Why I love the "Ugly Duckling" of the Miata World

 April 13, 2022

The NC Miata (or third generation of the Miata produced from 2006 to 2015) is often referred to as the ugly duckling of the Miata world. Personally I love the NC Miata and this is actually my third one.

A common question is why is the NC considered the ugly duckling of the Miata community. There are two primary reasons for the hate:

1. Weight. 
• The Miata was designed to be a light-weight, relatively low-power, and inexpensive sportscar. In general, the less weight there is the better potential handling characteristics can be; this is true for any sportscar
• The NC is the heaviest and largest Miata ever produced. It weighed in at 2,450lbs 
• The NA (first generation) and NB (second generation) weighed in at 2,100lbs
• The ND (fourth and current generation) is what replaced the NC and weighed in at 2,330lbs
2. Design. 
• The front-end design that Mazda was going for when designing the NC can only be compared to a baby's face that is mid-cry. Even to me who loves the NC, it's ugly
• Later iterations of the NC (2009-2012 and 2012-2015) made the front end significantly better with the best examples being 2013-2015 Clubs as shown below

Now that I've essentially told you everything bad about the NC, what makes it good? There are actually several reasons:

1. Size
• The irony of it's biggest con also being its largest pro
• Believe it or not, the NC has a decent amount of storage and more than any other Miata ever has. A golf bag can fit in the NC (just like a Corvette)
• Due to its lager size, larger drivers (such as myself at 6 feet) are able to comfortably fit and drive the NC for longer distances comfortably. In the NA/NB and ND, finding a comfortable position as a taller individual can be impossible and make an enjoyable day of mountain driving painful
  
  
  

  
  
2. Powertrain
• Prior to the NC, Mazda produced the MazdaSpeed Miata which was the most powerful Miata to date (and to date is the only Miata ever produced with a turbo)
• Upon arrival in 2006, the NC was nearly as powerful as the turbocharged MazdaSpeed, but with a simpler, naturally-aspirated solution
• I'll write a full post about this but during the era that the NC was produced, Ford actually had majority ownership in Mazda. This is great for 2 reasons:
• The 2.0L engine found in the NC is actually a derivative of Ford's other 2.3L and 2.5L engines which both had more power than the original NC engine and they can be readily dropped in with very little done
• Maintenance and parts are dirt cheap and super simple as they are shared generally across multiple platforms
  
  
  
  It's actually hard to believe this engine was designed for a completely different car and just drops in with no issue (stock motor mounts and exhaust setup)
  
  
3. Ease of Modification
• Like any Miata, aftermarket parts are readily available and inexpensive to purchase
• For example, my used catted exhaust (PPE header and SuperQ muffler) cost me a combined $550
  
  
4. Inexpensive
• Anyone trying to buy a Miata is generally trying to do so on a budget. If you aren't on a budget (like so many of us) and still want an NC over more expensive competition, I applaud and respect you
• Purchasing an NC (especially an early one produced from 2006-2008) is usually somewhere in the $5,000-$8,000 range for a somewhat clean one. As stated above regarding Ford ownership in Mazda, parts and maintenance are relatively cheap (even with major issues like an engine going out)
• Compared to its competition (Porsche Boxster, Honda S2000, maybe Subaru/Toyota 86/BRZ) too, it can definitely hold its own. With minimal modification (and I can attest to it), it can even beat out some of its more powerful competition

I'll build a formal buyer's guide for the NC, but in general it's an amazing car that I have had the pleasure to enjoy for a total of 5 years...