Phalanx8

ok so I'm new here but ive heard this is a great place to find out useful information about miatas of course. I'm just in a bit of a delema. I'm unsure of what I should pick. I am either saving for a 350z, or I'm buying an nb miata and maybe turboing it. I know that a miata is a great platform to learn and sort of do your own thing but a z also just seems cool and theyre pretty fast for the price. I don't know what id pick and which one would be faster and more fun. I know speed isn't necesarilly the miatas strength but still with a FM2 turbo kit ive seen around 5.5 average 0_60 and that seems plenty fast for me. I just would like some insight on what I could possibly do. I was going to save up for an s2k because its kind of a mix of both but theyre honestly going up in price so fast that I just cant. the 350z soft top also looks ugly af. idk. I cant kinda put what I'm thinking into words. should I save money and turbo a miata
? I'm thinking maybe 12 psi on stock internals with a tune (I know you need one but I'm not sure how id go about it) and you need a clutch and flywheel upgrade as well. anything above 230ish youd need forged internals and an upgraded diff as well. what numbers would I be looking at if I were to do that? or would I be better off getting a 350z? any help or advice would be splendid and I'm also sorry if this has been covered before and I'm repeating a question.

-Anthony

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Having driven both in anger I will say that they're very different cars. The 350Z is heavy, and slow. The NB is lighter and slow. The 350Z has very low quality plastic in the interior, expensive window regulators that fail, a clutch master cylinder arrangement occasionally stops working correctly, and doesn't seem to have any more storage space than the Miata.

You said something about changing the differential but NB Miatas don't need a differential change. Only the 1993 and older 1.6 cars had bad differentials.

A 220 wheel horsepower Miata will be faster than a 220 wheel horsepower 350Z in the straights and in the corners. The 350Z in stock form probably rides more comfortably. Nobody likes the looks of the convertible 350Z. 350Z comes with electric seats.

You figure out what you want. Drive them both.

matrussell122

iTrader: (1)

First break that huge thing of text up so its readable. Then Post in the meet and greet section with your location, what you do for work, and pictures of current car.

This forum will give you a heavily biased answer and vote the miata, go figure. but here is why.

Weight 370z is 3200 pounds, The miata is 2300 pounds. Woot Woot just saved 1000 pounds!!

The miata can easily make as much power and more than the 370 and make a way better track car. If you got the NB and a Trackspeed trubo kit you could make 250+ hp every day of the week and on a reasonably safe tune. Build the motor with forged internals and the sky is the limit Sav just dynod at 458rwp on his Trackspeed kit. If the 6 speed gives you issues k miata has the solution with their bmw trans and getreg diff from the camero, Really sky is the limit for a miata. Or if you want to get real crazy you could swap in a LSX, LFX K24

pdexta

iTrader: (17)

I have a G35 (basically a 350z) as my daily driver, that I almost never daily drive because my Miata is so much more enjoyable. Out of the box the 350z is going to be significantly quicker, plus they're getting super cheap now. Parts are a lot more expensive for the Z; tires, brakes, wheels, exhaust, clutch, etc.

If you're going to leave the car stock, you'll probably be happier with the Z in the end. If you've got realistic plans to modify the car then the Miata wins hands down IMO. It sounds like you've got a lot to learn as far as modifying a car, so read as much as you can. If you do end up deciding to turbo a miata, do yourself a favor and figure out the tuning stuff first. Start tuning the stock car and figure out the basics before you complicate the process with a turbo.

BDoty

If you have the money and knowledge to build and own a turbo Miata, then yeah, that's going to be a much more enjoyable car. But it sounds like you can't afford a stock S2000, I'm not sure you can afford to realistically afford to build a proper turbo Miata.

concealer404

iTrader: (3)

If you can't afford an S2000, you can't afford a turbo Miata.

I vote S2000.

PatCleary

What are you looking for? A fun daily driver? A track toy? Stoplight racing? All of those probably have slightly different outcomes.

I've owned 3 Miatas in my life, and I'm considering another one. That said, when I was routinely doing San Francisco to LA, I frequently dreamed of buying a Z or something similar after 3 hours of 70mph wind noise. That said, my track car is a blast on track for way less cash than a comparable track Z. Have you driven any of these cars? They're pretty different.

Phalanx8

thanks for all the helpful info guys and I'm just leaning towards a miata because I originally wanted an s2000 simply for the quick top down experience and because of the forged internals and how well it takes to turbos. sorry if what I'm typing is hard to break down ive just heard forums are the best way to get info and I'm new to this.

I would like to just have a quick zippy car that doesn't lose to ford focus's (lmao joking). I just want enough power to have fun on the road on my way to work and class but get home safe because of how reliable it is.

ive been doing plenty of research on which one I would like. no I haven't driven any of these but I will before I make a decision on buying one. I currently drive a civic and it just isn't quick enough for me and I want to delve into the car world and learn about the machinery I'm sitting in.

if i was to buy an NB miata with 50k miles and save money turbo it what numbers would I be looking at? is it true that anywhere above 250ish HP you need to upgrade the differential? what psi would be safe to run on a stock internal engine and what hp numbers could it get me? I'm hoping I can get something quick like a 0-60 in 5.5? I'm not sure if that's realistic at all but itll be plenty of fun and power for me.

also how would I go about tuning the engine to handle the power so I don't blow the motor.

one last bit of info is that I'm turning 20 this august and this will be my first car I purchase with my own money and I just wanna make sure I'm making a good decision.

thanks guys and sorry that this is so long

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

If you are in school you have no business with the turbo Miata. It will require surprise maintenance and will always require more money than you expect. Get something with a factory engine and a factory tune.

thebigtuna

Go look at the sticky's. The answer to almost all of those questions can be found within about 10 minutes. Look at build threads of guys doing exactly what you are asking. A stock miata is still a lot of fun and you can slowly upgrade it before you even get to turbo. Seem's like you would be better off in a stock car for the time being. If you want a stock car that will do all of those things then unfortunately I don't believe the miata is for you. Since I'm feeling nice, here is a start: https://www.miataturbo.net/diy-turbo...b-miata-93402/

alsmedic

iTrader: (1)

I have a 2002 Miata, not turbo'd yet. I drive out of state on occasion, and recently I considered buying a 350 or 370z. The easiest thing to do was take a test drive of a new 370z at the dealer, which I did.
I have owned pickups, SUV's, a Corvette, GMC Typhoon (turbo awd) and some old hot rods (400+hp) and air cooled VW's. I've had a well rounded auto history... I wasn't sure what to expect from the 370z, particularly because I would be comparing it to my near daily Miata.

I drove the sporty version, 6-speed. They did not have a manual trans convertible, which is what I would've likely bought. I honestly think the hardtop Z looks great, but the convertible is not as pretty. After driving the Miata for a few years, I gotta have a convertible for my fun car.

I was disappointed. First- the car was heavy feeling. I'm sure people going from a normal sized car to the Z would think its quite sporty, but not me. I currently have a Mercedes E350 (4 dr), and to me it felt closer to the Merc than the Miata. I LOVED the space of the 370z, just not the girth. That clutch was miserable too. I don't get how it was so odd feeling. (I also currently have a Jeep wrangler with a manual trans, and have fairly recently had motorcycles- so I am more than used to driving manual trans vehicles) I have never driven a more difficult manual trans car than this. It actually distracted me from the driving experience. My wife also drove the Z, and said the exact same thing about the transmission/clutch.
To me, the power of the Z was not worth the weight sacrifice, even considering the luxury of the added size and capacity- and I am 6'-1" and 225lbs.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

If you think of the 250z as a 2 door Maxima without a trunk you won't be surprised to know they share a lot of parts under the sheetmetal. Think of it as the Nissan Minima.

Phalanx8

my school is only 10 minutes away and I also make some decent money which isn't an issue but ill check out the links, thanks guys. I probably wont listen at all and end up getting a miata and turboing it. I'm stubborn but I love the challenge. idk maybe I'm just dumb.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Stay in school. Grammar is almost as important as learning to trust wisdom.

matrussell122

iTrader: (1)

Here is an ice cube. That might have stung a little.




Grammar is very important. It will take that smart thing you were saying and make all your credibility go away.

concealer404

iTrader: (3)

Idk my bff Jill

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

q60 please.

thumpetto007

iTrader: (15)

Having driven the three cars you are deciding between...

save for the s2000. It is such a special car, and not just to you driving it. Multiple random people commented on what a pretty/beautiful car it was, made me feel privileged to be in it.

Stock car, just had an intake that was louder than the exhaust.

The miata, on the other hand, is fun, not even close to as fast, stock, and most people will yell "gay" or point and laugh at you.

350z, 370z are nothing special, except for the exhaust note, and they take a lot of money to feel good to drive, and then you still cant beat a stock miata around a track. They are highway cruisers and cant even do that well.

Full_Tilt_Boogie

iTrader: (1)

The solution is obvious. You need 2 cars. Stock daily, and racecar money pit.

DNMakinson

iTrader: (3)

My cousin hated his S2000. His particular car ate transmissions. Don't know why.

My Mustang-drag-racing Son-in-law said that Miatas were girls cars, but he was referring to NA's. He said my NB was OK.

Above really means nothing much. Just another input.