Can the Mazda MX-5 Club Compete With the Subaru BRZ tS? Track Test

[@johnhartman5507]

The BBS wheels are 2lbs lighter wheel than base Miata wheels (16lbs vs 8lbs). Just a random fact. BBR owner here. These cars need springs/dampers/alignment/tires and they are a completely different experience. I immediately switched to even lighter and wider, Titan 7 R8 wheels, A052's, Xida coilovers, Karcepts bars and an alignment and it's fantastic. Next stop is more rear gear ratio and a tune. Love this thing

[@3ducs]

I bought a ND1 Sport in October 2015. The cloth seats are comfortable and grippy, not hot in summer nor cold in winter. When the stock rear brakes rusted from New Hampshire winter salt I got the complete set of Wilwood brakes from Flyin' Miata. They are much lighter, easier to change pads. Other than that it's just been oil and filter changes for 105,000 miles. It's not a track day car but it's perfect on the twisty roads where I live.

[@itaybutavia1204]

Thanks for your review and information ❤

[@aroundomaha]

I'd be curious to see the MX5 time with better tires. I didn't expect to see the BRZ gap the Miata so hard on acceleration, even though the HP delta on paper is pretty large. Actually what would be even more interesting is the Miata with sway bars and tires. I'm not sure if Koni yellows would be an upgrade over the OEM Bilsteins.

[@eugenux]

probably anything between 1.5 to 2.5 seconds per lap with real tires, not that all season garbage.

[@darksunrise8777]

​@@eugenuxI don't know why the video said all-seasons, but the Bridgestone S001's on the BBS/Recaro package in the video are max performance summer tires.

[@DezDav4]

@@eugenux Actually apparently the stock "Potenza S001 is Bridgestone's Max Performance Summer tire" with 280 treadwear which is strange because I have them on my MX-5 and I think they're on par with or worse than my old Michelin Pilot Sport All Seasons on my other car.

[@Accost2u]

Once mine were wore out, I replaced them with Conti ECS 02. The stock S001s have less grip than performance all seasons. It’s a ten year old tire.

[@Grassrootsmotorsports]

Our very mildly prepared MX5 project car runs 1:19s on 200tw tires. grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/2019-nd-mx-5/ There's an immense amount of potential in this chassis that's simply not leveraged by a lot of the as-delivered specs.

[@PRS-dk4mz]

Nice review. I ordered the Club trim but skipped the BBR package and ended up with a MSRP price of just under $35k with the Soul Red Crystal paint as the only option. I just didn’t see the value in the BBR package and would much rather go aftermarket for wheels/tires, brakes, and seats.

[@Grassrootsmotorsports]

This definitely seems like the best idea, unless you're planning competing in a class that mandates as-delivered condition, or you're leasing. There's great aftermarket options out there for way les money for those parts. Well, except the seats. those lovely, lovely seats.

[@Aliens_Gonna_Get_Ya]

MX5’s awesome on road & track!!! 👍😊👊💥

[@Grassrootsmotorsports]

For sure. Out of the box they may to put up the gaudy numbers, but there's a reason this platform has been immensely popular for thirty+ years.

[@Aliens_Gonna_Get_Ya]

@@Grassrootsmotorsports got track modded NC & ND… both so different luv ‘em both 👍😊

[@Grassrootsmotorsports]

@@Aliens_Gonna_Get_Ya NC is definitely the most underrated Miata. Those things are a deal right now, and they're great cars.

[@victoryang9115]

Do you like this or the cayman more?

[@PhilthyHorseRacing]

Bbs/recaro/brembo package? Aka the bankrupt package?😂

[@Grassrootsmotorsports]

BREMBO IS DOING FINE DON'T JINX THIS!!!

[@ag4allgood]

@@Grassrootsmotorsports Mazda has their own Recaro seat building factory in Japan under a another name. BBS wheels has been Bankrupt many times in its past history & will no doubt find a another Buyer.

[@sunnyvalentino]

The best track car under 100K is the C8, Cayman/Boxster and Supra. The MX5 is the best autocross car. The BRZ twins could have been great but the oiling issue holds it back, but regardless, its an amazing sports car.

[@ericmichel3857]

Isn't there a baffle/dry sump system you can add to the BRZ's to mitigate that issue? I also read that only becomes an issue if you track it a lot with sticky tires, whereas street and light track use with stock tires, it hasn't really been an issue. I haven't followed this issue closely, but I did see some talk about it in a couple of forums, and some videos from folks that have heavily modified for them for more serious track use. I like the MX5, but forty grand for a miata? Probably better off getting the a slightly used bare bones one and just modify it as needed.

[@emerica21321]

@@ericmichel3857 after long debate I just sold my GR86 for fear of oiling issues. Yes, you can do quite a bit to “mitigate” the problem but many have experienced engine failures even with these precautionary mods. Engine failures that should in theory be under warranty but it’s really a toss up. Scary. You are also right to say that heavy track use (which is what I wanted to do) makes the problem worse but several anecdotes exist with engine loss from simply street/autoX use as well. The great shame is that the BRZ/86 is a fantastic idea in theory, being a cheap coupe ready for track but in fact what breaks the car is being on track itself! I have decided to move onto the NC Miata for my track/fun needs.

[@andrewclauson368]

⁠@@ericmichel3857The issue exists even without sticky/wide tires. Dry sump would be exceedingly expensive. People have done overfills, baffling, accusump. Helps, but I don’t see anything as a 100% fix. Personally, I would go with ND club w/o Brembo and call it a day.

[@ericmichel3857]

@@andrewclauson368 Are you sure about that? A while back I saw a video by this guy with a new GR that was extensively modified for track use, and he was methodically investigating this issue. In his case he was logging oil pressure and could see on one particular high speed right hand corner his car would lose oil pressure. He installed a new larger oil pan with a trick baffle system, and from his testing it seemed to fix the issue. That is not to say if you run a car hard on track often you won't run into engine issues eventually, but that is true for any car. Unless folks are logging oil pressure on track, they can't really know for sure if these failures are related to this oil starvation issue, or perhaps something else entirely. These are street cars after all, some may hold up better than others, but eventually... The MX5 is a fairly reliable car, but their engines also fail on occasion too so... It is an issue that if you are going to track these cars needs to be addressed, but beyond that I think the extensiveness of this issue is somewhat exaggerated. And some folks just really need or want the added space and utility that the BRZ/GR offers. I am not a fan of that boxer engine for other reasons, but they can be reliable, especially in NA form. I heard a rumor Toyota might be putting one of their own engines in a future version, that could be interesting.

[@UnrelatedNonsense]

@@ericmichel3857The oiling issues were from too much RTV being applied in the factory during assembly which clogged the oil pickup. I would think that was quickly resolved now that the car is a couple years old. I see them on track and autocross regularly and they do very well

[@grippgoat]

I've owned a miata. For me, 2nd gen BRZ was the clear answer. But I hate convertibles. 😂

[@Grassrootsmotorsports]

You're not alone. Open air motoring in an MX5 is fun, but for work on track a lot of our staff prefers a solid top for both the aero and safety benefits.

[@NapalmPineapple]

I was in a similar boat, however I have a first gen 86. Miata’s are fun but not realistic.

[@darksunrise8777]

BIATA? 😄

[@roadracing3]

SS 1LE is also the answer.

[@z32luvr]

Do yourself a favor and buy a low mileage Honda S2000. It’s a more exciting experience and looks 10x better.

[@Grassrootsmotorsports]

Totally defensible position. The window is rapidly closing on affordable driver-quality S2000s, though. Soon they're all going to be priceless artifacts or track rats.

[@francostrong202]

So…try to purchase some unobtainium? 😅

[@gigi9467]

I bought a miata new in 2021 sprt Model 30k out the door with a 2.5% apr for the price i think it was fair, why sport? Because no matter thr trim tje suspension sucks! If ur gonna track it and well i bought it to track so contacted flayin miata and they hooked me up, sold it 3 years later Thought about maybe buying another but they wanted 33k out the door! With a 7.5 apr lol am like pass. Brz gr cant track not reliable Enough wasnt considered.

[@ericmichel3857]

How much did you sell it for and why? I mean if you were just going to get another one, nothing has really changed from 2021 to 2024 model has it?

[@gigi9467]

@@ericmichel3857 20 track days is why. Rear subframe wasnt holding the aligment very well could of been the first guy that aligned it for fault but also i like a new car every 2-3 years. Got 24k from caravan cuz broka asses on facebook kept offering 19k

[@ag4allgood]

@@ericmichel3857 I like the price of the Sport model but not having the Bilstein shocks & Limited Slip Differential are not cheaply replaceable. Also you don't get the Bose stereo & wireless Carplay / Apple Auto ( they are wired instead ). Save your money & wait till you can Buy a used NC / ND Club model for cash. Kinetic Posture Control was also something Mazda added for better cornering.

[@boywonderrr71]

Just get a GR supra for 10k more. Or VW Golf R for about the same cash. More power very tunable and always top of the list.

[@_vinke]

You obviously don't get the purpose of the Miata, let me give you a hint - it's not always about horsepower. Tell me, can you make a supra or golf r weigh 2400 lbs? Yeah thought so. Better yet, find me a brand new two seater rwd coupe that weighs under 2500 lbs under twice the cost of the Miata. Don't forget about reliability, those 2 cars you mentioned are not anywhere close to the reliability of the Miata. Now let's talk about maintenance and consumables, every part from brakes to tires to fluids cost double on those two cars compared to the Miata. Maybe next time you shouldn't give out horrendous car buying advice as if the target audience are all the same as you horsepower bros.

[@eugenux]

none of those are rwd; not everything behind the wheel is about grip.

[@erodz1892]

I tend to agree with you really on the cost of the Miata. These cars are too basic for the price.

[@1Landyacht]

Those cars weight 500 and 1000 lbs more respectively

[@Rot05]

​@@erodz1892 Ok..... So what is the same price or cheaper that is better?