Thinking about a "fun" car -- Miata?

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Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I hear that people love those little Miatas. Me? I never cared for little sportscars that seem like girl cars. Get a Corvette or similiar!

Used to kind of feel the same way you did. Then you know what happened? I drove an MX5 on a winding course.....and it was far more fun than any larger, heavy feeling, powerhouse, I've ever driven. The designers of the Miata made sure this car has something most don't....supreme balance. It corners like it's on tracks....the seemingly meager power is delivered in ample FUN quantity, and the interior seating was just wonderful for me. I loved it.
 
Test drove a Miata a few years ago and really liked it. We bought a Toyota MR2 spyder in '04 and have been very pleased. It's noisier and has even less luggage space on the downsides but loads of mid-engined, top down fun and would be in your price range.
 
Originally Posted By: andrewg
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I hear that people love those little Miatas. Me? I never cared for little sportscars that seem like girl cars. Get a Corvette or similiar!

Used to kind of feel the same way you did. Then you know what happened? I drove an MX5 on a winding course.....and it was far more fun than any larger, heavy feeling, powerhouse, I've ever driven. The designers of the Miata made sure this car has something most don't....supreme balance. It corners like it's on tracks....the seemingly meager power is delivered in ample FUN quantity, and the interior seating was just wonderful for me. I loved it.



That is so true. I've heard the same thing from others. The only thing I ever had close to a car like that was an '85 Fiero with the 2.8V6. That car ran!
 
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I hear that people love those little Miatas. Me? I never cared for little sportscars that seem like girl cars. Get a Corvette or similiar!


All of the people I know (save one ) that buy Corvette's, buy them for their wives!

The lone exception is an electrical contractor that has a warehouse full of the higher end cars (ZR-1? - the last one he bought had a dry sump engine) and he rarely drives them.
 
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I hear that people love those little Miatas. Me? I never cared for little sportscars that seem like girl cars. Get a Corvette or similiar!


A lot for my fellow Corvette owners bought their Corvettes for reasons like that. That's where the Corvette stereotype comes from.
 
Vettes are great cars. If I had a warehouse full of cars, I am sure one would be a Vette. I would have a Miata too or maybe a restored TR-4. Part of the fun is not being encumbered with a big, heavy car.
 
Originally Posted By: labman
Vettes are great cars. If I had a warehouse full of cars, I am sure one would be a Vette. I would have a Miata too or maybe a restored TR-4. Part of the fun is not being encumbered with a big, heavy car.

Vettes are great cars, but I don't think I'd want a $5K one... A $5K miata should be a good reliable runner for years to come.
 
Originally Posted By: XS650
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I hear that people love those little Miatas. Me? I never cared for little sportscars that seem like girl cars. Get a Corvette or similiar!


A lot for my fellow Corvette owners bought their Corvettes for reasons like that. That's where the Corvette stereotype comes from.



I agree, I'm obviously a part of that problem. Actually, I'm a Harley Davidson guy too so there's 2 strikes against me!
grin2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Originally Posted By: XS650
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I hear that people love those little Miatas. Me? I never cared for little sportscars that seem like girl cars. Get a Corvette or similiar!


A lot for my fellow Corvette owners bought their Corvettes for reasons like that. That's where the Corvette stereotype comes from.



I agree, I'm obviously a part of that problem. Actually, I'm a Harley Davidson guy too so there's 2 strikes against me!
grin2.gif



grin2.gif
As long as you have a trailer on your corvette to pull your Harley, that's cool.
43.gif
 
Sister put 200,000 miles on a 94' Miata driving around Florida. The only thing that did not hold up was the plastic rear window. Super reliable car.

A lot of car magazines and car enthusiasts consider the Miata one of the best cars ever built.
 
Originally Posted By: andrewg
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I hear that people love those little Miatas. Me? I never cared for little sportscars that seem like girl cars. Get a Corvette or similiar!

Used to kind of feel the same way you did. Then you know what happened? I drove an MX5 on a winding course.....and it was far more fun than any larger, heavy feeling, powerhouse, I've ever driven. The designers of the Miata made sure this car has something most don't....supreme balance. It corners like it's on tracks....the seemingly meager power is delivered in ample FUN quantity, and the interior seating was just wonderful for me. I loved it.


Yea the last Corvette/Miata joint ride I went on the vetts could not keep up with us. It was quite a tight stretch of road, and there were not any "newer" vettes there but none of them could keep up in the turns, of course only the turbo Miatas could keep up on the straights. I am sure they were technically able to keep up with us just the older vettes are really made for show not go. The Miata is just so easy to drive at the limit, lots of warning when you go to fast, and not enough power to get you into too much trouble. The Miata is one of the best balanced cars made. I think you will have a hard time finding something that handles as well for three times the price. Not only do they handle but they beg to be driven hard.

I weigh around 200 pounds and have no issues with fitting. I have done 2,000 miles in a long weekend and had no issues! The only thing I would consider would be a Z3 or a S2000. Honda Del Sol is front wheel drive so it is out, just not anywhere near the same league. Pontiac Solstice is just not my cup of tea, and I find 100 hp more than enough horsepower to get into trouble.

Don't worry about mileage as long as it was taken care of. They are good for 250,000 to 300,000 easy even if driven hard and put away wet. Simple cars with simple systems. I would suggest an early one with the pop up headlights. About as simple as a British sports car of the 60's but reliable. They were a 4 star crash rated car so they are not that unsafe. On mine I removed the AC and the power steering as I felt they were unnecessary, did I mention I like simplicity?
 
Originally Posted By: miatapaul


Yea the last Corvette/Miata joint ride I went on the vetts could not keep up with us.



smirk2.gif
 
I wouldn't say the cars couldn't keep up. Years ago, when I still had my SVT Contour, and prior to it's turbocharger, we had a CEG meet in Dallas and did an autocross with a local Porsche club.

Now if you looked at the times, you might conclude that an SVT Contour is as fast if not faster than most Porsches.

The times don't tell the whole story.

I think the Contour drivers were at closer to 100% max performance out of their cars, while the Porsche guys were not pushing their cars as hard.

It was a fun day. I posted times faster than most of the Porsche drivers. But I'm not willing to say my car was a better car than a Porsche. I was just a more willing driver!
 
Originally Posted By: javacontour
I wouldn't say the cars couldn't keep up. Years ago, when I still had my SVT Contour, and prior to it's turbocharger, we had a CEG meet in Dallas and did an autocross with a local Porsche club.

Now if you looked at the times, you might conclude that an SVT Contour is as fast if not faster than most Porsches.

The times don't tell the whole story.

I think the Contour drivers were at closer to 100% max performance out of their cars, while the Porsche guys were not pushing their cars as hard.

It was a fun day. I posted times faster than most of the Porsche drivers. But I'm not willing to say my car was a better car than a Porsche. I was just a more willing driver!


+1, he also said older Corvettes, since C5 and C6 Corvettes are very similar, it sounds like he meant C4 and earlier Corvettes. Driven at the limit and properly set up, I have no doubt the C2 and later Corvettes would beat a Miata. However, driven at brisk but comfortable limits for a public road, on a less than smooth surface, the Miata would prolly have the edge.

Not to mention, drivers of older Corvette have the hazard of getting tangled up in their gold chains while making fast turns.
grin2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: javacontour
I wouldn't say the cars couldn't keep up. Years ago, when I still had my SVT Contour, and prior to it's turbocharger, we had a CEG meet in Dallas and did an autocross with a local Porsche club.

Now if you looked at the times, you might conclude that an SVT Contour is as fast if not faster than most Porsches.

The times don't tell the whole story.

I think the Contour drivers were at closer to 100% max performance out of their cars, while the Porsche guys were not pushing their cars as hard.

It was a fun day. I posted times faster than most of the Porsche drivers. But I'm not willing to say my car was a better car than a Porsche. I was just a more willing driver!

I'd say your car was better than those porsches on that autocross course. Rear or mid engine cars and quick transitions can be tricky to drive fast, or they leave the stability control on and get slowed down by that. I've fooled around in a buddies Boxster, back end feels very very planted until its not, then I found it was trickier to save than a fwd car, maybe because I don't have much experience with that car, but its hard to get at the limit experience in a car with high limits and those characteristics.
 
Today I took my first top down ride of the Z4 on the highway. As I was about to enter the ramp, there was a riced Accord that apparently was trying to race with me. He caught up with me on the highway as I slowed to 55MPH some 5 seconds later and went past with the tin-can exhaust spewing black smoke.

LOL

I still stick with my earlier recommendation - the OP should get a roadster if he wants to. There's nothing nicer than driving a roadster with the wind in your hair (if there are any, of course).
 
Originally Posted By: miatapaul
Pontiac Solstice is just not my cup of tea, and I find 100 hp more than enough horsepower to get into trouble.


But it is, oh, so delicious.
34.gif
 
Originally Posted By: BeanCounter
Originally Posted By: miatapaul
Pontiac Solstice is just not my cup of tea, and I find 100 hp more than enough horsepower to get into trouble.


But it is, oh, so delicious.
34.gif


How do you find it handles at the limit? I saw one today and it almost looks like the track equals the wheelbase, like four tires at the corners of a square. I'd think it would do something odd to the handling but maybe not.
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: BeanCounter
Originally Posted By: miatapaul
Pontiac Solstice is just not my cup of tea, and I find 100 hp more than enough horsepower to get into trouble.


But it is, oh, so delicious.
34.gif


How do you find it handles at the limit? I saw one today and it almost looks like the track equals the wheelbase, like four tires at the corners of a square. I'd think it would do something odd to the handling but maybe not.


I'm sure I've never taken it to "the limit" as I haven't been on a road course or such, but the thing handles wonderfully in the corners. The rear squats down around the corners quite nicely. With the GXP, I have a few "nanny controls" to choose from or turn off, so this can change the traction quite a bit.
I've never felt like in a sharp corner during acceleration that I was losing any control or the like.
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan

How do you find it handles at the limit? I saw one today and it almost looks like the track equals the wheelbase, like four tires at the corners of a square. I'd think it would do something odd to the handling but maybe not.


You must not remember the 60's and Pontiac's ''Wide Track'' marketing campaign.
 
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