This might be a DFQ but what is a NA or NB Miata?

 

NA Miata is a 89-97. Easily identified by its pop up headlights.

NB Miata is 99-05 & has exposed headlights, but is very similar to the NA.

NC Miata or rather MX5 is the latest version & has grown in size & lost that roadster feel of the NA & NB Miata's.

 

Hi Crashton - that is interesting to hear about the NC. I worry about that too since the car has certainly grown (and gained mass), but I am hoping to be proven wrong when I finally make some time to test drive one. The 4x4 ride height NCs come with stock means the mazdaspeed spring upgrade is ESSENTIAL though, for both looks and body roll reduction.

But since my NB is just so much fun and the handling as I have modded it is so dialed in for back roads I don't really have much incentive to worry about the NC. I actually have always figured that if I replace my NB it would actually be with an NA 1.8L (low mileage, rust-free cars are plentiful if you look around).

What part of the NC driving experience did you find disappointing?

 

For me it had a lot to do about it's size & it just didn't have the feel of my 95 NA. Maybe a less connected feeling better describes it.

My NA comes close to having that classic roadster feel of an old Brit roadster without their drawbacks. My NA is pretty stock with just KYB AGX shocks installed.

It's sort of a shame to have to buy springs & sway bars to get a car to handle as well as it should. Although many seem to do just that & are happy with their NC's. In time I may come around & warm up to the NC. After all it took me 10 years to warm up enough to the NA to even bother to drive one.

 

Hi Guys:

I've owned two Miatas ,first and second generation. I traded the last one for my Mini, it was a 99.

I love Miatas. I believe rear wheel drive with a diff handles better/easier then the Mini, all things being equal. The Miata has a lower CG and is much more "tossable" around corners. They get good gas mileage and they are cheap to maintain and repair. The tops are simple, nothing complicated to go bad. Power is OK, but not great.

THe Mini is more comfortable to drive, can hold my wife AND two boys, is lots of fun to drive. It definately get's more attention in the looks department, just because it's different. I get teased about both cars being a "chick car", but as a guy, I'm not really interested in attracting other guys. ;-) The Mini costs more in just about every area and is harder to work on.

I really love both cars. For most everyday driving I prefer the Mini, but for scootin around the mountain corners alone, the Miata is my favorite.

Cheers!
Lee

 

OK... Have to give my .02....
I've had my MCSc for one month, and it replaced my 1994 Miata. While it has mostly been said above, the Miata was bulletproof. Not much in the way of frills, but nothing to go wrong. I've never had a car more dependable that that. It was really fun on the highway, and while the MINI is shorter, the Miata drove and felt much more like a small car. The wheelbase and the height are to thank for that.

I got the MINI because it would hold the whole family and I have been able to drive it much more than I ever got to drive the Miata. I can honestly say that the MINI feel more solid, and due to the Supercharger is quicker, but the Miata was just a tad more fun....

Not to mention that my MINI is in the shop right now for the second time since I got it. Nothing major, but it is a bit concerning when compared to the luck I had with the Miata.

Have Fun!

 

As others have said, it depends on what you like, what you want and what you need the car to do.

I had two MINIs, 04 S and 06 S and now I drive a turbo 05 Miata.

I LOVED my MINIs. I'd have another one in a second... as a second car. I had a lot of problems with both of my cars and no matter how much I loved them, I couldn't put up with it. My Miata has been a dream to own. No repairs, no problems. I test drove the 06 NC Miata but it felt to squishy for me. I got the last year NB and I love it. I think it's a very pretty car, it feels so much more like a sports car with the low and reclined seating position and RWD. My MINI was the really fun car that was still completely practical but I needed something more reliable and frankly, I wanted more of a traditional sportscar.

I have driven a stock NB and wow... slow, but still handled very well. I have also driven a regular Cooper and it was slow, but I still enjoyed driving it around town.

No one can tell you which one to buy, you have to drive them both and decide which one works for you. The Miata is very small, you can't fit much in it at all. The MINI cabrio has that tiny boot but it does have a back seat that can hold a lot if it has to. I travel in my Miata very often and I have packing it down to a science. I can fit anything I need in that car. Of course, I have no kids, no dogs, don't haul anything really other than myself and what I need to get through my day. I've carried large things in it many times by just putting them in a passenger seat with the top down.

As for the stiff suspension, my MINI had aftermarket suspension and was just as stiff. But as was mentioned earlier, some of us are fine with that. I'm young, in shape and I've always driven small, sporty cars, stiff suspension is a must for me. I'd feel sick in a Cadillac

They both handle very nicely. The Miata has clear advantages in some ways though because of the RWD. But, the MINI is the best handling FWD I've ever driven, easily.

But back to my point... it's all about what you like. A LOT of MINI owners own or have owned Miata's and vice versa. If you asked the same question on a Miata board, you'd get a lot of people posting the same as they have on here... as former or current owners of both.

 

Oh, and I totally forgot to ask, what year Miata are you considering? The differences between the NB and NC are quite big. If you're considering brand new Miata vs brand new MINI, the Miata is going to have a lot more hp and a lot of the same features. The NC is a lot more refined. Some people say it lost it's edge but, some like them because they are more comfortable and luxurious. They have all the features I had on my MINI.. heated seats, nice trims, etc.

Oh, and as for Miata's being noisy... mine has no squeaks, no rattles, nothing bad. It's a very solid little car.

I wish I could have them both, honestly.

 

I owned two Miatas before my Cabrio S (a '94 and a '99) and loved them both. Very reliable until their later years. They were daily drivers, and the main reason I moved to the MINI was that I needed more space and versatility. The Miata is a better performer on twisty roads, but only by a little. It's more tossable, being lighter. Straight-line power between the two is comparable. For a weekend fun car, I'd pick the Mazda, but for a daily driver the easy choice is the Cabrio.

 

For me, the Miata felt like the MG Midget in driving. The Mini feels like the MGB. I preferred the MGB, my car love affair from many years ago... that's why I have the Mini today, and I now have a back seat for the kids, too.

 

You have obviously have never driven a Sprite or a Midget. I've had at least a half dozen or so of them over the years. It was my feeling that the Miata was worlds more civilized than a Midget or an MGB ever could be. That is why I bought mine.

I'm not knocking your Cabrio, but it is nothing like an MGB & for that you should be thankful.

 

I'm talking about the interior experience of the cars, not the performance. It's been so many years ago, I can't remember much about that.

 

As they say, time heals all wounds.

 

Intresting comment.. one of our friends just won a Miata and his other cars are a Spitfire, a GT6 and and MGB GT. He's also owned a number Spit's and B's over the past 30 years... In his opinion, the Miata is closest to a Spitfire.

 

I guess this goes to show us that opinions are like --- -----, well err what I mean is elbows. Yep everyones got some.

 

As someone who has owned and loved an MGB and drove a Midget and Spitfire a lot in the 70s/80s, I really don't get the negativity. I chalked it up to gearhead snobbery... umm, my elbows are different, too.

 

They are both fun little cars. I'm happy driving either. I've had a NA and NB, have not driven an NC. I like the idea of the metal convertible top, but the Mini has won me over for now as I can haul my entire family. You really can not go wrong with either.

I've had a number of MGs, Austins and Triumphs as well. All fun, but mostly unreliable compared to any Miata or Mini.

 

I had NA Miata '96 for 3 years before. I've had 05 MCS convertible for two years now.

To me, personally, the major difference is... 4 seater VS 2 seater.

They both have excellent vehicle dynamics. You can't make a FWD car much better than Mini, and You can't make a RWD car that much better than Miata (For similar engine/power.)

Miata is an extremely well balanced car. So easy to control at the limits, engine/tranny has tremendous potentials. To me, it is more "go-kart" like, than Mini.

Here's my point.

How many 4 seater convertibles are there that is worthy of being a real fun to drive car around the same pricemakr?? - Sebring? Sunfire? Beetle? saab 9-3? Volvo? no i don't think so. Mustang? Camaro? may be. BMW 3? Audi A4? CLK? yeah but they are much more expensive than Mini.

How many 2 seater convertibles are there that is worthy of being a real fun to drive car for the similar price? not that many.

 

I think I know where you can find a marvelous well-cared for Mini convert! Just listed mine on Autotrader to make room in the garage for the new one on order.

 

Good point! I'm on my second Miata/MX-5 and have test driven MINIs. When it came to replacing my 115k mile '99 Miata, we had no local Mini dealer. Will be interesting to compare the FWD MINI Roadster to the MX-5 next year. Do love the power retractable hard top however.