New body style 2005 Mazda Miata MX-5 NC introduced!

[THOR]

Wow I really like these new Miata I didn't much care for the NB's 1998 - 2005 but the new body style is nice and beefy looking and it appears they have used a lot of the good ideas after market Miata makers came up with, fender flares, roll bar, nicer interior etc. Check the 2nd link for more pics. I prefer this color to the red in the first link:

http://autos.msn.com/as/minishow/article.aspx?contentID=4023043&s=geneva2005&src=minishow

http://www.miata.net/news/nc.html

[Army]

Nice looking ride !

edit:Earlier comment, had been run into the ground. Won't happen again.

Cheers
Army

[grumpy]

looks kind of like that James bond beemer

[botrytis]

It still is an underpowered car and they have added weight to it, so it should be even slower. I would rather have a Lotus Elise.

Dave

[THOR]

Boytris read, it is only 20 pounds heavier and they added a 200hp motor. I am all about the convertible myself but folks who dig Miatas for driving will tell you it's not about going straightaway fast it's about the twisties ;)

[Army]

Boytris read, it is only 20 pounds heavier and they added a 200hp motor. I am all about the convertible myself but folks who dig Miatas for driving will tell you it's not about going straightaway fast it's about the twisties ;)


Any idea what they list for?
I went into our local BMW dealer a few years back, and was surprised that the BMW Z-3 was about the same price as an SUV I was expecting it to be much higher priced.

Regards
Army

[one1speed]

They are nice little cars. A friend sold hers and bought a Mini Cooper S. Then, bought the Miata back and may now sell the Mini. I saw some at a dealership last fall that looked really nice, some have the Mazdaspeed upgrades. Really sweet little cars. I would agree, more fun in the turns. Big horses are easy, but good handling is harder and a lot more fun.

I did see the new little Lotus at a dealership recently. Man, that looks like a total blast to drive. A little overdesigned visually, but some interesting touches like the horizonal radiator in the front of the car. I'd love to get that machine out on a twisty rolling road.

[botrytis]

Boytris read, it is only 20 pounds heavier and they added a 200hp motor. I am all about the convertible myself but folks who dig Miatas for driving will tell you it's not about going straightaway fast it's about the twisties ;)

It said 160 HP as an option only. Remember, the 2nd generation car was 300 lbs heavier than the first generation and both had 125 HP engine. VERY ANEMIC!! This one is 20 lbs heavier than that? I have driven Miata's and would STILL prefer a BMW Z3 3.0. Same weight better handling.

I like a good handling car - that is why I think the Lotus would be SO MUCH BETTER - mid-engine 1500 lb car!!!

Don't forget they still haven't determined the final engines. Mazda did the same with the new RX-8 (said it was going to have a 250 HP engine and options to dual turbo charge the engine) and basically cut it's BALLS OFF (Came out with a 200 HP only)!! They will do the same with the Miata.

Dave

[botrytis]

I am looking forward to seeing this car - "BMW 1-series - BMW should perhaps call the 130i the Goat, because the car follows the philosophy of the car that ignited the muscle-car craze four decades ago. An engine from big car (BMW’s 530i) stuffed into a little car (1-series) equals fun and sales. With 258 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, the inline six-cylinder should push the 130i to 60 mph in about 6.2 seconds, with the brand-wide fun governor stepping in at 155 mph. When the accelerator isn’t buried in the carpet, the car should get over 30 mpg on the highway. With almost 40,000 1-series sold between the car’s September launch and the end of the year, BMW has decided to bring the 130i to North American shores. Pricing is yet to be determined—figure around $25,000 to start—but the cars should begin arriving in a year or so."

It will be the same price as a Miata but maybe more usable!!!

Dave

[ProAc_Fan]

Thor we all know you'd prefer the Miata in this color.........

[Nick_the_'Nole]

C'mon, you know he wouldn't settle for anything less than this... :D

[botrytis]

Any idea what they list for?
I went into our local BMW dealer a few years back, and was surprised that the BMW Z-3 was about the same price as an SUV I was expecting it to be much higher priced.

Regards
Army

Probably around 32K-35K for the 'supposed' Mazdaspeed model, my guess.

Z3's were high because they actually break in the engine on a bench before they install it in a car and most of the body work was done by hand. They also didn't build that many of them.

I have been in that factory (in SC, BTW) and it was amazing. I had a friend who was the head of Metrology for the plant (Head of body works), so I know how good there craftsmanship was. He is back in Germany now, working on who knows what!!

Dave

[THOR]

The price of the new one is where a lot of the Miata folks are pissed besides it's going to retail for a lot more than where Miata always did. Folks figure Mazda is going to alienate a lot of people because of the price.

Boytris that BMW looks like a station wagon to me, really cool car ;)

"Usable" what's that got to do with anything? We are talking sports cars and convertibles not pick ups and SUV :rolleyes:

Pro Ac I like that color!

[botrytis]

I am talking about a car I can have fun in and practical to boot!! More for your money!!

I also like the new Scion Tc coupe - you can get a supercharger on it!! 20K for a fully loaded fun car and fairly practical?? I AM THERE!!

Dave

[THOR]

Well I'm not hauling groceries in my Miata ;)

[botrytis]

What about stereo equipment you just happen to come across during a little cruise? You can't stick a wet towel in a Miata!!

See, that is MY practical side!!!

Dave

[THOR]

I have reached audio nirvana and no longer look for or buy audio gear ;)

[e2e4c7c5]

Well I'm not hauling groceries in my Miata ;)

How about beer??? :beerchug:

[SPL db]

From what I've read, there is a kit for the older Miatas where
you can drop in a late model 302... states that it also improves
handling quite a bit due to the extra weight.

Almost like the car should have had that engine from the beginning!

Scott

[Icon]

better handling because of extra weight??? :scratch2:
i would like to see that in practice
i just dumbfounded on how that is supose to work
and all that money spent to lighten race cars

[botrytis]

It only works if the weights adds to the 50/50 weight distribution, otherwise it doesn't do anything but cause trouble.

Dave

[SPL db]

It's like botrytis said... it's not how much weight you add,
but where you put it! :D

Scott

[botrytis]

AMEN BUD!!!!

Dave

[THOR]

There are guys putting all sorts of engines in Miatas there is one guy on Miata.net that has a supercharged V8 in his Miata it has been dyno'ed at like 500 HP or something like that :yikes: I guess he goes through a lot of tires from he says. Most agree that the addition of V8's to Miatas sacrifices the handling for higher speeds. I would like to put a 1.8L in mine and mebbe a turbo or supercharger, who knows though looking good is more important to me than going fast ;) We will be doing something to the drivetrain but that will be a project for next winter, just a tune up under the hood to be ready for summer this year. I'm excited the paint/body guy is coming out to where I have been working on the Miata to check it out give me a quote and for us to arrive on a timeline for completion :thmbsp:

Here's a link to that guys Supercharged V8 Monster Miata - Sorry 450hp ;)

http://miata.cardomain.com/id/jb3452

[botrytis]

They also did the same thing with Vega's, Thor. You what? The unibody can't handle all that stress!!

Dave

[SPL db]

I like this statement from the guy with the supercharged Miata...

...The suspension is one inch lower than stock...It handles very neutral !
The wider tires and Koni's have made a huge improvement...but traction is
still an adventure !

The 383 Stroker in my 74 Nova puts out 452HP on the dyno, but that's in
a car that's quite a bit heavier than a Miata!

I bet that thing would flat out fly!

Last year there was a Fiero GTA here with the World Of Wheels show that
had a supercharged Buick Regal 3800 in it... said it had a pretty wild cam
and the last time the car went to the track it ran mid 11's but after he gets
some traction issues figured out, it should be in the low 10's!

Scott