Heavy on the Throttle: Fixing the NC Miata's Featherlight Pedal

The NC Miata—like all Miatas—is undeniably fun to drive. It’s not about the power (because, well, there’s not much), the interior (which is… fine), or even the suspension (hello, body roll!). The real magic comes from its lack of weight. The light clutch, shifter, and steering, combined with minimal inertia, create an experience that’s effortlessly engaging. It’s the kind of car that just makes you smile every time you drive it.

But there’s one area where I wish Mazda had added a bit more heft: the throttle pedal.

Even the slightest touch sends it straight to the floor with almost no resistance. On a racetrack or an autocross course, that responsiveness isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But when I’m just cruising—say, on a date night—I’d rather not feel like I have to feather the pedal with absolute precision. My big, heavy, not-so-dexterous right foot would appreciate a little extra resistance to rest against. So, naturally, I had to do something about it.

If I didn’t also own a couple of other cars with floor-mounted throttle pedals that feel noticeably weightier, I might not have even noticed. But I do. And like so many other things in life, once you notice it, you can’t unnotice it.

I wonder if Mazda received similar feedback from NC owners, because by the time they developed the ND, they had switched from a floating pedal design to a floor-hinged one.

After some digging, I found that other NC owners had come up with creative ways to add weight to the throttle pedal. Some had taken apart the assembly and swapped in a heavier internal spring. Others had rigged up a bungee cord behind the pedal, which I thought was clever—though I also knew that bungee cords tend to stretch and lose elasticity over time. So, I decided to take that idea and tweak it a bit.

Step one: I ordered a set of small springs off Amazon.

I then found a sturdy-looking metal bracket under the dashboard and secured a spring between it and the throttle pedal using a couple of zip ties. That’s it—simple, effective, and exactly what I needed.

I intentionally chose a spring just long enough to add some extra weight to the pedal in its resting position. When securing it with a zip tie, I positioned it high enough to clear the pedal stopper, ensuring I could still achieve 100% throttle and that the pedal retained its full range of motion.

The entire "project" took less than five minutes. Honestly, I wish I had done it months ago when I first bought the car.

If you find the throttle pedal on your NC Miata too light, I’d definitely recommend giving this a try. It’s cheap, easy to do, and completely reversible. As for me? After driving around with this setup, I have no plans to remove it—my lazy right leg is definitely grateful.