2022 BRZ vs ND2 Miata

[MrH]

The S2000 is getting up there in age, over 20 years old now. I'll probably be selling it sometime next year and looking to get into something more modern. Always figured it would be an ND2 Miata, but this new BRZ is growing on me. I miss the looks of my old one a lot, especially the color (I'm a sucker for world rally blue). Torque looks to be greatly improved. They addressed pretty much all the visual aspects I had issues with (wheels, taillights, interior). It's a really beautiful car I think, and if they fix the torque dip, it makes a strong argument over the Miata. Should be a little cheaper too.

I think these are the two best enthusiast choices out there. Cheap, reliable thrills.

What would you pick? Neither? The Nissan 400z?

[Laconian]

Yeah, the new BRZ is super enticing. Would have to test drive one to decide which to pick.

Has anybody driven the 400Z yet?

[CaminoRacer]

Do you fit well in the Miata?

[Laconian]

Do you fit well in the Miata?

Oh right, Mike's tall, isn't he?

[MrH]

I'm 6'2". I can't fit in an RF at all really. A soft top would be do-able.

I technically fit in the S2000, but my old BRZ was much more relaxing to drive longer distances. Way more spacious in both the leg room and head room.

[r0tor]

I don't see any appeal of the new BRZ.  It really hasn't moved the needle at all from the first gen yet alone what a sporty coupe was 15 years ago

[CaminoRacer]

I'm also 6'2 and consider myself as big as you can get and still fit. But body proportions matter too.
I think for autocross I have to out the top down in order to wear a helmet

[MrH]

I'm also 6'2 and consider myself as big as you can get and still fit. But body proportions matter too.
I think for autocross I have to out the top down in order to wear a helmet

I'm all torso, with stubby legs. It's what let's me drive the S2000, which the wheel is fixed on. Most people our height can't do it comfortably because they can't let the clutch out. My issue is always head room. Are you fine on headroom?

[CaminoRacer]

I'm all torso, with stubby legs. It's what let's me drive the S2000, which the wheel is fixed on. Most people our height can't do it comfortably because they can't let the clutch out. My issue is always head room. Are you fine on headroom?

Yeah, I've got like an inch of headroom. If you have shorter legs than me, you can probably sit more relaxed which would help with the headroom.

Also, just park in the garage and never put the top up.

[Laconian]

My top never goes down. We got an inch of rain over the past 8 hours.

[MrH]

Yeah, I've got like an inch of headroom. If you have shorter legs than me, you can probably sit more relaxed which would help with the headroom.

Also, just park in the garage and never put the top up.

Yeah, if I slouch a little in the NDs I'm fine. Seat needs to be a little reclined too. If I try to sit Ram rod straight, my head pokes through the top I think.

I don't see any appeal of the new BRZ.  It really hasn't moved the needle at all from the first gen yet alone what a sporty coupe was 15 years ago

228 horsepower at 7000 rpm, 184 lb ft of torque at 3700 rpm. 7500 redline. Looks like a pretty healthy, flat torque curve, in a vehicle that weighs 2900 lbs. Its going to outperform and likely drive better than an S2000 and RX-8, for $30k and brand new. There really isn't anything else on the market that does this other than the Miata.

My top never goes down. We got an inch of rain over the past 8 hours.

That's also part of the convertible problem. The s2000 is pretty miserable with the top up. Really loud and cramped. It doesn't even make much sense to drive to work on nice days, because top down with 18-wheelers blasting exhaust at you on the highway isn't very enjoyable.

[r0tor]

So the BRZ is a lower power, lower redline, same weigh, less fun version of my 17 year old RX8.  Yippee...  At least the MX5 has a drop top and low weight going for it.

For $30k you can get a mint low mileage 235i which would laugh at the BRZ in every conceivable way.

[AutobahnSHO]

That's also part of the convertible problem. The s2000 is pretty miserable with the top up. Really loud and cramped. It doesn't even make much sense to drive to work on nice days, because top down with 18-wheelers blasting exhaust at you on the highway isn't very enjoyable.

My work drive is mostly interstate then 55mph (everyone does 67mph LOL) highway. I've started wearing earplugs and turning the stereo up. The few 90degree cloverleaf turns make it all worth it.   Top is never up unless it's parked or raining, on bad weather days I drive Impreza.

[AutobahnSHO]

So the BRZ is a lower power, lower redline, same weigh, less fun version of my 17 year old RX8.  Yippee...  At least the MX5 has a drop top and low weight going for it.

For $30k you can get a mint low mileage 235i which would laugh at the BRZ in every conceivable way.

When magazines compare cars in the "fun to drive" category vs a Miata the only one I ever see mentioned is the BRZ... 

[MrH]

So the BRZ is a lower power, lower redline, same weigh, less fun version of my 17 year old RX8.  Yippee...  At least the MX5 has a drop top and low weight going for it.

For $30k you can get a mint low mileage 235i which would laugh at the BRZ in every conceivable way.

How do you know it's less fun

You say it's less fun than your car, then compare it to an m235i. Those are 1,000 lbs heavier than miatas and 500 lbs heavier than a brz. It's a totally different experience.

[r0tor]

I can say is less fun because a smooth revving 9k redline is way more fun then a slightly less poweful industrial garbage disposal grade subaru na 4 cylinder

[Laconian]

Doesn't the dorito only spin at a third of the output shaft RPMs?

[r0tor]

There is an inherent 3:1 ratio between rotor orbital speed and crank speed

[r0tor]

How do you know it's less fun

You say it's less fun than your car, then compare it to an m235i. Those are 1,000 lbs heavier than miatas and 500 lbs heavier than a brz. It's a totally different experience.

Yes it's different... Because they are actually fast while still being amazingly balanced and playful cars.

[MrH]

I'll give one a test drive when it comes time to make a move I guess, but I drove a 135i with a manual quite a bit, and wasn't a huge fan.  It was modded, pretty fast, but everything about the car was just heavy.  Heavy inputs, car felt heavy, etc.  Totally different than something like a Miata or BRZ.