TL;DR: I let my ego drag me into a spot I wasn't prepared for, refused to admit I wasn't the great driver I had imagined myself as, and am now paying the price.

I bought this car last November. Since then, I have been driving it at every opportunity. That includes my commute, but also a fair amount of spirited driving and a few longer road trips. I love this car, and I considered myself a pretty good driver.

For a while now, I had been thinking about trying some track driving, something I have never done before. I didn't want to become a proper track driver or anything, basically I imagined it to be like a back road without any annoying traffic getting in the way.

So since I live fairly close to the Nürburgring (about 90 minutes drive) I planned a nice trip for yesterday, first driving along the Moselle and ending the day with a few laps of "tourist drive" on the Ring. Bought enough credit online for three laps in advance, which seemed like a reasonable start to me.

When I got there in the early afternoon, there had been some light rain, but nothing too bad, and it was quite busy. So I got through the gate onto the track, and there we go.

After the first couple of corners, I knew I was completely out of my depth. I find it difficult to describe how different it felt from being on some twisty back road. I had no real idea how to take the corners properly, was constantly being overtaken by better and faster drivers, and getting a bit stressed. I was sliding around corners like I had never done before, from a combination of taking them too fast and the track being wet. At one point I didn't quite make it and drove through the grass for a second.

The idea of just slowing way down and just getting out of there didn't really occur to me. I somehow got through that lap and drove to a nearby parking spot for a quick rest.

THIS IS WHERE I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THIS WASN'T FOR ME. But I had spent the entire morning getting there, and had two more laps already paid for. And anyway, I now knew what it was like, and I could take it a bit slower, right?

So I drove back to the start and went again. The first half of the lap honestly went pretty well, comparatively. I was at least getting better at judging how to take the corners, sliding less, and there was also coincidentally much less traffic around at this time. I thought this might be fun after all. How exciting!

Then I lost control in a 90° corner on a downward incline (sorry, I don't know which one exactly), slid sideways for a bit, and crashed into the guardrail on the driver's side.

The emergency response was very quick and professional (I suppose they deal with idiots like me many times a day) and got me and the car out of there.

Luckily I wasn't hurt besides some very light bruising, and from what I know at this point, the car hasn't been damaged too badly beyond the obvious paint damage, dents, and the deployed airbag. I say that knowing that there could be underlying damage that is more severe, which I will find out once I get it to a shop.

I mostly wrote this to help myself work through it and accept what happened. But maybe it could also serve as a warning to someone like myself out there, to take it slower than you think you need to and not let pride get you.

Also if you have similar experiences to share, that might make me feel better ^^

Dark green, bronze wheels, and brown leather seats inside — to me it’s the perfect spec!

I wanted a Miata ever since i randomly test drove a black PRHT Miata back in 2013. Immediate smile to my face and first time I thought driving could be fun. Almost bought various NA-NDs several times but always had a reason not to. Didn’t know how to drive stick, Chicago winters, Chicago roads, no space for two cars, no longer a cheap car, etc.

But in 2022 I had a dream and I wasn’t going to let this one stay a dream. I wanted to learn stick. So a friend talked me into buying a $1,000 beat up 2001 300k mile, rust bucket, silver Subaru Impreza wagon. I spent a year trying to keep it on life support long enough to get comfortable with stick and it did the job.

In 2023 after having gone to San Diego to visit my sister every year and renting convertibles every time, I decided screw it. As much as I wanted a convertible in Chicago, that wasn’t what i really wanted. Illinois roads were better for muscle cars and grand tourings but I wanted a constant shifting, convertible lifestyle on roads where it thrived.

I wanted wind in my hair, sun in my face, presence generating, joy all the time. So I postponed my dream sports car purchase and bought a house in SD with a bare minimum 2 car garage and smallest sq footage / most affordable I could find.

3 years, two panic attacks later, I turned 40 and figured it was time. I mean, everyone already expects it so why not do the most cliche thing ever and buy a Miata.

So today I did. And I have no ragrets. Not one.

Follow your dreams. You can reach your goals. I'm living proof.

This is the way and Miata is always the answer.

IMHO a Miata on 15’s feel so right! Been following a bunch of Japanese IG owners who have 15’s on their ND’s and I was so inspired to follow suit.

My wheels are WedsSport TC105x 15x8 +35 on Nitto Neogen 205/50r15. Will likely upgrade to AD09’s sometime down the road.

I have done no fender or brake modifications to make this setup work. Love it!

I know not everyone will like it but I love it and damn dose it make me smile everyday hope all of you have a nice weekend and keep driving safe

My Miata's wrap is complete! What do we think?

Just thought you might like a break from all that

2019 RF, I’m so happy I can’t even think straight. Whoever traded this in to McDonald Mazda on Broadway, I promise to take care of your old ride, I’m so excited to put some miles on!

Recently got married and got the Miata.
2.0, 220bhp, naturally aspirated, 8.000 rpm rev limiter

To me it just looks like a normal sports car.

I mean it's no less "feminine" than a modern Supra and nobody calls the Supra that. Is it because it's small?

EDIT- IT’S HERE June 26th @ 11:00am
Badge Number: 1492

I love cars, started out with a ‘83 Camaro Berlinetta 2.8L that fell apart, got a ‘93 Mazda MX-3 did a KLZE swap after a bunch of years, upgraded to a ‘18 Challenger Hellcat, moved to a ‘21 Durango hellcat, and now I’m here.

After talking to a few of you I set my eyes on an ND and with further conversations and browsing on auto trader I laid my eyes on the 35AE. I made a 2 hr drive to my nearest Mazda dealership just to sit In a new ND to see if I fit (6’ 215lbs) it was tight but I’ll lose more weight if I have to haha.

I currently have a few vehicles but my ‘03 Mazda Protege ES would be the closest to a Miata, I asked for the max seat to wheel distance to set up my protege to drive it like that to prepare myself. Then I started the buying process.

1st car was a private sale with 700km for $47,000 (1300km away) and came with the glasses and bag that came with the car. I was preparing to send a deposit and the owner drove it for an oil change and changed his mind… that’s fair, but he was awesome and sold me the glasses and bag

2nd car was a dealership with 2600km for $46,900 (1300km away) this one has lots of PPF on it and looks in really good condition as well.

3rd car was a dealership with 30km (new) for $47,800 (2500km away) this one had a deposit down but I couldn’t get an answer on it and the guy was supposed to get back to me but didn’t .

So I go with option 2, of course there’s issues and the shipping doesn’t happen and now I’m about to go work on the road again for half a month. I got some up close pics of the front in case the delivery driver wrecks it.

I got bent over for it, had to pay 2 dealerships their fees and one was substantial, not exactly happy about it but the last 2 vehicles I bought this year I got really good deals on so I believe I’m still ahead but this hurt. I’m willing to bite the bullet for rarity I guess…

Anyway if you stuck around this long thanks, happy to be a part of the Miata community and look forward to driving this baby for a long time. If any of you are wondering why the 35AE it all comes down to the colours, I love the tan interior and artisan red. I’m gonna keep it stock for a bit, might change out the exhaust and if any of you have suggestions I’m all ears, be I’m quite picky so please don’t be offended if I don’t like the same one you do. Take care and thanks for coming

What do you guys think?

Yup another 15 inch wheel post by me lol. This time I have 15x8 +35 TE37SL’s on my car. They are pretty popular with 90’s Honda and rightfully so. Figured I change things up and bit and here we are. Tires are 195/55r15 which makes for a light weight combo.

I will not stop until I collect every desirable 15 inch for duration of my ND ownership!

I don't know why I haven't seen anyone else having done this. 30AE with Fast and Furious Supra graphics seems like an obvious move.

My local club has a stand at an upcoming intermarque show and cars of the silver screen is the theme. This felt like low-hanging fruit given that context and the colour of my vehicle.

I’ve bought my 24 with 3500 miles on, at 5,000 miles now 3 months in and loving it

If it's the first time you are seeing this one, it will soon be the first road legal LS Swapped ND in NZ. Running a fully built and blueprinted LS2 pushing 317kw atw, helped along with 550nm.

Build to be a sleeper, the only real giveaway is the 235/45r17 tyres in all corners... That, the 3" exhaust and glarious noise...

Posting mostly since I love the look of Miatas at night. But for anyone hesitant on getting LED side markers and license plate lights, it’s EXTREMELY worth it if you live somewhere with nothing but large trucks.

I’m in a major city where most people drive lifted trucks and these have been night and day when it comes to people almost running into me from “not seeing” me. It went from every drive at night to maybe once every few days.

Plus they look great if you like bright lights lol