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Congrats! I ended up installing the Paco seat rails, and they gave me some much needed knee clearance for my left knee. For ~$100, you might find it a nice mod for a DD. 100% reversible if you decide you don't like it.
Seat goes back far enough for me. I'm pretty lean so my hips are right up against the backrest. The little bit of extra reach with the telescoping steering column also puts the wheel in a good position for street. For track work I would want a steering spacer but since I'm not going to put mine on the track I'm going to leave it as is.
Stock exhaust with this? I'm curious about your thoughts on the benefits of a tune, and the reliable limits of power adders. I know, I know- old ground, but you've busted ND transmissions, and you and I both have street '19's...
New ND Mazda MX-5 Tuning Pack Gives 221bhp At 7800rpm, No Turbo In Sight
BBR GTI's new Super 220 package or the recently updated ND MX-5 lifts the power to 221bhp without using forced induction
You can’t help but admire Mazda for the changes it made to the updated ND MX-5. The Japanese company opened up the car’s 2.0-litre, naturally-aspirated inline-four and popped in lighter pistons and con-rods and new valve springs, all in the name of increasing power without resorting to forced induction.
Proper N/A tuning in this day and age is a rarity, but for anyone wanting a 2019-onwards ND MX-5 with more than 181bhp, BBR GTI has a solution. A solution which still doesn’t involve turbochargers or superchargers.
The Brackley-based firm’s new Super 220 package for the MX-5’s fettled SkyActiv-G engine bumps the power up to a handy 221bhp. That’s a commendable power output to extract from a relatively small N/A engine, and it’s developed at 7800rpm. In comparison, the standard unit makes peak power at 7000rpm and tops out at 7500.
The torque gains are slightly less dramatic - the 220 makes 166lb ft, which is a boost of 15lb ft or so. It develops peak twist 500rpm lower than the stock car, however, at the 4350rpm mark.
The kit consists of a custom four-into-one stainless steel exhaust manifold, a cold air intake, a K&N high-flow air filter, a Starchip ECU remap and a reworked top end. The latter part of the conversion involves fitting new camshafts, valve springs and retainers.
It’s £2895 plus VAT to have the package fully fitted at BBR’s HQ in Brackley, or £2235 for the parts alone.
If you want something that’s cheaper and a little less involved, BBR also has a ‘Super 200’ pack available. It has all the same bits as Super 220 minus the overhauled top end, giving 202bhp at 7300rpm and 165lb ft of torque at 3950rpm.
It’s a slightly wallet-friendlier £1445 plus VAT fitted or £1245 for just the components.
Stock exhaust with this? I'm curious about your thoughts on the benefits of a tune, and the reliable limits of power adders. I know, I know- old ground, but you've busted ND transmissions, and you and I both have street '19's...
Stock exhaust is fine with me. Has a bit deeper tone than the ND1. I'm not after maximum power at all. It's whatever I can do while keeping it a nice quiet comfortable street car. I'm sure there will be more power to be had with exhaust system mods, but always at the expense of more noise.
To the best of my knowledge, no one has broken an ND2 transmission N/A yet.
A few short, easy drives in my 30AE ST before dropping it off for paint correction, clear bra and ceramic coat. Brief, easy drive in Sonny's 30AE RF.
The Bilstein shocks on the club feel like the either base gas pressure is too high, volume too low, or perhaps the valving is completely linear. Maybe all three. Too much high speed compression damping generates quivers through the car on rippled pavement.
Base shocks much less jiggle. MSM feels the same way to me, but less severe than the ND2. It's a Bilstein thang.
In the informal jiggle scale, 1 being buttah, 10 being "This is giving me a headache".
ST - 5.5
RF top down - 4
RF top up - 2
Windnoise much higher RF with top down compared to ST top down. To me, this shows the car was engineered from scratch and optimized for the ST, the RF coming along later with some compromises.
Or not. ST still amazes me how quiet it is on the highway. Easily hear folks in bluetooth calls, sound system doesn't need to be cranked. My ND1 was actually less thrummy with top down than top up. An area of the fabric behind and above drivers head wold vibrate. Put your finger on that
spot to dampen the vibration and drop like 5db. A tiny piece of heavy vinyl or fabric bonded to that spot would probably fix it. Don't know if ND2 has that same buzz from the top because I haven't driven with the top up yet.
Sonny's gorgeous RF. I think its sexier than my ST. Until I get ACE and 9's on mine anyway
Picked up mine (soft top) from Aerowerkz. Paint looks great. Dropped of Sonny's RF for clear bra and ceramic pro but no paint correction. Light was perfect, couldn't resist so shots paired up.
Xida ACE with 300/150 rates (50% higher than stock). Riding on 17x9 6UL, with 245/40 Conti ECS. Ride height in this pic is 30mm below OEM (Club). Even with the much bigger, heavier tire and 50% more spring rate it rides better than the Club suspension. Less "busy" over rippled pavement yet handles better when flung into a turn.
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