Need to drive it but absolutely on the radar.
Anyone here ever owned one before?
Our Z-R replaced a 150K '92 NA6 car that I had modified (and unmodified) for the 12+ years I owned it.
You either get them or don't: its not for everyone but the power plant down may be 1.7L and 100+ HP over the current Z but at 1000 lbs lighter that is a recipe for fun on the street. Most folks are fine with a quick car: you don't need a fast car to have fun on public roads.
Its about balance, and my NA6 was more fun then the Z overall. The Z has things the old girl never had and gets kudos for those properties but for me (and hundreds of thousands of other folks out there in the last 23+ years) a Miata just works.
The touch of italian in the new design while being true to the overall miata (er, lotus-ish) design is a good look. The NC was never a great looker.
Will be interesting if they let the mazda speed folks either deliver a 200 HP screamer of an engine or a 200 HP low boost version in 2018. I'd bet on a low boost (perhaps 1.6 or 1.8l) version to help with both CAFE and emissions over a screamer.
- b