Shocking Decisions

Compare, meet, discuss, feel, ....... maybe decide.

Today I met Matt for a chat about our ND Roadsters.  We are remarkably similar in many ways and the way he has tuned his ND for the street meant that this was going to be informative.

Subtle differences and big differences.

Stupid Australian sun takes no prisoners when photographs are called for in direct sunlight.

My car is the 2017 Base 2.0L while Matt's car is the previous 2016 GT "premium" model.

Aussie GT spec externally gets colour mirrors and hyper silver wheels. Touch entry for the door handles. Internally the changes are colour door trims, leather and silver control bezels. The bits you don't see are terrain sensing headlamps and auto sensing wipers.

My 2017 car doesn't have the un-necessary on 2.0L sound enhancer (matt had deleted this himself.)
But My car has the lane change assist mirrors and rear sensors.

Matt has added a 3rd party proximity parking assist himself.   

So thats stuff I know now from 2016 to 2017.

But thats not the reason for this meet.

Externally  Matt's car has Mazda bottom line aero pack. slight extensions visually add a fraction.

but also MCA "purple"  coil overs and a HKS Legamax exhaust + flash tune add more.


The car is about an inch lower, and 10000% visually better in person.

Driving impression is immediate turn in response is improved and that roll... is gone. 
Sound is awesome but not intrusive.

Because I like driving by exhaust note rather than induction sound, I found that awesome. but i didn't feel many HP changes. Thats something you'd only find on a track maybe.

So #1 priority for me is that I don't wan't to loose the suspension stroke.

Yes I wan't it lower and flatter, but on bumpy sections where I usually drive, I'm nervous to loose that when braking hard into a bumpy corner.

But I think that would be the only negative.

Definitely, I want it lower. As low as will cope with my garage driveway.  
Definitely, I want it louder. This is subjective, but I don't mind it loud ALL THE TIME!

Aero... Odula GT wing and Vary front Splitter would be best

In the new year, I plan to do the odd track day. so I guess that will be the focus.

Spend some money and get what I want.

December Lights.

That time of year.

TARGA Stages

It maybe wet, but that doesn't effect the ND. Superbly competent.

With roads like these. You drive safe, but still fast.

Two of my favourite signs...  The wiggly one

And the go hard sign. realistically on this road you aren't going to break the national limit. It's tight.

Miata country.

It's almost a sin to stop for a photo. 

2nd gear for the main, glimses of third and First on those hairpins.

This was a wet return journey, but the previous nights dry run was open top nirvana.

No it didn't shrink.

Aero Up!

A little more balance

lift off oversteer was a little too much...

But the sacrifice is slight understeer as the massive wing goes to work.

100$ fun!

Replica

Replica by Tamiya

this is fun.

Tamiya scale quality

Colour match = Yes!

This is mt new Ride height checker. If it gets under the car... its legal. 

Fun timers...

STANCE Coil overs and Cups

http://stance-usa.com/rays-nd-miata/

Stance is personal and this looks good.

Trying to find some good spots for night shots. 

A Long drive with some detours.

Gold-Coast to Sydney and return. Total 1960klms.Reason - WTAC

My detours off the highway were filled with corners.

Pacific Highway can make you angry, but when in a straight line, set the cruise and forget.

Take some detours to get your attention and focus back.

Night Mode

Full moon and restless.

Night Shot.

First Attack

Early rise and and a hike up Mt Warning.

A quick stop by Murwullimbah as I headed to my 4 Special Stages

It's hard to get used to the reduced size, 

After coming from my ROCK HARD NCEC the Jimba Itai feeling is undeniable in this one.

In the Horse and Rider Mazda style, the suspension soaks up everything keeping your body in a stable position, and you soon forget that the car is actually rolling and pitching a lot. On some of the heavily cambered corners that I usually love the lean of, that can be a bit strange, but you soon forget it because you simply push harder.

 
Now this is a very different feeling to an old NA6C MX5 "go cart" on slammed coilovers.  So you wonder whether that style is still what I want.

I mean, the last NC was using it's suspension in a totally different way. just as good in a different way.

In the ND You can still play at the limit and in the wet, this is still a lot of fun. 

For point to point enjoyment, this is a different way of driving.

I would definitely need to try a modified ND before I ever decided to modify this one. 

At the moment... VERY HAPPY.






now if only they could eliminate that shake from our stupid Australian concrete highways. 

ND vs NC - A REAL Owners Review

Lets take a look at the NC vs ND in REAL terms. No paid advertising here.

A direct comparison between a car lightly tuned to the way I like it. vs a brand new modern car.

NC

FUN PARTS!

SOUND is awesome.
FLAT handling is awesome.
Interior space is just right.
Good power and smooth balance.
I loved driving it.

NO SO FUN PARTS!

Interior was old.
and just needed a fresh up.

But all this is irrellevant now. because it's sold.

ND.

FUN Parts

The ND looks good!
Sharp and tight.
Details are good.
Interior is very pleasing and functional.

I love the way the rear lights look.

Power is good. SKY Active 2.0 is a little more torque and gearing is taller.
But that means less changing of gears.

In fact I'm yet to extend the ND's power band untiul it reaches 1000klms. But I'm sure I'll get used to it.

Car is noticibly lighter and therefore faster.Is that a good thing around town?

1st to second gear is a bit hard to match. Maybe clutch engagement position is a bit high.

Standard handling is interesting.
Very similar to how my NC used to be. Weight shift for reward. but still very very good.
tyre grip is exploited well. long stroke is definitely used

At the moment, I'm adjusting to the massive reduction in size.
side by side, the difference is very clear.


ND is SMALL!!!!!!
Right now just a little unconfortable in the seating position because the steering wheel is too far away. I can't get the steering wheel to my wrists. It needs a 50mm boss spacer.

So that will be the next mod and hopefully only mod for a while.

getting comfortable is the only thing I want to change right now.

Letting go of the noise and bumpy ride is hard because the NC was so connected.
But I'm looking forward to the new style.