So, I replaced the MS3 with something that's always just right...

I traded my MS3 (got rearended relatively hard) in on a new 2013 MX-5 Club PRHT. It's a ton of fun and the top is really nice for a DD. I'll have to upgrade the suspension, but I have no plans to go all out, since I do drive it every day.

That looks really, really good in that trim/color combo/on those wheels...

Congrats!

Being superficial for a moment I'm not usually a fan of white cars.

That Miata changes my mind. It looks fantastic optioned like that. Congratulations on your purchase, I hope you enjoy the change to a car whose the clutch will not wear you out in traffic.

I LOVE that trim level. While I bemoan the loss of an ms3 brethren- I can't argue with the reasoning, or the choice.

The0retical wrote: Being superficial for a moment I'm not usually a fan of white cars. That Miata changes my mind. It looks fantastic optioned like that. Congratulations on your purchase, I hope you enjoy the change to a car whose the clutch will not wear you out in traffic.

The clutch in the MS3 felt different, but I wouldn't say it required a whole lot more effort than this one.

very sharp looking car...not sure how I feel about the vampire lip, but aside from that, shes a real looker! I haz jelly

4cylndrfury wrote: very sharp looking car...not sure how I feel about the vampire lip, but aside from that, shes a real looker! I haz jelly

The vampire lip looks way better in person.

The first NC to make me go weak in the knees was a 2013 Dolphin Grey (or whatever grey replaced it, you get the idea) with the full sport package, so it had the lip, power hardtop, and the mocha brown leather interior.

So many UNFs were had.

Swank Force One wrote:

4cylndrfury wrote: very sharp looking car...not sure how I feel about the vampire lip, but aside from that, shes a real looker! I haz jelly

The vampire lip looks way better in person. The first NC to make me go weak in the knees was a 2013 Dolphin Grey (or whatever grey replaced it, you get the idea) with the full sport package, so it had the lip, power hardtop, and the mocha brown leather interior. So many UNFs were had.

I know the package you're talking about- it's amazing. I had a very similar setup in my 05 mazda3- and to this day it's still the most gorgeous combo I can think of. I bought that car on the spot after seeing the interior... I was originally looking for a blue one.

rotard wrote:

The0retical wrote: Being superficial for a moment I'm not usually a fan of white cars. That Miata changes my mind. It looks fantastic optioned like that. Congratulations on your purchase, I hope you enjoy the change to a car whose the clutch will not wear you out in traffic.

The clutch in the MS3 felt different, but I wouldn't say it required a whole lot more effort than this one.

You're a better man than me. I've had times at 5 am standing in my garage wondering how badly the wife needs to get to work that day because I didn't feel like dealing with the MS3 clutch.

My fathers 2013 Miata however felt positively light in comparison when I shanghaied it on my "vacation" to the opposite coast.

rotard wrote:

The0retical wrote: Being superficial for a moment I'm not usually a fan of white cars. That Miata changes my mind. It looks fantastic optioned like that. Congratulations on your purchase, I hope you enjoy the change to a car whose the clutch will not wear you out in traffic.

The clutch in the MS3 felt different, but I wouldn't say it required a whole lot more effort than this one.

the dual-mass flywheel and clutch on the ms3 was no harder than most of the stock clutches i've driven, and a lot lighter than some "stock" honda ones.

The0retical wrote:

rotard wrote:

The0retical wrote: Being superficial for a moment I'm not usually a fan of white cars. That Miata changes my mind. It looks fantastic optioned like that. Congratulations on your purchase, I hope you enjoy the change to a car whose the clutch will not wear you out in traffic.

The clutch in the MS3 felt different, but I wouldn't say it required a whole lot more effort than this one.

You're a better man than me. I've had times at 5 am standing in my garage wondering how badly the wife needs to get to work that day because I didn't feel like dealing with the MS3 clutch. My fathers 2013 Miata however felt positively light in comparison when I shanghaied it on my "vacation" to the opposite coast.

I did DD a Z06 for awhile, so that may skew my view of heavy clutches a bit.

rotard wrote: I did DD a Z06 for awhile, so that may skew my view of heavy clutches a bit.

Love the heavy clutches. My ranger (which has a blown head. Anyone got a 2.3 Lima?) has a heavy ass one and its so fun to drive... Back to your regularly scheduled Miata talk...

rotard wrote: I traded my MS3 (got rearended relatively hard) in on a new 2013 MX-5 Club PRHT. It's a ton of fun and the top is really nice for a DD. I'll have to upgrade the suspension, but I have no plans to go all out, since I do drive it every day.

Friggin sweet. Nice car. Is the power hard top black?

rotard wrote:

That subtle red stripe really adds to the car. Nice looker, congrats

rotard wrote:

The0retical wrote:

rotard wrote:

The0retical wrote: Being superficial for a moment I'm not usually a fan of white cars. That Miata changes my mind. It looks fantastic optioned like that. Congratulations on your purchase, I hope you enjoy the change to a car whose the clutch will not wear you out in traffic.

The clutch in the MS3 felt different, but I wouldn't say it required a whole lot more effort than this one.

You're a better man than me. I've had times at 5 am standing in my garage wondering how badly the wife needs to get to work that day because I didn't feel like dealing with the MS3 clutch. My fathers 2013 Miata however felt positively light in comparison when I shanghaied it on my "vacation" to the opposite coast.

I did DD a Z06 for awhile, so that may skew my view of heavy clutches a bit.

I never thought the MS3 clutch was heavy either

The Club edition is a really nice package. It hits the sweet spot of performance parts and price, and it's the best looking Miata in years. Nice.

z31maniac wrote:

rotard wrote:

The0retical wrote:

rotard wrote:

The0retical wrote: Being superficial for a moment I'm not usually a fan of white cars. That Miata changes my mind. It looks fantastic optioned like that. Congratulations on your purchase, I hope you enjoy the change to a car whose the clutch will not wear you out in traffic.

The clutch in the MS3 felt different, but I wouldn't say it required a whole lot more effort than this one.

You're a better man than me. I've had times at 5 am standing in my garage wondering how badly the wife needs to get to work that day because I didn't feel like dealing with the MS3 clutch. My fathers 2013 Miata however felt positively light in comparison when I shanghaied it on my "vacation" to the opposite coast.

I did DD a Z06 for awhile, so that may skew my view of heavy clutches a bit.

I never thought the MS3 clutch was heavy either

Not heavy so much as hair trigger. I don't put that many miles on it a year so after 5 or 6 months of driving around a sloppy diesel Hilux getting back into the MS3 is a bit of a learning curve.

I'm thinking about some FM sway bars for now; I don't think I can justify replacing the springs and shocks just yet.

I really like the character of this engine. It's just seems eager and fun. It could certainly use more power, but I'm not interested in losing my 5 year, 60k mile warranty just yet.

I can confirm that the stock suspension with FM bars works well up to about 100 mph. We were all impressed. It took Mazda six years to figure out the NC suspension was screwed up, but they finally got it right.

Keith Tanner wrote: I can confirm that the stock suspension with FM bars works well up to about 100 mph. We were all impressed. It took Mazda six years to figure out the NC suspension was screwed up, but they finally got it right.

Did they! You don't know how many times I've almost said F--- it and called you and ordered a spring/damper/sway combo.

But it seems dumb to do when I know I won't have the car in 12-18 months.

Congrats on the purchase OP.

That looks awesome! I... I kinda want one now. In that exact combo.

No offense to other MX5 owners, but that doesn't look like a chick car at all. Shades of S2000 there, and that's a compliment.

There is one I of these that autocrosses locally. I'm pretty ambivalent about Miatas, but I'm in love with this particular car.