Considering selling my NB to get an NA..

sunlightsilver · Postby **sunlightsilver** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 11:32 am

Hello fellow mx5ers!

I'm considering selling my NB8B and getting an NA instead.

I've had the NB for just over 6 months, I really like it - but after having owned it for a little while I keep falling more in love with NA's (pop up lights!!) and I'm losing a bit of interest in my NB.

My concern is, will I miss the 6 speed transmission in my NB and the extra power?

I've also heard that NA's are more "raw" than the NB. Is it a rougher ride and is the road noise any worse than in the NB? (this isn't a huge concern... just curious).

What are peoples opinions - NA or NB?

feel_ixx · Postby **feel_ixx** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 11:49 am

mmmmmm NA all the way.

TTT · Postby **TTT** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 12:10 pm

where are you located?
Take another club members NA for a drive.

happy to help if you're in Brisbane

sunlightsilver · Postby **sunlightsilver** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 12:18 pm

TTT wrote:where are you located?
Take another club members NA for a drive.

happy to help if you're in Brisbane

Wow, if I could do that that'd be great

I'm situated at Brisbane Southside, maybe we can arrange something. :beer:

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 12:30 pm

I reckon you are better off with a P2- a better car in many aspects and that even includes the lighting, safety no compare, 6 speed a gear for all occasions. So if you are using practical aspects the P2 is an easy winner.The P2 is also reckoned to be more raw than the NC but many reckon the P2 3 4 etc are the best of the classic sports car that the NA NB are. Changeover effectively costs money as well i.e. stamp duty., rocs etc to sell the existing car and the loss one often makes anyway.

By all means take up kind offers to drive an NA. I have only been a passenger in an NA but it felt much the same as my NB as a passenger. Bear in mind that a drive around the block is not always a good pointer- you really need to use a car for sometime before getting a definitive handle. I would not drive an TR or MGB or Healey daily either- more raw yes but no where near as good a car as any MX5. To have one as a hobby or occasional is a different kettle of fish.

sunlightsilver · Postby **sunlightsilver** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 12:45 pm

Yeah I've never really put into consideration safety features - it's never bothered me.. haha.

I'm not that concerned about money loss, as I'm already sure I've lost money and I'm prepared to just cut my losses.

It'll be my daily car, but I also want to get some enjoyment out of modding it (haven't really touched my NB in regards to mods because of some financial stuff that came up). If I were to sell the NB and get an NA I'd have a fair bit of money to throw around for mods this time. Still unsure of what to do at this stage. Aesthetically, I prefer the NA over the NB.. there's pros and cons to both sides, some more logical than others.. :lol:

TTT · Postby **TTT** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 2:28 pm

I usually head up Mt Glorious and Down Nebo on a Sat or Sunday morning every few weeks.
Probably the best place to test drive a car.
Beats driving round the block.

Happy to organise a drive with you and swap cars for part of the drive or something.

sunlightsilver · Postby **sunlightsilver** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 2:43 pm

Pm'd you

tescoking · Postby **tescoking** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:03 pm

buy a NA shell and transfer every NB parts and engine into in

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:11 pm

There's not a huge difference between them from behind the wheel.

I'd just keep the NB, to me it's not worth the extra hassle to get a car that's 95% the same anyway.

Postby **NitroDann** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:14 pm

I respectfully disagree.

Dann

tescoking · Postby **tescoking** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:17 pm

NB chassis is stronger than NA

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:23 pm

Stock for stock, similar conditions, and with the same options (ie: Power steer) I've never felt a great difference between the two.
There's a difference, but it's more Brie to Camembert than it is Brie to Stilton.

Granted, I'm talking NB8A to NA6 as I've never really dríven an NB8B far enough to comment (and I probably should have read that part in the OP's comment)

Dann, the NA (stock) to me has always felt like it has less grip than the NB during corners. How much of this is NA/NB difference, and how much is tyre choice, I'm not sure.

Throw just a couple of mods at an NA though and it's much better. (especially since a fair few NA6s are still getting around on shithouse worn shocks, my old housemate's one with 20yo shocks rolled around like a cab compared to my GFs one with new shocks (KYB Excel-G, so OEM equivalent))

sunlightsilver · Postby **sunlightsilver** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:53 pm

I got to drive an NA this afternoon.

The car wasn't in the best nic, but the suspension was solid. Didn't have power steering unfortunately which made the car feel much much different to my NB.

Hoping to drive one with power steering to better compare, but yeah it felt pretty similar. Was suitably impressed with the pickup from the NA6 engine, wasn't sure what to expect when I put my foot down.

Edit: also considering my car is pretty much completely stock and this car had mods (roll bar, front sway bar, good tyres, king springs etc). Not sure what a stock vs stock is like between the cars, wasn't really a fair comparison really.

At least driving the NA gave me an idea of the room in the cab etc (pretty much the same imo) and the grunt of the engine.

Postby **NitroDann** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:57 pm

Non PS cars need a good alignment to get the best from them.

A good setup will almost turn in on its own, once you turn the wheel the steering will sort of sit in the righ tposition for the bend. Its hard to explain. But basically you need to go in a well setup one to compare. Otherwise its like trying an apple for the first time ever, getting a sour floury one and then disliking apples based on that experience.

Dann