aww, that's just cute

No, it uses the same transmission as the NC.

Which is similar to the rx8, miata 6 speed, brz, etc iirc.

You're sorta correct, but to avoid confusion, and maximize our collective autism, I would like to add some clarification.
The first gen rx8 transmissions used the same case as the NB 6 speed.
Later RX8s (09-11) used an entirely different box, which is indeed similar to the NC 6 speed.
The NC 6 speed is nothing at all like the NB 6 speed.
I admittedly don't know much about the BRZ, but every image of the transmission I can find seems to be of the earlier, weaker AZ6, which is again similar to the NB, but not the NC.

Aisin 6-speed is shiite in the NB (MR long-angled SSK makes it almost bearable).
Aisin 6-speed in the NC has issues when cold getting into 2nd gear.
Aisin 6-speed in Toyburu has issues when cold getting into 2nd gear - I've heard that it may be as high as 25% of them have serious issues regarding this and personally know a guy who sold his within 9 months of ownership (I actually drove him to the dealer to pick up the car) because he had several close-calls in city traffic because of it, needing to use 3rd because 2nd wasn't accessible (all Toyota did was change his transmission fluid 3 times, different formula each time, to rectify the problem so he offloaded it at a loss and vowed NEVER to buy another Toyota again - unfortunately he then bought a VW Tiburon just before the VW scandal so considers himself cursed with regard to cars).

The Aisin 6-speed been around a long time now and is used by Mazda, Nissan, Toyota/Suburu and despite this it's STILL shiite.

I'm not surprised Mazda tried to make their own 6-speed for the ND, just wish it was made of sturdier stuff and hope they can iron out the bugs - there's no way I'm ever buying another car with an Aisin 6-speed unless I've got the $$$ for the BMW transplant.

My Aisin in the Fiata is working just fine. It is clunky when cold. I will see if it will hold up to the much higher power soon enough.

Shame there's no larger displacement bolt-in engine available in that family. That engine is a bored and stroked version of the 1986 Fiat Panda 750 or 800cc engine with a redesigned head. It's already the largest displacement in that engine family.

They seem to be breaking 4th around ~300-325wtq for the track guys. Less if you're an abusive driver.

Yes, it was 17 outside when I left for work today. Until the box is warm, it requires a double-clutch with a nice rev in neutral to get it to go into 2nd cold. Current trans fluid has approx 300 miles on it.

However, once warm, and using some rev's it's a pretty slick shifting transmission. It just doesn't really like being puttered around.

I've loved every NB 6-speed I've driven. I've owned 3 and driven quite a few more, no real complaints. They do suck when the shifter is worn out but with a rebuilt shifter I like them very much.

I've had 2 Mazdaspeed 6 speeds in my car (thanks for the second one, Ed!) and I agree with this. They've been fine. Not as smooth as the 5 speed, but still better than 80% of other non-Miata gearboxes I've driven.

--Ian

I think that the NB2's change of moving the fore-aft detents from down in the gear box to the shifter rod in the tail shaft greatly improved the feel. At that point there is only the shifter ball and socket between you and the feel. On the NB1's there is a another ball and socket, a spring, and some other smaller rods.

So to get things straight... there were a bunch of 'upgrades' to the NB2 6 speed from the NB1 version which led to an overall improvement in shifting feel? Anyone used both and care to comment. Are they 'close enough' with a rebuild?

Not a bunch. A couple. And then the msm got a couple more . Having owned several of each version the nb1/2 is very close, and msm noticeably smoother. Probably had way more to do with mileage and condition tho

I agree with Vlad. I had a 6 speed in my 01 and my MSM. The 01 was really loose feeling, but the MR shifter made it awesome to shift. The MSM also got an MR shifter, but it was much, much tighter that the 01's.

Indeed, condition matters more than year. The wrecked 10AE I had for a few months had the standard NB1 6-speed and was slick and smooth. It was lovely. A later NB2 I drove was ok but very notchy. My MSM 6-speed with the MR shifter is a rifle bolt awesome piece of sweetness. My dad's MSM sucked balls when we got it running because it was totally worn out -- loose, off center, notchy, hard to find the gears... 5Xracing shifter rebuild kit and it's also lovely.

So, unless you other folks going from one generation to another had fresh rebuild kits in all the trannies you shifted, it's not an appropriate comparison. Worn out shit sucks.

My 2001 SE NB2 6 speed was just OK as far as shifting feel (114K miles, fully rebuilt shifter) but the throws were nice and short, I always liked the 5 speed Miata gearbox/shifter that was not old and worn more than 6sp. I do want to try MiataRoasdster SS kit though.

Guys. The NC/Fiata 6spd has little to nothing in common with the 6spds that you are talking about other than number of forward gears.

I am going to keep the ND and the 124. The ND will be the "race car" and the 124 will be my street car. I am crazy, but I have so many parts that I can mix and match already, that it will work out well.

Hrm.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m...b-f3ea986a4c2c

Just to say they can, the reason Edelbrock used the TVS 900 and now the 1300 because the stock injectors won't do anymore than that.

Same reason the BBR turbo is limited in power as well.

I too was wondering at least a couple times now: "so did they finally figure out a fueling solution to the hp limit or is this just to say we didddd ittttt"?
Seems like an awesome waste of money and time if they can't fuel it. At least throw some aux injectors at it or something??

Probably a "we did it" I haven't see any complaints on the lack of low end grunt from the BBR kits.

From the comments, it seemed like a purely "we did it" thing.

The whole fueling issue is split between tuners who claim the ceiling has already been hit and the other half claiming the others don't know what they are doing...

:eggplant:

Who is claiming the others don't know what they are doing? It's not the same people that were claiming a header and 91 were making an additional 40hp was it? HAHAHA

lol

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...ower-for-2019/

I wonder if they finally fixed the transmission and decided to tune the engine to match.

The source document shown in that R&T article has been removed. Read into that what you will.

Maybe they decided to put the NC transmission in, that's what they did for the 124 version (I understand, or maybe it is a derivative?).

Not possible.

I am now not underwater on the ND and I also picked up a 124. I really like the 124 as a DD and I don't want to put a rollbar in it or compromise street comfort.

However, the initial idea was to get rid of the ND, transfer my roll bar, diff, and other parts to the 124, then sell the ND. Now I want to keep both, but now there is news of a much better 2.0 in the ND2....

I wish I would've waited in the first place ugh.

There is always going to be something better, newer, nicer, etc. for just a little more, or next year or....

Stop chasing unicorns and enjoy what you've got.

Sound advice

155 to 181 hp does sound too good to be true. Perhaps they meant to type 161. But a 2019 with 181 hp, red top, and recaros ...we can dream can't we?

unless you have a 1.6L -- then go 1.8L.

Who knows, maybe Mazda got their hands on an MS3...

That's funny. The MS3 Pro to the stock ND ECU is what a Ford Pinto is to a GT3 cup car.

Exactly.

I would normally agree with this. But in the case of the Mazda Miata, there is a clear and repeatable pattern of a vastly improved model coming out 3-4 years after an initial offering. NA (1990 vs. 1994) and NC (2006 vs. 2009). Ignoring the NB because it was mostly an NA derivative rather than a new car. I've held off on an ND for this very reason and am hopeful that the 2019 major refresh will address real weaknesses like those earlier refreshes. I would expect weight to go up though.

Or, to put it another way, give Mazda a chance to work out the bugs on new models.

I am very aware of that, yet I still bought a 2016...

Don't be dumb like me.

The around-town torque of the ND is great. I just wish it had top-end. This 26hp bump is EXACTLY what the car needs. That and some real colors.

Drove my 250hp NB around town today. That double-the-horsepower bump was exactly what the car needed. #TurboNBLyfe.

But seriously it's a ton of fun and not omfg-it's-going-to-kill-me like Aidan's car. Maybe someday.

This weekend: BATTLE ROYALE! “Beaker” vs “Shaggy”

I am taking the our STR project ND "Beaker" down to SanDiego for an BMW club autocross to hang/race with my dude Sean(Lincoln Logs) in his new STX/86 CUP project 2017 Toyota GT86, "Shaggy".

Side note: SCCA is toying with a 100 octane ban for ST classes. For many of the same reasons; cost and logistics, we've gone back to CA91 pump gas for the local fun/testing events.



https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...9244daea63.jpg

I remember there being a huge debate on what is "pump" gas years ago when E85 was starting to make a big push into the ST and SP classes. Many was that a rough discussion on forums.

My ACE's should be here by the end of next week. Now I have to decide which car to put them on...

In for "should I sell my 15-18 model" discussion: https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...werful-engine/

Chili? :party: :drama:

I am glad I am the notorious car swapper... I will seriously consider swapping both of my current cars in for one, if it looks good.

I got the ACE's on my 124 (400/200 springs) and drove it from NM to The Dragon and back. I loved them during the actual Dragon, but not anywhere else. They ride like shit. If these are the best riding XIDA variant, since the ACE can go super soft or whatever, then count me out of ever driving a version with 600/300 springs. They bounce me all over the place, even on the softest settings possible. I am on stock 205/45/17 Bridgestone S001's too, not some super stiff RE71 or something like that. They also make a lot of noise in the rear. I can hear everything the rear springs are doing.

I also installed an intercooler kit, intake, full exhaust, and a Openflash tune. I think I expected too much. It is not as fast as I was expecting it to be. It does sound awesome, though.

Something doesn't sound right. We tested your exact hardware before shipping. Plush on our car at full soft, too soft on that setting actually. Almost sounds like the controller is not sending voltage to the shocks. Default damping is full stiff until they receive voltage. That would certainly rattle your teeth out.
Dan & John will reach out to make sure everything is set up properly.

Yes, I know the difference between the full-stiff mode and all that. My initial test drive left out the fuse on the positive battery cable wire. It was hilariously stiff. This also led to my controller having no lights, which was expected. After I confirmed everything was torqued right and I set my ride-heights, I put the fuse back in and let it do the calibration.

I have no real frame of reference for how "soft" the ride is supposed to be, as I haven't driven any other ND or 124's. Is it supposed to be softer than stock? My wheels and tires were unchanged.

The very first ACE set was installed on a 124, which we drove on our test circuit in full OEM spec first. The ACE set up matched the 124 for ride quality on softest settings. The ND we drove the same day was much softer in comparison, particularly in roll. Dan and I both thought
the OEM 124 suspension calibration was a better compromise for a daily than the OEM ND. Not harsh like an MSM but taught and controlled. Only floating or wallowing when you asked for race quick weight transfer.

Your kit has a softer overall shock valving and controller with higher voltage ranges. So two changes to make it even softer than the OEM 124 cal. Same valving on ND singles with 300/150 springs is pure marshmallow on full soft. No harshness over anything at any speed.
Dan and I were literally laughing and how much crap it would just soak up without a peep. Full rally car. So yeah, if your car rides as harsh as you indicate, either you have an exceptionally low tolerance to NVH or there is a hardware defect or an installation/setup error. I doubt that the average NA/NB/ND owner would characterize our 400/200 ACE setup as harsh on the softest settings.

Better for us to wait for your call to dive into it rather than speculating here.

Yes, I'm going to go drive one when they hit the lots.

If we can make the numbers work, I'll probably ditch the 135 for one. Having an all surface street commute you only do a few times per week is frustrating in a car that wants to beat on all the time........but breaks any speed limit in a couple of seconds.

Both Goodwin Racing and 949 have broken additional transmissions in their respective ND's now. Both were one of the newer versions.

On another note, the 2019's are (un)officially in the US now and the car mags should be releasing their reviews in the next week or so.

I read that somewhere else as well. Interesting that Mazda has them on the way to the dealerships, but doesn't have the configuration tool up on the website yet.

Seems like they made a lot of small improvements and the power bump translated quite well to real world performance. They did a 0-100km/hr pull in each car and the 2019 was just over a second faster. I will be interested to see what magazines are able to get out of them since they launch the cars way harder.

How is the gearbox going to hold up? Any news on that front?

This is exactly why I cancelled my Car & Driver subscription a couple years ago. You can find a million free reviews online that focus on minor creature comforts in a car, why pay some guy to tell you the same uninteresting BS?

Beaker for sale
 

Beaker will be available to ship by the beginning of August. We'll include the OEM sway bars, shocks, wheels, tires, exhaust and battery mount.
2016 GT, Ceramic
Wrapped in Avery SW900 Gloss Orange
8766 miles
$23,500

Current spec, set up for STR
Reflash, 159whp on 91 octane, 7700rpm rev limit
17x9 6UL black
New Gen 4 trans just installed
FM LBK front, 2 piece rotors
FM LBK rear
Xida triple adjustable 700/350
Karcepts thick wall front bar
Karcepts rear bar
Karcepts offset front lower control arm bushings
ARP extended wheel studs
OS Giken diff
Goodwin Long Tube header
Goodwin catted mid pipe
Goodwin Super Q muffler or Race muffler (your choice)
Vinyl wrap
2" steering column spacer (retains all OEM functions)
AVO intake elbow
LifePo4 battery 1.9 lbs
CSF radiator
G-Loc GS-1 pads

Spare engine with 5k on it
Spare Gen 1 trans with 1k on it
Spare diff, open

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...7bfa9b2aeb.jpg