I've been looking to add an NB or 1.8L NA as an "extra" car for a while now, and I'm convinced that good cars are just getting more and more expensive. I had a few chances at getting a decent car for $1500-2000, but those days are past.
Now, with the ND ready to hit the streets (depreciation?), I'm thinking about an NC--not as a second car, but as a daily driver. Here's the thing: I haven't been paying attention to the NC at all. Where can I get up to speed quickly and easily?
I'd say miata.net for everything as usual
You can go to a local auto-x and talk to some owners face to face to see what they like and dislike. You will probably be able to ride along to feel how good they handle.
I don't remember the year, but I know the early cars did not have as good of stock suspension as the later ones. Personally, depending on whether you also want this to be a competitive/track car & your location, I'd either go for a PRHT or a Club. 
I have one and daily drive it. It's an 08 GT. Love it. I'm 6'2" and fit comfortably. Dampers are not awesome - they're just too soft wobbly.
I highly suggest one. Mine had 13k miles and I paid a dollar per mile.
For some reason I was thinking miata.net was more for the first two generations... Thanks!
Re: the early NC suspension; how deep into the FM catalog do I have to get to fix it? Can I throw the Tokico's on and call it good? I'd rather not lower a car in going to dd in central Ohio...
Best place is probably here, especially if you can call Keith to the Miata Phone.
New shocks should fix it just fine. The suspension is just under damped.
DaveEstey wrote: New shocks should fix it just fine. The suspension is just under damped.
Yep you can buy some really nice V-maxx parts from FM or you can go OEM with '14 GT or Club shocks and no worry about it.
We don't sell V-Maxx for the NC. We tried a prototype set and they were awful.
A set of Tokicos will work wonders on the pre-2013 suspension, and of course we have a full range of parts that go boing depending on how bonkers you want to get. But Tokicos are the first step.
Definitely get your butt into one for an extended test drive. The seats don't fit everyone, and the steering feel is a little different than the earlier cars. Plus they're more of a real car - a little less hyper, a little more composed. That's good or bad depending on your goals, but for a DD it's usually good. The NA/NB feel faster than they are, the NC is faster than it feels.
Take a good look at the power hardtop cars. Difficult to manage a proper roll bar, but man are they nice for the street.
Keith Tanner wrote: Definitely get your butt into one for an extended test drive. The seats don't fit everyone, and the steering feel is a little different than the earlier cars. Plus they're more of a real car - a little less hyper, a little more composed. That's good or bad depending on your goals, but for a DD it's usually good. The NA/NB feel faster than they are, the NC is faster than it feels.
This is exactly what I'd say. Extended test drive being key...multiple if you can swing it. When I first got my NC, I hated the seats so much I thought of selling it just for that. My back would hurt bad after 30 minutes in the car. But I stuck it out and I'm not sure if it was the seat foam that adjusted or my body, but I got much more comfortable over time. I never loved the seats, but they were tolerable. The rest of what Keith said is also spot on regarding NA vs. NC. I'd DD an NC anytime. I'd do it in an NA too, but only in the right commute circumstances.
Yeah, my commute is 30 mins each way, mostly on a somewhat windy, but also fairly busy 2-lane state route. I wouldn't do an NA for safety reasons alone, but I think an NC is probably the right mix of safety, reliability, and fun and a little practicality.
I'll have to find a local car and do a long test drive.
Brian Goodwin(Goodwin Racing) is who I would call for NC info, he's most likely the most knowledgeable in the US. If you're in Germany, call this guy...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ3x462rlmg&feature=youtu.be
I'm not seeing any prht cars near my price range. Does the grm give mind expect NC removable hardtops to be as depreciation free as the earlier ones? I see a few listed on miata.net for $1500-2000.
They're certainly less common. Quite a rare beast. I don't know what the secondary market is like for them.
Hmm, just based on the classifieds on miata.net it seems like NC removable hardtops might be hard to sell. I guess that could work out in my favor.
Brian Goodwin is a local competitor/businessman here he definitely knows the NC. It's flat out cheating when he brings his cosworth powered machine out to autocross plus he can drive (and so can his wife).
I actually don't know that I have ever seen a non PHRT hardtop NC yet
NC is a pretty good package, a little soft out of box, but it does not take much to tighten them up.
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