Random car reviews: Tales from a nut with too much time on his hands!

In reply to docwyte :

Nope, I did not drive the Competition. Even though it might be worth it, comparable mileage, manual transmission Competition cars are about ~$8000 more expensive than the OG M2's. The fine folks at Car and Driver clocked the OG N55 M2 at o-60mph in 4.2 seconds, running the 1/4 mile in 12.7@113mph. By comparison, they clocked the S55 powered Competition at 3.9 seconds to 60mph, running the quarter in 12.4@114mph. $8000 is a lot of money for 3 tenths of a second and 1mph in additional trap speed, at least to me. It probably didn't help that the Competition gained around ~150 lbs, according to C&D's scales. It also appeared to lose the thigh support extensions in the seats, for some odd reason?!? It took 24 hours of negotiating and a lot of mental gymnastics to talk myself into getting an OG M2. I don't think I could have talked myself into spending an additional $8000+ for the Competition. 

I've never driven the RS3, so I suppose I can't speak to it. However I have driven the TTRS, which, for all intents and purposes, is a similar car. I remember it being very fast and accelerating with a smooth, constant wave of torque. On paper, it seemed like a hell of a car. In real life, it left me cold. To be fair, when we drove it (probably about a year ago?), we drove it on the same day we drove a C5 Z06. My wife and I both agreed that the C5 Z06 was by far the more fun car, even if the TTRS was just as fast, if not faster at our elevation. When I told my wife that the TTRS was likely faster than the Z06 up here while driving it, she didn't believe me lol. She wasn't watching the rate of acceleration on the speed-o. There was just a lack of drama as the TTRS pulled seamlessly on what felt like a flat plateau of torque. It was so smooth that the sensation of speed didn't feel violent. Minus the limited small-coupe visibility, I'm sure it would have made a fine daily, but I didn't have as much fun in it as I was hoping for. I did like the 5 cylinder noises, though. 

I've owned a MK6 GTI, a MK6 Golf R and a MK7 Golf R in the past (all manuals). The last VAG product I owned was my MK7 Golf R that I bought brand new in 2016 (MY2016). I kept it for a year, and then traded it in on a Focus RS (the Golf R was by far the better daily, but the Focus RS was WAY more fun!). I suspect my taste in cars has changed a bit over the years, as the last couple of MK8 GTI's I drove (one manual and one DSG) both left me cold, just like the TTRS. I respect how comfortable and seamlessly quick they are, but I don't find them to be engaging, so they turn me off. It also doesn't help that most of the MQB-based VAG chassis cars don't put my right knee into a comfortable position, which is a me problem, not a car problem. I would be curious to hear what you think about the RS3, if you get a chance to drive one, but I probably won't waste a salesman's time over a car I don't believe I would truly be interested in. 

I'm happy for you that you found something worthy of taking the garage space!

I am also sad that this probably means you won't be posting your enjoyable test drive reviews anymore.

In reply to P3PPY :

No need to worry about that- I have a reoccurring pattern of making up absurd reasons for switching cars and going on test drives "just to see". I'm sure it won't be long before I'm back in the game. 

2010 NC2 Mazda Miata - Grand Touring - Soft-top - 6MT w/sport package - 29k miles on the clock

It's been a while. I've been stepping back from test driving cars for a myriad of reasons. Although I suppose this wasn't a test drive. I actually bought the car and figured I would give my impressions of it. 




I first need to call out my own bias. I'm a Japanese roadster guy, through and through. This is my 7th Miata (8th if you count my wife's former ND1), having parked all 4 generations in my garage at one point or another. I've also owned two S2000's, with my second AP2 holding the record for the longest I've ever kept a vehicle. Over the years, I've managed to squeeze my 6'2" frame into each of these tiny little cars, all in the name of promoting the ultimate driving ideal: fun.

Before I go further I should just come clean with it: of all the Miata's, the "tugboat" NC is my favorite. In some circles, I might get burned at the stake for speaking such blasphemy. I should probably address the Miata-sized elephant in the room to potentially help understand some of my bias: of all generations of Miatae, the NC is the one I actually fit inside without resorting to chopping up seats and removing interior bits. Although it's the largest of the breed, it's still a small, 2500 lbs roadster. If I'm being honest, it's probably the smallest car I reasonably fit in (I just can't get comfortable in the ND). It literally has just enough room that I can drive it for longer periods of time without cramping up. I can see how some smaller folks might prefer a different generation where size isn't a concern, but for me, the NC is the smallest car I can comfortably fit my larger frame into—and it's absolutely perfect.

Getting into this particularly well cared for, low mileage car, everything feels tight and well-screwed together. It's an older car, so you're not going to find the latest and greatest in the world of technology, but the materials feel well-made. I find the seats to be comfortable with just enough bolstering to not have you flying around the car when the corners start coming. 

Setting off in the NC is a breeze. Like all Miata's, the clutch is light, intuitive and easy to use. This is a car you could teach your kids to drive stick on, even if they're more interested in TikTok videos and experimental hair colors than they are in this strange 3-pedal arrangement. Speaking of which, like all the generations before and after it, the pedals are perfectly spaced, making heel-toe downshifts feel like they're second nature. 

I really hate to cut and paste things I've said about previous Miata shifters, but honestly, they're pretty much universally wonderful to use (*sans my old 2004 Mazdaspeed, which was, umm, questionable). So precise, well spaced and engaging. I've driven just about everything and nothing without a Honda badge on the front of the car even comes close. 

The little 167hp 2.0L 4-banger is a willing little engine that suits the chassis just fine. It's nothing to write home about. With the sound tube pumped into the inside of the cabin, it actually makes a pretty aggressive induction noise that adds character to the car. The motor is perfectly willing to tach up and down, with no real dead spots to speak of. No, it can't match the VTEC madness of an S2000's F20/F22C or a K-series, but it makes the car feel sprightly nonetheless. Not fast, but certainly not painfully slow. There isn't a ton of torque, but it's such a fun car to downshift in that I couldn't care less. 

The steering is a bit on the lighter side, but when you start pitching it around corners, it loads up well, giving you plenty of feedback, letting you know what the front tires are doing. This is the last of the hydraulic steering rack Miata's- which is certainly something I miss among more modern cars. Turn-in, while not darty, is very quick. The car wants to rotate ALL THE TIME! It's like a playful puppy that wants to chase every ball you can manage to throw in every direction you can imagine! 

This particular car has the sport package, which includes a slightly retuned suspension, Bilstein shocks and a LSD. For such a small car, it actually rides pretty well on the freeway. It has a bit of firmness to it, but is far from what I would call harsh. 

When you get off of the freeway and start to merge with other vehicles, the only things I can see are gaps in traffic. Small pockets of space that larger cars would be forced to ignore. But not the Miata. A downshift and a quick flick of the wrist and you've managed to find the space to get around what is now the bane of your existence: vehicles that are trying to stop you from having fun. The only problem is that it's addicting. After the first slice into traffic, you find yourself actively seeking gaps, chasing them with the eagerness of high school boys pursuing crushes.

When you get away from traffic, onto a good back road, these little cars really come alive! They just want to dance through everything you can possibly make into a corner or slalom every man-hole cover you can find like they're landmines in the road. 

Pretty much whenever you're driving, all you can do is smile and laugh at the absurdity that a small company like Mazda actually devotes so much time, effort and money into making a pure joy machine. No, you won't win the stop light drag races. You can't go pick up the kids from school or load up on goods from Home Depot. You certainly won't win any cool points from your muscle-car-loving-buddies or their big-truck-life-loving cousins, but none of that matters. The whole point is just to enjoy the drive and get back to what matters most: fun. 

Roninsoldier, I suspect we have similar bias in cars, although I'm still figuring mine out! FWIW,  in another thread of yours concerning NCs and the possibility of an FM turbo, the same idea had crossed my mind. This during the interim between ordering a GR86 and actually taking delivery. I felt a little like I was cheating on my new ride but, you know what? I don't care. I think I kinda like odd looking cars. 

Anyway, you should know that you're partly to blame for the hankerin' for an NC PRHT to fiddle with.  

Beautiful car BTW, I'm eyeballing same color 2011 as I write this.

When it comes to Miatas, there are no wrong choices.  Enjoy the NC.

carbidetooth said:

Roninsoldier, I suspect we have similar bias in cars, although I'm still figuring mine out! FWIW,  in another thread of yours concerning NCs and the possibility of an FM turbo, the same idea had crossed my mind. This during the interim between ordering a GR86 and actually taking delivery. I felt a little like I was cheating on my new ride but, you know what? I don't care. I think I kinda like odd looking cars. 

Anyway, you should know that you're partly to blame for the hankerin' for an NC PRHT to fiddle with.  

Beautiful car BTW, I'm eyeballing same color 2011 as I write this.

Well, if your significant other gives you a hard time about it, feel free to blame me lol. 

I think the PRHT is one of the best street Miatas ever made, assuming you're not terribly tall, as the PRHT takes away a bit of headroom with the top up. 

I specifically sought out this specific spec of car: 

-I wanted an ND2/3 for the forged internals (for adding boost later on). 
-I wanted a 6-speed (I think they can take a bit more power vs the 5-speed, again, for boost later on), plus I just prefer the shorter gearing ratios. 
-I wanted a soft top for extra headroom, as well as about ~80 lbs worth of weight savings and the ability to more easily install a taller roll bar if I ever got crazy. 
-I wanted a LSD if possible. I was negotiable on this point, as down the line I might get wild an throw an OS Giken unit in it anyway, but I'm glad to have it nonetheless. 

Everything I was looking for wasn't exactly easy to find. 

Ideally, I would have preferred an NC3 Club (I prefer cloth seats over leather), but it wasn't a deal breaker. I'm very happy with the car I found. 

And thank you! 

In reply to roninsoldier83 :

Did you sell the M2 or just add a car!

In reply to OHSCrifle :

I sold the M2. I couldn't get it to stop hurting my right knee while driving. Damn shame. Great car otherwise.