Making a Normal Car Handle Like a Supercar

Filmed With: -GoPro: amzn.to/3mhJQ71
-DJI Mavic Air 2: amzn.to/3mkby2X
Today we start to modify the miata with Ohlins dampers, and a new wheelset to upgrade the handling characteristics of the car.

[@Jethinobamino]

10:45 It seems that Larry could anticipate the approaching right turn, repositioned his front paw and leaned to the right so he would stay stable through the corner.

[@Fluff_Panda]

Not long or complicated, feels like a friend teaching you. Thanks for the content

[@wg5768]

I'm surprised you didn't do a sway bar upgrade at the same time.

[@Thiborfirenz]

i can confirm that YES you can make a miata handle like a super car! i put meister zeta crd coilovers il motorxsport chassis brace kit il motorsport 30% stiffer antiroll bars and the car now handles like a supercar and it only cost £1400 in parts!!

[@AlexM-np1cx]

Zent we have pretty much the same cars for the same purpose. I got a V8 4th gen 4Runner for off-road (same platform as the GX) and an NC Miata built for grip.

[@FATmenDRIVEtrucks]

Good combos I got similar LX470 and S2K but had many Miatas NA/NB still want NC/ND

[@ivorwm2291]

Great information. Thanks

[@Gord19]

Thanks for posting I enjoyed your video.

[@oscarmathson3006]

I have had my Öhlins on my MX5 nc now for eight years, still happy.

[@charlesosbun9381]

I put HD coils and sway bars on my 2015 PRHT, so she now handles like a true sports car, and no longer like my mother’s Buick! In hindsight, I probably should gone with coil overs!

[@j-forceyizzle9989]

Thanks for sharing! I'm considering buying one. Would be a nice objective metric if you could share lateral G before and after. Not essential, I'm sure it is amazing regardless!

[@patrickjones8209]

I did an LS swap on my 2007 Miata PRHT and went with Fortune Auto 500 Series coilovers with optional Swift springs and got an excellent result. They are fully adjustable and come fully assembled, so no rear top hat reuse, etc. required. I also went with a 17x8 +45 wheel with 235/40 tires to get essentially the same contact patch as the 245 on 17x9 but at a lower overall unsprung weight. 235/40/17 tires choices are all 200 treadwear so there are only a handful of brands who make that size, but the combination of grip and lightweight is worth it.

[@RBslowman]

Only thing I've done to my NB2 is the extended front ball joint to get more negative camber, and a good alignment afterwards. The car handles extremely well, definitely better than standard and it feels extremely agile, but it retains the good ride quality of the standard car.

[@miaouchat495]

I have the hardest time using those toe plates. I can't get the correct adjustment even after multiple tries and had to resort to the string method.

[@TheLambo123254]

great video

[@Audfile]

That whole pile there is about to go on my XRS. All that.

[@antoniomccartney1461]

NC / RX8 is a really good platform

[@maximilienbisson159]

What is the offset on the 17x9” RPF1’s?

[@arnoldxd]

My miata still hits its rear shocks on some dips on the highway or driving up certain drive ways. I want to know how to get more "travel space" or optimize it. Which is why I was interested in those coil overs

[@boblast5582]

gets offset bushings for the front upper control arm for more camber. You'll be able to get more than -3 degrees, with stock bushings you'll be lucky to get low 2's

[@ZentRose]

Perfect, thank you. I am going to need more negative camber up front

[@Zadnak1]

I have the Mazda Motorsports lower control arm off set bushings. My max front camber at 13' ride height is -3.7, not that anyone will ever need that much.

[@lpvgs-817]

NC and RX8 share the same suspension! same chassis if you're swapping hub its a good idea to upgrade to RX8 hubs theyre beefier handle more power/stress etc.

[@FireManiac58]

the rx8 shocks are longer if I recall but yes most parts are similar

[@glennwhitlock1272]

Brit Mazda ND owner here. I understand nothing about cars. I understood nothing about what you did. Larry understood more than I did. And yet, fascinating nonetheless. Sorry I'm two years late.

[@sgomez8194]

😄

[@Simon-ni1ko]

From the editing to the information to the dog as a passenger, this video is perfection.

[@smiles564]

Are these the STREET or RACE version of the Ohlin's?

[@chrisyo2178]

Hey , super good video please tell me what OFFSET does your wheels have …they look on point!

[@ZentRose]

17 x 9 +45

[@chrisyo2178]

@@ZentRose nice , do you rub in any way when cornering?

[@tejpatel9667]

That msport e90 though :D

[@jwrx7tt01]

Do you need to account for bushing preload when installing coilovers on an NC?

[@ZentRose]

yes you reset the preload

[@rockon526]

What stereo do you have?

[@Retrobeemer]

Just bought a very tidy 2 litre NC for £1250 which seems like very good value. I'm looking to do the same mods as you as I'm more concerned with handling than power. What ET are those alloys please?

[@ZentRose]

17 x 9 +45. with 245 40 17 tires

[@Retrobeemer]

@@ZentRose Thank you. 🙂

[@DaxxTerryGreen]

Nice job friend. What is a Mazda NC?

[@JupiterPolluX]

3rd generation Mazda MX-5

[@BuiltByKyle]

🙌🔥

[@TiyamatFTL]

Where and how did you get a hold of the öhlins? they are all sold out and no longer produced where i live :/

[@ZentRose]

Goodwin racing usually stocks them

[@2688elmo]

Are these Ohlins coilovers height fixed? Do you remember any difference in weight compared with stock coilovers? Would you say the adjustable dampers negates the need for stiffer sways?

[@ZentRose]

1. you can adjust ride height 2. these feel much lighter than stock assembly 3. Yes. With damping turned up I pulled about 1.1 - 1.3g consistently in corners on track... body roll was present but pretty minimal

[@2688elmo]

@@ZentRose Thanks Zent. Enjoying your videos especially the miata.

[@EmmaHopman]

as someone with the same car and same ohlins: 1) highly adjustable, and basically the most adjustability you could ever want from them 2) way way lighter 3) Yes and no, it depends what you want. I personally have QUITE stiff sway bars (i know that it's not ideal for peak grip) and I love the way it feels in combination with the coilovers. For a more track oriented setup you should still get aftermarket sway bars... perhaps the rx8 ones instead of the ones I have which are way stiffer. I have the Progress sways which are basically the stiffest thing you can get your hands on, but I'd still highly recommend getting at least a medium stiffness set of bars... also the front bar being much stiffer than the rear is kinda important with ohlins because of the oversteer/understeer balance. Sorry for the rambling XD hope it helps!

[@2688elmo]

@@EmmaHopman Thanks Ryan! I don't track my car and love the playfulness around town. Just don't enjoy the rocking at high speed direction changes, which again isn't always an issue. Anyway I hear the springs of even the street version Ohlins DFV's are very firm so unfortunately I may end up passing on them. A shame because they are such a quality product.

[@Thiborfirenz]

i put meister zeta crd's on my nc and 30% uprated swaybars and i added chassis bracing. because of the stronger sways and chassis bracing, i am able to keep the damping set to a softer more comfortable ride for daily driving but i still get the supercar handling! and for track days i can just adjust the damping up a few clicks.

[@IgnoreTheNoise.]

The miata is no "normal" car. It can play with a supercar in the twisties stock in some cases. The more the better infact.

[@mr.butterworth4216]

Same thing with the wheel/tires sizes people choose, routinely fitting 17”-18”x9” forgetting that the Miata is a sub-3,000 pound car. There’s really no need for that much rubber and certainly extra unsprung weight.

[@schakalicious6023]

@@mr.butterworth4216he NC is the heaviest car of the miatas and it only weighs 2400 lbs. the early NAs weigh around 2000 if you remove ac and power steering. Feels like a go kart at that point Also generally people put huge tires when they’re running 400hp turbo setups. It’s hard to put that kind of power down in such a light car

[@arnoldxd]

Could i buy those shocks without rolling out the fenders? I need better shocks to absorb those bumps in rougher roads with uneven ground and potholes.

[@ZentRose]

yes. Rolled fenders are for the wheel/tire combo

[@dielaughing73]

Where are the adjusters when installed? Are they easy to get to?

[@ZentRose]

On top of the dampers. Very easy to get to

[@charlesosbun3642]

My dad would have boxed your ears when used a crescent wrench! You are no mechanic!

[@altair7001]

I would be more concerned by how lightly he seemed to tighten the nuts on the suspension. Crescent wrenches are OK when used correctly.

[@CraigJohnBoylan]

I love the old wheels! Are they Mustang wheels?

[@ZentRose]

They came on the car.. but yes they probably came from a mustang. The offset of them was a little off for this miata

[@jakeroberts3181]

ay bro let’s cruise sometime, i recognize the area

[@AlexM-np1cx]

I would love to see you do a 2.5 swap + cams for this thing

[@ZentRose]

I would love that too. I need the engine to fail first lol

[@kyletice811]

@@ZentRose k24 swap would be perfect power for this car, poor man’s s2000 with what s2ks go for now.

[@boblast5582]

@@ZentRose you might be waiting a while... with just basic bolt ons they kinda last forever. I've been tracking mine, 290 degree oil temps, 130k on the clock, still no issues.

[@boblast5582]

@@kyletice811 you'll be able to buy an s2k for what you spend putting a K24 into an NC.

[@kyletice811]

@@boblast5582 not sure if you’ve checked s2k prices lately. But you could pay a shop to build a k24 and to do all the work of the conversion and still spend less than a high mileage ap1.

[@hudboys8120]

These cars handle good as is to be fair

[@dielaughing73]

Eh

[@fatdoggolovespizza]

I have wheel rub and cant for the life of me adjust the height of the vehicle 😔

[@hrfb9696]

How much was the set? Thanks

[@ZentRose]

The ohlins were about $1800

[@hrfb9696]

@@ZentRose Thanks

[@DirtDude117]

Since I spy a low rev tach, I'm guessing 2.5L swap incoming...

[@ZentRose]

If I blow the engine I'll probably swap it. I feel like an LS would be the way to go on this

[@limpethead]

I'm not doing anything to mine. No stress. And no points on my licence. UK. Which means points like crazy and losing your license. 12 points. Licence gone.

[@bavomaes]

Get upgraded offset bushings uprated control arms Swaybars Endlinks Chassis braces/ reinforcement delete power steering get a proper track alignment and corner balance and finetune the swaybars and damper settings by a reputable performance shop and you will outhandle a lot of sports cars and be close to super car handeling

[@bavomaes]

oh and upgrade brake discs, pads and fluids

[@waynesimpson2074]

Wider wheels/tyres and stiffer suspension?? I guess you never take your NC out in the rain?

[@ZentRose]

Took it out in the rain today. Have you taken your meds?

[@waynesimpson2074]

@@ZentRose Meds? Why so touchy? My NC2 is the only drug I need. I keep my spare set of wider wheels for the summer, they're way too lairy in the rain. Maybe you're just an excellent driver?😁

[@ZentRose]

I assumed you were trolling. The weather here is very mild so I can safely run summer tires year round. Enjoy the nc 👍🏻

[@waynesimpson2074]

@@ZentRose Ahh, yes when we get temps lower than 5C the rubber compound makes things a little more exciting over here.🥶

[@eatcustard4677]

NCs are not the best of handling MX5s, so any mod to it will improve it

[@mrpistonrecaro6483]

Miata is not a normal car. Is a great handling car to begin with

[@charlesosbun3642]

My 2015 PRHT drove like a Buick until I swapped the sway bars and coils!

[@enjoying_life49]

There is no such thing as too much negative camber on the NC.