You are here: Forums Coupes & Convertibles Mazda Miata Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

4340 messages,  Last post on Aug 25, 2009 at 9:51 AM

You are in the Mazda Miata Forum. Your Host is claires

What is this discussion about? Mazda, Toyota MR2 Spyder, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Convertible

Messages Page 56 of 435 1 ... 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 ... 435 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#547 of 4340 freddie_k and kernick by pure_evil Aug 11, 2000 (5:25 pm)
Well, freddie_k, I expected people to act as they did. My comments were idiotic, I was just having some fun. I guess I expect people to laugh it off, because I don't have any problem with gays. I live in Hawaii, so when they had the whole thing where they were trying to make gay marriages legal, I totally supported it. So if you were offended, I apologize. Geez, people are so serious! Man, I was rolling reading the responses I was getting! kernick, don't let anyone talk you out of getting what you want by saying you're having a mid-life crisis. One of my bosses is, I would guess in his 60's, and he drives a Corvette! And he has no superiority attitudes or anything. Get what makes you happy. I'm sure a Miata is fun to drive. I would guess it's pretty light, so that would make it feel pretty peppy. For all you Miata owners, I read an article a while back and it said that the Miata uses 90% of its capability in city traffic. The article treated that comment as a positive. Maybe I interpreted it wrong, but I was thinking, that would kind of suck. Is this true?
#548 of 4340 Oh evil one... by hugobecker Aug 12, 2000 (2:12 am)
No a Miata won't use 90% of it's capabilities in city traffic. A Hyundai Accent will though... And there is more to the notion of using 90% of a car's capabilities in traffic than you're picking up on. You need to spend some time with people that really race (not bench racers - or straight liner racers) and glean some knowledge. That's your assignment this week. BTW, you can use up all of an F-body convertible's handling capabilities going over a set of railroad tracks. (Cowl shake? How much can you stand?
#549 of 4340 Drive it... by karl1973 Aug 12, 2000 (12:41 pm)
Have you driven a Miata today? If not, see if any of your friends have one, or go for a test drive and then whip it around some twisty roads. Owning a Miata is not the same as owning an F-body. You won't get the acceleration of an F-body in a Miata (unless you spend extra money and get an FM turbo, which would crank about 200hp at the rear wheels) It is nice to see cars trying to tail me disappear on oon-ramps or off ramps, or trying to keep up on backroads. Oh by the way, if you want an F-body, better go quick, because it won't be around for long.
#550 of 4340 Well throw me a bone, Hugo! by pure_evil Aug 12, 2000 (4:52 pm)
Hugo, what am I not picking up on? I think you're telling me that I did indeed misinterpret the article. Enlighten me! I need to find that article, whatever car it was being compared to (I forgot) used up 60% of its capabilities in city traffic. That's why the comment seemed weird to me. Using my common sense (no comments, please), I figured, well, I'd rather have a car that used up 60% than 90%. But, the article seemed to favor the Miata on this point. So what the hell am I missing, besides a fully functioning brain? And yes Karl1973, point well taken. I wonder what GM is going to replace the F-body with, if anything. Maybe if I don't get it, I'll check into this FM Turbo option. With that package, your Miata must fly! To tell the truth, I have actually been seriously considering a Miata.
#551 of 4340 Ah, the mystery of small bore sports cars... by hugobecker Aug 12, 2000 (5:41 pm)
Seek enlightenment by digging and reading (hate to say it, but do it the hard way like the rest of us schmucks did . I will drop some hints though. Racing is generally done in pretty evenly matched classes. There shouldn't be a huge equipment edge. So where do you get an edge? Don't know if you've ever heard of the Scarab cars (but being a Cheby fan you should be- see http://www.webcom.com/tomkat/scarab/kb33.html ). We had Burt Levy at breakfast this morning (he's written a couple of racing novels, writes a column for Vintage Motorsports magazine, http://www.vintagemotorsport.com/ and mooches drives in race cars). He ran the 'continuation' Scarab last weekend at a fairly tight track. This Scarab, #5 of 3 total, has a 600 HP Chevy small block and disc brakes (the original used drums - huge honking aluminum finned jobs). This is a great car for a fast course like Road America. He said that, on the track he was running, there was only one place he could really use the HP, the rest of the time it felt like he was wrestling a bear in a phone booth. At one point he waved a puny little bathtub (356) Porsche by. (And that paragraph contains another clue.) Sub-assignment, who drove the Meister Brauser sponsered Scarab? BTW, I already have next week's assignment ready. Both yours and mine. I get a Sierra to test drive and then a Z06. You get to tackle defining 'unsprung weight'. (Sorry, can't trade places...
#552 of 4340 A mazda miata mx5 year2000 or 2001 by melody1234 Aug 12, 2000 (7:38 pm)
Please help. I want to buy a miata, should I buy the year 2000 or wait for the 2001 model. Anyone got a picture or the URL on the year 2001 model, even some information on it?
#553 of 4340 No arrogance at all... by hugobecker Aug 12, 2000 (8:50 pm)
...it's just that you learn some lessons better if you dig for them yourself (and a lot more fun to boot). I thought I knew something about cars until I started working with a guy who's an automotive journalist. I'm painfully aware of how little I know.
#554 of 4340 melody1234 by kernick Aug 13, 2000 (12:11 am)
Buy a 2000; I don't want too much demand for the 2001's. That's a joke. Let's first talk money. If not an issue the 2001 sounds like it's got some improvements. I think everyone expects the next year's car to be better. This will cost you closer to MSRP, than the end of the year prices on the 2000's. Here in the Boston area I've seen them advertised starting at $16,995. I don't see that much styling difference between the 2. I like the integrated headlights over those from years ago. I hear the 2001's are lighter and more powerful. Maybe more comfortable seats (the truth of that is in the rear of the beholder). Most of that info is what I read and saw on miata.net.
#555 of 4340 90%/60% by karl1973 Aug 13, 2000 (1:08 am)
You may have read it on edmunds. The basic idea, is that a Miata can be driven about 9/10 in daily life, while a Corvette/M Roadster/Porsche/etc can only be driven to about 6/10 in daily life. And I think I read somewhere that the Canadian plants that build the F-body now are going to be converted to building, what else, trucks. (sounds familiar?? Anyone remember the Caprice/Roadmaster/Impala SS?)
#556 of 4340 more on 60% - 90% by pinecrestjim Aug 13, 2000 (12:38 pm)
Pure_evil probably read that comment here in Edmunds under the 2000 Miata reviewer's comments, which were... "In our opinion, you can utilize 90 percent of the Miata's abilities under normal driving conditions, while a BMW Z3 2.8 driver is lucky to experience 60 percent of that car's potential most of the time. From this perspective, the Miata is a better value and the reason why it continues to be on Edmunds.com's Most Wanted list." I was comparing the two vehicles myself before buying the '00SE. I drove both - the Z3 before the Miata. There was no hesitation for me afterwards. I'll admit that the BMW curves (and badge) look good, and the car definitely will outrun the Miata on a straight track, but the difference in cost between the two vehicles for one looking for some weekend fun just could not be justified. I'm most satisfied with my decision.

Messages Page 56 of 435 1 ... 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 ... 435 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Coupes & Convertibles Mazda Miata Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)