New Seasonal: NR-A Roadster Cup

[Tornado]

"A couple of books" would be a perfectly valid resource if a 30 second Google search hadn't uncovered that the SR-Limited, VR-Limited, S-Special, J-Limited and J-Limited II were all exclusive to the JDM market, including the production numbers for each edition. And that the STO offered in North America was a different car from the SR-Limited.

And it is incredibly easy to prove that the NB Miata models don't exist in real life, because almost all of them have JDM engines and trim levels that were never offered in the North American market. The Mazda Protege in the game is the same way.

 

[N91KB]

All the new seasonals have SRF on right? can it be disabled?

No. None of the current playable seasonals require SRF to be on.

I think some of the initial ones were that way.

 

[CodeRedR51]

And it is incredibly easy to prove that the NB Miata models don't exist in real life, because almost all of them have JDM engines and trim levels that were never offered in the North American market. The Mazda Protege in the game is the same way.

Actually, the "JDM Engines" are exactly the same as every other Miata around thew world. There were no differences.

 

[N91KB]

Well, back to Tsukuba in my trusty '89 Miata now with a freshly rebuilt engine and refreshed chassis. That set me back around 13,500 cr.

Power increased to 122HP and 357PP

Best lap time now down to 1:13.002 from the original 1:14.141. About a one sec improvement. Not too shabby.

I still only managed a 9th place finish. Total time for the race is 6:08.824

Being that the rest of the cars are using Sport Hard, I think I'll do my first upgrade so to speak and upgrade to Sport Hard from my current comfort softs.

So, a new condition stock miata off the showroom floor runs Tsukuba 1:13.XXX
(with me driving it, others may be able to do better).

Lets see what sport hards do.

 

[Tornado]

Actually, the "JDM Engines" are exactly the same as every other Miata around thew world. There were no differences.

You mean they sold an NB Miata with a 160 horse engine in America? Or an NB Miata with the 1.6L engine? And I know the former isn't true, because there was a little scandal that occurred which Mazda took heat over for that exact thing.

 

[KVelocity]

No Soul!?

Have you driven one in real life? Like, actually driven one? (not just up and down the street) There is a reason they are so popular. Most people that make a comment like that just don't get it...

I've had this pleasure, my friends 92 fitted with a carbon fiber hardtop. The fact of the matter is Mazda raised the bar with this car, unfortunately the later models are now too expensive for anyone seeking a thrill and because they whine that no one would buy Mazda 2's,3's or 6's if the price was low.

 

[CodeRedR51]

You mean they sold an NB Miata with a 160 horse engine in America? Or an NB Miata with the 1.6L engine? And I know the former isn't true, because there was a little scandal that occurred which Mazda took heat over for that exact thing.

What I meant was, each specific model that was sold around the world has the same motor. Of course there were models that we didn't get, but if we had gotten them, the motors would have been the same.

Example: a base model 1997 NA Miata sold in America, has the same engine everywhere else.

 

[parabulla]

And it is incredibly easy to prove that the NB Miata models don't exist in real life, because almost all of them have JDM engines and trim levels that were never offered in the North American market. The Mazda Protege in the game is the same way.

Just because a car isn't sold in the US doesn't mean it's not real.

 

[BlindZenDriver]

"A couple of books" would be a perfectly valid resource if a 30 second Google search hadn't uncovered that the SR-Limited, VR-Limited, S-Special, J-Limited and J-Limited II were all exclusive to the JDM market, including the production numbers for each edition. And that the STO offered in North America was a different car from the SR-Limited.

And it is incredibly easy to prove that the NB Miata models don't exist in real life, because almost all of them have JDM engines that were never offered in the North American market. The Mazda Protege in the game is the same way.

I'd like to see some of those incredibly easy to find proofs. Because I do seem to find something different or maybe it's just that I accept that lots of cars change names slightly depending on where they are sold.

Here is an example - go to this place: miata.net color list and look at the Sunburst Yellow one - that's the Mazda MX-5 Miata J-Limited (NA, J) '91 only it is parked on some lawn in the US and it may just have been called a limited Edition rather than a J-Limited (You'll find it mentioned here http://www.miata.net/faq/miatachanges.html. Also to spark further confusion it's listed as a 1992 car but confusion with regards to one year is pretty much standard with the MX-5 just look at the confusion when production shifted from NA to NB.

I don't know for sure about the Engines but I'm almost certain we are seeing the same engines globally only with slight changes in engine management and so. Aren't all 1.8 engines in mid-late NA's and then NB's the BP-ZE unit?

 

[N91KB]

My journey continues with my '89 miata at Tsukuba...

Now with sport hard tires fitted, fastest lap comes in at 1:11.841. I average low 1:12's to high 1:11's with a race time of 6:01.263 good enough for a 5th place finish. 👍 That's almost an 8 second improvement over the course of the race. Not too bad. Finally finished better that 9th!

I guess that's as good as I'm going to get with a stock '89 powered miata.

Now....how to improve the performance a bit???

I'm finding this process to be pretty fun.

 

[BlindZenDriver]

Now....how to improve the performance a bit???

I'm finding this process to be pretty fun.

The first thing a Miata owner would do is to exchange the air filter on the car to an after-market one and then advance the timing on the engine. Doing the later is not possible in GT5 but you can exchange the air-filter so that would be my suggestion.

If more is needed then true to form would be to fiddle with exhaust including the cat. and after that we are talking engine parts plus adding a LSD (not all Miata's come stock with that) and a lightened flywheel. Plus maybe a turbo

 

[N91KB]

The first thing a Miata owner would do is to exchange the air filter on the car to an after-market one and then advance the timing on the engine. Doing the later is not possible in GT5 but you can exchange the air-filter so that would be my suggestion.

If more is needed then true to form would be to fiddle with exhaust including the cat. and after that we are talking engine parts plus adding a LSD (not all Miata's come stock with that) and a lightened flywheel. Plus maybe a turbo

Well, I did just that. I put a racing filter on and bought a ECU tuning chip which I suppose would advance the timing. Net results....

Power increased to 134 HP and 369 PP which is a 12HP gain (from new stock). Pretty good for a mod that the average person could do in their own garage.

Back to Tsukuba with my '89 Miata....

I gained a position and now finished 4th!

Best lap is down to a 1:11.128 with a race time of 5:58.461 which is only about 3 seconds faster than stock.

Now next step is off to a shop to have a racing exhaust and a "sports" catalytic converter installed. Too be continued......

 

[SigmaViper11]

Last time I checked, all those Miatas are (much like the Skylines featured) annoyingly real. Each just a slightly different trim of the base given for that territory.

Also, I'm not near my PS3 so, anyone tell me how many laps each one is?

 

[CodeRedR51]

The first thing a Miata owner would do is to exchange the air filter on the car to an after-market one and then advance the timing on the engine. Doing the later is not possible in GT5 but you can exchange the air-filter so that would be my suggestion.

Timing advance will probably net you 1-2hp. Not really worth it. Plus you have the extra costs of having to run higher octane fuel.

Now next step is off to a shop to have a racing exhaust and a "sports" catalytic converter installed. Too be continued......

Just a heads up, sport exhaust sounds better. The other two sound like crap.

 

[BlindZenDriver]

Timing advance will probably net you 1-2hp. Not really worth it. Plus you have the extra costs of having to run higher octane fuel.

As a general rule you're right but with the Miata (NA) what I hear most can get away with the change in timing without going for the premium stuff at the pump - this may however be different depending on where you live as fuel quality differs. Still on the NA Miata it's free* to try as it's done by moving a sensor rather than replacing the ECU.

*As long as you're not doing anything really stupid and damage something.

 

[alonsof1fan91]

No Soul!?

Have you driven one in real life? Like, actually driven one? (not just up and down the street) There is a reason they are so popular. Most people that make a comment like that just don't get it...

If you dont like my opinion, Im fine with that. Oh and just because I don`t aggree with you, its so simple to say "just don`t get it...".

Yes, maybe its a car which is fun to drive. So what? It neither is "special", nor is Mazda itself.
For me there are only a very few special cars out there, cars with a "heartbeat" and I just don`t count this Mazda as one...

And btw, I already said that I have no problem with a Miata seasonal, eventhough we have 2 a spec events for it.

I just have a problem with TSUKUBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....

 

[NewfieBangaa]

2 Down.

32 more cars to go >_<

 

[CodeRedR51]

As a general rule you're right but with the Miata (NA) what I hear most can get away with the change in timing without going for the premium stuff at the pump - this may however be different depending on where you live as fuel quality differs. Still on the NA Miata it's free* to try as it's done by moving a sensor rather than replacing the ECU.

*As long as you're not doing anything really stupid and damage something.

Still not worth it honestly.

So what? It neither is "special", nor is Mazda itself.
For me there are only a very few special cars out there, cars with a "heartbeat" and I just don`t count this Mazda as one...

Mazda is actually one of the last remaining multi-vehicle high volume manufacturers that cares about how cars handle from the factory. Even their minivan carries that "zoom zoom" spirit. Can't say the same for Toyota. Honda? Forget about it. Chevrolet? Not a chance.

There's a reason why more Mazda's are raced every weekend then any other type of car.

 

[N91KB]

Just a heads up, sport exhaust sounds better. The other two sound like crap.

Yeah, no kidding R1600Turbo. It does sound like crap!

Results to follow soon....

 

[iamjajo]

I'll second that. The road-car versions are close to unusable in the races we have now given that they're MR and don't have enough power to go up against supercars. They need their own series.

Oh yes they do.

 

[N91KB]

The saga continues....back to Tsukuba with the better breathing '89 Miata after having installed a racing exhaust and "sports" catalytic converter.

Power increased to 151HP and 383PP. That is a 17HP gain from the previous mod and a 29HP overall increase from stock. That netted me my best lap time to date of: 1:09.867 about a 1.3 second improvement from my previous best and a 2 second improvement from stock power.

I've moved up to 3rd place in the standings with a race time of 5:52.714, about a 6 second improvement from my last attempt.

I guess at this point I can continue to make the engine breath better by installing a sports intake and exhaust manifold.

I'm trying to avoid making actual engine modifications preferring to stick with mods the average motorhead could make to their own car.

Back to Tsukuba.......

 

[aplsauce]

took my driving test for my license IRL. and havnt stopped driving it since. nothing puts a smile on your face like a miata :]

 

[C_Raccoon23]

I'll second that. The road-car versions are close to unusable in the races we have now given that they're MR and don't have enough power to go up against supercars. They need their own series.

Tell me about it. I'm very disappointed the NSX RM can only get 413HP max. 👎

Concerning these seasonals, PD could easily come up with something a tad bit more original. I have no clue what's stopping them. But at least the standard Miatas in my garage now have a purpose.

 

[N91KB]

took my driving test for my license IRL. and havnt stopped driving it since. nothing puts a smile on your face like a miata :]

Don't want to ask a dumb question....but what is the IRL license.

 

[Tornado]

I'd like to see some of those incredibly easy to find proofs. Because I do seem to find something different or maybe it's just that I accept that lots of cars change names slightly depending on where they are sold.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/kitcar/kb.php?aid=451

What I was going off of.

Here is an example - go to this place: miata.net color list and look at the Sunburst Yellow one - that's the Mazda MX-5 Miata J-Limited (NA, J) '91 only it is parked on some lawn in the US and it may just have been called a limited Edition rather than a J-Limited (You'll find it mentioned here http://www.miata.net/faq/miatachanges.html. Also to spark further confusion it's listed as a 1992 car but confusion with regards to one year is pretty much standard with the MX-5 just look at the confusion when production shifted from NA to NB.

It doesn't matter. There is no such thing as a USDM Miata VR-Limited. There is no such thing as an EDM MX-5 VR-Limited. There may have been USDM/EDM equivalents of those cars (though other than the Limited Edition Sunburst Yellow sold in the USDM, I can't seem to find any information saying that there were), but they still weren't called that when they were sold here so they still never existed.


And, again, this thing with the Miatas is far from the only cars PD did this with in GT5. Look at the dozen or so Mitsubishi 3000GTs. Only about a third of those existed in real life too.

I don't know for sure about the Engines but I'm almost certain we are seeing the same engines globally only with slight changes in engine management and so. Aren't all 1.8 engines in mid-late NA's and then NB's the BP-ZE unit?

Yes. However, non-USDM models had more horsepower, non-USDM models could be had with the 1.6L engine, and non-USDM models could be had with the RS trim level.

So it is problematic that there is a car in the game with the non-USDM engine specification and a non-USDM trim level is labeled in the game as a USDM car. And, in the case of the 1600 NR-A, is labeled as a USDM car despite coming with an engine that was never available in the USDM.

What I meant was, each specific model that was sold around the world has the same motor. Of course there were models that we didn't get, but if we had gotten them, the motors would have been the same.

Example: a base model 1997 NA Miata sold in America, has the same engine everywhere else.

Which is not an NB and thus is meaningless to my original point. I know that they shared everything when the NA was on sale (except the U.S. stopped getting the 1.6L, I believe, as soon as the 1.8 came out), but they did not when the NB was refreshed in 2000.

USDM cars had less power. Mazda was nearly sued over this. USDM cars could not be had with the 1.6. And yet there are supposed USDM Miatas that break both of these facts, and are labeled as being non-USDM trim levels.

Just because a car isn't sold in the US doesn't mean it's not real.

This statement doesn't apply to this conversation for a reason that is really rather obvious. Read up a bit more before you express a viewpoint.

 

[altaboy]

Don't want to ask a dumb question....but what is the IRL license.

IRL = In Real Life... they got their real driver license.

 

[shirakawaa]

I see that the opponent PP range this time is quite narrow (385-391), but there always are 2-3 rabbit cars that are noticeably faster than everybody else. I tried with the premium '91 J-limited version modded to 170 hp and 393 PP, and with no aids (not even the ABS), a DFGT wheel and the suggested sports hard tires, races are often very close, but I couldn't always manage to win. However, for some reason at Trial Mountain I can win with a huge time margin.

Most MX-5 versions have subtle differences in specs and power/torque delivery between each other, so it will be interesting to try several ones to see the differences. Some should have a limited slip differential installed by factory. The '91 1.6 NA J-limited I tried didn't have one.

 

[N91KB]

My '89 Miata finally managed a 2nd place finish at Tsukuba!

After the final round of intake/exhaust mods, power modestly increased to 160HP and 391PP. I am now at the point of realizing that I could have just jumped in my stock Mazda Roadster RS (NC) '07 that anyone can buy in the new car showroom for 25,000cr. It produces 167HP and 391PP stock off the floor.

At this point, I'm at a 38HP gain from stock which equates to about a 2.6 second quicker lap time.

Anyway....best lap time decreased by half a second to 1:09.216 with a race time of 5:48.576, about 4 seconds faster than previous. I'm still about 5.8 seconds behind the leader at the conclusion of the race.

Hopefully my final and last mod will be a transmission. With the stock transmission I'm running, I never get out of 3rd gear!! I get close to revving it out while going down the long straight but never hit the rev limiter.

One last time back to Tsukuba.....(hopefully)

 

[N91KB]

IRL = In Real Life... they got their real driver license.

Thanks. Should have figured that one out.

I even googled "IRL" trying to figure it out without any good results

 

[CodeRedR51]

Which is not an NB and thus is meaningless to my original point. I know that they shared everything when the NA was on sale (except the U.S. stopped getting the 1.6L, I believe, as soon as the 1.8 came out), but they did not when the NB was refreshed in 2000.

USDM cars had less power. Mazda was nearly sued over this. USDM cars could not be had with the 1.6. And yet there are supposed USDM Miatas that break both of these facts, and are labeled as being non-USDM trim levels.

It may be true for the 2001 cars having less power, but everything else was the same. Yes, the NB got a 1.6, but it's not part of my point so don't bring it up again. My point is, take a regular Miata from the USA up to maybe 2000 and find the exact example anywhere else in the world, and other than it being left or right hand drive, the drivetrain is the same.

"I've got a JDM motor in my Miata" doesn't mean anything here.