Joined
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11,018 Posts
Hello, all. I haven't posted in a while, but I'm back, baby!
** EDIT, PICS SHOULD BE FIXED **
I truly believe this was the right car for me at the wrong time. I've had cars with manual transmissions my whole life but right now all the cars at our house (my wife's 2016 CX-5, my 2002 VW Cabrio and the the 2021 Mazda3 Turbo) are lacking in the 3rd pedal department. That may be a big part of the issue.
![Wheel Tire Car Vehicle Sky]()
There is so much to like about this car. First, have you seen the interior on these things? This was easily the highest quality interior I've have with any car. That red two tone motif was a great place to be. The Bose audio was the best setup I've had in a car from the factory. Zooming across intersections was effortless. The ride ate up crappy roads better than any other car I've owned as well. So what's the deal?
![Car Vehicle Gear shift Speedometer Motor vehicle]()
Well, for starters, it's not exactly the Mazdaspeed reincarnated. While it's the quickest Mazda not called a Miata currently for sale, for me, it's just not fun. I prefer cars that reward being wrung out to redline, and this isn't one of them. Maybe I'm spoiled because my last two cars were a mk7 VW GLI and 1994 Mazda Miata, and both were far more fun to drive, if not as refined or as quiet.
![Tire Wheel Land vehicle Car Vehicle]()
(not bad for a Maaco paint job)
![Car Gear shift Vehicle Speedometer Motor vehicle]()
(this interior was pretty love it or hate it-I loved it until I hated it)
![Wheel Tire Car Land vehicle Vehicle]()
(I think these repurposed MK6 wheels look good powder-coated black on here)
![Speedometer Gear shift Car Vehicle Steering part]()
My wife's CX-5, also an automatic, is somehow more fun to rev out, even though it's 70hp down. The steering feels better in the older CUV and besides being slower, it's basically better at everything than the 3. It has more room and gas mileage is considerably better. And it's almost paid off! Sure, the infotainment isn't great, but that's exactly what the new car will have (plus Apple Car Play/Android auto).
![Wheel Tire Car Land vehicle Vehicle]()
My weekend car is a 2002 Cabrio and has just been called into active duty. It still has a tape player. And it's about as slow as a Prius. But you can't drop the top in a Prius. What it lacks in speed and tech it makes up for in gobs of nostalgia because of the old gauges, indigo/red lights. If it only was a manual...
![Wheel Tire Car Vehicle Hood]()
(still a good looking car after 20 years - and a mild suspension correction)
This is why I sold my Mazda3. So I could save up for this car that is being factory ordered and will be in my hands in a few short months (The car pictured is not mine, just optioned exactly like mine).
![Wheel Tire Vehicle Car Vehicle registration plate]()
![Car Vehicle Gear shift Motor vehicle Automotive design]()
2022 Miata Club with the Brembo BBS Recaro package. The Recaro seats might be what I'm most excited about. Well, that and this color-Soul Red Crystal. If you have ever seen a new CX-5 in red, this is that color. It's absolutely stunning in person and I can't wait to detail it.
This has been a car I've been wanting ever since I started hanging out with Miata groups like Bay Area Miata Association and specifically in August of 2018, when Mazda had an invitation-only event for the ND2. The ND2 Miata was a mid-cycle update for the 4th generation Miata that added a higher redline (7,500rpm) and more hp. The redline thing was one thing I hated about the outgoing white hatchback. After 5,000rpm, the car just had no oomph. It had so much torque, it didn't need the revs, but it also wasn't fun to drive spiritedly. It's hard to explain but it really bothered me.
As you all know, I was rather fond of my little blue jelly bean, but it was 25+ years old and just wasn't quite nice enough to drive every day.
This new one aims to change that.
Anyways, now you know. I'm so damn excited. After the year I had I can't wait to have another bucket list car.
** EDIT, PICS SHOULD BE FIXED **
I truly believe this was the right car for me at the wrong time. I've had cars with manual transmissions my whole life but right now all the cars at our house (my wife's 2016 CX-5, my 2002 VW Cabrio and the the 2021 Mazda3 Turbo) are lacking in the 3rd pedal department. That may be a big part of the issue.
There is so much to like about this car. First, have you seen the interior on these things? This was easily the highest quality interior I've have with any car. That red two tone motif was a great place to be. The Bose audio was the best setup I've had in a car from the factory. Zooming across intersections was effortless. The ride ate up crappy roads better than any other car I've owned as well. So what's the deal?
Well, for starters, it's not exactly the Mazdaspeed reincarnated. While it's the quickest Mazda not called a Miata currently for sale, for me, it's just not fun. I prefer cars that reward being wrung out to redline, and this isn't one of them. Maybe I'm spoiled because my last two cars were a mk7 VW GLI and 1994 Mazda Miata, and both were far more fun to drive, if not as refined or as quiet.
(not bad for a Maaco paint job)
(this interior was pretty love it or hate it-I loved it until I hated it)
(I think these repurposed MK6 wheels look good powder-coated black on here)
My wife's CX-5, also an automatic, is somehow more fun to rev out, even though it's 70hp down. The steering feels better in the older CUV and besides being slower, it's basically better at everything than the 3. It has more room and gas mileage is considerably better. And it's almost paid off! Sure, the infotainment isn't great, but that's exactly what the new car will have (plus Apple Car Play/Android auto).
My weekend car is a 2002 Cabrio and has just been called into active duty. It still has a tape player. And it's about as slow as a Prius. But you can't drop the top in a Prius. What it lacks in speed and tech it makes up for in gobs of nostalgia because of the old gauges, indigo/red lights. If it only was a manual...
(still a good looking car after 20 years - and a mild suspension correction)
This is why I sold my Mazda3. So I could save up for this car that is being factory ordered and will be in my hands in a few short months (The car pictured is not mine, just optioned exactly like mine).
2022 Miata Club with the Brembo BBS Recaro package. The Recaro seats might be what I'm most excited about. Well, that and this color-Soul Red Crystal. If you have ever seen a new CX-5 in red, this is that color. It's absolutely stunning in person and I can't wait to detail it.
This has been a car I've been wanting ever since I started hanging out with Miata groups like Bay Area Miata Association and specifically in August of 2018, when Mazda had an invitation-only event for the ND2. The ND2 Miata was a mid-cycle update for the 4th generation Miata that added a higher redline (7,500rpm) and more hp. The redline thing was one thing I hated about the outgoing white hatchback. After 5,000rpm, the car just had no oomph. It had so much torque, it didn't need the revs, but it also wasn't fun to drive spiritedly. It's hard to explain but it really bothered me.
As you all know, I was rather fond of my little blue jelly bean, but it was 25+ years old and just wasn't quite nice enough to drive every day.
This new one aims to change that.
Anyways, now you know. I'm so damn excited. After the year I had I can't wait to have another bucket list car.
