MX-5 vs BRZ vs FR-S at Twin Ring Motegi

[mariok2006]

[Jrod511]

I wonder what "level" that Miata was; it seemed like it had a lot of roll and pitch to it. The Toyobaru looks like it's fun to wring it's neck; all good things.

[mariok2006]

I wonder what "level" that Miata was; it seemed like it had a lot of roll and pitch to it. The Toyobaru looks like it's fun to wring it's neck; all good things.

Do they have a trim that's doesn't have as much body roll as a Lincoln?

[spitfirevr6]

I would think they are all stock?

[AKADriver]

I wonder what "level" that Miata was; it seemed like it had a lot of roll and pitch to it. The Toyobaru looks like it's fun to wring it's neck; all good things.

It has leather, a 6-speed, a soft top, and 17" wheels, so it's a Roadster RS... as far as I can tell on mazda.co.jp that means it has a Bilstein suspension, probably the same as the US-spec sport suspension option.

[TetsuoShima]

i love watching these videos...not knowing what they're saying makes it more fun for some reason. They look like they're having a blast...i'd be extremely surprised if the fr-s/brz doesn't sell well

[sforsancho]

I bet the stock Miata has a lot more to gain with some hard springs/dampers and sticky tires than the BRZ or 86 would. When they designed the third generation Miata, one of the design goals was that it was to have no more grip than the previous generation.. not a formula that is conducive to low laptimes, and also not what the car is about.

I love my Miata, but they are soft from the factory

[mariok2006]

I bet the stock Miata has a lot more to gain with some hard springs/dampers and sticky tires than the BRZ or 86 would. When they designed the third generation Miata, one of the design goals was that it was to have no more grip than the previous generation.. not a formula that is conducive to low laptimes, and also not what the car is about.

I love my Miata, but they are soft from the factory

The Toyobaru twins are rolling on 215 LRR tires compared to the 205 (summer tires?) for the Miata.

Also, a soft suspension can aid in grip. I definitely wouldn't say the Miata has less grip.

[BRealistic]

The Toyobaru twins are rolling on 215 LRR tires compared to the 205 (summer tires?) for the Miata.

Also, a soft suspension can aid in grip. I definitely wouldn't say the Miata has less grip.

The narrow tires and softer suspension is supposed to help the feel. (shrug)

The MX-5/Miata (what are we supposed to call it?) actually looked a bit faster in the corners.

[Mintyy]

The narrow tires and softer suspension is supposed to help the feel. (shrug)

This is true. Even a car like the Lotus Elise had a rather generous amount of body roll - how the chassis handles it is what is critical.

[AKADriver]

It's a Mazda Roadster.



IIRC it was supposed to be badged Miata in the Japanese market, but Mazda couldn't get the trademark because it was deemed too similar to bicycle manufacturer Miyata.

[bbk]

Interesting to see how much more understeer the BRZ has compared to the FRS.

[BRealistic]

Interesting to see how much more understeer the BRZ has compared to the FRS.

I wonder how much is suspension tuning, and how much could be something like tire pressures.
Do these drivers get to practice with these cars before the "race"?

And dang... the video makes me want an NC even more considering you can get them used with low miles for half the price of the new FRS/BRZ.

[2.0T_Convert]

The Subaru has less sound in the cabin than the Toyota/Scion.

[Aguilar]

Tsukuba would have been a better track to compare these cars. The longer straights on this track favors the car with more hp, regardless of how well the Miata corners.

[cabzilla]

what show is that? I thought best motoring died

[CabrioVR]

The thing i find very stupid about this whole race is... why put the best driver in the best car? thats almost stacked, everyone knows tsuchiya knows how to drive, so why not put him in the mx5 as the mx5 loses in almost every department versus those cars (tire size, spring rates, cog etc.)

[mariok2006]

The thing i find very stupid about this whole race is... why put the best driver in the best car? thats almost stacked, everyone knows tsuchiya knows how to drive, so why not put him in the mx5 as the mx5 loses in almost every department versus those cars (tire size, spring rates, cog etc.)

marketing.

[cockerpunk]

no uphill, proves nothing

[PineappleMonkey]

Tsuchiya losing in an race is the equivalent to the Miata, E30 M3, Mustang V6 (lulz) no longer being CL darlings.

[sforsancho]

The Toyobaru twins are rolling on 215 LRR tires compared to the 205 (summer tires?) for the Miata.

Also, a soft suspension can aid in grip. I definitely wouldn't say the Miata has less grip.

That's an interesting point. Do they run LRR tires in Japan also? I have read about the LRR tires here in the NA market, but in the NA market I believe the NC comes with all-season tires.

And dang... the video makes me want an NC even more considering you can get them used with low miles for half the price of the new FRS/BRZ.

I won't lie, I went to have a look . Looks like NC2 models are still holding their values disappointingly well.

[The Holy Molar]

Tsukuba would have been a better track to compare these cars. The longer straights on this track favors the car with more hp, regardless of how well the Miata corners.

Exactly what I was thinking.

I came hoping for a Best Motoring type battle. Leaving satisfied.

[choochoo]

Drag race

[20aeman]

Funny how most of their comparisons are at Tsukuba, where the typical Japanese underdog car is also under powered. They chose Motegi as the venue in this comparison. No bias towards the Toyobarus cars at all.

[BRealistic]

Funny how most of their comparisons are at Tsukuba, where the typical Japanese underdog car is also under powered. They chose Motegi as the venue in this comparison. No bias towards the Toyobarus cars at all.

Somebody has to pay for the event.

And Miata owners don't care about stuff like this.
The Miata has a proven track record.
It was never a stop light drag racing performance car.

[DJMRDARK]

This clearly illustrates the level of performance these twins offer. So this should end that speculation. A notch above the Miata.

[BRealistic]

This clearly illustrates the level of performance these twins offer. So this should end that speculation. A notch above the Miata.

The FRS/BRZ do have a power to weight advantage- and that was evident on this long straight track event.
Though are the FRS/BRZ a better handler? I don't think we know that yet.

[choochoo]

Funny how most of their comparisons are at Tsukuba, where the typical Japanese underdog car is also under powered. They chose Motegi as the venue in this comparison. No bias towards the Toyobarus cars at all.

best motoring wasn't exactly singing the NC praises back when it came out either

must watch BATTLE!!!

[FiveAinOne]

Wait, I thought Best Motoring got cancelled?

[Tuneman7]

The Subaru has less sound in the cabin than the Toyota/Scion.

I noticed that as well. Tsuchiya having some fun in that 86...

[BRealistic]

best motoring wasn't exactly singing the NC praises back when it came out either

must watch BATTLE!!!

Any show that tests lightweight rear drive sports cars on a wet track deserves to get cancelled.

[choochoo]

Any show that tests lightweight rear drive sports cars on a wet track deserves to get cancelled.

You can't control mother nature....

Wait, I thought Best Motoring got cancelled?

it did..... but it's reincarnated as Best Motor TV.

[Lithium Lotus]

Any show that tests lightweight rear drive sports cars on a wet track deserves to get cancelled.

Compared to a show that drives 600-700hp super cars around a wet airstrip?

I read somewhere that the Subaru suspension engineers wanted their car to have more understeer to feel similar to their awd cars, while Toyota wanted more oversteer. And that the only difference in the two suspensions is the springs and shocks.

[aleexxxxx]

pretty pathetic performance on the toyobaru's IMHO

[Jrod511]

pretty pathetic performance on the toyobaru's IMHO

They look fun, controllable, balanced. What's the pathetic part?