Sunroof is a must.

I've had 3 tourings and 1 base and overall, I like my base better because of headroom and lack of extras. Sunroof was nice but Los Angeles is too hot to have it open.

I thought the base models were lighter than the R1/2's?

My dream is what I own in the garage which is 94 Touring VR with glass sunroof!

R2 FTW for me. Love the lip, suede seats, quiet doors, less rattles, better paint, and it being slightly lighter. Wouldn't mind a sunroof, but have that in the DD so not a big deal imo.

Weighed mine 2 weeks ago with a 1/4 tank of gas at 2695 lbs. Still has everything but the air pump!

I tell myself that I am getting better fuel economy without the aero addenda, but it probably doesn't make that much difference – still saving up for a Series 8 adjustable rear spoiler.

That's interesting... That's exactly why I like it. Get the damn heat out from the car sitting all day in the sun... ugh

The R1/2 for sure. Love the lip, dual oil coolers, and the fact that is does not have Bose or a sun roof. Leave the heavy stuff for the touring!

All of the above But add , No rear wiper .

headroom is somuch better without a sunroof , plus its about 80 lbs lighter.

Base model because its as simple as you can get, I honestly don't need a sunroof and I don't even use my stereo.

Is there a writeup anywhere about what changed on the interior from R1 to R2? I know the plastic textures changed and such, but I'm curious what else was done to quiet down the noise and rattles.

Interior door panels have padding/styro behind them

center trans tunnel has an improved center support section

Fit and finish is improved overall including the dash with the improved glove box.

I've dissected 100 plus 93 cars and probably 50 94/95s and there are many other small differences in the interior

In my opinion the 94/95s are refined and cushy compared to the raw 93. It's strange to me how different the two cars can feel when they are basically the same car.

If I was in the market to buy one and keep it I'd want a 94/95 and I'd be perfectly willing to pay a 2500 premium BUT I like the look of the 93 interior and it's the lighter car so there's always two sides to every coin.

The base VS touring all things considered might be 80lbs lighter because of the sunroof, wiper, bose and fog lights....

I'd say the sunroof alone is good for 27lbs but the sunroof is also a distraction on a super cool roof line so I love the clean look and you have more headroom that's much needed even if you are my size at 5'9"

Catch 22 here on the forums weighed his 93 base several years ago at ZMAX dragway and it showed a little over 2500 lbs (miatas are around 2250-2300). He was running an hx40 single turbo with no emissions and no other weight reduction at the time. I can't think of many other cars really that share similar track dimension of the FD and weighs so little before being stripped for the track.

The scale wasn't accurate OR

He had every possible weight reduction. The turbos, exhaust and the emissions don't weigh 240lbs not to mention he had to put some sort of exhaust and turbo back on the car and I bet his intercooler and radiator are heavier than stock.

The base has a dry weight of approx 2740

It may have been off a little. But sounds reasonable if he was running low on fuel. A full tank is ~120 lbs so if he's at a 1/4 that would be 90 lbs right there off the 2740 curb weight. So 2650 minus a/c, p/s, air pump, cast manifold, 2 catalytic converters, 2 heavy turbos (+1 moderate turbo), rats nest, and I'd say all that has to be at least 100 lbs and that would put him a little over 2500.

I love talking weights :)

Yep after crunching the #s it's possible to be around 2550 but very unlikely all things considered.

Break down:
No gas (dry) base model 2740 (wet base weight is around 2860)
Remove turbo and manifold 40
Remove complete exhaust system 115
remove all the emissions, AC and PS 100

Add back single turbo kit 30
exhaust 50

I'm guessing on all weights LOL but based on experience it's really hard to get a modded single turbo FD down to 2600 without stripping some interior much less 2500.

Problems start to arise when you add back things like big FMIC, heavier piping, greddy elbow, gauges, FPR... blah blah blah

I'm 6'2" and fit into my bone stock touring interior with NO problems. I keep reading about headroom but I've never had a problem. My seats are like new (bought em off of a guy with a perfect 30K mile car) so I know they've never had a foam-ectomy

Even with a helmet, I'm pretty comfortable.

..also, A base NB Miata with a tank full of gas weighs just over 2350 pounds. I weighed mine back in the day when it was all stock. :)

You are either a low rider or all legs LOL

I have to adj/tilt the seat back to sit in a touring FD with a helmet on. Hell I barely fit in my touring with a bride seat on low max rails.

:wave: that was years ago, glad they're still serving you well


My favorite trim levels are in this order: R2, R1, and Base. To be frank, the FD is a relatively bare-bones sports car with substandard interior construction. It is by no means a "GT" oriented car and wanting to leverage comfort amenities and features seems counter intuitive to me. As with all cars of this nature, I personally prefer stripped down and "sports" oriented versions.

That's the guy right there! :wave:

haha, if you know Eric and his cars, you know what I mean by "perfect"

Thanks for all the responses guys! I do appreciate them. Since I'm looking to get into the FD game it was important for me to research other people's opinions on trim levels. I think I'm going to shoot for getting an R1/2 or Touring. I'd love a sunroof but could take it or leave it - so long as the car has working A/C. That'll be the only way I can sell it to the wife without a sunroof.

If you have to have the wife approval over a/c....I'd worry about buying an fd brotha man! Lol


I'm a proponent of no sunroofs. Every car I've had them on I never used it.

Saves weight not having one ;).

Remember it's all personal preference.

Rumor is he bought an FB instead. Pics!

Wow.......