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Which Version Should You Get? - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible Long-Term Road Test
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Which Version Should You Get? - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible Long-Term Road Test
Which trim level of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata should you get? We've done the legwork for you.
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And I understand why Edmunds gets loaded cars for long-term tests, because they want to report on the performance of the extras, but I don't see how they can then usually recommend the base model to keep it simple...when they have had next to no experience with the base model.
I test drove the GT trim first on a cold raining day, the thing wouldn't stop beeping about everything. I wasn't flogging it, to wet for that, just driving around. It was rather maddening, plus I couldn't tell what each noise was alerting me to, so I'd have to check the dash. Now if I got more time in it I'd get used to it, but it just spoiled that trim and almost the car.
Second go was on a great sunny day, with the club trim. Salesperson let us have it for a extended test drive. On that day with that weather it sealed it for my wife and myself.
I thought long and hard about what I wanted out of the club, and really it was just the diff. The screen and controller my wife loved, I hated them but came around to the screen not the controller, I too bumped into it on both test drives. The one thing that would of swayed it to the club was if it had a back up camera, which I know sounds crazy but my wife really wanted it and with the top up it would be nice. Top down it's not needed.
So we asked them to trade for a sport, a couple of weeks later it was in our garage. Now I never stepped in or drove the sport prior to buying it, kinda wish I had, for a back to back club vs sport comparison. So going off memory here's some observations from a sport owner.
Interior trim: The sport lacks the red contrast stitching on the seats which is stated, but also lacks the vinyl trim on the dash. This does makes it feel a bit cheaper. The color door panels while nice and a slick looking wasn't a huge deal to me. Plus I got a dog and was worried he scratch it up. The push start button lacks a chrome bezel around it. While minor things add up to a rather dark, cheaper feel to that of the other trims.
Handling: The club was a bit stiffer just mildly not bad, I liked it. My theory is the bulk of that came from the larger tires and front shock brace. The springs are the achilles heel of this car a bit much body roll across all trims. I don't race just spirited drives and honestly I have not minded having a open diff. Yea a couple of times I wish I had the lsd.
Sound: The bose system was better then the stock radio speakers, I find it kinda pointless though on highway speed any system would be fighting the wind noise. The sport trim lacks the sub that's placed in the foot rest on the passenger side. I was hoping in the sport that that real estate would be freed up for leg room but no they place a styrofoam place holder in it's place.
Can't go wrong with any trim, I really liked that in the sport trim with the MT it weighs 2277 lbs the bulk of that weight savings coming from smaller tires. Sometimes when I am driving I do wish the interior had the other trims garnish, but I figure as time goes on those parts will end up on ebay/junkyards.
If you enjoy tinkering/modding your car I suggest giving the sport a serious thought it's a great platform to start with and make the car truly your own.
The base model looks weaker with the smaller wheels and the interior looks cheaper. Just the wheel and tyre package as well as the interior bits makes the Club a better option. And that is before thinking about stuff like the suspension and lsd.
If I got the base model, I know I would be wishing I didn't listen to Brent and ponied up to the Club. Nuttin' worse than wishing u had after the fact.
The Miata is an emotional, spirited vehicle. If you have to convince yourself down from the trim package you want, you're doing it wrong.
$3500 can get you a lot of stuff for this car, and that's not factoring the bbs package then it's over $5k.
You can't go wrong in any trim.
The car has 50/50 weight distribution, but has a lot softer suspension than most 50/50 cars, and more brake dive, so the fronts are taking a lot more of the braking load, proportionally, than say with a Corvette, which dives less and lets the rear brakes do more of the work.
And most people who do track days will get the package because it brings sticky 205/45-17" tires on forged BBS wheels, instead of less sticky 195/50-16" tires on cast wheels. With those wheels and stickier tires, and the limited-slip, the car will carry more speed everywhere and work the brakes a lot harder.
While the wheels are nice (I really do love the way the look), yes forged and pretty light at 16 lbs each.
The sport also comes with 3 season tires, and is 2lbs lighter per wheel not including tire too. (everyone 1lb of unsprung weight is worth... goes the saying)
The brembo brakes only upgrade the front and add paint to the rear, and it limits what pads you can put on them. A far cheaper and more advantages solution is a aftermarket front caliper upgrade.
If you are arguing for a trim for the track, it stands to reason even more that you should start with the cheapest and then modify to your needs.
The Club with BBS package is msrp 32k vs 25k of the sport, that's over seven thousand difference. If your goal is to track it heavily seven thousand dollars can get you a lot of stuff.
Per, Goodwin Racing
Willwood front caliper kit $549 (4 piston front caliper upgrade without as bad pad restrictions as in the brembo)
Set of whatever wheels light/big/wide with high end tires just say $2500
OEM LSD is around $1200 with install say $2000
Springs of your choice with install $500
That's about $5500 above, so letting you still save $2000 or splurge and get whatever else you want: sway bars, engine tune, exhuast, coil overs.
As I said before you are the type of person who will not modify or has no interest too, buy whatever you want.
If you are the type of person who is chasing 1/10's of a second. Seven thousand dollars is a ton of freaking money to get the car track ready.