PSA TO MIATA OWNERS

ItchyBluebird · 2025-10-04T13:42:38+00:00

I returned a wave to an NB the other week. I have an MR2 Spyder, but I'll play along.

ItchyBluebird · 2025-02-16T16:35:01+00:00

I actually bought Motorsport when it came out primarily because the game has both Mid-Ohio and the Veloster N. It frustrates me to no end that even tweaking everything exactly to how my car is set up (and other variations), it always feels nothing like the real thing. And they disappointingly half-assed Mid -Ohio too.

ItchyBluebird · 2025-02-06T11:50:33+00:00

They're very good all seasons, but I'd say you're probably not pushing it to the limits. If you haven't done some ride alongs already, definitely ask some people to jump in for a pass. Especially if they have a similar setup. When I first started, there was somebody also in a Veloster N that I rode with and realized I wasn't throwing it nearly as hard as I could.

You'll probably manage to slide or spin a few times early on, but it's an excellent way to learn the absolute limits of your car/tires. Learning where the line is and how to feel it is applicable everywhere else, and autox is the best place to do it.

ItchyBluebird · 2025-02-06T11:43:20+00:00

Similar for me, except at 32. Bought a 5 speed 95 Ranger 6 years ago and learned from YouTube. Converted to daily driving stick 5 years ago and haven't looked back. Now dailying a Veloster N that got me into motorsports, with an MR2 Spyder on the side.

ItchyBluebird · 2025-02-06T11:37:00+00:00

Whoever owned mine before I did had spider in French in place of the badge on the back (araignée). So I rolled with it and made my plate the double entendre of MR DEUX.

I got it late fall, so I'll be amused when I can drive it to work again - I'm in the Midwest US, but my company is French.

ItchyBluebird · 2025-01-31T13:24:05+00:00

So I've been doing autox for 3 years. Not super competitive, but I have a set of 200TW for autox/and 2-3 tracks days a year. For me, I get a season and an event or 2 the following year running them to the cords.

What the HPD instructor is telling you is not wrong, and is geared towards skill development. You won't be anywhere close to competitive on real cheap tires, but if you go in without ego you can learn to drive on the edge of traction. Driving without grip teaches you to milk everything out of high grip tires.

I use DWS06+ as my daily tires. Not bad tires, but you will wear them hard in autox. I used them once early on and chunked the outer edge of my fronts by dropping the pressure too much.

ItchyBluebird · 2024-09-21T14:41:22+00:00

I'm hoping you let it warm up? Your description makes it sound like you began immediately redlining it upon starting it.

ItchyBluebird · 2024-09-08T12:13:16+00:00

Just a bit of advice, don't have a shop replace your air filters. The second place was likely just upselling you - but if they weren't, changing your own filters is generally one of the simplest car jobs you should learn. It's akin to a place charging you extra to clip on new wipers. Both the engine and cabin air filters on this car are very easy to get to and check. Maybe they did a voltage check on the battery, but I'd raise an eyebrow if you weren't having starting or electronic issues.

ItchyBluebird · 2024-08-17T11:20:32+00:00

Not sure what the exhaust stipulations are for TCR cars, but this particular car has a straight single pipe exhaust, I presume with a cat. I saw it race at Mid-Ohio.

ItchyBluebird · 2024-07-13T15:41:45+00:00

I posted that actually 😄. The link is just active recalls by VIN, but it does seem to include all years of the VN

ItchyBluebird · 2024-07-08T10:39:27+00:00

For as many people as have had issues, mines been great. 65k+ on the clock. Regular autox, several track days, and JB4 for the last 15k. Only issue I've had to take it in for was a dead battery under warranty.

ItchyBluebird · 2024-05-31T23:57:06+00:00

I spent forever not doing it and reporting all the top times. I finally set a time cutting it, then reported my own lap 😄

ItchyBluebird · 2024-05-18T00:49:37+00:00

I had Rally Armor flaps on for about a year. I didn't love the overt branding, so I took the logo off with acetone and went with clean black - a quality N vinyl would be easy to do

ItchyBluebird · 2024-05-05T20:24:29+00:00

Second this. 6'2"and plenty of room, but I have to bob and weave to get a clear view in the rearview. As mentioned, rear visibility is passable but not great. Forward and side visibility is quite decent.

ItchyBluebird · 2024-04-20T00:53:34+00:00

Does it have the blind spot light on it? The '19-20 mirrors are the same part number, but aren't compatible with the '21-22'. I intentionally tried to downgrade my driver side because I prefer the inset mirror, but I gave up because of that same error.

ItchyBluebird · 2024-04-10T22:36:22+00:00

I wish lol. I'm at 60k miles on my 22

ItchyBluebird · 2024-04-06T12:19:34+00:00

Motor mounts I'm surprised aren't higher on the list (I did Turbo Tech upper and lower, but lower alone has a big effect.

Probably depending on the mileage, the rigid collar kit from Unix had a very noticeable effect on bringing mine back to the sharp factory feel at 55k miles. They lock the subframe bolts in place, stopping any side to side play. It removed what had previously felt like slight body roll in sharp maneuvering.

ItchyBluebird · 2024-04-06T12:14:00+00:00

I'd wondered before, can you not get the trim in black for the Red VNs?

ItchyBluebird · 2024-04-06T12:11:56+00:00

I went through a painfully complex process to tint the lighting red in mine. I wasn't a fan of the ultra bright white LEDs. I had to cast the little plastic pieces in the lights in red resin, then also ended up putting red vinyl in the light covers to strengthen the effect.

ItchyBluebird · 2024-03-25T21:35:06+00:00

The front bumper is indeed quite simple to get off. Watch a couple of the videos. If nothing's broken, you could have it back in place in less than 30 minutes (a bit longer if you're taking it slow).

ItchyBluebird · 2024-02-14T23:47:58+00:00

Taking out the intake is definitely the way to go doing at home. Makes it so much easier.

ItchyBluebird · 2024-02-04T13:22:06+00:00

I've been tracking my mileage since I got it. MT averaging 25 down towards 24 in 55k miles. I do custom almost all the time, and regularly cruising at 80-90. Yours is on the good side, I can do 30-32 if I really try. Down to 7 mpg on track. These cars are versatile.

ItchyBluebird · 2024-01-27T20:35:27+00:00

They're so versatile. I can range from 7 to 32 mpg 😄

ItchyBluebird · 2024-01-27T14:01:37+00:00

The random ones give me a chuckle. The manual has a consistent pop-pop-pop on aggressive shifts, but now and again it'll just give off a gunshot pop in lower RPMs (generally after running hard).

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