mx5cartalk.com

I'm not the best of drivers out there, but I went down for a drive tonight and found that my nc's(stock) road holding ability is far off BMW 130i. Obviously straight line performance will not match, but I thought cornering speed would be similar or faster since its so much lighter and has the advantages of a shorter wheelbase.
I'm not planning on changing coilovers because the car is a daily drive, but would anti-roll bars and struts improve it's road holding ability? By how much? Or toeing the rear in by 2mm?

The nc is currently running on re050a with 80+% tread.
My 130 currently on Goodyear allround runflat tyres with 50% tread. The 130's tyres have crappy grip, but there is so little roll compared.

Maybe it's just me.. But any sort of advice in driving or changing setups on my nc would be much appreciated! Thankyou.

djhives wrote:How hard are you pushing it in the corners -- if you DON'T hear tires screeching, it means your Miata CAN grip more. When you hear the screeching from the tires it means you're 'in the zone' of the cars limits on cornering..
--father hives

It also means you're close to going over those limits, not something I would be recommending on the streets.

I would recommend getting the alignment checked if you haven't had it done recently, and specifying specs which I'm sure some of the other NC drivers can recommend.

I own a NA6 and a 135i and my experience, backed up by GPS data logged on the track, is that the NA6 is quicker in the corners. Don't confuse body roll with a lack of corner speed. My standard NA6 rolls all over the place but still manages higher corner speeds than nearly all modern performance cars (comparing my GPS data at Wakefield Park and Phillip Island against data reported by Motor magazine). I've dríven NCs too and they're a bit quicker again. So my advice to you would be to come along to a driver training day or (better still) a club trackday and develop your driving skills. Also I second that suggestion of getting a good wheel alignment.

I totally agree with all the above.
But I have to say, track and old PAC Sydney is totally different, and I just thought the mx5 was a lot more bouncier, therefore not gripping onto the road compared to 130.

Thanks for all your input! I will check my alignment and get some skills lol!! I will look out for mx5s at Wp next time, see how you guys bend your corners

The biggest improvements you can make to your stock NC's handle is a quality four wheel alignment and a set of adjustable sway bars.

I suspect you’re in Sydney going on your Pacific Hwy comment and in that case head off to Spinning Wheel for your alignment. Stu has been working on my NC for the last 5 ½ years so has the alignment worked out perfectly.

Then order yourself a set of Whiteline adjustable swaybars and spend an hour and a half installing. Set the fronts on the soft setting (outside hole) and the rears on the centre hole and then go for a test drive BUT take it easy until you can safely understand the handling characteristics of the new setup.

If you want more info on alignment and other NC development work these’s information in my Garage Chat postings that may help you. viewtopic.php?f=57&t=29497

I have mates with things like commodores that think their cars corner harder cos the car is trying to roll onto its roof when cornering, When I can overtake them on the outside of any corner easily though the truth is revealed. Feel and actual speed are 2 different things.
I second wheel alignment and getting in the car with guran at a driver training day.
Dann

Feel and actual speed are 2 different things

Never a truer word spoken.

My MX5 'Feels' like its doing a million miles an hours because its low, loud, windy, and every sense is being assaulted from my butt to my hair.
But driving my Mazda 6 over same ground(eg country twisty roads) at similar speed, seems slow and easy. It is also easier to drive over given road at a given speed. Its actually scary how easy it is to drive fast. Auto, climate air and radio on, esp plugging away.
I know the SE will demolish it in a drag, but on a mountain twisty, not so sure.

My point - 'Feel' is deceptive.

+1 to beefing up the swaybars if you want the car to sit flatter. This will make it feel more stable.

I'm really happy with our NC. A good wheel alignment, a set of Kumho KU36 tyres and Whiteline adjustable anti roll bars set up as per Charlie Brown's post and it sticks to the road like glue.

Thanks Guys fir the input!! Will take all advice

Gmi wrote:I'm not planning on changing coilovers because the car is a daily drive

Hi Gmi, while I didn't have another car to compare the NC to, I also felt the stock car didn't like the corners as much as it should have given the MX-5's reputation. I haven't changed the sways but instead went the coilover route. Note that the car was a late 05 with 100k on the clock so obviously the suspension may have been passed it's prime but I found the following benefits with the coilovers:
* better roadholding- the car hugs the road
* flatter cornering
* firm but high quality ride
* get rid of the 4x4 look (especially at the front)

At the time I did it, my car was a daily driver and it improved the car immensely for everyday driving. That's as opposed to my recent header installation which I'm not so sure about for a dd. Luckily the car is not my dd anymore. But I thoroughly recommend coilovers for a daily driver. Having said that, I'm sure sways will do the trick too, if your current suspension is in good condition.