What would you change about how Miata's came from the factory?

[Chops]

I like this thread. Here's my take on it...

Slightly higher wheel arches like the old roadsters. Those old roadsters looked good with the wheel arches hugging those taller tires.
Interior/trunk lighting
Ignition switch lighting
Better seats that actually hold you in place. The stock ones are like single-person bench seats. LOL
6-speed and LSD as standard
The hand-brake on the passenger side of the transmission tunnel.
Better, louder horn. I can fart louder than the stock horn.

[theothersawyer]

Ignition light is a good one! Personally, I don't like cars with the hand brake on the passenger side! It just feels weird to me. The NC has the hand brake on the passenger side!

[Chops]

Ignition light is a good one! Personally, I don't like cars with the hand brake on the passenger side! It just feels weird to me. The NC has the hand brake on the passenger side!

Actually, I wouldn't mind it being were it is now if it didn't go up against my knee. That shiz hurts after a while behind the wheel.

[cbaylis77]

5 lug wheels!
I can see the NA having it's little 4x100 import wheels but when they redesigned for the NB it should have taken the RX-7's hubs.
Better look, better brakes and tons of aftermarket wheel options.
What's not to like?

[Tungsten6]

What! There are so many more 4x100 wheels in 15 (hell even 16 IMO) for the NB. I love the 4 lug!

[treeafodo]

What! There are so many more 4x100 wheels in 15 (hell even 16 IMO) for the NB. I love the 4 lug!

I agree with you on this.

[Anonymous]

Lil' more space for trips and more power, a nice reliable 225hp of turbo fun would be good.

[— kung fu jesus —]

I wish Mazda would get ahead of the Roadster segment. The Miata is fine car, but there are glaring holes in it as I see. They basically share the same chasis from 89-05. Minor differences, sure, but it is essentially the same. That is 16+ years to take what was learned and what didn't work and make it better. The result of the NC was an underwhelming effort. All thee versions are great, but when you look at all the "special" or "limited" editions, that is time and money lost that could have been put back into the model to make it better and keep the competition off-balance.

And what off those "special" models? An undercooked, under developed Mazdaspeed version that comes from the factory with sketchy engine management and aforementioned 16 year old chassis. Is it a bin parts car? The engine and electronics suggest that it is. The NC even more so; suspension from the RX-8, engine from the Ford/Mazda partnership, bloated disingenuous styling.

I understand whet it takes to develop a product like this, I don't expect it to have all unique parts specific to that model, that would be idiotic. What I see, and perhaps this is why the NA/NB versions are still in demand, is a wasted opportunity to take something special and build on it rather than let it become something mediocre, an also-ran.

What I see happening is Mazda wavering on whether or not to continue the model. The amount of consumer group research it has done for the ND suggests the people at the top can't make a decision and the model is dying a slow, painful death. Mazda has a knack for creating a couple of unique models that are fun to drive and have unique engineering. I don't see that anymore. I see a lot of half-baked ideas meant to parlay the public into warmed over products. It's a lack of confidence hidden by smiley-faced products. Get yer shit togther, pick a damn direction and trust your talent.

[RyanG]

I think Mazda is finally turning it around now. The NC was mediocre because it was a giant compromise due to financial realities. The engineers from Mazda have even outright stated this fact. They have also said that the ND was designed from the ground up all new. They are not adapting it from another platform and while some parts may be common with other vehicles it will be all of the new skyactive stuff which is new in its own right.

They had to claw their way back from the mismanagement from the Ford era and keep afloat which hampered their ability to do what they do best. I am excited to see what they put out in the next few years. I think if they can market their products correctly you will see them grow tremendously. With growth comes $$ that can be used for R&D.

I own an MSM and honestly the ECU was shit. The engine is a parts engine aside from the cams but it is still a good engine. I wish they had thrown in some stronger rods and a better flowing head but they worked with what they had. The chassis, however, has extra bracing and is solid, it has the strongest diff and axels and the shocks are actually quite brilliant if you just put the right spring rates and coilover sleeves on them. The wheels are boat anchors but that was a marketing thing.

[Tungsten6]

I noticed another problem tonight

Why in the hell would you have like a 45 degree turn right at the point of entry for air? Mazda could of designed a WAY better intake manifold to atleast try and milk a few extra horsepower out of these little 1.8's....or maybe even another company could design one..

[— kung fu jesus —]

Square top.

[Tungsten6]

Yeah I know, but why wouldn't we get a similarly designed manifold.....
emissions?

[— kung fu jesus —]

Most likely. Different designs for different driving conditions/federal requirements?

[Ihatecars]

My dash is ugly and sticky. I have it so much.

[jstammer]

I have a '96. I agree on teh interior lighting as my son's '90 is totally dark. I replaced my tinted dome light cover with the Mitsu clear one and the difference is tremendous.

Would love factory lighting in the trunk. I wound up with one of those battery opperated push on lights stuck onto the bottom of the trunk. Worked for a bit, but eventually came apart. LOL.

Even though I'm only 5'8", I'd like a lower seat position.