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Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

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#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.
#557 of 4340 % of ability cont'd by freddy_k Aug 14, 2000 (4:56 pm)
The 90% must be derived from the regular Miata. The upgraded suspension and larger rims has a much higher limit then the base model. The beauty of this is that you hava a choice when you buy the car, something fun, where end performance soesn't matter as long as you can have a blast at relatively legal speeds, or something you can race and really perform in.
#558 of 4340 by locke2c Aug 14, 2000 (10:20 pm)
Anyone driving to 90% of their own or the car's ability (two separate measures, the former being lower 95% of the time) on public streets is a fool. Especially in a miata, the limits are very high once you get rid of the stock dogmeat tires. -Colin
#559 of 4340 Tires by karl1973 Aug 15, 2000 (6:41 pm)
The Michelins on my Miata were replaced with Toyos T1-S about 2 months ago. That was after about 23k miles. There were still considerable threads left on them, but wet weather performance was getting scary. For the record, I don't drive like a maniac in the wet, but the tires were hydroplaning like crazy. There were some people who have no problem with the OEM Michelins, and then there are others who feel like they were terrible wet weather tires. Granted they are "high performance" tires, but the new Toyos are much better in wet weather.
#560 of 4340 by locke2c Aug 15, 2000 (7:08 pm)
I despise the Michelin Pilot SX-GT. There are some folks that just love them though. Even if you love them, no way should you buy another set at $140 or so each. There are many better tires for half as much, or less. -Colin

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