Hey everyone! I finally pulled the trigger on a 2021 Mazda MX-5 RF in Soul Red Crystal. I have wanted a Miata since college, and now that I finally have one in my garage, I am absolutely obsessed with the driving experience. It is the perfect daily driver for my twisty commute, but after a few months of ownership, I am starting to feel the itch to make it truly mine.
I am looking for advice on the best bang for your buck upgrades that balance performance and aesthetics. Right now, the car is completely stock. While I love the balance, I feel like there is a bit too much body roll when I am really pushing it through the corners. I have been looking at some Progress sway bars or maybe jumping straight to a set of coilovers like the Ohlins Road and Track or the more budget-friendly MeisterRs.
On the styling side, I really want to give it a more aggressive stance without making it look like a boy racer car. I have been eyeing some Konig Hypergram wheels and maybe a subtle front lip or a rear spoiler extension to fill out the silhouette. I am also torn on the exhaust. I want something that gives it a deeper growl without being obnoxious or droning on the highway since I do spend a fair amount of time at cruising speeds.
The aftermarket for these cars is honestly huge, and it is a bit overwhelming trying to figure out which brands are actually worth the money and which ones are just hype. I really want to keep the car's soul intact while sharpening its reflexes.
For those of you who have been living with your builds for a while, what were the first three things you changed that made the biggest difference? I would love to hear your recommendations on which performance and styling accessories are actually worth the investment.
Just catching up... so we have the Progress bars and the fancy Ohlins. If you want a more budget-friendly suspension thats still reliable, MeisterR ZetaCRD Coilovers ND Miata are killer. Tbh, before you spend a ton on aero, just get a professional performance alignment. It is the best bang for your buck to make the car feel safe and planted in corners without buying more parts.
Congrats on the Soul Red RF! Ngl, the body roll is real on the stock setup. I started with the Progress Technology Anti-Roll Bar Kit Front and Rear and it transformed the car without making it stiff. For that deep growl without the drone, go with the Good-Win Racing RoadsterSport SuperStreet Single Tip Exhaust. Pair those with some Konig Hypergram 17x8 4x100 ET45 Wheels and you wont ever look back... honestly the best daily setup.
Tbh I was super worried about ruining the ride quality when I first got my ND. I ended up biting the bullet on Ohlins Road and Track Coilovers ND Miata because the Dual Flow Valve tech keeps the car planted without feeling sketch on bumpy roads. For a drone-free daily, the Flyin Miata Hush-O-Matic Exhaust is basically the gold standard since it uses a valve to stay quiet at cruising speeds. Definitely worth the extra cash for the reliability alone.
Same setup here, love it