The Mazda MX-5 / Miata achieved something that no other car will - Iconic cars and engines #19
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- čas přidán 10. 06. 2023
- Today I will explain how the Mazda Miata / MX-5 achieved something that no other car ever has and no other car ever will.
Jinba ittai, which means person and horse as one, is a very important concept in Yabusame, Japanese mounted archery. It conveys a state in which horse and rider behave as one. There is no need for additional restraint or control inputs from the rider. The horse and the rider are connected to the point where it seems that they're effectively reading each other's minds. When this is achieved the rider's hands can be used to aim and shoot the bow instead of holding the reins.
This is the very idea that Mazda engineers chose as the guiding concept for the development of the Mazda MX-5. But saying that the unification of car and driver is something unique to Mazda would be a blatant lie. Many other manufacturers were doing this decades before Mazda without referencing horses or riders. And of course Mazda was very aware of this.
So Mazda bought and intimately studied this car, the Lots Elan, during the development process of the MX-5. And if you look at the two cars side by side the the inspiration behind the first generation of the Mazda MX-5 is obvious.
It may not be very familiar to young drivers and car enthusiasts today but the first generation of the Lotus Elan, made from 1962 to 1974, is remembered by many as the car that delivered truly incredible and unparalleled driving joy.
Back in the day car and driver described it like this:
"The Elan comes closer than anything else on the market to providing a Formula car for ordinary street use. And it fits like a Sprite, goes like a Corvette, and handles like a Formula Junior. Driving it is very simply another sort of automotive experience altogether. Most people tend to come back from their first ride a little bit glassy-eyed..."
One of the greatest car designers and engineers of all time, Gordon Murray said "Series 3 Lotus Elan... it's still, in my opinion, probably the best-handling sports car that's ever been made... If anybody wants to know what good steering is, just jump in the 60s Elan"
So Mazda took one of the best feeling and best handling cars ever made and ripped it off. Along the way they concocted some sort of horse and rider nonsense so it looks like their idea and that's it. End of story.
Actually no, to call the mx5 a copy would be missing the point. Over the years Japanese manufacturers have often inspired themselves by products of other countries, but never have these cars been just a copy. They were always much more.
A copy pales in contrast to the original. But the MX-5 does not. In fact the MX-5 has set and achieved a far more ambitious and difficult goal than the Lotus Elan.
To realize what that goal is we just have to ask the very obvious question. Which car had better sales? The original or the copy? Well, Lotus sold a bit over 12.000 Elans total. But Mazda sold more than 400.000 MX-5s and that's just the first generation alone. The combined number of all the generations amounts to more than million car sold making the MX-5 the best sold 2 seater convertible of all times.
The next obvious question is why? If the Elan made people tear up while driving, why didn't it take the world by storm. The reason is that the Elan was essentially a hand built car. It used a, for the time, revolutionary steel backbone chassis with a fiberglass body on top. This made it very light but it also made production expensive and slow. And even though Lotus used as many conventional Ford components as they could to keep the costs down the car was still expensive. You could buy two Mini Cooper S's for the price of One Elan. And this was just the initial underpowered Lotus Elan 1500, the more powerful editions that came would come close to the Jaguar E-type in price.
Now Mazda's goal was to preserve the epic driving joy and low weight of the Elan while making the car affordable, reliable and well suited for mass production. This is the equivalent of saying: I'm going to prepare myself to compete in the Olympics on a diet that consists exclusively of junk food.
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#d4a #miata #mx-5 - Auta a dopravní prostředky
My first car was a Triumph Spitfire. Years later, I drove my friend's 1st gen Miata and told him that it wasn't an accurate British sports car driving experience because I didn't have to walk home.
😂😂
Britannia does NOT rule any more...
My first car too! Safest car I ever drove; never left the driveway!
I agree, I drive a mx5 na as a daily. I worked in a garage and we had a triumph spitfire in for maintenance.
I had to take it for a drive to put some miles in the rebuilt engine, and make sure everything was ok...
I was lucky enough to come back to the garage in the car, not on foot, but the car felt like it was going to fall appart on the road...
The Triumph Spitfire had a role in the Miata’s development, the design team used one to take the upper brass for rides to expose them to the concept of British open top sports car.
Can we take a moment to appreciate how well D4A expresses and articulates himself, and how overall well-written are his videos. Aside from all the car knowledge he has, he really has a talent when conveying himself without having to pull out ultra flashy and super elaborated edits (not saying that would be something bad). It's an absolute joy to listen to him, I love listening to great comunicators.
Also... Transversely mounted engine *facepalm. Btw I'd love some flashy edits. But did you see my scale with the Lotus, Mini and E-type? Took me forever to make that 😆
@@d4a sure, a flashy edit is always welcome and it obviously improves the overall production quality of a video. But you already have a vvvvvery solid base as a comunicator, which I find essential to do an educational video about a topic and imo, proper oral communication and writing outweighs massively a super elaborated edit with zooms, colours and charts moving around the screen.
And English is not his first language.
@@therealboofighter In fact, I think it's his third, at least, after "car engineering".
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
I have driven and repaired every generation of the MX-5. (I have been a pro automotive technician since 1975) I am 66 years old and I can afford to buy most common sports cars. Two months ago I chose a 2023 Mx-5 GT as my retirement reward car. I will never become tired of driving it.
A retirement reward car certainly sounds like a life goal. I like it
congrats man, may you enjoy it for many years
👍
How does it compare to the original for the Jinba Ittai concept?
Congrats on your retirement! Enjoy your mx-5!
1991 I test drove a new MX5 in Atlanta, GA -- I was hooked & scouting to buy one but too expensive for a graduate school student. Then in Mar 93 perfect timing & good fortune happened. The Mazda dealer in Rome, GA where I lived at the time, had three 92 models he was desperate to unload because the 93 were in his showroom. We haggled over the price & settled on $16,780 - So Apr 93 I drove off with a new 92 white, package A, hardtop, MX-5 with optional limited slip diff.-- And today 140,000+ miles later, I am still driving that car!
My story...It was a cold winter day in Detroit in 1999 and I went out to "Dearlership Row" to check out the offerings of a few manufacturers because I was going to soon retire my ageing Corolla. The Toyota shop had nothing interesting to look at. The VW sales staff didn't even get up out of their seat when I walked in. So I went over to the Mazda dealership to check out the little blue car sitting in the window. I knew nothing about the Miata but (since all the kids were grown) a 2-seater looked "interesting". The saleslady walked over to me and asked, "Do you want to take it out for a spin?" Sure, why not! The cabin felt a little claustrophobic at first, but that feeling vanished in about 5 minutes and I was having the time of my life plowing through the light snow that started falling. After the test-drive she said, "Do you want to take it home overnight?" Of course I thought she was kidding, but after handing over my license and signing a few papers, I found myself driving home that evening in a brand-new, MX-5 Miata (10th Anniversary Edition). 22 years later that car is still in my garage - albeit heavily modified. You're right; there is NOTHING like a MX-5.
Loved the story!
The Elan was in production when I was a young man and I loved Lotuses back then, so I hated the MX5 and the comparisons to those cars. I eventually realized how illogical it was to dislike such great cars and I've been telling people to go and at least drive a Miata ASAP for a while now.
You should have hate Lotus now for giving up Elise and going EVs. But then we all knew who’s the owner. 🤷♀️🤷🤷♂️🐵🙉🙊🙈
@@oceanthirteen1628 Yeah, same name, different company really. It was all Colin when it's reputation was made.
I had a Lotus Europa for many years. Driving it on winding country roads was like playing a video game, totally surreal. Had to give it up when we got our first child, would love to have it back now.
@@bfelten1 My good friend had a Mark1 Europa way back in the 70s and I still want one, so I get it. I don't even care about the twin-cam or any tither upgrades the later ones had. I love that car.
I was a teenager. I owned a 1965 S2 SE. Lotus cars were crap, off the shelf cars. They leaked inside the cabin, under the engine. There was almost nothing to admire about their mechanics. I can go on and on as to why they were a nightmare piece of junk. However, I will never forget my 1965 S2SE. In my heart they were the greatest single sports car ever built. The absolute most fun a roadster can provide.
Now take that fun, make a car that doesn't leak, starts all of the time, watertight and is an ohmage to those little Elans and we have the Miata. Mine is a 2008 NC GT with a new Mazda 2.5L and every upgrade I can perform other than FI. I loved that little Elan, what Mazda has done is provide us 34 years of fun like no other company has.
10:56 "... everything else started to look like a bus or a truck... big heavy and boring." That is spot on.That's exactly how I felt the first time I drove my MX-5, although I didn't describe it as eloquently.
I distinctly remember looking up at a huge Chevy Sprint while driving my '97 home from the dealer.
That's exactly how i feel in my nb when standing in traffic between two suvs lmao
@@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus "... huge Chevy Sprint..."😂 I know, right?
@@bwabbel Mine was an NB, also. Was my daily driver for more than ten years, and I never got out of it without a grin on my face. Made me feel like I was somehow getting away with driving a go-kart on public roads. I really miss that little car!
As someone who fell in love with the Miata as a child and driving one for the last 12 years....your video managed to hit the bullseye as much as the mazda engineers did :D
The engineers did an impressive job alright. They even went to the trouble to working out the stresses on all the structural body pressings and brackets, then speced the thicknesses of the sheet stock accordingly to make them strong enough, but as light as possible. I read somewhere that the bean counters had a hissy fit when they found out that the factory would need buy in a huge number of smaller batches of various thicknesses of metal rather than getting a better bulk discount for larger orders of the more usual 3 or 4 different thicknesses of sheet stock used to make the majority of most cars shells. :D
When I bought my NB MX-5 last year I had never driven one before and had been yearning for a convertible for a long time. Needless to say, when I test drove it the first time I thought: "Damn have I missed out on this my whole life" and I was sitting there with a stupid smile. Now I have to take a drive in the sunny summer weather with the top down 🔥
Don’t forget sunscreen
"Now I have to take a drive in the sunny summer weather with the top down"
Mine is too fun to drive to not have a hardtop and winter tires and get enjoyed all year.
In all my thirty years of driving I have never had the least bit of interest of any kind in the Mazda MX5/Miata... until I watched this video. Great job, man.
Kudos to Mazda engineers for keeping the great Lotus spirit alive and making their cars so reliable. Kudos for the video to the producer for making those points so clear to everyone.
You have an amazing passion for machinery and engineering. Your videos continue to get better and better. I've been watching you since the beginning. Iconic Engines was fantastic!
So well done! "The MX5 is too much of nothing." sums it up! I can't imagine ever being without one in the garage.
I had a very similar experience. I looked at the MX-5 because I wanted a simple, cheap project car to learn how engines worked, there was one available locally, and my internet research said it was a good candidate. The fact that people said they were "fun" was a nice bonus but not my primary concern. I wasn't expecting to keep it long term, maybe a season to learn the basics, then sell it off.
The minute I got it on the open road, it was immediately clear that I would not be selling it off. Like you said, those early driving experiences were transformative; it just felt right. The connection to the road, instant pedal response, the light weight, the open sky, the spartan undistracting interior, everything. Driving suddenly became something I looked forward to instead of a chore.
You are 100% correct with this video. I’m quite a bit older than you. I’ve had the pleasure of owning American muscle cars, dodge, firebird, mustangs, but ever since I drove my first gen Miata did I meet my true love. For all the reasons you mention, that car was the most amazing, fun and pure driving experience and they made it for a very reasonable price. It drives like a go cart, has the perfect amount of power, and is 100% reliable. It’s still my favorite car even though I sold it many years ago and looking back, I can’t think of a single bad thing to say about it.
I’m so happy you too appreciate the genius and remarkable accomplishment behind the Miata. There is no doubt in my mind that it will always rank as the number 1 prototypical sports car.
I have owned an Austin Healy Sprite,Austin Healy 100,Alfa Romeo spider,Fiat 850 Coupe,A Mazda MX6 and the MX5 both NA and NB (2000) I have also competed in SCCA road racing. I have owned my latest MX 5 ,the NC for 24 years and it is still a joy town and drive. I have never known any driving enthusiasts who sold their MX5 and did not regret selling it. I’m 85 years old.
This is absolutely the best MX-5 video out there! You nailed it on all points!
At 74 years old, my 2012 NC RH Special Edition never fails to put a smile on my face!!
I bought my one n only mx5 mk1 , 12 yrs ago and never looked back , still driving it now , best car I've had and a 1.8 mk2 golf gti close 2nd .5 yrs .
Apart from the little mistake of saying transversal instead of longitudinal, I absolutely couldn’t agree more with everything you said. I loved my old NC and I absolutely adore my ND
Very well said. I still have my 91' Miata (british racing green), although I later upgraded to a Boxster and 2004 moved on to the 911. However. This basic fun driving a Miata never vanished, and my feelings towards this little honest sportscar will never fade away. It's still in great shape and condition, and when it was the time for my daughter to to go for her driving license, me and the Miata were her teachers. No electronic helpers. Just pure driving. Learn how to steer. Learn how to shift. Learn how to master a curve. And ultimately, learn how to drift - and have fun :)
I bought a Miata after watching a Doug DeMuro review. The owner of the car I eventually bought, a '99 base model with only 37k on the odometer, let me and my wife take it out in the local neighborhood. Sunny fall day with the top down and at the end we both had big goofy smiles on our faces.
But before I bought that car I had another ride in a naturally aspirated 2001 NB with good tires and suspension mods, and the seller was a former race car driver from Quebec. To demonstrate the car he drove the pants off that thing, and I nearly had to change my own! I'll never forget that ride.
I think most of us late-comer Miata owners have that epiphany moment where a tool becomes a passion.
Great video, I had a similar experience with my ND, went to test drive to see what it was like and bought it hours later!
Minor correction at 13:02 , the engine is definitely longitudinal and not transverse mounted.
I said transversely..... Can't believe it 😆
@@d4a you was sitting to the side of it.
@@d4a Definitely a consequence from owning an MR-2 😀
It's amazing how similar your story with that MX5 is to my own story of my first time driving a 2017 Toyota 86. I had driven other sports cars before that, things like a 2006 mustang GT, and a 2011 Acura TL type S, and a 2006 cobalt SS. Nothing ever made me feel as connected as those first five minutes just driving 30mph on some city roads. It completely changed my viewpoint on what I wanted out of a car.
Those are still a bit big for their power levels (took my friend’s 2016 tS on a long roadtrip) but were a step back in the right direction
My grandparents used to own a Austin Healey Sprite mk2 back in the day and enjoyed every bit out of it. Two years ago a friend and I decited to pull the trigger on a NB Miata. (The NA in red is the dream but in good condition (rust free) unobtanium in germany) So we got the cleanest NB we could find and enjoed it ever since. When I shwoed te car to my family, my grandma included, I took her for a ride. All her memories to their roadster came back and she couldn't hold back her tears. Its true, Miata is always the answer.
I had to empty my pockets before I got into my ex's Miata because I barely fit, but it was the closest experience I've had to riding a motorcycle on four wheels. The power to weight, the responsiveness, the beautiful engineering, the endless power. It was so sweet.
Lovely video. I have an NA that I use as my daily driver and I love it. It was in the garage recently for my advisories taking care of and I had a Megane replacement. With its turbo it was faster at some speeds, and it was comfortable and easy, and, well, soulless. When I got my MX-5 back I realised I'd been taking driving it for granted - it was so beautiful. Everyone should drive one at least once, we'd be a world of petrolheads if they did.
The best explanation of the essence and the significance of the MX5 ever. I have been driving my 93' for many years and will never sell it.
Miata Forever
My first two cars back in the 60s were a MGA1500 followed by an
AH 3000. A wreck then NW Penna. rust left me without a roadster. Over the next two decades I relied on a VW Karmann Ghia then a VW Scirocco for some degree of fun.
Then came the Miata!
We purchased one of the first Miatas (red) in Erie,
sight unseen, based on the Road & Track review. $13,800.
33 years/178,000 miles later our Miata still prowls the secondary roads of NW Penna.& SW New York.
The Miata reminds me of my MGA, but even more nimble and balanced with more power. The Miata gear box is, of course unmatched.
Zoom Zoom
Thanks for the fine memories. I grew up rebuilding and modifying MGs, Spitfires, etc. From before I could drive. I got my Miata in my 30's. It retained all the best features and joy, but yet didn't break down! Thanks again!
This video is so well described and explained that it could be a theorem and poetry at the same time. I could not think of any better speech for what a Miata is. Applause.
Have driven a large number of cars the last few years (some of them can be seen on my channel) but 99% of them cant compare to the feeling i get when driving my own beloved MX-5 Racer. Its a telepathic experience every time. its 30 years old and nothing to this day has the balance and feel of that car. No ABS, no TC, no power steering, just a suit you put on and you just go :)
Being an ND Miata owner that seeks out as much Miata content as I can plus someone who’s watched most D4A videos, CZcams couldn’t recommend this fast enough lol.
I bought a 4 year old NB MX5 over the phone in 2007. Except for emailed photos it was completely sight unseen, when I took a 90min flight to collect & drive it home... best decision I ever made & yes I still have it! :)
Yeah my story was similar, drive home was great until i got it on the lift, then i saw the whole front rails were completly rusted and had holes in it, i was surprised the upper control arms were still holding lol. At least that was a cheap lesson for young me and such a mistake never happend again.
@@benistingray6097 Sorry to hear that. But I suspect you bought from a place where they salt the roads in winter. I'm lucky that's not done anywhere in my country!
Excelent video as always! I have to mention one thing. The 1990 1.6 NA is still the lightest mx5 with 955kg while the 2015 1.5 ND is 975 kg. This is still very impressive for ND of course.
Your videos never fail to hit the mark. I have an NB that introduced me to the joy of driving, and to the knowledge of how cars work since I needed to rebuild it after buying it and turbocharged it a year later. They're a gift that keeps giving
After owning and loving two NA MX5's (both without power steering!), I completely agree with you. Why on earth did I sell them?
Probably same reason any of us do anything. Moments of changing need, belief that it can be replaced if you want to take the sale back(buying a replacement), etc. Think of it this way. Selling it meant you allowed someone else to experience the joy of one of these cars and you added to the collective joy of the community. If you're able to and still want to, it can still be replaced. It'll just probably cost more and be less of a known factor to you(repairs, history of the chassis of the example you might be considering, etc).
all of the miatas strengths and it lacks practicality
@@growingup4487 practicality is highly overated.....
Because they’re soft and underpowered.
@@growingup4487 Your sentence makes no sense.
Outstanding video about the Mazda MX5 (Miata). I remember when the NA came out, and the first one I ever saw was owned by a secretary at work. When it quickly got a reputation as a "secretary's car" or "a hairdresser's car", I did not pay much attention to it.
But then the NB came out, and I really liked the changes to the original, and started checking them out. I bought my first Miata, a 1999 NB, in 2002. It was a great car, and was a true joy to drive. I owned it for six years, and reluctantly traded it in for a more practical sedan (for my wife to drive). I regretted selling it, and continued to think about someday getting another Miata.
Then, in 2018, after purchasing a $5 hood prop clip for my Mazda Tribute, I stepped out of the Mazda dealership and saw a 2008 NC Grand Touring, with the PRHT, and six speed. I took it for a test drive, and ended up purchasing it. In the five years since I made that purchase, I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of driving it, and will likely keep it until it falls apart.
Mazda truly made a special car when they produced the Miata, and no matter which generation you own (NA, NB, NC or ND), you will truly have one of the best driving cars ever made.
Thank you once again for your excellent video!
This is the best MX5 history/development video not made by Savage Geese by far. Clear, factual, articulate and well researched. I had an MX5 conversion experience a year ago. I had owned MG Midgets back in the day but at 6’ 3” never thought I would fit in an MX5. I went to the nearest dealer drove an ND demonstrator which fitted me with an inch clearance all round, loved it and bought it 😎
Honestly one of the best videos I’ve ever seen on the Miata! Your production and narration is just perfect. You’re like the Miata of the CZcams world! I had an NB for 9 years and currently have been driving an NC for the past 10 years. Driving it is one of the greatest joys I have in life!
Beautiful. I'm on my second NA. First was in the UK around 25 years ago, my current bone stock example in Queensland, Australia owned for 9 years and you'll have to remove it from my cold, dead fingers. Absolute classic, absolute keeper.
I was lucky that my 2nd ever car, and first new car, was a 1991 base MX-5 in Mariner Blue. I'm now on my third MX-5; a 2021 GT RF. I don't consider myself a car guy; I'm a Miata guy. :) Thanks for a great episode!
Excellent wrap up of a truly great car!
Happy to say I was working on them when they were new and was genuinely impressed back in day.
I own a GC8 WRX Impreza for exactly the reasons you mention in the video, a basic, no frills turbo Awd car with no driver aids - one that has no extra flab on it, no screens or driver menus or heated seats.
It's just good honest to goodness great car to drive, one that makes you smile every time you put your foot down, or take a corner!
WRX is quite different than Miata :) - Saying it as owner of LegacyRS and MX5... I can't choose so I need them both 😀
@@valqkasdf Yes they're quite different, I'm aware of that.
While the MX5 is certainly amazing, from day one it was crying for more power.
The WRX is not as pure in the handling, thats true, but it is rapid in the same conditions and its a better driver's car than the lovely RS Legacy (We have one of those here too, my son owns it)
All the best.
@@Danger_mouse Totally agree on that. The LegacyRS is like a spaghetti on the track corners, compared to the MX5 and a friends GC8.... but I can bring all my tires and tools with the estate (thankfully my friends brings my slicks for the miata for me)! And also I can drive my family all around with the wagon. Love them all... just too much cars so no GC8 for me :) *heart*
I drive both RX7 FC and RX8 and I have nothing but respect for miata owners. Such a great car to drive, maintenance is cheap and reasonably good fuel economy.
The amazing thing about the ND weight (besides what mentioned) is that it does not have the slightest bit of carbon fiber in sight; it is a car built the conventional way, just keeping a close scrutiny in weight of each component, and actual engineering (something most automakers tend to forget these days).
I'll be on my third miata once it gets delivered in august.
I've owned many cars like an E60 M5, a big 7 series, 3 series coupe (E93), an opel speedster (supercharged), a lotus elise mk3 which i supercharged and some other fun stuff like a nissan patrol, a lifted wrangler and a nissan laurel lol.
I had driven an NA before, and test drove an NC once, but the problem was it was all in town driving. I liked it, but driving it in traffic didn't shall we say highlight the true spirit of the car.
The wrangler was giving me so much trouble, and i knew i needed another car, so i decided to go test drive an ND2 RF in 2018. It was one of the first ones in the country with the ND2 engine.
The dealer has a race team. They race rotaries. This dealer is beyond cool, so they were very chill about me driving their brand new ND2 RF demo car. They tossed me the keys, told me it had been broken in, told me to take it to red line at least once and showed me where the button to disable the ESP was lol.
They told me they didn't need it back before they closed, so off i went on an all day test drive.
I was sold. Instantly.
I finally understood what everyone was raving about with this car. Like the video says, it's enough of everyting and too much of nothing.
Everything just felt right. If you like driving, you owe it to yourself to own one at some point, or at least rent/borrow one for a while.
I cannot give it high enough praise.
I will say though that the ND needs a set of coilovers, unless you don't mind motion sickness lol.
The MX5 is such a good car that i was surprised by something recently.
I needed a car while waiting for the new one to come in. Ordering cars nowadays is ... difficult. Anyway, they said they had an ND2 1.5 demo car that i could rent from them while i was waiting for the new one.
I thought to myself, well, the 1.5 is pretty weak, i'm sure it'll be ok, it'll just be slower.
Well, having ridden big bikes all my life, had powerful cars, etc. Something happened that really surprised me. Yeah it's slower, no it didn't prevent me from enjoying the car at all.
Don't get me wrong, i'll be glad when my new one gets here, but the little 1.5 really surprised me. At only 130 hp, that's economy city car power nowadays, it still does it for me.
Never in a million years had i thought i'd be praising the joys of a 130hp car, but here we are.
It's ace.
Exactly my experience when I bought mine in the UK 6 years ago and drive it back home to France. Funnily enough I painted the hard top white like yours and we have the same wheels too! Mine’s a 1995 RHD 1.8iS. When I got it back here a friend lent me his van to move house so I left him the MX5 for tte weekend. When after several attempts to get him over the phone (« he’s not home : gone to the post office/bakery/shops, … »). He said « I want one » si a couple of months later we took the train to the UK and drove a pearl white 1991 home for him. The following year I brought another one back with another friend. Amazing cars and all three of us are still loving ours 👍
In my 20s, I was obsessed with cars, and in particular the miata. I owned three over 15 years and had a lot of fun at the autocross, twisties, and just driving to work. Two of those got a turbo, but the last was stock power. Know what? It was just as fun, lol. Doing it again, I'd focus on tires & wheels, high quality dampers, and overall handling ... ok maybe mild power stuff ...
Sold my last one about 5 years ago, and I sort of regret it now.
Three years ago my wife talked me into a 1990 Miata. It was poorly looked after over the last thirty years. Has terrible paint, and required wholesale replacement of the rear suspension due to rust. Somehow though, my impeccable 2010 Challenger sits at home, as we cruise the secondary and gravel roads and park with abandonment, anywhere we like. We scoff at parking lot dings and paint chips. It is the most enjoyable of any of the cars I've owned over the last forty years. In short. It's a keeper!
*IVE HAD SO MANY MX5's* [Mk1] Ive literally lost count - they are simply PERFECT and no a V8 swap does not improve them - no swap improves them - cos they are PERFECT
In fact the 1.6 is the best
I agree simply cuz the 1.6 was intended to rev high n stay up there unlike most other engines (not that im bias as a 91 1.6l owner 😅)peace and love brotha
@@mastercricket7626 - If you give the 1.6 a better air intake to let it breathe it is an absolute JOY. The 1.8 is sluggish to rev, its just not as much fun.
@@piccalillipit9211 agreed mine is highly modded and bored over and runing a 63mm turbo and I let it eat every shift 😅🏎 , never go wrong with miata
@@piccalillipit9211 Swap a lighter flywheel on the 1.8 and it's just as peppy.
Granted I killed the 'purity' of mine and turboed it. No regrets. 😂
Very nice tribute to the MX-5. I'm fortunate enough to be the caretaker of two of them, an NA and an ND2, each a joy to drive.
I had an NA miata and I made the mistake of selling it in 2017 to buy a high HP hot hatch. Now I'm back in a base model (sport trim) '23 and I couldn't be happier. I can't stress enough how difficult it was to find a sport model. The large metro dealer I bought from had over 20 GTs on the lot, and not even a single sport scheduled for delivery. They didn't seem to understand that the car itself was the entertainment system for me, and I didn't want all the luxury and infotainment features. After a wait they were able to trade for one that was headed for a dealership in FL. The presenter of this excellent video is correct that the base ND gets about as close as you can to the original NA. I will not make the mistake of selling a miata again. The ND is a keeper for sure.
ND2 owner here and used to own an NA like yours decades ago as well. Great essay and a unique take on the car's history, in comparison to the kind of videos most other people make about this car. Very few people really get hard into the paint about the historical context or the "x-factor" that made it such a success. It's been the butt of countless jokes and ridicule, but as you point out, it's the only one left standing next to a pile of has-beens which all failed on some level, because it's more than the sum of its parts.
Mazda succeeded by doing the inverse of their competition: high reliability, low price, and simplicity rather than low reliability, high price, and added complexity. It's not really a good thing to see the MX-5 as the sole survivor though. Without any competition, Mazda has little incentive to iterate or improve on the car to keep carrying it forward in a positive way. They are also a small company that can't adapt as quickly as other manufacturers who debut technological gimmicks much more rapidly.
But competition breeds success, and in the absence of competitors they have no reason not to be complacent as the only modern option for a roadster in a reasonable price range. I'd really love to see Toyota and Honda return to the convertible roadster segment just to keep Mazda on their toes and keep the MX-5 fresh going into the future, without compromising on all the attributes that made it so successful.
I would like to see Honda bring the crx back. Toyota bring back the 240. The small eco sports car war was so awesome
What a lovely film. I drove one several years ago and it was delicious. Now I want to test drive a new one, thanks!
As an NA6 owner for 19 years, I loved this video. It still puts a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel.
As someone who ever bought cars (or vans) that needed to be practical workhorses I was persuaded to take a test drive in a MX5 a few years ago.
I was sold from that moment, never has a car been more inviting to explore its limits.
It turns around the kitchen table, the engine is so rev happy and has such nice power employment, and the driving characteristics are very accessible.
So I bought a 1993 NA with the 116hp 1.6 engine.
That one, after having test driven this one, a NB and a NC, was despite having less power than the other two, the liveliest of the trio and did feel the purest.
I feel the miata is perfect. Is it fun? Absolutely. Is it reliable and easy to work on? Most definitely! Does it have an affordable and substantial aftermarket and community? There's none like it!! Plus it's the cutest car ever; those eyes just melt my heart and make me want to go for a drive with the top down. It's my dream car for many reasons, and I don't think it'll ever be replaced.
Excellent video, I honestly didn’t know about the Lotys Elan or the “Jinba Ittai”. That whole backstory just makes me love my NB even more.
A lot has changed in the last 20-30 years and I feel like now companies are now mostly just producing for themselves. They don’t truly care what the consumer wants because of the modern “throw-away” culture.
I’ve always loved Japanese engineering but the Miata is the first RWD car I owned, I instantly knew it was something special.
Thanks for taking the time to make this video! Cheers! 🍻
i myself got spoiled with a NA Miata as my first ever car around 3y ago, i got it hella cheap considering the prices now and was basically a overnight purchase, where a friend of a friend wanted to sell it because of some clutch stuff being broken and it sitting at the shop, went to look at it, engine ran and we agreed on 350€ without driving it (cause of that clutch hydraulics issue). payed around 250€ (i know kind of a ripoff) to fix the clutch reciever cylinder and drove it for 2y with messed up paint and dents everywhere (from prev. owner).
Saving up cash in these 2y to now have it sit at a shop where it gets all the dents filled rust fixed and fully repainted in the original color. honestly miss driving it since its there for 3months already because of complications (alot of stuff to do + quite a few workers sick.
its completly unmodified except a catback exhaust which i installed.
I have a few short videos of my Miata on my channel if your interested :)
Your story about test driving the MX5 is the perfect explanation and why people love them so much!! After a 5min test drive in a NB when I was looking for one, it was hands down the fun car to drive and everything about it just seemed perfect.
Would be cool if you could go to the huge Roadster meeting in Japan (Karuizawa) next year! My fellow Roadsters friends (here in Australia and some international) are trying to organise a group trip to Karuizawa for 2024. The worldwide Roadster community is so welcoming and friendly!!!
I remember thinking the same when I first test drove a second hand 1989 NA in 2005. Suffice to say I was fortunate enough to return a week later and purchase the same car. I sold it a few years later, but it didn’t last long until buying another NA (1996) which I still own! Thanks for a great video! 😊
Man, your love for cars got you going all Shakespeare on them... I love these videos and I love cars dominated by engineering brilliance...
The formula is: lightweight, rear wheel drive, manual transmission...
I discovered the Miata by accident just a little while ago. I have driven sporty cars before but for some reason or another I was not in the "place" to get one. Well as of today I am the proud owner of a 2001 Mazda Miata MX-5 SE. (93k miles). No I am not telling you where / who I got it from! But I am over the moon. For the longest time I had to have a vehicle that "made sense". Now I have a car for FUN!
Now I live in the north so this car will be a Spring, Summer, Fall car as I do not want to subject it to the salt on the roads. Now I have to teach my wife how to drive a stick!
Probably my favourite automotive channel. Educational whilst being understandable, entertaining, knowledgeable, unbiased and likeable.
And I still want the manifold from the MR2....
Mr2 manifold?
@@d4a The one you bought for your build. It was beautiful!
I currently have an automatic Mazda miata rf, I was looking for my first car and I found something like a mercedes or something like that, but I saw an rf parked once when I went to the mall and it seemed beautiful to me, I went to do the test drive, the experience left me speechless In words, despite choosing an automatic for the convenience of my daily, the experience that followed made me smile almost the same as when I first drove it.
Thanks man, there’s so little joy to be had these days. Reminds me of the feel of my fiat 131. Not masses of power but a real driver’s car. All about the feels!
Honestly the best car video ever. You somehow manage to explain everything so well.
Mazda is probably the most underrated car company.
20 years ago I was racing an overpowered Nissan Skyline. An automotive engineer invited me to drive a first generation MX5 at my local track. I took him up on the offer thinking it would be a joke. Shortly after I purchased an MX5. Since that time I have had many other cars, but I still own the MX5. I have made it more powerful through different means but have found that required other modifications which hurt the original concept. As you allude to in your piece, the original was a design masterpiece to hit all its goals.
Great video. My Eunos Roadster is my benchmark car I compare others against. Availability of parts, ease of maintenance, and tuning potential is why I've kept mine for 12 years. I recently sold my DC5 Integra Type R because I was always concerned of not being able to replace faulty parts and the steering was numb when compared to the Mazda. My Eunos has got individual throttle bodies, different camshafts, a ported head, and a lightweight flywheel, which really wakes the car up.
The best feature of the MX5, is also something that could ruin the whole experience. The suspension geometry iss FULLY adjustable, so it could be setup to handle incredibly, but it also meant that an MX5 with badly setup geometry can handle worse than bad.
I bought one once where the previous owner had dismantled the suspension, sand blasted all the parts, then got them powder coated before reassembling........ And it actually felt dangerous to drive ! It had zero grip, the wheels would easily lock under braking, and it would get totally out of shape if it hit a slight bump mid corner.
I ran it around like that for a couple weeks before getting it booked in for a 4 wheel alignment at a reasonabley local race car prep specialist, and that transformed the car. Suddenly, I couldn't lock the brakes at speed anymore, it just slowed from 3 digit speeds, hands off the wheel, dead straight, like I'd thrown out a damn parachute. It was amazing. The car felt SOOOOOO sure-footed afterward. I'd grown up in tail happy RWD cars, so when they asked how I like it to feel on the limit I told them to give it slight oversteer. That was exactly what I got. Later I had them setup it for drifting, and the thing was ridiculously easy to control with the back end right out. The steering would pull to keep the front wheels pointing in the direction of travel, and tiny inputs was all I needed to keep a slide going. It was epic.
I can't state strongly enough that getting the geometry setup done properly is THE best money you can spend on even a stock MX5. Mine went from the worst handling car I'd driven, to the best by far. Chances are if your MX5 has never had it done, or if you've done some suspension work and not had it setup again, getting a 4 wheel geometry check done will be an equally life changing experience.
Great comment!
I've been really bummed about the trends in the automotive industry. This video literally gives me hope. It goes along with the quote 'If you want to accomplish the impossible, get a bunch of humans and tell them it can't be done.'. Keep buying greatness, keep pushing, we can make it happen. #cancelEVs
I had my 1993 NA MX5 for 22 years . I bought it with 77,000 km and sold it with over 400,000 km , when a delivery man asked if I would sell it to him. I shed tears as I saw it drive away. And I don't regard myself as a car enthusiast, I have an MX5 because ,as a motorcyclist , it is the least boring car I can get.
I had already bought an 2017 ND with 26,000km on it.
I knew the NA so well that my proprioception had incorporated the car's dimensions into my subconscious so that I could place the wheels on the road as easily as touching the tip of my nose with my index finger with my eyes closed.
It took about six months to reprogram my brain for the ND's dimensions
“Why do you like the Mazda Miata?”
D4A: lays out an entire love letter dedicated to this car, extolling its accomplishments and beautifully describing his first-hand experience with them.
Me: AWW CUTIE PATOOTIE HEADLIGHTS 🤩
This was done so well, you hit the nail on the head when it comes to the joy of driving the Miata.
Everything you said about your MX5 experience tracks with mine. Driving (and now owning) one has been a life-altering thing, and I recommend it to anyone!
This perfectly sums up the Miata experience. I bought mine in 2011 and daily drove it until 2019, when the 1.6 short nose crank finally ate through its keyway and I just didn't have the money or time to fix her.
Now that I'm in a much better place I've been seriously considering picking up another NA, but the market's gone insane. It's hard to justify paying $8k+ now for a car I bought for $2.8k a decade ago, especially now that so many of them are really showing their age 😩
$ 8 k is still VERY cheap for a good car...
@@jmsjms296 depends on condition. All the ones I've seen are rusted out, extremely high mileage, or (God forbid) are automatic. If I had a garage and could work on fixing one up I'd have pulled the trigger already, but unfortunately I think most of them would turn into a money pit 😩
Of course my original Miata was a rusted out money pit, but I was an auto mechanic at the time and did all of the work myself during shop downtime and could get parts for wholesale prices. And I only paid $3k so I didn't mind putting money and labor into it. Oh well, hopefully I'll find another one in the future
@@cemmy410 I hope you will 😊
3 Weeks ago, I rented an MX5 ND for 3 days and to be honest, it was one of the best cars i ever drove, as light and powerful like the NA, this car from factory has really been set for fun/sporty driving for road (Good damper and suspension alignment) while being reliable AF and oh boy that rev limiter at 7.5K
It was a blast to drive, maybe i could/will own one in the future. (Coming from someone who'll love drive/own an 3SGE MR2 SW20)
Outstanding video. Your presentation and ability to clearly express the key points without being too wordy or dramatic, is a gift....and so refreshing to see/hear. Thank you.
While most channels try to sell you on the newest, shiniest and with the most comfort options - this guy talks about roadsters from the 90's and man, that certainly is a niche. Motor engineery has really fallen for the past years and as ETCG mentioned somewhere - cars are now engineered by the marketing dept. Keep up the good work, fren. Have children and make them understand that MR2 that you're going to leave to them carries an important message for the people who engineer cars now.
My Mk1 was my happy place. I would just blast down the back roads and I was happy. Purest driving joy there was.
literally could not have explained that better myself, everything you explained about being linked to the car immediately, thats exactly word for word how it felt to drive my NA for the very first time, truly it is the most amazing car known to man, I absolutely enjoy my little Miata
My miata was the most marvelous little car ive ever drove. An absolute joy.
As owner n daily driver of a highly modified 91 miata , i could not have sayed it better brotha "it just feels right" and connected to the car and road , and the feeling u get ripping corners and curves n just the raw enjoyment of driving and connecting to your scenery and surrounding its just amazing and feels right ... much love n respect as always fam ... peace and love brotha keep it rad stay safe and build on l8z ... ps im in nc not far from tail dragon so u ever want to cruse n share some knowledge 😅... peace bro
I went to look at a 2006 Grand Touring, 6 speed manual, did not even test drive it. Bought it for $4500, took a year to leisurely repair it, I love it. Yeah, an 80yo fart diving a convertible, feels good!
Nice video.
This video should become the new standard for teaching people why 'Miata is always the answer'. EXCELLENT video!
Great. Your footage is like a monument, sadly to the memory, of driving pleasure. As often happens to you, you have condensed a lot of aspects connected with everything that the car is "more" and "different" from the mere tool that performs a service. Thanks on behalf of all fans. I will try, as I have already done with your other works, to spread as much as possible
You are sooo right! Great video, I love it! And to be honest love almost every car out there. But the Miata is so special although also common. A contradiction that inspirers all of us that dont have millions to spend on a car.
you literally posted this right when I bought my miata
Very well done video - thanks for taking the time to highlight the story of the remarkable engineering in the Miata
I always dreamed of owning one. Finally bought one for my 30yo birthday. Words can't express how it feels to drive one. Will never sell it.
Great video, really enjoying it. Never owned an MX5, I've always admired them, even more now.
thanks for taking the time to make this video, I love my Miata and you've touched on so many of the points that make it clear why everyone should get one :-)
And that is one mighty fine looking radiator in that MX5.
I've had several MX-5s, and seen hundreds beaten on hard on race tracks, and I can honestly say it's astounding how well built they are considering they were effectively "thrown together from the parts bin". Everyone who drives one loves them or they are soulless people who think of cars as appliances.
Light is right! Full manual. What a joy.
This video is so great, minus the fact that he called the S2000 intimidating. I drove my buddies AP1 and its not intimidating its actually inviting. It begs you to rev the motor and responds amazingly to inputs although I will admit his clutch an aftermarket upgrade. I'm sure not as "beginner friendly" or inviting as an NA Miata, but it can't be far off. and what a blast that Honda is.
I have a Mazda 2018 MX-5 and I absolutely love it. Driving is an absolute joy. It has amazing handling, gets amazing fuel economy, and it’s beautiful. One of the best purchases I've ever made. I'm happy that Mazda is keeping the lightweight roadster alive while cars keep getting bigger and bigger.
Finally got my first MX-5 at the start of this year and just now came back from my first track day ever in it, it's an NC which people love to hate but still, 6k for a really good condition 2.0L, 6 speed LSD model that someone like myself who has only raced in sims before today can handle so intuitively... it has just enough power to come alive, no less and no more and when it gets a little bit ...too lively, you just catch it or even hold it there for a little while and carry merrily along about your business, all without the slightest whiff of engine cooling issues or brake fade!
Even before taking it to the track, just driving it for regular stuff I was enjoying it much more than my previous "warm hatch" ecoboost fiesta, even though I actually really enjoyed that car and it was was a lot of fun PLUS it was over 100kg lighter than the NC... I could take it or leave it once I got out, even though I love driving but now I find myself looking for excuses to go for a drive ^_^
I'm a 1st gen (1987) CRX Si owner - not a Miata but many similar attributes - basic, light, nimble, great shifter, "less-is-more..." And maybe/mostly...in each case, great arguments to support, "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow!" Take that, Lambo owners!)) I'm sure you guys will be just fine!))
What a lovely upbeat video. Ive been thinking of buying an mx-5 i think you just convinced me!