NA or NB

Aside from the more obvious things listed on wikipedia...

NA or NB Miata?

SoloII stock class + daily driver

R-package allowed

Yes.

Whatever's in the best condition in your price range.

If you want to be dominant in stock class and have a comfortable DD, go for an excellent condition '99 NB Sport with a swapped in later model seat (or aftermarket).

If any other factors come into play, that could change the equation.

NA. because i have one and love it. Also because its more of a classic and one day all the good ones are gonna dry up and your gonna wish you had one. With the way these spec racers go through those things and such. also cheaper by quite a fair margin from NB models.

NB, because i can actually drive one and not have to duck to see under the top of the windshield at traffic lights

NA for the looks.

I'd vote NA because :

A) the NBs are still depreciating.

You can get a good NA for $3500, drive it and sell it down the road for very close to that (or more if you buy in the fall and sell in May or June).

B) I have an NA and it's a blast

Neither an NA or an NC. The only true Miata is an NB.

1.8L NA. They're cheap and they're the original. The NB is just rewarmed NA leftovers.

The NA is more comfortable for larger drivers, too.

Test drive one of each. Measure your grin afterward. Buy the one that produces the greater result.

Tyler H wrote: The NA is more comfortable for larger drivers, too.

No way! That's what got me into an new NB since all the NA's I drove were cramped swinging my legs in and out plus were cramped in the elbow room area. The NB was also easier to see a traffic light.

GregTivo wrote: If you want to be dominant in stock class and have a comfortable DD, go for an excellent condition '99 NB Sport with a swapped in later model seat (or aftermarket). If any other factors come into play, that could change the equation.

Well first off its not dominant in stock class anymore, and second swaping seats isn't legal in stock aftermarket or not.

That said I think the NB's make better all around cars. I like my NA but I'd trade it in a hearbeat for a good 99 Sport.

either one is great, and either can do well in Stock class. the '99 Sport is easier to buy/build, but is no longer at the top of CS (although it's still close). the '94-'97 R-package is tougher to find, or would be a more involved conversion, but is still at the top of ES.

if it's going to be a DD, i'd say NB. if it's a weekend car, NA. i would say that the NA is a better "miata" while the NB is a better car.

<-- drives a '91 every day.

carguy123 wrote:

Tyler H wrote: The NA is more comfortable for larger drivers, too.

No way! That's what got me into an new NB since all the NA's I drove were cramped swinging my legs in and out plus were cramped in the elbow room area. The NB was also easier to see a traffic light.

i think you might be alone in that opinion. the NA seems to have more room for me.

and if you're playing the "real miata" game...the only "real miata" is a 1.6 NA.

NC!

I've owned and daily driven both- a '95 and now a '99.

I'd go with the NB.

The NB was everything the NA was, but it did everything better- sound, ride, handling, feel, etc. Just a better car all around.

Loved the '95, but the '99 is a better car. IMHO.

I'm never sure why the NA is deemed a "classic"- outside of the headlights, the layout is identical. Although, since the NB is easier to live with (no need to unzip the GLASS rear window). And since the trunk is better laid out, much easier to pack for distance.

Just a better car in all aspects.

Eric

alfadriver wrote: I've owned and daily driven both- a '95 and now a '99. I'd go with the NB. The NB was everything the NA was, but it did everything better- sound, ride, handling, feel, etc. Just a better car all around. Loved the '95, but the '99 is a better car. IMHO. I'm never sure why the NA is deemed a "classic"- outside of the headlights, the layout is identical. Although, since the NB is easier to live with (no need to unzip the GLASS rear window). And since the trunk is better laid out, much easier to pack for distance. Just a better car in all aspects. Eric

I don't know if the NB is better...it's certainley "nicer". Most people say the NA is roomier. In some ways I think the NB is prettier, some ways the smplicity and "lightness" of an NA is preferable. I like them both.

Joey

When I was looking for a Miata a couple years ago, I drove a few of each. I really wanted to build a 1.6 car for STS2, but I just couldn't get past how dog-slow they all felt.

I personally didn't find as much difference between the NA & NB as some people, but then again I fit into either just fine. They didn't drive that much differently to me. At that time, I liked the NB more & wanted one, but price led me to the NA 1.8. In hindsight, I'm glad I did as I found a completely rust-free one(which seems to be more & more rare here in the midwest, even for 1.8 cars), and I like the "classis" feel of it. It was my DD for 2-summers, but now it's mostly a weekend car.

I will say that damn near every repair on this car has been a major pain in the ass. Part of that is due to the fact I'm doing them all on my own & have no prior Miata experience, but still: The clutch was a bitch when it came time to wrestle the trans back in place. I had it in & out multiple times before it finally lined up. Mounting the Racing Beat springs on the KYB shocks required me to fabricate a custom "spring-compressor" out of some cobbled-together E36 M3 from around the garage. The top was a major PITA, although part of that was the fact it didn't come with any useful instructions & was made differently than the OE one & the one Keith describes in his book. I'm getting ready to install a Hard Dog bar now, I can't wait for what joys lie ahead for me....

Despite that, I still feel pretty lucky to have it.

Salanis wrote: Test drive one of each. Measure your grin afterward. Buy the one that produces the greater result.

That's pretty much it.

There really isn't much difference between the two in terms of size. None in the actual cockpit other than a couple of small gussets. I suspect the "size differences" simply come from seat design. Mazda didn't have a lot of coin at the time the NB was designed, so it's an evolution of the NA. Of course, that's been working for 911s for a while now. The nice thing is it makes life easy if you want to swap parts back and forth.

The NB is definitely faster in stock form, but it doesn't make as big a deal about going fast so it may not feel as quick.

BTW, I find NB tops to be more of a hassle to put down than the NA. Often as not, that glass window hangs up and needs a little jiggling around. But Mazda managed to make the NB top more waterproof and add a glass window while cutting 3 kg out of the assembly, gotta love that for progress.

All of mine are NAs, but some of them have a number of NB parts inside. If I was buying now for my wife's all-around street/track/fun car (to replace the turbo 1990), I'd be starting with a 2001. I've been told I'm allowed to do that as long as the 2001 has an LS engine.

I'm actually shopping for the same as a weekend car (graduation present to myself). For those with experience, I have heard the na has more room than the nb, but I am curious as to which can be made roomier for a big guy (6'1" 220lbs with broad shoulders) with some alterations. I am thinking mostly of replacing the seat/seatfoam as I would like the door pull and such to be intact should I decide to have a female in the car with me. I actually fit comfortably in a stock nc, but that is well out of my price range.

The Brown Stig wrote: NC!

+1!

Soma007 wrote:

GregTivo wrote: If you want to be dominant in stock class and have a comfortable DD, go for an excellent condition '99 NB Sport with a swapped in later model seat (or aftermarket). If any other factors come into play, that could change the equation.

Well first off its not dominant in stock class anymore, and second swaping seats isn't legal in stock aftermarket or not. That said I think the NB's make better all around cars. I like my NA but I'd trade it in a hearbeat for a good 99 Sport.

I assume they'll soon be moving the NB's to ES with the NA's, which should restore their dominence.

As for the seats, thats a shame you can't swap seats as teh original seats in the '99 sport are atrocious surfboards.

sanman wrote: I'm actually shopping for the same as a weekend car (graduation present to myself). For those with experience, I have heard the na has more room than the nb, but I am curious as to which can be made roomier for a big guy (6'1" 220lbs with broad shoulders) with some alterations. I am thinking mostly of replacing the seat/seatfoam as I would like the door pull and such to be intact should I decide to have a female in the car with me. I actually fit comfortably in a stock nc, but that is well out of my price range.

Have you tried sitting in an NA or NB? Your size shouldn't be a problem. Still, doing a foamectomy will help fine-tune the fit for you.

The 2001+ seats are often referred to as the surfboard seats, they're pretty nice. Note that the leather seats often seem to be shaped a bit differently than the cloth ones, although I'm not sure they really are.

GregTivo wrote: I assume they'll soon be moving the NB's to ES with the NA's, which should restore their dominence.

ain't happening...not in the next 3-4 years, anyway. ES is a very popular class right now; there is no desire on anyone's part to mess with it.

sanman wrote: I'm actually shopping for the same as a weekend car (graduation present to myself). For those with experience, I have heard the na has more room than the nb, but I am curious as to which can be made roomier for a big guy (6'1" 220lbs with broad shoulders) with some alterations. I am thinking mostly of replacing the seat/seatfoam as I would like the door pull and such to be intact should I decide to have a female in the car with me. I actually fit comfortably in a stock nc, but that is well out of my price range.

The NA seats seem to be a little bit lower, unmodified.

You should actually fit in one just fine. My dad is 6'2", and roughly your same weight. He was able to fit in my Miata, top up, before I performed the foamectomy.

However, I have a friend who is 6'4" or 6'5". That is too big to drive a Miata. He could not get his knees around the steering wheel. My M Coupe is just barely big enough to contain him. He has to take his shoes off to use the clutch efficiently.