Miata and the NB was on the table.. but a tad slower than he wanted.
Another friend in Houston was selling a NC1 prepped for STR and track work with a roll bar already installed.
Tuned and well setup for $7500. I told him to go look at it and he loved it.
I actually never drove it because I had moved away at this point.
I had a chance to take it for a spin in 2019 and was blown away by how much the tune, better seats(my #1 complaint about the NC) and the suspension woke the car up. I was immediately smitten..
I adore the NA8 miatas and would possibly consider another one in the future.. but with prices continuing to fall and the aftermarket strong as ever.. I will heavily consider an NC in the future.. the ND is also falling in value... but would have to budget to swap in the NC trans and Fiata rear end..
Benjamin_Casto said:In reply to Claff :
Interesting. Curious about why you prefer the 1.6 cars over the 1.8 cars? I also did not know they made a removable hard top. Thanks for the input!
Camshaft choice, basically. The 1.6 was set up like a sports car engine, the 1.8 was the first step on the continuing journey of giving people torque because that's what people actually want :) But the 1.6 is a really fun engine to have underhood on a twisty road.
The removable hard tops were a sales disaster because everyone wanted the PRHT as soon as it was introduced. Mazda had a warehouse full of the removables for a long time, I don't know the status of them now. But you may be able to get a pretty solid deal from Mazda's competition department.
Mazda really dropped the ball with suspension tuning on the stock NC - especially the Bilstein-damped "sport" setups. It wasn't until the 2013 Club that it was decent. Had they used that 2013 valving in 2006 I suspect the car might have a different reputation. Maybe.
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