ND3 upgrade questions

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Chuck H
Posts: 156
Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 6:28 am

ND3 upgrade questions

Post by Chuck H »

Was out of the Miata family for a couple of years after trading in my ND2 RF on a VB WRX, but will be back again in a couple of weeks with an ND3 GT soft top! :D

Looking to do some fairly minor upgrades initially and add more over time.

Looking to probably do suspension first, followed by exhaust, then probably wheels and tires.

For suspension, looking to reduce the squat, dive, and body roll and just sharpen up the handling a little without making the ride too harsh for daily driving. On my ND2 RF, I first tried Fox coilovers and hated them after a couple of weeks. Cornering was unreal, and squat and dive were non-existent, but they were downright dangerous on broken pavement as the tires completely lost traction. I ended up settling with Progress springs and sways on the stock Bilsteins and was pretty happy with that.

For the new car, I was thinking either the Roadstersport long travel coilovers or the Roadstersport Koni suspension package. Looks like the spring difference is basically 400/225 for the coilovers or 300/200 for the Koni setup. Probably not all that much difference in ride, but the long travel from the coilovers seems like a good idea. And the price is in the same ballpark. Anyone have some good advice on which way to go?

Then for exhaust, I'm looking for a little more sporty without blowing out my eardrums. I upgraded my WRX to full 3" exhaust and had it tuned, and it's painfully loud on start-up and full throttle. It's not bad cruising, but the drone gets annoying under load. I could live with it, but it doesn't pass the wife approval test. :wink: I'll probably start with just the muffer, then likely add a midpipe down the road and then a header is probably 50/50 for an eventual mod. I was thinking the Race and SuperStreet mufflers may be too loud, and the SuperQ is probably perfect, unless I want to add a header eventually. So I wasn't sure if I should just start with the header version SuperQ so I don't have to upgrade twice. Thoughts?

Thanks!

Chuck
waiting impatiently for my 2025 Aero Gray GT sitting at the port waiting on a DSC software update
2019 Arctic White RF GT-S
SmartTop, coilovers
Brian
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Location: San Diego CA
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Re: ND3 upgrade questions

Post by Brian »

Hi Chuck,

That Roadstersport Koni suspension package is still good, and still fast. And yet with the new RoadsterSport ClubSport coilovers with even better shocks from Koni matched to even better springs from Progress at about the same price....it is no contest in my view. The new setup is just a lot better, and the bigger the bump you hit the more obvious it is that the new setup is just better thanks to the extra travel and even better damping control.

On the muffler, the Race and SuperStreet Single tip are both less volume by miles than what you did on the WRX, and with BIG helmholtz chambers to kill the drone. Going down the freeway they just lightly purr, yet they open up into a nice growl when you plant your foot.
Brian Goodwin
Good-Win Racing
www.good-win-racing.com
Chuck H
Posts: 156
Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 6:28 am

Re: ND3 upgrade questions

Post by Chuck H »

Thanks Brian!

Any idea when the Koni packages are likely to jump in price? My new car is held up at the port waiting for the DSC fix, apparently like every other ND3 built in the last few months, so I'm not sure exactly when I'll get it. Just wondering whether I should order the suspension now to beat the price increase, in case I don't get the car until mid to late May.

Also, a question regarding wheels and tires. Any idea if 235/40-17 is a size that all the manufacturers are discontinuing or if Tire Rack just has very low inventory at the moment? I was doing a little research and there's almost no options available in that size currently. If I'm looking to upgrade to 17x8 wheels, it looks like 215/45-17 is about the only compatible size with any selection. Even dropping down to 16 inch wheels doesn't help much, because 205/50-16 is the only appropriate size with any decent tire selection. Isn't there any Miata love in the tire industry any more???

Thanks!

Chuck
2019 Arctic White RF GT-S
SmartTop, coilovers
Brian
Site Admin
Posts: 11726
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 11:44 am
Location: San Diego CA
Contact:

Re: ND3 upgrade questions

Post by Brian »

Koni raising prices May 3rd.

That 235/40 is a favorite size of mine, but never has been popular with tire makers. It is not going out of production, but it will likely always be a small number of tires available in that size. As a result, most customers with 17x8 go with 225/45 for a much bigger selection.

Indeed sad that 16 inch sizes have faded away. I still have 16x8 on my daily driver NC with 225/50. That is a bit tall but with cams in a 2.5 it spreads the torque out nicely.
Brian Goodwin
Good-Win Racing
www.good-win-racing.com
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