NA8 clubman vs NA6 what are the big differences?

shirtz · Postby **shirtz** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 8:24 am

hi guys, as some of you know I have a leaky NA6 that im currently putting on the road. engine is on the way out but everything else looks ok. an NA8 clubman has comeup for sale and im considering that instead of putting a 1.8 in my NA6. whats your thoughts? obviously my NA6 has open diff and the small brakes. currently converting it to PS delete.

differences I believe are

* Leather interior + nardi wheel
* LSD
* No power steering (manual rack)
* 'bigger' brakes
* some body stiffening?
* more weight?

matt.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 9:32 am

200ml

shirtz · Postby **shirtz** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 9:48 am

helpful.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 10:18 am

* torsen diff
* bilstein shocks
* a little more bracing
* PS and AC may have been added
* slightly different steering geometry from NA6 and NA8
* Clubman badge and the word Bilstein in the door sticker
* 1840 BP engine, bigger clutch and stronger gear linkage than NA6
* 14 x 6 wheels and bigger brakes than NA6
* $$$

shirtz · Postby **shirtz** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 10:20 am

thanks manga, I owe you (another) beer!

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:07 am

In case you/ve not already seen it following gives differences between NA8 & NA8 Clubman:
viewtopic.php?f=76&t=30041
Had both early NA6 & NA8 Clubmans - both have their strengths - ideally you'd have one of each, but that may not be practical.

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:13 am

why would you have a NA6 whaen you have a Clubman?

NA6 owners try to pretend that they are NA8.....upgrade every NA6 part to a NA8 part....

I should know...Ive almost completed the full Journey.

essentially....the Clubman is the closest relative the NA6 has. Except the Clubman has all the good bits on it that the NA6 really needs. or should have had in the first place.

shirtz · Postby **shirtz** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:32 am

StanTheMan wrote:why would you have a NA6 whaen you have a Clubman?

NA6 owners try to pretend that they are NA8.....upgrade every NA6 part to a NA8 part....

I should know...Ive almost completed the full Journey.

essentially....the Clubman is the closest relative the NA6 has. Except the Clubman has all the good bits on it that the NA6 really needs. or should have had in the first place.

thanks stan, this is my point. im going to buy the diff and brakes eventually, and this is possibly a "smarter" option. rather my marina blue then red though

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:37 am

hey shirtz were on the same page.....dont make the same mistake i have

it might cost you 2-3K now.....or $10K upgrading the NA6

If you're anything like me....purchasing a BP4W isn't going to stop at $1K

But when I got my NA6 21 years ago....thats all I could afford

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 12:30 pm

StanTheMan wrote:why would you have a NA6 when you have a Clubman?

The main differences in driving the two were the chuckability & knife through butter gear changes of the NA6. Whether those are reasons to have the NA6 instead of the NA8 Clubman depends on driver expectations. I've stuck with the Clubman, which I'm happy with, but that doesn't cancel the memories of my 1989 NA6. Did overlap the two cars for a few months in early 2004 so was able to make back to back comparisons, but that said those comparisons today may not amount to the same conclusion.

shirtz wrote:well mine was 4k with a hardtop no rego. 177k but a good crank wobble, hail damage. has a bunch of parts too.

Of course from a financial perspective, OP should sell his NA6 (which needs major work & mods) & get a decent NA8 or NA8 Clubman or NB8B, depending on what he wants from his car.

shirtz · Postby **shirtz** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 1:20 pm

thanks for the comments all. will let you know how I go.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 2:02 pm

I'm wondering if it would be financially better in the long run to bring the NA6 back to spec, sell it, then buy the NA8 you're trying to turn your NA6 into (preferably buy an NA8 that's a little "tired" so you can get it cheap).

Faithfully restored NA6s are probably the only MX5s that will ever earn "Classic Car" status.

shirtz · Postby **shirtz** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 2:05 pm

Lokiel wrote:I'm wondering if it would be financially better in the long run to bring the NA6 back to spec, sell it, then buy the NA8 you're trying to turn your NA6 into (preferably buy an NA8 that's a little "tired" so you can get it cheap).

Faithfully restored NA6s are probably the only MX5s that will ever earn "Classic Car" status.

that will be the question for the next owner

im not a faithful restorer. paint and originality are not that important to me.