Richard, thank you for the
Richard, thank you for the excellent analysis. Detailed prior knowledge of how these cars feel is what is missing in many reviews I read of the Fiat and Miata. Forgetting all of the design differences and the names and numbers, what I care most about is how the Miata feels flying down a country road with turns and elevation changes. How it pulls from a corner, and how the engine and transmission feel to me as I hold the revs high in anticipation of either engine braking or using the 4K to 6.5K RPM range to power out of a turn. I have owned the NC as well (07 GT with Bilstein package), and it was brilliant at this. The ND Miata did also impress me in that same type of driving and I liked the small changes to the new six speed I felt. Looking forward to driving the new Fiat versions and seeing how their engines behave. Thanks again for weighing in. ps - I was just talking to a friend this week about how one cannot tell the difference in real-world driving between, say, 6.1 seconds 0-60 MPH (NC) and 5.9 (ND). There does come a point where it is noticeable though, and 8/10ths of a second may be close to that point. I will soon find out!