Sanity has prevailed, I didn't buy a Caterham, got something sensible with a warranty instead

Behold, my preordered ND Launch Edition.

I was close to just cancelling the order and buy a 7, but my wife insisted that we at least go look at it. So we did, dealer threw us the keys and about a mile down the road I'm like "oooooh, I like this". The fit isn't perfect, but good enough and comfortable enough - the fact that the seat base can be tilted was what's been missing from NAs and NBs for me. I still sit pretty high up (like I do in an NA or NB) and have a bit of a "steering wheel in my lap" feeling, but we figured that if it's bothering me too much we'll either get it foamectomied a bit or I'll drop a Bride seat in once they make appropriate rails.

I should actually get my hands on it proper later this week when the dealer drops it off with us so we can avoid dealing with CA sales tax and more importantly, the CA DMV.

You deserve a good warranty at this point.

You have chosen wisely.

If I had your money that what I would've done

Booooooring!

I'm not sure it's going to be as easy to "foamectomy" the ND seats as previous vintages. Seems like I read somewhere that they have an integrated carbon fiber structure.

Still a great choice. And I've still got dibs when you decide to sell it.

If the wife is happy your happy.

Keith Tanner wrote: Booooooring!

Yeah, but by the time the manufacturer's warranty is over, I expect FM may have some exciting parts .

It'll happen a long time before that...

In reply to Keith Tanner:

You're going to help fix that opinion correct?

Great choice. The lines get better on the ND every time I see it.

BoxheadTim wrote: Behold, my preordered ND Launch Edition. I still sit pretty high up (like I do in an NA or NB) and have a bit of a "steering wheel in my lap" feeling, but we figured that if it's bothering me too much we'll either get it foamectomied a bit or I'll drop a Bride seat in once they make appropriate rails.

Great choice! Just saw one live this weekend and think it's a great looking car, in a C3/Mako Vette kinda way.

Was the wheel too low even after using the tilt? That was supposed to take care of the issue.

Nice choice, how does the driving experience compare to the 996?

Dashpot wrote:

BoxheadTim wrote: Behold, my preordered ND Launch Edition. I still sit pretty high up (like I do in an NA or NB) and have a bit of a "steering wheel in my lap" feeling, but we figured that if it's bothering me too much we'll either get it foamectomied a bit or I'll drop a Bride seat in once they make appropriate rails.

Great choice! Just saw one live this weekend and think it's a great looking car, in a C3/Mako Vette kinda way. Was the wheel too low even after using the tilt? That was supposed to take care of the issue.

I actually had to lower the wheel to get it closer to me a bit. Like in my Evo, the steering wheel is adjustable for tilt but doesn't telescope.

aussiesmg wrote: Nice choice, how does the driving experience compare to the 996?

I've only driven it for may 3 miles so far, on typical straight CA Central Valley roads. To me it feels very close to an NA Miata, but with more pep and a nicer ride.

It feels ... balanced.

The 996 is more chatty from the front end as far as I can tell, but I'll have to take the ND onto some of the better roads around here to check what it really feels like.

I approve

Very nice. Looks like it's sitting too high in that shot. Maybe some lowering springs right off the bat?

Keith Tanner wrote: Booooooring!

I just read that is the voices of my children (who are now in their 30s).

Good job. So what are you going to do with the 996 now? They're fairly similar in character, are you going to sell the 996 and get something else?

In reply to jimbob_racing:

I don't think anybody's making lowering springs yet. That said, the plan is to leave it alone for a time while it shares DD duties with the 996. Once it's past the warranty stage and a keeper, it'll most likely grow an LSD and some uprated suspension.

Soooo, do these new Miata's come in any other color???

docwyte wrote: Good job. So what are you going to do with the 996 now? They're fairly similar in character, are you going to sell the 996 and get something else?

At this point I'm keeping both. I'm way upside down on the 996 due to the engine work, plus it's got the all important AWD for winter around here. I may change my mind at some point and possibly replace the 996 with a coupe, but first we have to see how the Miata works out.

In reply to bravenrace:

Only if you're willing to wait another few weeks .

In reply to BoxheadTim:

Since I'm not in the market for one, I suppose waiting a few more weeks won't be a problem...

I am curious as to the choice here... you have a 996 that is an all around better sporty 4 season car and need to drive it to get the value out of it since you are way upside down. I thought the point of the Caterham was a senseless track toy or savage weekend hoon buggy to keep the 996 from taking that beating. Now you have two sports cars that do the same function in the same, sedate sort of competent way. I suppose redundancy is good... but the logical replacement for a Caterham was another motorcycle not another sports car.

Was this an impulse buy? I've certainly been guilty of walking around with money burning a hole in my pocket and ended up with something shiny "all of a sudden".

jimbob_racing wrote: Very nice. Looks like it's sitting too high in that shot. Maybe some lowering springs right off the bat?

First you'll have to wait for a competent company to come up with some We get ours today (in California), so as soon as it gets back to Colorado and has completed two days of track testing (Thursday/Friday this week), we'll be on it. Performance springs, not just "lowering".

As for the color - the Launch Editions are all red/tan. Mazda is holding back the non-LE cars just to drive me nuts...I mean, to make them more special. We've managed to jump up the line a bit and will be taking delivery of our non-LE car today, but it took some doing.