So test drove an ND today.....

So no E36 M3 there I was right after doing an inventory for some side money and it just so happened it was right next to a mazda dealer, as SWMBO and I left we caught this in the corner and my jaw dropped.

Problem is it was a slushbox GT but it was left unlocked so I made sure to fondle it as much as I could, this was Saturday and it only got the juices flowing, so searching auto trader I ended up finding the one manual in the Baltimore area and decided to go up and check it out today...

This is a Club edition with the bilstiens but not the BBS or brembo package

Have to say was extremely impressed, it is just the little car that could do everything and I do have some impressions.

Pluses: Comfortable over all surfaces, amazing grip for full tread stock tires, Amazing transmission feel, Lively engine that makes a good natural sound, quick one handed open/closing of the top (even tested at a few stop lights), good visibility even with the top up (keep in mind I'm 5'7 on a good day) Basically all the positives of my RX-8 with less room lol

Minuses: Steering is almost completely effortless at parking lot speeds to a fault it gets better at speed but the disconnect is there, predictable body roll was slightly odd but extremely controllable, if you have a 6'0 girlfriend she will have a tight fit in the passengers seat.

It felt as though it was a good friend that always has you're back and always will but personally to me lacked a bit of a soul, where as the RX-8 has that bit of fire like that first redhead that let you do things to her in the back of the movie theater, personally I like them slightly crazy but I would have no issues letting some sensible in to my life either.

Did you forget another minus?

Dealer markup perhaps?

In reply to Sine_Qua_Non:

You know they were extremely busy today so it was more like "your not going to buy it? okay here is a card now get out of my face" so I'm not complaining.

i still don't know what you guys are drooling over. maybe it's because i own nothing that does not have a v8, or that i dislike convertibles, or that i think an NA looks 10x better, but i just don't get it.

In reply to patgizz:

Have you seen one in the flesh? It won't change that you don't like convertibles or small, lower powered, light weight cars. But the front, which I didn't like it photos, is impressive. We're all entitled to our opinion; and I value disenders as to ensure we're not all sheep. But imho, it looks fantastic.

I'm sorry, but the front end of the ND looks like they stole it straight from the 8th gen Mercury Cougar.

"2001-2002 Mercury Cougar -- 03-30-2011" by IFCAR - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.

I've described an S2000 as an NA/NB Miata with all knobs turned to 11 in the past. The ND is an NA with the knobs turned to about 10.5. Not as manic as an S2000, it feels like a more playful NA with noticeably more grunt.

In reply to EvanR:

Really?! I think you need an eye exam.

There is just something right about a longitudinally mounted engine that isn't covered with a plastic shield.

I was really impressed with how they looked in person. I've not had a chance to drive one yet, as they have been pretty scarce on the ground, but I was driving my NA and got a wave from a happy owner in an ND heading the other way.

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: Did you forget another minus? Dealer markup perhaps?

Not in our area. Locals have been picking up Launch Editions with E-plan pricing and a few other discounts.

In reply to EvanR:

uh, what?

whats that tube that goes from the air intake to over by the booster? Please tell me they don't pipe engine sounds into the driver compartment....

Kendall_Jones wrote: whats that tube that goes from the air intake to over by the booster? Please tell me they don't pipe engine sounds into the driver compartment....

Of course they do, like all modern cars with any sporty aspirations, and that wide part is a diaphragm to let the sound through while keeping dust from getting sucked in from under the dash.

Kendall_Jones wrote: whats that tube that goes from the air intake to over by the booster? Please tell me they don't pipe engine sounds into the driver compartment....

Saw that. Pretty lame. And whats with the round canister about halfway to the firewall? Can you change inserts for different sounds?

I'm curious if a ND would be worth it over a $12,000 S2000 with another $10,000 for repairs maintenance and mods.

PHeller wrote: I'm curious if a ND would be worth it over a $12,000 S2000 with another $10,000 for repairs maintenance and mods.

Face Off: ND vs 987 Boxster vs S54 M Roadster vs S2000 vs NA/NB/NC+mods ... Go!

nderwater wrote:

PHeller wrote: I'm curious if a ND would be worth it over a $12,000 S2000 with another $10,000 for repairs maintenance and mods.

Face Off: ND vs 987 Boxster vs S54 M Roadster vs S2000 vs NA/NB/NC+mods ... Go!

You realize you could LS swap an NA for that money and have a modern day Cobra?

nderwater wrote:

PHeller wrote: I'm curious if a ND would be worth it over a $12,000 S2000 with another $10,000 for repairs maintenance and mods.

Face Off: ND vs 987 Boxster vs S54 M Roadster vs S2000 vs NA/NB/NC+mods ... Go!

This would be interesting, but as someone who has done NA/NB, S52 M Coupe, and S2000... You're getting different things.

The ND is a new car. It has a warranty. You know exactly what the history of it is.

NA/NB are much older cars at this point, and will need a fair amount of preventative maintenance to be running fairly nicely. Even freshened up, the interior is not going to be as nice as the S2k, Boxster, M, or ND. If you put that much money in, you will have the fastest track car of the lot, but it will take time/money/work and you still won't have the nicest car to live with.

S2000 - $20k+ will get you a cream puff with records. This will not be a brand new car, but you'll have a very nice used car. You'll also have the car that will hold its value the best.

M Roadster - I'll take the S2000. Suspension isn't as nice. Rear sub-frame issues. More maintenance. This car will probably need bushings and VANOS service if it hasn't had them yet. Same trunk space as an NB. The interior doesn't have the fit and finish of the S2000, but is slightly less spartan. I'll take the S2000 over an M Roadster. A very nice M Coupe would be a bit more difficult choice.

Boxster - Can't really speak to these. Umm... maintenance issues on early ones, but you should be safe from that on a $22k car. Of all the cars on the list, Boxster seems least special to me. All the others manage to exemplify the particular message they are trying to express. Boxsters are very good cars, but they always strike me as the Porsche you "settle" for because you couldn't afford the 911. You will turn your head to check out a nice S2000, M Roadster/Coupe, or really neatly put together, custom Miata. You will never turn your head to check out a Boxster, base C5, or Z4.