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 63 of 435 1 ... 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 ... 435 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#612 of 4340 reply to jwilson1 by redirector Aug 30, 2000 (3:26 am)
jwilson1: thanks for the note. One point of clarification I failed to make, we too have 2 cars, so the miata, if purchased would also be a 3rd car, like yours. Understand your definition of a "sports car vs sports sedan/coupe/convert.", but in my case, I'm not limiting my idea of fun to the strict definition of a sports car (in any case, I didn't use that term in my msg, just the generic 'convertible', hope no Miata owners are offended by my callous grouping). I have driven both, to answer your question. That's why it's a tough choice for me, they are both very fun and rewarding to drive, each with some clear strengths vs the other (Miata for feel/purity and response, BMW for power/speed, and seemingly inexhaustible handling capabilities). Since I can't picture having a bad time driving either car, I'll have to move you beyond Fun to other factors to help make the decision. One cost factor(of several to analyze) that is now clear -- Insurance. Quotes from my current insurer priced the Audi/Mazda combination at roughly $1600/yr, and the BMW 330CiC at $1120. This $480 difference surprised me. The BMW also has free maintenance for 3 yrs. This brings an interesting line of discussion to the house ("but Honey, the BMW is actually more economical to own and operate!"). Give the Miata the gas & repair edge edge and the cost ownership is probably not a good tiebreaker, either. The BMW is, inarguably, the safer vehicle. I can't wait to drive both '01 models when available, there are other visceral inputs from driving besides "Fun" that will surface from the test drives. Thanks so much for the great insights. This board has a lot of passion for great cars, and is a good reason why the Internet is changing the way people live and work -- and drive!
#613 of 4340 Seriously Considering a 2000 Miata by sau1 Aug 30, 2000 (7:14 am)
I have been dreaming about a Miata for a few years but have never taken the plunge. I am driving a 2000 Acura TL but want a fun second car (the TL is a very nice car but I want something that is even more fun). My last obstacle is my wife, who does not want me to get a Miata (it is just a toy, she says). The 2000 base model is selling for only about $17.5K in my area, and I think it is a tremendous value. Does anyone have any comment about the black upholstery? Are the 14 inch tires much inferior than the 15 inch? Should I get the hardtop (we don't get too cold in Northern California)?
#614 of 4340 sau1 by WarpDrive Aug 30, 2000 (1:47 pm)
Sau1 It is a good time to get a good deal with a 2000, the 2001 has some improvements in performance (bigger standard wheels, 15 HP more, slightly different front end look) but the price might go up and the car won't really be any more fun to drive (my speculation). So I don't believe it is worth waiting for since the price on the 2000's is very attractive. As your questions, the 14 inch wheels are fine. Some people say the 15 inch wheels grip TOO well. If you are aggressively cornering, the 15 will break away into a slide more abruptly. The 14 inchers will slide earlier but the feel is more progressive and you can control the slide better. The hardtop is not a necessity unless you get LOTS of snow and ice and sub-zero temps. Even then, it is debatable.
#615 of 4340 I am learning! by dsun1 Aug 30, 2000 (9:17 pm)
Hello Miata Lovers: Thank you all for your valuable inputs: it makes me feel that my Miata bring me into a new family I practiced on the parking lot for an Hour Monday, and yesterday I drove around the neiborhood streets for five circles. I stalled it once at the stop sign and got two honks because I was downshifting too slowly on the road.(when I shift from 3rd to 2nd, the car was nearly stopped and then suddenly jerked as I finished the shift) But I feel so much fun, so I just regard the honks as if other people were jealous about my cool car.  I yet have to practice dring on slope roads and moving inch by inch like in the morning traffic.Hopefully I will be able to drive to work soon.   There is one thing I am not quite understand: many of the inputs I got suggested just release the clutch and let the car move, without pushing gas for the beginning, and I did saw other people doing that on other cars, but on my Miata, if i do not give any gas, it stalls within a foot.Seems like it doen't have enough power just to move by itself. The lot I practise on is pretty flat, not a uphill or anything like that. Is it normal for Miata? PS for sau1: I think the current deal for 2000 Miata is really good, I got mine at 0% APR for 24 months.this special finance end after Labor day.
#616 of 4340 by locke2c Aug 30, 2000 (9:32 pm)
dsun, they didn't mean to actually try to launch the car from rest with no gas... What they intended for you to do is to learn at what point in the pedal travel the clutch starts making friction. You still need to apply gas, just apply *right* at that friction point for a smooth shift while moving. You'll need even more gas to start from rest. -Colin
#617 of 4340 Miata in a crash by phraed Aug 31, 2000 (12:40 am)
Information please:    Am considering the following for a second car; 2001 Mazda Miata versus 2001 BMW Z3 versus 2001 BMW 330CiC. Has anyone any info on crashworthiness of these 3. In particular the side protection of the Miata bothers me a little as it has no side impact bags. I think the frontal crash safety on all would be adequate.    I am replacing a motorcycle as I have just gotten too old for 2 wheels, so I want another toy to replace it.             Phraed
#618 of 4340 phraed by kernick Aug 31, 2000 (1:39 am)
I think any comments you get here on side impact will be speculation. You're going to have to check NHTSA or some consumer group. Not every car is tested. Maybe a Miata was tested 5 or 7 years ago?, or last year? Or - you'll then have to investigate what structural changes if any were made, etc. The Miatas main safety advantage may be its agility/maneuverability. Surely not mass. Braking wasn't a real strongpoint if what I've read in magazines is correct. No standard ABS. Aren't you worried about roll-over protection either. In other words side impact is a small part of how safe a car is. One of my favorite safety features is "power". Nothing worse than trying to pass on a 2 lane road and sitting in the opposite lane too long, with a vehicle approaching. Also nice to get up to highway speed on those short entrance ramps.
#619 of 4340 dsun1 by WarpDrive Aug 31, 2000 (1:47 am)
Normally, you would never release the clutch without giving it a bit of gas at the same time. BUT if you are on a flat enough surface AND you let out the clutch slowly enough, you can actually get the car moving WITHOUT using the gas pedal. I had my wife driving around, stop the car, and get it going again repeatedly WITHOUT using the gas pedal at all. This is actually a great excercise as it "tunes" your leg to remember where the friction point is. Once you get accustomed to where it is, you will instinctively know when to apply the gas pedal.
#620 of 4340 phraed by WarpDrive Aug 31, 2000 (1:56 am)
I once tried to find information about side impact/crash results for the 1999 Miata and didn't find anything. All we know is that the Miata meets federally mandated side impact standards just like every other car made. Speculation would say that the 330 is the safest car, the extra mass is important when colliding with other massive objects. The Z3 has some roll hoops and higher door sills so reasoning would say it's next.
#621 of 4340 Shifting by tomracer Aug 31, 2000 (4:10 pm)
Dsun, Congratualtiona on learning to shift. When you are ready for graduate school there are a couple of good books that will teach you the finer points, Denis Jenkinson's "The Racing Driver" and Paul Frere's "Sports Car and Competition Driving" are a couple of classics. Skip Barber's "Going Faster" and Bob Bondurant's book (I forget the name) are a couple newer titles. These books are geared towards competition driving, but the principles are the same.

Messages Page 63 of 435 1 ... 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 ... 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)