How to support the channel: let the 5 minute ads run that started right away while I start reading the comments. Comments are frequently just as interesting and too distracting to read while video is playing.
Steve Printy Thanx for that bit of info! I always wondered if skipping the ads affected the producer of the channel. I’ll let them play from here on out👍
I just did a little research about watching the ads to help the channel, because people wonder about the details. According to one source, (2 years old) you have to watch the whole ad, or at least 30 seconds if it is longer than 30 seconds. But if there is more than one and you skip the first one after 30 seconds, the remaining ads are lost. Also it seems TH-cam keeps changing the terms making it harder for the channel to make money, and if channel deals with left vs right political correct issues, it may get “demonetized” or subscribers won’t be notified of new videos if it doesn’t fit TH-cam owners liberal views, that’s one reason some people now call it “ScrewTube”. I will just continue to let all of the ads run (including the ads that start after video ends, they are the easiest to ignore 🤫) on those few channels that I think deserve it. Savagegeese is one of them. He puts more effort into his videos than any other automotive channel I know of.
I love the ND Miata for a lot of reasons, but the NB still has my top pick for best looks. It's simple and straightforward while still being very attractive.
I am buying a NC because I can’t get under a roll bar in a NB, which kind of limits what I can do with it. I do miss my NB a lot though, I feel like it is one of the most beautiful automobiles ever constructed, looking at it feeds my soul. To me, as a man, it is like looking at a fit woman with a good figure, it’s just so perfect, especially the trims like the LS with the body kit. It is understated yet exciting at the same time. It is a masterpiece, bravo to its creators and this filmmaker for portraying it well. I have driven all the Miatas and while I love them all, the NB is the best looking of the bunch.
I still remember when the NB first came out. I thought to myself: now that just looks right, much better than the NA. While the NA cars have grown on me with the passing of the years, I still find the NB to be the most attractive Miata. (The less plastic trim applied at the factory the better.) Many people have commented over the years that the NB looks like a mini Viper. I can see it, but it is nothing that distracts from the "Miataness". For me the NB remains the pinnacle of attractive Miata design.
@@Shakshuka69 I'd have never guessed that in the case of the ND. Sadly, by the time the ND came around, designers hands were tied by the many safety regulations that had been put into place in the years following release of the original Miata/MX5. This is evident in the relatively scrunched up appearance of the ND as compared to the NA and NB cars.
I watched the whole series and ended up with a 2003 Miata. It has less than 45,000 miles. After viewing the series I realized the subtle differences between one model and the next. The NB appealed to me the most. It has a smile and I like that.
NB so nice! I always though from certain angles it has a slinky Viper-esque look.. cool to know that Ken Saward worked on both. Love that they kept so much simplicity here from first gen!
So we owe it to this guy who worked at Chrysler and Dodge on the Viper, that we have the infamous NB mini viper lol. Arguably the best looking Miata imo!
the car sucked to be honest. the turbo made so little extra power, was really laggy, and for some stupid reason they wanted to put too big of rims on the car so they had to redesign the knuckles on the mazdaspeed so the rims clearance, and because of that the turn circle was increased
I'm on my 4th NA and still toy with the idea of buying one of each gen and parking them side by side in my three car garage. I've measured, and they would fit! Wife thinks I'm nuts... Maybe so.
I bought my First Miata last april- went for an NB as i couldnt afford the NA at the time ( NA 2000Euro more expensive where i live). I really love it and to what ive heard they drive and feel verry similar to the NA. buying a NB is Never a bad idea
Back in 89 went buy one and they were marked 4k over msrp, I passed and grabbed a used alfa romeo graduate, then life got in the way. This past week I got my hands on an 03 silver with 33k in mint condition! It was worth the wait, I look back when I walk away and nothing but smiles!
Outro music cut out two seconds too early, clearly no effort was made for this documentary series. Down-voted and reported to IRS. Absolutely loving these documentaries and I hope to see more of these. Thanks for making these.
Mine (I got rid of it last year) is still the most fun car I've ever driven, including cars worth 10x what it's worth. I'd replaced a lot of the suspension/brakes/drivetrain, and made it absolutely punishing to live with. Still, though, watching this made me miss it badly.
@@MegaNardman see the recent Road & Track written article about their most memorable vehicles of the decade. Several Miatas, along with race cars only for the rich.
I'd never been particularly interested in the MX-5 / Miata, particularly because I live in the UK and don't understand the love of convertibles in a country with our weather conditions. My mum owned an NA and later an NB, and I pretty much always disliked being a passenger in either of them. Hot hatchbacks and quick estates (station wagons) have always been my preference. I inherited my mum's 46,000 miles 1999 NB 1.8i S earlier this year and within 100 yards of driving it I started to understand why so many people love them. I was also more than a little embarrassed to discover that in her mid 70s my mum was driving a car with a limited slip differential and yet I had never previously owned a car with one fitted. The gear shift action is a thing of absolute mechanical and sensory joy (other manufacturers *really* should take note). Control weights are just about perfect for this type of car. The clutch pedal action is much lighter than my R53 MINI Cooper S and therefore much less irritating and tiresome to use in city traffic. Steering is on the light side but feels right for the car. Steering feel and feedback with the current (old) front tyres is nothing special, but adequate. Throttle response is good and it is surprisingly brisk from a standing start considering there is only 138 bhp to play with, although you do need to rev the engine properly to make progress. Ride quality is supple enough for our terrible road surfaces and the body roll reminds me of my old Mk2 Golf GTI 8V. The limited slip differential works flawlessly every time I quickly pull out of my driveway onto the busy road. I don't enjoy the scuttle shake over poor surfaces (edit: in retrospect it is probably just chassis flex) or the occasionally slightly leaky roof/hood, which I have never bothered to put down. The engine could do with more torque and I wish the car was a coupe and not a convertible. But one can't have everything, especially at this price range in a 20 year old car, and what you do get for the money is an old school, lightweight, British style sports car with the major bonuses of Japanese reliability and American design input. Not just for hairdressers.
Maybe check the engine mounts. I had REALLY bad cowl shake, which when I first bought the car I thought the shocks were bad. Replaced shocks and it wasn't much better. Still had massive cowl shake on rough roads. Then when I did my clutch job I decided to do engine mounts, and good thing because I found the left side mount completely ripped into 2 parts. I installed the Mazda Competition hard rubber mounts, and the cowl shake is MUCH reduced as compared to previously. I basically had the entire engine flopping around in the engine bay over hard bumps before. So maybe check that out on your 99.
@@Patrick94GSR Good call, I will check it out. I also thought it might be shock absorber related but after checking invoices I saw the front ones were replaced in 2018 when my mum still had the car.
@@maccarioandrea Interesting, thank you for your input. I don't think I've experienced this on the MX-5 but will keep an eye on it. Is this a problem that occurs on all cars when engine mounts are worn, or is it specific to the MX-5? The reason I ask is that I occasionally struggle to find 3rd gear in my MINI and someone recommended I check the engine mounts in that car because it does a weird forward lurching motion when dropping to about 1,500 rpm as I'm slowing down approaching traffic lights.
I bought my NB in Nov 1999 and daily drove it for the next 18 years up here in the snowy Great White North. I cannot say enough good things about that car. It was so much fun to drive, and so reliable and inexpensive too. It never failed to put a smile on my face. I traded it in on a 6MT Mazda6 sedan, which I also enjoy, but I wouldn't be surprised if I buy another MX-5 Miata in the future.
Agreed. Yes, the chassis is essentially the same as the NA but there's plenty more to say about the the NB. Changes to the engine in the NB2? Turbo version? No 98 model year? Why they thought they needed the NB2 facelift? Instead we got a dissertation on pop up headlights and how it was 'more masculine' than the NA. I expect better from the goose. He's conditioned us to expect solid research and substance. This was fluff.
Thanks for this video series, it's great. I love my NB Miata. I also had a Subaru BRZ at the same time for 3 years. I thought I'd sell the Miata after I got it but I could not bring myself to do it. As much as I loved the BRZ, it is a great drivers car, I traded it for an Impreza and kept the Miata. Even at 20 years old it's still the most fun you can have driving. You can't kill it. I've auto-xed and taught two of my kids how to drive a stick with it. It's still my daily driver in the non snow months.
Oh, the Viper designer worked on it. Explains why the front looks like a baby Viper to me. Great paint color, BTW. A total rebel compared to today's typical offers. And also fits the interior well, with its pleasant light-brownish tones. 6:51 Man, that camera view is seen so rarely that it feels unreal. The worst part of the video was the mention of the S2000 which twisted the knife in my wound again, as always.
Some people think of the NB as mini-Viper. I had no idea the NB designer had worked on the Viper. Very cool! I love my NB (2000 SE)! Found it less than three years ago on a Mazda dealership used car lot with only 43k miles on it in flawless, totally stock form. It now has over 90k on it. You can say I enjoy driving/autocrossing it! Great job, Mark... although my OCD can't see past the open top latches sticking up with the top down. They should be closed! LOL! Looking forward to the rest of the series!
The front of this car immediately made me think of Viper, even while those cars are so far away in many concepts. The exterior design of the front is so similar though, barring the massive hood to accomodate the V10 obviously.
Judging from the wheels, this car didn't have the suspension package which makes a big difference. Also missing were the white speedometer and tachometer. I loved my NB, but the headlights didn't produce enough light or maybe were directed too low, making nighttime driving a real danger. Still it was the funnest car I've owned.
It explains a lot about the design language when I heard he was involved in the viper development. Back in the days when I bought mine, there was a front bumper available to make it look like a mini Viper.
Love this one! I just got my first Miata, a 2000 NB1 LS, back in July of this year. I've owned a 94 Acura Integra GSR for 19 years now, and the NB1 has almost the exact same power/weight ratio as the DC2 GSR cars. It's been insanely fun to drive, and I've been astounded by how tight the car can turn, and how sharp the steering feels. I've already changed the clutch, replaced all fluids, timing belt and water pump, gaskets and oil seals, replaced the leather seats with nicer condition ones, replaced the soft top, and changed the shocks out for OEM replacements. The car also came with braided stainless brake and clutch lines all around, and the 1.25" Racing Beat front sway bar which makes the car corner like a champ even on OE-type suspension. It's been super fun so far!
I became familiar with the MX5 when my older Sister bought a NA model. While I thought it was fun to drive, there was too much I found lacking, from the under powered 1.6L engine to the tinny door panels and what I thought was a rough ride. I later came across a used NB model ('02 LS model) and took it for a test drive. It felt light years ahead of the NA. I loved the improved body styling, the interior is a work of art (I just can't stop admiring the lines of that dash panel). I'm also a sucker for white-face gauges. So I bought it. 10+ years later, this thing has been a dream to own. Because I live in New England, the car gets to hibernate between November and April, which I'm sure contributes to it's longevity, but during the summer this car is just non-stop fun to drive. Mine is silver, but with the same black over tan color interior as the model shown in this video. I've looked at the NC and the ND, but have no motivation to trade up to either of those. The NB isn't perfect - the electrical system makes me chuckle (simply hitting the power window button causes the headlamps to dim just a tad); pulling the top up from the driver's seat is a challenge; and I don't think I'd ever win a drag race with it, but again, it's just so damn fun to drive. I compare it with driving a go-cart when I was a kid. Thank you Mazda!
Mazda could have messed up the design transition from pop-up headlights to fixed headlights but they totally hit the nail on the head with this one. It is just as pretty as the first gen but more mature overall.
Very cool video. Would've liked a mention of the Mazdaspeed Miata which does/did compete with the S2000. Plenty of people cross shop those 2 cars even today.
The S2000 was $8000 more back then. They were not competitors. I think a lot of people forget or don’t realize that the S2000 would be a $50,000 car in todays money.
I love my NB!! I sold my Mustang GT so I could buy a Miata. It's a pleasure to drive every time I get behind the wheel. Most fun I've had in a car with my clothes on.
I'm enjoying my third NB. I appreciate the styling, safety, reliability and comfort, particularly in the NB8B updated version. I can't see myself without an NB in my life. Thanks for the great documentary. I too wish it were longer. Maybe then it could have mentioned the improvements in the later versions of the NB.
This is why I love watching reviews from Savagegeese. It completely changed the way I looked an NB miatas.. I literally disliked this car a lot before starting this video (my uncle has a NA miata and I preferred how it looks to this), now I want one so much.
Nothing about the glass window in the convertible top? That to me is the greatest improvement over the NA. When the top on my NA was worn out I had it replaced with a NB top.
LES most are they are the two generations most close basically the same car underneath, great for aftermarket junkies. Although it is slightly more difficult from NB-NA than NA-NB for some interior parts
I have a NB and I really like it. The car is almost 20 years old with 163K on it and there is NOTHING wrong with it! This has got to be the most fun I have had in a car.
As much as I love pop-up headlights on the NA, the NB just looks sharper and more modern while keeping the old school look. I really do think it's the best looking Miata which is probably why I prefer a PS13 over a 180SX
When I was comparing the NB to the NC I felt like the NB would be the best version to get if I was into modifications. Not that it relies on them but would be much more fun in that regard than the NC. I went with the NC and still think it is my favorite for aesthetics and straight off the shelf. Enjoyed these last two videos and looking forward to the next ones.
I test drove the 1st and 3rd generation Miatas. I ended up buying a 3rd gen. In my opinion, the first two were too cramped for any kind of distance driving. When I got to drive the 3rd gen I was immediately impressed by the increase in power and interior room. But I also noticed that it had lost a bit of the go cart feeling of the previous cars. Still a great car though.
ewetoob blowes the NC’s MZR 2.0L is far more responsive to mods then either of the n/a 1.8’s in the NB. Personally I think the NB has the best chassis overall in terms of overall weight and weight distribution...
The back camera angle really shows that its a fun car to drive. Looks like you can throw it around at pretty low speeds and enjoy nimble steering. I'll be looking at a weekend car in a few years and this is awesome bang for buck!
Another great video. I would like to hear more about your driving impressions (it was like just one minute in this video) and your thoughts on the interior and exterior design (and quality).
Mr. Geese, thank you so much for making such high quality and informative videos. The NB Miata was my first car and I still have it 3 years later. I love these cars to death and you creating these fantastic videos just makes my heart happy. Can't wait for the next episode!
I really see this as an evolutionary move. They had to follow up the first car and I think at that time a huge driver was money. So restyling was the riskiest part.
Surprised the trunk volume and layout improvements weren't mentioned. From a practical use standpoint, that was one of the biggest improvements I found with the NB. And the design was able to maintain the compact spare tire unlike the NC.
Great series on a wonderful car! They made some suspension improvements on the NB over the NA (mounts etc). But overall, much of the car remain the same. You sit a little higher in the NB also... Nice job on the audio quality with the top down goose!
I used my na Miata to replace my motorcycle. Relatively speaking it was a lot safer, much better in the rain, much cooler in the Summer with the air conditioning, and one heck of a lot of fun to drive. You could wring its neck and not exceed 50 miles an hour. I loved it.
The NB2 (The model after the car shown on this video) I'd say is probably the best Miata IMO. The 6speed, VVT engine, big brakes and all the chassis bracing makes it an awesome machine to drive. Plus all the components are stronger than previous counter parts which makes it a good platform for turbo platform.
@@behindthen0thing525 I'm considering purchasing a miata. But wondering if it's a good daily in a lot of traffic, and in climate weather...snow, sleet..etc.?
@@frankmalone236 I don't really see it being a problem to daily. It's a bit small inside, it's easy to drive, you can't carry a whole lot, but overall it's a good car to drive to work and back. Pretty reliable too. It's very analog which is enjoyable. It's no worse in traffic than any other stick shift. I would say if you're over 6'1 you might want to sit in one first to make sure it's not too small. If you're under 6'1 then you should be fine. If you happen to be taller though, you can do some things to the seat to make more room. About the snow, the ass end does get a bit light but If you're careful and have winter tires it shouldn't be too much of a problem. there is no traction control though so it's all up to you. It's not particularly worse than any other rear wheel drive car in the snow.
@@frankmalone236 no problem. I bought one because A friend of mine was selling it and I needed another car. Its a really great car. i never was interested in such a car but I really do like the car after having owned one. I'm usually into higher horsepower vehicles, but the miata is very enjoyable to drive at it's power leve (even though I wish it had another 50 to 75 hp) I've driven it on the nurbergring multiple times and it did very well.
I much prefer the pre face-lift nb but they're both great! Different colours really bring out the highlights in different ways but still prefer the softer appearance of the original nb. 👍
I find appreciable qualities in all the variations of Miata. I built/swapped an NA car, which I'd bought for my wife, but then bough her an S2k and took over the Miata for slutting purposes. NA a tad too small for me at 6'2", I ended up buying Z06 and S2k that following year. I think the ND's are very nice cars, but the taillight design bugs me slightly. I'd love to drive one though. Mild widebody, small power jump with an all naturally aspirated build (sleeve, bigger bore/stroke, ITB's, full custom fabbed exhaust) and more rubber, while keeping mass low...could be quite a car.
NB is the best looking Miata, and the Mazdaspeed NB had the best power-to-weight of any Miata. I think it was also the most reliable Miata generation. But it has the least interesting story to tell.
im glad that the nb shares so much with the na. hardtops, a arms, coilovers, brakes, wheels/tires all pretty much work on 90-05 so it sort of ties that whole community together. i love my nb. so much so that after i rolled it i still really cant think of a reason to buy another car. its got a few (large) dents but other than that its the same great car and i wouldnt want anything that doesnt cost at least 10 times more.
I just bought myself a well taken care 1999 NB Miata and I’m in love with it. :’)
The quality of these Mazda features is top notch. You can tell a lot of work went into them. I hope to see more of this kind of thing from savagegeese
Except for the sideskirts and the Center frame (RUST)
@@KomboAndy I think he meant the production quality of the video
@@alejandrososa968 I know.
How to support the channel: let the 5 minute ads run that started right away while I start reading the comments. Comments are frequently just as interesting and too distracting to read while video is playing.
Steve Printy Thanx for that bit of info! I always wondered if skipping the ads affected the producer of the channel. I’ll let them play from here on out👍
forgive me if im wrong, but i think if you watch at least half of it they get the full $
Definitely worth the trouble watching the ads so the Goose won't have to resort to shilling nutsack deodorant like you-know-who.
I just did a little research about watching the ads to help the channel, because people wonder about the details. According to one source, (2 years old) you have to watch the whole ad, or at least 30 seconds if it is longer than 30 seconds. But if there is more than one and you skip the first one after 30 seconds, the remaining ads are lost. Also it seems TH-cam keeps changing the terms making it harder for the channel to make money, and if channel deals with left vs right political correct issues, it may get “demonetized” or subscribers won’t be notified of new videos if it doesn’t fit TH-cam owners liberal views, that’s one reason some people now call it “ScrewTube”.
I will just continue to let all of the ads run (including the ads that start after video ends, they are the easiest to ignore 🤫) on those few channels that I think deserve it. Savagegeese is one of them. He puts more effort into his videos than any other automotive channel I know of.
headcoatee Who would that person be ?🤔🤷🏻♂️. “Nutsack” ☺️
I have had my NB for over a year now and I just love driving it every single day. It never fails to put a smile on my face. Thank you Mazda
I love the ND Miata for a lot of reasons, but the NB still has my top pick for best looks. It's simple and straightforward while still being very attractive.
I have an NA and I agree with you.
I have a yellow NA and nothing beats the innocent muppet looks of the pop up headlights on its round face. Little children react strongly to it.
I picked the NB as my first Miata mainly for this reason. Although for daily driver use I sort of wish I went NC.
Agreed, its why i bought one. Simple to work on, pure, and i just love the looks!
I am buying a NC because I can’t get under a roll bar in a NB, which kind of limits what I can do with it.
I do miss my NB a lot though, I feel like it is one of the most beautiful automobiles ever constructed, looking at it feeds my soul. To me, as a man, it is like looking at a fit woman with a good figure, it’s just so perfect, especially the trims like the LS with the body kit. It is understated yet exciting at the same time. It is a masterpiece, bravo to its creators and this filmmaker for portraying it well. I have driven all the Miatas and while I love them all, the NB is the best looking of the bunch.
I still remember when the NB first came out. I thought to myself: now that just looks right, much better than the NA. While the NA cars have grown on me with the passing of the years, I still find the NB to be the most attractive Miata. (The less plastic trim applied at the factory the better.) Many people have commented over the years that the NB looks like a mini Viper. I can see it, but it is nothing that distracts from the "Miataness". For me the NB remains the pinnacle of attractive Miata design.
The NB actually was designed by the same guy that drew the Viper. The ND as well.
I love the look
@@Shakshuka69 I'd have never guessed that in the case of the ND. Sadly, by the time the ND came around, designers hands were tied by the many safety regulations that had been put into place in the years following release of the original Miata/MX5. This is evident in the relatively scrunched up appearance of the ND as compared to the NA and NB cars.
I watched the whole series and ended up with a 2003 Miata. It has less than 45,000 miles. After viewing the series I realized the subtle differences between one model and the next. The NB appealed to me the most. It has a smile and I like that.
NB so nice! I always though from certain angles it has a slinky Viper-esque look.. cool to know that Ken Saward worked on both.
Love that they kept so much simplicity here from first gen!
I love the FD RX-7 design cues in the NB, especially those curved rear edges on the doors. So cool!
@@Patrick94GSR yeah, these cars do swoopy, flowing 90s styling very well.
So we owe it to this guy who worked at Chrysler and Dodge on the Viper, that we have the infamous NB mini viper lol. Arguably the best looking Miata imo!
Interestingly, I’ve heard it said before that the Viper feels much like a faster, more powerful Miata.
Pour out a cold one for the Mazdaspeed NB🍻
The only ever Miata turbo sadly
the car sucked to be honest. the turbo made so little extra power, was really laggy, and for some stupid reason they wanted to put too big of rims on the car so they had to redesign the knuckles on the mazdaspeed so the rims clearance, and because of that the turn circle was increased
@@BranGrizzYou are right that the Mazdaspeed was quite conservative in tune but a few relatively simple mods could really wake it up.
@@theripper121 meh, then you'd have a cruddy journal bearing turbo working harder than it was engineered to.
@@BranGrizz the stock turbos are good for like 250hp according to flyin miata
I'm on my 4th NA and still toy with the idea of buying one of each gen and parking them side by side in my three car garage. I've measured, and they would fit! Wife thinks I'm nuts... Maybe so.
THE DREAM
Lovely 💞
I bought my First Miata last april- went for an NB as i couldnt afford the NA at the time ( NA 2000Euro more expensive where i live). I really love it and to what ive heard they drive and feel verry similar to the NA. buying a NB is Never a bad idea
Back in 89 went buy one and they were marked 4k over msrp, I passed and grabbed a used alfa romeo graduate, then life got in the way. This past week I got my hands on an 03 silver with 33k in mint condition! It was worth the wait, I look back when I walk away and nothing but smiles!
That smiley front end is legendary.
It reminds me of a baby viper
It's no surprise he worked on the Viper then the NB. Quite similar front ends.
@@GhostKing6790 That's what I used to say.
Outro music cut out two seconds too early, clearly no effort was made for this documentary series. Down-voted and reported to IRS.
Absolutely loving these documentaries and I hope to see more of these. Thanks for making these.
Don't forget to contact the DEA. Cars named by just letters (NB, NA, PCP, MDM, etc.) are just street names for drugs. #lit
I contacted CPS as this is clearly indicative of child abuse.
This was the funniest thing I’ve ever read no sarcasm btw
had us in the first half, not gonna lie
I bought an NB a couple of months ago and I love the thing. It's so much fun.
Same here
Mine (I got rid of it last year) is still the most fun car I've ever driven, including cars worth 10x what it's worth. I'd replaced a lot of the suspension/brakes/drivetrain, and made it absolutely punishing to live with. Still, though, watching this made me miss it badly.
@@MegaNardman see the recent Road & Track written article about their most memorable vehicles of the decade. Several Miatas, along with race cars only for the rich.
YEP, me too! I parked it for winter and I'm counting down the days I can put it back on the road already!
You will love her years later, 5 years and love is still like in the first day, going strong.
I'd never been particularly interested in the MX-5 / Miata, particularly because I live in the UK and don't understand the love of convertibles in a country with our weather conditions. My mum owned an NA and later an NB, and I pretty much always disliked being a passenger in either of them. Hot hatchbacks and quick estates (station wagons) have always been my preference.
I inherited my mum's 46,000 miles 1999 NB 1.8i S earlier this year and within 100 yards of driving it I started to understand why so many people love them. I was also more than a little embarrassed to discover that in her mid 70s my mum was driving a car with a limited slip differential and yet I had never previously owned a car with one fitted.
The gear shift action is a thing of absolute mechanical and sensory joy (other manufacturers *really* should take note). Control weights are just about perfect for this type of car. The clutch pedal action is much lighter than my R53 MINI Cooper S and therefore much less irritating and tiresome to use in city traffic. Steering is on the light side but feels right for the car. Steering feel and feedback with the current (old) front tyres is nothing special, but adequate.
Throttle response is good and it is surprisingly brisk from a standing start considering there is only 138 bhp to play with, although you do need to rev the engine properly to make progress. Ride quality is supple enough for our terrible road surfaces and the body roll reminds me of my old Mk2 Golf GTI 8V. The limited slip differential works flawlessly every time I quickly pull out of my driveway onto the busy road.
I don't enjoy the scuttle shake over poor surfaces (edit: in retrospect it is probably just chassis flex) or the occasionally slightly leaky roof/hood, which I have never bothered to put down. The engine could do with more torque and I wish the car was a coupe and not a convertible. But one can't have everything, especially at this price range in a 20 year old car, and what you do get for the money is an old school, lightweight, British style sports car with the major bonuses of Japanese reliability and American design input.
Not just for hairdressers.
Maybe check the engine mounts. I had REALLY bad cowl shake, which when I first bought the car I thought the shocks were bad. Replaced shocks and it wasn't much better. Still had massive cowl shake on rough roads. Then when I did my clutch job I decided to do engine mounts, and good thing because I found the left side mount completely ripped into 2 parts. I installed the Mazda Competition hard rubber mounts, and the cowl shake is MUCH reduced as compared to previously. I basically had the entire engine flopping around in the engine bay over hard bumps before. So maybe check that out on your 99.
@@Patrick94GSR Good call, I will check it out. I also thought it might be shock absorber related but after checking invoices I saw the front ones were replaced in 2018 when my mum still had the car.
A sign of dead engine mounts is the gear lever going left and right under engine load, and so possible miss-shifts between 2 and 3 ;)
@@maccarioandrea Interesting, thank you for your input. I don't think I've experienced this on the MX-5 but will keep an eye on it. Is this a problem that occurs on all cars when engine mounts are worn, or is it specific to the MX-5? The reason I ask is that I occasionally struggle to find 3rd gear in my MINI and someone recommended I check the engine mounts in that car because it does a weird forward lurching motion when dropping to about 1,500 rpm as I'm slowing down approaching traffic lights.
Also you can buy a fastback hardtop making it a coupe (well almost but looks great)
Wait, the guy who designed the NB also worked on the Viper?! Now, it's all clear! :D
The NB might be the best looking Miata.
"Might be"
I agree. Especially the nb2
Abarth 124 Spider is definitely the best looking one though.
No might about it, clear winner in my books, I have 2, one of them a Mazdaspeed :D
No-doubt Best-looking
The NA is awesome, but I became aware of car culture during the NB era and I absolutely *love* them!
I bought my NB in Nov 1999 and daily drove it for the next 18 years up here in the snowy Great White North. I cannot say enough good things about that car. It was so much fun to drive, and so reliable and inexpensive too. It never failed to put a smile on my face. I traded it in on a 6MT Mazda6 sedan, which I also enjoy, but I wouldn't be surprised if I buy another MX-5 Miata in the future.
According to my dad, the wider stance, 1.8 torque, and updated airbags made the NB an ideal two-seater to gift my son as his first car.
Thanks for not glossing over the NB. Still an important MX5 which often gets overlooked. Loving the series!
This series should be played on a loop in every Mazda dealership! Top notch work. Just wish they were a little longer (maybe 20 minutes).
Woke up early this morning in anticipation of this video!!
I felt like this one was too short. 🤣 Great docu!
Agreed, great documentary but too short. Limited driving impressions, nothing on interior design. Good interviews and cinematography.
Agreed. Yes, the chassis is essentially the same as the NA but there's plenty more to say about the the NB. Changes to the engine in the NB2? Turbo version? No 98 model year? Why they thought they needed the NB2 facelift? Instead we got a dissertation on pop up headlights and how it was 'more masculine' than the NA. I expect better from the goose. He's conditioned us to expect solid research and substance. This was fluff.
Awesome series, love my NB - think it looks the best of the lot (thanks to similarities I see between it and an FD RX-7).
In terms of styling, the 2nd Gen is my favorite.
Thanks for this video series, it's great. I love my NB Miata. I also had a Subaru BRZ at the same time for 3 years. I thought I'd sell the Miata after I got it but I could not bring myself to do it. As much as I loved the BRZ, it is a great drivers car, I traded it for an Impreza and kept the Miata. Even at 20 years old it's still the most fun you can have driving. You can't kill it. I've auto-xed and taught two of my kids how to drive a stick with it. It's still my daily driver in the non snow months.
Oh, the Viper designer worked on it. Explains why the front looks like a baby Viper to me.
Great paint color, BTW. A total rebel compared to today's typical offers. And also fits the interior well, with its pleasant light-brownish tones.
6:51 Man, that camera view is seen so rarely that it feels unreal.
The worst part of the video was the mention of the S2000 which twisted the knife in my wound again, as always.
NB and the ND are my favourites!
I owned two NB's, then a NC RS, sold it and took a break. Missed a fun car and now i have a NB 10AE
Some people think of the NB as mini-Viper. I had no idea the NB designer had worked on the Viper. Very cool! I love my NB (2000 SE)! Found it less than three years ago on a Mazda dealership used car lot with only 43k miles on it in flawless, totally stock form. It now has over 90k on it. You can say I enjoy driving/autocrossing it! Great job, Mark... although my OCD can't see past the open top latches sticking up with the top down. They should be closed! LOL! Looking forward to the rest of the series!
I also always close those latches :-)
Wow! This orange NB looks gorgeous
The front of this car immediately made me think of Viper, even while those cars are so far away in many concepts. The exterior design of the front is so similar though, barring the massive hood to accomodate the V10 obviously.
NB was the first car I bought new. 1999 Sunlight silver, touring, with the appearance package. Wow. Thanks for the memories 😊.
I always liked the way the NB looked.
Judging from the wheels, this car didn't have the suspension package which makes a big difference. Also missing were the white speedometer and tachometer. I loved my NB, but the headlights didn't produce enough light or maybe were directed too low, making nighttime driving a real danger. Still it was the funnest car I've owned.
From the man, himself!
It explains a lot about the design language when I heard he was involved in the viper development.
Back in the days when I bought mine, there was a front bumper available to make it look like a mini Viper.
Just love my 2011 nc2 mx5, 2lt manual... brilliant car. John
Love this one! I just got my first Miata, a 2000 NB1 LS, back in July of this year. I've owned a 94 Acura Integra GSR for 19 years now, and the NB1 has almost the exact same power/weight ratio as the DC2 GSR cars. It's been insanely fun to drive, and I've been astounded by how tight the car can turn, and how sharp the steering feels. I've already changed the clutch, replaced all fluids, timing belt and water pump, gaskets and oil seals, replaced the leather seats with nicer condition ones, replaced the soft top, and changed the shocks out for OEM replacements. The car also came with braided stainless brake and clutch lines all around, and the 1.25" Racing Beat front sway bar which makes the car corner like a champ even on OE-type suspension. It's been super fun so far!
Excellent documentary video series All the best for 2020, Savagegeese !
Miss my NB. Great series! Awesome work!
I became familiar with the MX5 when my older Sister bought a NA model. While I thought it was fun to drive, there was too much I found lacking, from the under powered 1.6L engine to the tinny door panels and what I thought was a rough ride. I later came across a used NB model ('02 LS model) and took it for a test drive. It felt light years ahead of the NA. I loved the improved body styling, the interior is a work of art (I just can't stop admiring the lines of that dash panel). I'm also a sucker for white-face gauges. So I bought it. 10+ years later, this thing has been a dream to own. Because I live in New England, the car gets to hibernate between November and April, which I'm sure contributes to it's longevity, but during the summer this car is just non-stop fun to drive. Mine is silver, but with the same black over tan color interior as the model shown in this video. I've looked at the NC and the ND, but have no motivation to trade up to either of those. The NB isn't perfect - the electrical system makes me chuckle (simply hitting the power window button causes the headlamps to dim just a tad); pulling the top up from the driver's seat is a challenge; and I don't think I'd ever win a drag race with it, but again, it's just so damn fun to drive. I compare it with driving a go-cart when I was a kid. Thank you Mazda!
I've seen A LOT of MX 5 documentaries, but these have so much new stuff I've never seen. Love it!
Mark nobody touches the quality of your productions. Great job!
This documentary deserves much more than 131k views. Really a top notch quality!
This is some great content. In depth info and awesome cinematography!
Mazda could have messed up the design transition from pop-up headlights to fixed headlights but they totally hit the nail on the head with this one. It is just as pretty as the first gen but more mature overall.
The NB is the best one. Alp of the charm of the first with none of the drawbacks.
Very cool video. Would've liked a mention of the Mazdaspeed Miata which does/did compete with the S2000. Plenty of people cross shop those 2 cars even today.
The S2000 was $8000 more back then. They were not competitors. I think a lot of people forget or don’t realize that the S2000 would be a $50,000 car in todays money.
Owner of a '99 10th AE. It's an unbelievable joy to drive.
I love my NB!! I sold my Mustang GT so I could buy a Miata. It's a pleasure to drive every time I get behind the wheel. Most fun I've had in a car with my clothes on.
I'm enjoying my third NB. I appreciate the styling, safety, reliability and comfort, particularly in the NB8B updated version. I can't see myself without an NB in my life. Thanks for the great documentary. I too wish it were longer. Maybe then it could have mentioned the improvements in the later versions of the NB.
This is why I love watching reviews from Savagegeese. It completely changed the way I looked an NB miatas.. I literally disliked this car a lot before starting this video (my uncle has a NA miata and I preferred how it looks to this), now I want one so much.
Nothing about the glass window in the convertible top? That to me is the greatest improvement over the NA. When the top on my NA was worn out I had it replaced with a NB top.
I never would have guessed the tops were interchangeable.
LES most are they are the two generations most close basically the same car underneath, great for aftermarket junkies. Although it is slightly more difficult from NB-NA than NA-NB for some interior parts
I have a NB and I really like it. The car is almost 20 years old with 163K on it and there is NOTHING wrong with it! This has got to be the most fun I have had in a car.
Lots of work and effort put into this series. Love it. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Savage Geese. More please.
As much as I love pop-up headlights on the NA, the NB just looks sharper and more modern while keeping the old school look. I really do think it's the best looking Miata which is probably why I prefer a PS13 over a 180SX
Bravo!
Mr. Savagegeese did it again!! Well done!!!
When I was comparing the NB to the NC I felt like the NB would be the best version to get if I was into modifications. Not that it relies on them but would be much more fun in that regard than the NC. I went with the NC and still think it is my favorite for aesthetics and straight off the shelf. Enjoyed these last two videos and looking forward to the next ones.
I test drove the 1st and 3rd generation Miatas. I ended up buying a 3rd gen. In my opinion, the first two were too cramped for any kind of distance driving. When I got to drive the 3rd gen I was immediately impressed by the increase in power and interior room. But I also noticed that it had lost a bit of the go cart feeling of the previous cars. Still a great car though.
ewetoob blowes the NC’s MZR 2.0L is far more responsive to mods then either of the n/a 1.8’s in the NB. Personally I think the NB has the best chassis overall in terms of overall weight and weight distribution...
The redesign to what we currently have is next level.
The back camera angle really shows that its a fun car to drive. Looks like you can throw it around at pretty low speeds and enjoy nimble steering. I'll be looking at a weekend car in a few years and this is awesome bang for buck!
Another great video. I would like to hear more about your driving impressions (it was like just one minute in this video) and your thoughts on the interior and exterior design (and quality).
Mr. Geese, thank you so much for making such high quality and informative videos. The NB Miata was my first car and I still have it 3 years later. I love these cars to death and you creating these fantastic videos just makes my heart happy. Can't wait for the next episode!
The guy designs one of the best sports car in the world; "yeah, the biggest challenges we faced were the headlights and the door handles"
Caio Ronnau - which means: “We had already perfected it - and only had to edit the handles and headlights to meet USA regulations”.
Hilarious?
I really see this as an evolutionary move. They had to follow up the first car and I think at that time a huge driver was money. So restyling was the riskiest part.
Spectacular documentary on the NB. I owned a 92 NA and I will one day own an NB to check out that 1.8L
Its features on Mazda Miata is very well designed! I love the edits on this video & especially great job on the camaraman!! Great job Savagegeese!! 👏😎
Thanks glad you enjoyed!!
Nice! The Sneaker Pimps song fits beautifully in the opening. 😁👍
Sweet rides! Great channel and Series
Next to the ND RF, this is the best body style! Love it. Would love to own one.
Dude, Sneaker Pimps.
♥
time to go drive the miatas. nice work Mark.. I didn't know much about the NB. Own an NA and NC
I'll most likely be buying one of these by the end of the week and it'll be my first.
I have an NB and I always enjoy it when I get on it and drive it
I always looked on the front of this little NB MX-5 and thought of it as a mini Viper. Mainly cause of the intake and the headlights. Now i know why!
Surprised the trunk volume and layout improvements weren't mentioned. From a practical use standpoint, that was one of the biggest improvements I found with the NB. And the design was able to maintain the compact spare tire unlike the NC.
Interesting cover of one of my favorite tracks "6 underground" :-)
Not a cover its an actual live performance
Great series on a wonderful car! They made some suspension improvements on the NB over the NA (mounts etc). But overall, much of the car remain the same. You sit a little higher in the NB also... Nice job on the audio quality with the top down goose!
Music choices for the era is awesome
I used my na Miata to replace my motorcycle. Relatively speaking it was a lot safer, much better in the rain, much cooler in the Summer with the air conditioning, and one heck of a lot of fun to drive. You could wring its neck and not exceed 50 miles an hour. I loved it.
LOVE the little photos with captions peppered throughout the series. Makes it even more special
Gracias por los vidios , el nb está cojiendo fuerza tanto como el na, y son queridos tambien en España , entre los jovenes.
The NB2 (The model after the car shown on this video) I'd say is probably the best Miata IMO. The 6speed, VVT engine, big brakes and all the chassis bracing makes it an awesome machine to drive. Plus all the components are stronger than previous counter parts which makes it a good platform for turbo platform.
I've got one
@@behindthen0thing525 I'm considering purchasing a miata. But wondering if it's a good daily in a lot of traffic, and in climate weather...snow, sleet..etc.?
@@frankmalone236 I don't really see it being a problem to daily. It's a bit small inside, it's easy to drive, you can't carry a whole lot, but overall it's a good car to drive to work and back. Pretty reliable too. It's very analog which is enjoyable. It's no worse in traffic than any other stick shift. I would say if you're over 6'1 you might want to sit in one first to make sure it's not too small. If you're under 6'1 then you should be fine. If you happen to be taller though, you can do some things to the seat to make more room. About the snow, the ass end does get a bit light but If you're careful and have winter tires it shouldn't be too much of a problem. there is no traction control though so it's all up to you. It's not particularly worse than any other rear wheel drive car in the snow.
@@behindthen0thing525 thank you for your time in replying. Im going to take one 4 test drive.
@@frankmalone236 no problem. I bought one because A friend of mine was selling it and I needed another car. Its a really great car. i never was interested in such a car but I really do like the car after having owned one. I'm usually into higher horsepower vehicles, but the miata is very enjoyable to drive at it's power leve (even though I wish it had another 50 to 75 hp) I've driven it on the nurbergring multiple times and it did very well.
Great video. You could have a whole other video on the Mazdaspeed version, special editions and the revised (better) interior.
I much prefer the pre face-lift nb but they're both great! Different colours really bring out the highlights in different ways but still prefer the softer appearance of the original nb. 👍
That Nardi wheel looks so appropriate.
Love this series
Savagegeese really drove by my house and didn't even wave. How savage.
Freakin awesome job man I love this series :)
This is too good
You could even do a tv series like this with other cars, it's that good
I find appreciable qualities in all the variations of Miata. I built/swapped an NA car, which I'd bought for my wife, but then bough her an S2k and took over the Miata for slutting purposes. NA a tad too small for me at 6'2", I ended up buying Z06 and S2k that following year. I think the ND's are very nice cars, but the taillight design bugs me slightly. I'd love to drive one though. Mild widebody, small power jump with an all naturally aspirated build (sleeve, bigger bore/stroke, ITB's, full custom fabbed exhaust) and more rubber, while keeping mass low...could be quite a car.
ND or Factory Five Racing Cobra, i need to do some test drives when I'm back in the States.
NB is the best looking Miata, and the Mazdaspeed NB had the best power-to-weight of any Miata. I think it was also the most reliable Miata generation. But it has the least interesting story to tell.
Too bad the msm suffers from heat soak
@@tarsan894 it was indeed notorious for that. However, with a slightly larger intercooler the problem disappears entirely.
Although it’s by far the most popular model in spec Miata
Apart from the chassis rail rust issue
@@RobGMyMX5 wait, what? I've never heard of this. My '04 has nearly 200k miles on the clock and no signs of rust at all. Maybe I'm lucky!
This series is so good!
im glad that the nb shares so much with the na. hardtops, a arms, coilovers, brakes, wheels/tires all pretty much work on 90-05 so it sort of ties that whole community together. i love my nb. so much so that after i rolled it i still really cant think of a reason to buy another car. its got a few (large) dents but other than that its the same great car and i wouldnt want anything that doesnt cost at least 10 times more.
NB body style looks pretty good.
Leaps and bounds from the NA.
Nice job Mr Goose.
Any chance we can get an update on what Scott has been up to?
Great as always Mark! (sp?) Thanks!
This video series is amazing, keep it up!