High mileage miata opinions
07-01-09, 11:02 AM
#26
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I had a pretty well prepared 92 Miata with a six-point roll bar, ground control coilovers, and a 2000 1.8 engine swap, custom exhaust, etc. This car was awesome and I actually found it more fun to drive then my FD R1 with about 400 horses.
Whoever says Miatas are "chick" cars, is is ignorant and has never gone head-to-head with a well prepared one on the race track. I never drove a car that rotated so well and was so easy to modulate. Good luck with your new ride!
The only reason why I would probably not buy another one right now is because I am looking for something a little more original such as an E30 or an FB. That is my only complaint, is that they are so damn common. Makes for cheap parts, but I don't like driving what everyone else is driving.
Whoever says Miatas are "chick" cars, is is ignorant and has never gone head-to-head with a well prepared one on the race track. I never drove a car that rotated so well and was so easy to modulate. Good luck with your new ride!
The only reason why I would probably not buy another one right now is because I am looking for something a little more original such as an E30 or an FB. That is my only complaint, is that they are so damn common. Makes for cheap parts, but I don't like driving what everyone else is driving.
07-01-09, 12:07 PM
#27
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around here we play punch beemer, we had to only limit it to E30's and it HURTS, bmw is about every 3rd car, and e30's are maybe 1 in 5 of that, so they are everywhere.
in san francisco, there is at least one E30 on every block.
in san francisco, there is at least one E30 on every block.
07-01-09, 03:19 PM
#28
common sense prevails....
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Have you ever driven one? Or better yet, driven a mildy-prepared one around a track? There's a reason I saw a Miata running faster times around a 2.9 mile road course than a Ford GT last weekend. In the hands of a good driver, they're very capable cars, and great platforms to learn road racing. Not to mention traditionally a very competitive autocross platform.
The "girl car" stigma is useful to guys that race Miatas as it filters out the people who have no idea what they're talking about.
The "girl car" stigma is useful to guys that race Miatas as it filters out the people who have no idea what they're talking about.
Anyhow I know they are capable cars. I keep getting beat by one Autocrossing....but I am beating other ones also.
I make the Girl reference because
A. They are girl cars
B. It gets a reaction that is fun to watch out of people like you.
C. This is an RX-7 forum....I am quite sure there are forums out there for Miatas.
When you make reference to a Miata beating a Ford GT....mmm.....well...OK whats your point?
I have a total of about $1000 in my 84 RX-7 Autocross car. Two weekends ago I raced at an event and took 1st place and beat Porsche Caymans, Nissan 350 Z, Miatas, Dodge Viper, and a Lotus Elise.
You could put a great driver in a Suburban and probably outrun a dumbass in a good car. The car is just a tool.
07-01-09, 03:30 PM
#29
common sense prevails....
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I had a pretty well prepared 92 Miata with a six-point roll bar, ground control coilovers, and a 2000 1.8 engine swap, custom exhaust, etc. This car was awesome and I actually found it more fun to drive then my FD R1 with about 400 horses.
Whoever says Miatas are "chick" cars, is is ignorant and has never gone head-to-head with a well prepared one on the race track. I never drove a car that rotated so well and was so easy to modulate. Good luck with your new ride!
The only reason why I would probably not buy another one right now is because I am looking for something a little more original such as an E30 or an FB. That is my only complaint, is that they are so damn common. Makes for cheap parts, but I don't like driving what everyone else is driving.
Whoever says Miatas are "chick" cars, is is ignorant and has never gone head-to-head with a well prepared one on the race track. I never drove a car that rotated so well and was so easy to modulate. Good luck with your new ride!
The only reason why I would probably not buy another one right now is because I am looking for something a little more original such as an E30 or an FB. That is my only complaint, is that they are so damn common. Makes for cheap parts, but I don't like driving what everyone else is driving.
07-01-09, 08:52 PM
#30
Function > Form
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Yes I have driven one... My WIFE owned one.
Anyhow I know they are capable cars. I keep getting beat by one Autocrossing....but I am beating other ones also.
I make the Girl reference because
A. They are girl cars
B. It gets a reaction that is fun to watch out of people like you.
C. This is an RX-7 forum....I am quite sure there are forums out there for Miatas.
When you make reference to a Miata beating a Ford GT....mmm.....well...OK whats your point?
I have a total of about $1000 in my 84 RX-7 Autocross car. Two weekends ago I raced at an event and took 1st place and beat Porsche Caymans, Nissan 350 Z, Miatas, Dodge Viper, and a Lotus Elise.
You could put a great driver in a Suburban and probably outrun a dumbass in a good car. The car is just a tool.
Anyhow I know they are capable cars. I keep getting beat by one Autocrossing....but I am beating other ones also.
I make the Girl reference because
A. They are girl cars
B. It gets a reaction that is fun to watch out of people like you.
C. This is an RX-7 forum....I am quite sure there are forums out there for Miatas.
When you make reference to a Miata beating a Ford GT....mmm.....well...OK whats your point?
I have a total of about $1000 in my 84 RX-7 Autocross car. Two weekends ago I raced at an event and took 1st place and beat Porsche Caymans, Nissan 350 Z, Miatas, Dodge Viper, and a Lotus Elise.
You could put a great driver in a Suburban and probably outrun a dumbass in a good car. The car is just a tool.
That being said, I think a lowered Miata with a hardtop, 15x7s and the Mazdaspeed lower lip loses it's "girl car" status. I'll agree with you about Miatas looking like girls cars when stock, or close to it. Masculine they're not.
07-02-09, 02:17 PM
#32
Why is it assumed that performance (or lack thereof) has anything to do with defining what might be a "chick car?"
Some very capable sports cars ended up being very popular with women owners... thereby being by definition "chick cars."
One of the reasons a disproportionate number of Miatas are reputedly driven by women is likely due to their size. The relatively small interior dimension of the Miata is not as much of a limiting factor for single women as it is for many men. There are guys who simply can't fit in them. Women tend to be smaller than men. Same is true with the early MR2's, and that sportsy little notchback Civic coupe (the del Sol).
Say what you will about performance (and the Miata clearly performs), some cars have a widespread reputation as being "chick cars." The Miata is one. Facts are facts; if a "huge number" of people consider a car to be a "chick car," then it is.
In my neighborhood, I know of 5 Miatas. One belongs to a guy.
Back when they were first available, the RX-7 was widely regarded as a "chick car," too. (Sacrilege, I know.)
Of course, people didn't stress over such things very much at the time; also, the concept of a hot chick that owns a sports car was iconic at the time (Christie Brinkley in a Ferrari, anyone?) Shocking as it might seem, people at that time also thought pastel polyester was appropriate for men's clothing.
It's not considered so anymore (few 'vintage' cars are, though early stock Mustangs and T-Birds are notably 'chicky'), but it's surprising the number of women I meet who see my SA and proclaim "wow, I had one of those when I was in school! What a great car it was!"
Frankly, the fact that a car attracts a lot of smiling female attention, is not something I see as a negative...
Some very capable sports cars ended up being very popular with women owners... thereby being by definition "chick cars."
One of the reasons a disproportionate number of Miatas are reputedly driven by women is likely due to their size. The relatively small interior dimension of the Miata is not as much of a limiting factor for single women as it is for many men. There are guys who simply can't fit in them. Women tend to be smaller than men. Same is true with the early MR2's, and that sportsy little notchback Civic coupe (the del Sol).
Say what you will about performance (and the Miata clearly performs), some cars have a widespread reputation as being "chick cars." The Miata is one. Facts are facts; if a "huge number" of people consider a car to be a "chick car," then it is.
In my neighborhood, I know of 5 Miatas. One belongs to a guy.
Back when they were first available, the RX-7 was widely regarded as a "chick car," too. (Sacrilege, I know.)
Of course, people didn't stress over such things very much at the time; also, the concept of a hot chick that owns a sports car was iconic at the time (Christie Brinkley in a Ferrari, anyone?) Shocking as it might seem, people at that time also thought pastel polyester was appropriate for men's clothing.
It's not considered so anymore (few 'vintage' cars are, though early stock Mustangs and T-Birds are notably 'chicky'), but it's surprising the number of women I meet who see my SA and proclaim "wow, I had one of those when I was in school! What a great car it was!"
Frankly, the fact that a car attracts a lot of smiling female attention, is not something I see as a negative...
07-02-09, 07:20 PM
#33
common sense prevails....
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You know....when I first moved to California I lived at the beach... I wanted a cool "California" car that I knew was performance capable, was convertible for top down PCH cruising and did not cost too much.
I bought a (new then) 2004 Honda S-2000. This a pure performance machine here folks!!! The S-2000 is an unbelievable performing machine and I loved it.
When I first took it over to my brothers house in San Clemente....he said Convertibles are for **** here in California! His wife said..."nice girl car"...guess she was ignorant enough to think it was maybe a............miata...OK I said it.
Anyhow, I did not care. I loved that car and that is what counts!
I bought a (new then) 2004 Honda S-2000. This a pure performance machine here folks!!! The S-2000 is an unbelievable performing machine and I loved it.
When I first took it over to my brothers house in San Clemente....he said Convertibles are for **** here in California! His wife said..."nice girl car"...guess she was ignorant enough to think it was maybe a............miata...OK I said it.
Anyhow, I did not care. I loved that car and that is what counts!
07-07-09, 12:18 AM
#34
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It sounds like you care way too much about the stigma your car creates. Leave your pre-conceived notions at the curb and take a ride in a miata, and take them for what they are. They are a car designed for the driver and not the bean counter, which rarely happens anymore. On top of this, they are mildly practical and suprisingly economical, which is an added plus. The miata, in my opinion, is one of the greatest cars of all time in many fields.
07-08-09, 03:35 PM
#38
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Yeah I did. I mentioned it earlier, I got it for $1900. It has a crappily re-painted drivers front fender and door, airbag light is on, 143000 miles and some minor cosmetic damage but that is it. I'd post some pics but its just a stock black miata.
07-08-09, 03:40 PM
#39
common sense prevails....
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Sorry...I did not read that you got it...That reminds me.. my parents looked at an older Miata once and found out that the airbag was just stuffed with some old rags!!! Seemed like some ******** tried to pass the car off as having good 'bags!!! Hopefully your airbag is not like that and is easily repaired!
07-08-09, 03:46 PM
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Here's a fix for those insecure about driving miatas- http://www.brs-autodesign.com/projec...tawidebody.htm
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