Tim Benton

iTrader: (1)

Have they sold that many RX-8's (100,000 in 18 months)?

Tim

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

I hope so! That would be GREAT news, esp. since I remember reading that Mazda officially said it was gonna wait and see how RX8 sales were doing before making a decision on whether or not to produce a 4th gen RX7...

R96797

No offence to Miata lovers or anything , but i didnt' really think economy compacts like the miata, mr2, etc (roadsters) are actually sports cars. I also thought that sports cars tend to have a "wow" effect. Like "wow" that's a nice c5, or a nice viper, nsx or whatever. I have yet to hear someone say "wow, nice car" as a Miata passes by. The miata usually doesn't deserve a second glance.

Im wondering what areas they base "best sports car" on? Vehicle sales, popularity, HP, Weight, MSRP, coolness factor?

Seems like a pretty strange list to me, and all out of order.

Just my $.02

SpeedKing

iTrader: (4)

I wouldn't put a car like a Miata in the category of "economy compact" (Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, et al.); they don't quite share the same features or purpose. Two seats, minimal cargo room, "peppy" performance, light weight, and great handling are all qualities of which most people look for in a "sports" car.

With the exception of the C5, these cars I'd consider "exotics", since they're expensive, and beyond the financial reach of most people.

500K+ people can't all be wrong.

Believe it or not, but these cars actually do quite well in AutoX and on the track (Spec Miata), and they're probably the most raced car in the U.S. Think twice before trying to take one on in the twisties. Your second glance will be of its taillights.

R96797

<I wouldn't put a car like a Miata in the category of "economy compact" (Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, et al.); they don't quite share the same features or purpose. Two seats, minimal cargo room, "peppy" performance, light weight, and great handling are all qualities of which most people look for in a "sports" car.>

<With the exception of the C5, these cars I'd consider "exotics", since they're expensive, and beyond the financial reach of most people.>

<500K+ people can't all be wrong. >

1. Regardless of the 500k+ people, you wouldn't catch me dead driving a miata

2. I guess i can be considered a minority, which is why i drive a 7 lol

SpeedKing

iTrader: (4)

Fair enough. But not even one w/ 260 RWHP?





I drive both.

R96797

<Fair enough. But not even one w/ 260 RWHP? >

Ok, i edit my last statement:

1. Regardless of the 500k+ people, you wouldn't catch me dead driving a miata: UNLESS its one just like Speedking's

gotorx7

The 928 was the best car Porsche ever made .. extremely under-rated - and until recently the fastest car they made too.. But you think an FD is expensive to maintain?? hehehe....

gotorx7

Considering how much the Miata's (especially the early models) look like an FD, I'm not sure how you figure that

I've owned a Miata, and I had more people pull alongside of me and compliment me on the car than I have had in my FD (although I did drive it every day,all day)..

gotorx7

the 924's were made by Audi... absolute POS....

But I wouldn't rate a Boxster much higher to be honest...

I've driven a few, including an 'S', and they are very ordinary IMO.. lousy aerodynamics, average performance, not very comfortable. I prefer my '88 vert.
(which doesn't sound like a volkswagon, either!)

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Do ya really? I didn't know that SpeedKing. The newer Miatas are def. much more masculine looking, and I think that makes them appeal more to me. The older ones were much too rounded... too feminine IMO. But again, like I said previously, irrespective of how they look, the Miata commanded my respect when I drove it at Mazda Rev-It-Up. I was just like DAMN...that small car handles THIS GOOD?

I personally, however, would take a S2000 (the older ones, cuz I think they look much better) over a Miata ANYDAY, and simply cuz I REALLY dig how aggressive it looks. Haven't taken one through the twisties tho (cuz I can't fit in it LOL). I can barely fit in the Miata as it is (I need the seat to slide back at LEAST an inch or two more)

I was VERY close to buying a Porsche instead of the FD...I was initially considering a 944 Turbo, or maybe a 1995 968, but I wasn't too impressed by them, and I also figured that the repair costs would be horrendous, given that it's a Porsche. I dunno what the Porsche stealership's labor rate is, and I'm afraid to ask. And had I known the FD was this expensive too, I prob. woulda skipped over it and gone for an MR2 Turbo. It's funny how things work out...

adam c

iTrader: (2)

Cholame Ca. to be exact. About 25 miles east of Paso Robles on HWY 46. There is a little diner there that is almost a shrine to James Dean.

SleepR1

Labor rate is about the same as what Rx7 shops charge per hour.

SpeedKing

iTrader: (4)

Yep, I had a FM II turbo kitted Miata that put out about ~240HP @ 12 PSI. That may not seem like a lot, but since the car only weighs 2300 lbs., the power-to-weight ratio is all good. From a dig, that car would out accelerate my FD. And Miatas are very capable handling-wise. As I mentioned on the last page, they do well in AutoX and on the track. With aftermarket shocks, springs, and sway bars, you can corner @ 1g easy.

John Magnuson

I have an FD and a Miata. If I had to sell one I'd sell the FD. Sure the FD is faster and I still really like it but unless you've driven a Miata at 9/10th along a curvey mountain road you will never understand what pure automotive joy is.

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

I dunno if i'd ever sell my FD (actually, I won't, period lol) but I understand what you mean...I never push my FD past 7/10ths of what it can do...and when I have (the very few times) I nearly had a heart attack... close call is a HUGE understatement. So I guess being able to plow through turns w/o worrying about unpredictable results is definitely a joy. I actually enjoyed that experience when I took an RX8 for a test drive. I was pushing the crap outta the car, and it handled like a DREAM. I was speechless.

SpeedKing

iTrader: (4)

You too, eh? Curiously, I know of 6 people on this board who own or have owned both cars. To the contrary, I sold the Miata and kept the FD. The FD has the same attributes, however, it was just too good-looking and rare to give up. And I hear ya on driving a Miata at a 9/10ths pace through the twisties. I actually feel more more comfortable doing so in a N/A Miata, because with the FD, I feel like I'm going to break traction and spin out if I push it too hard.

John Magnuson

Yeah, I prefer my FD on the track but on almost any public road I feel too insane if I push it 9/10th. I'm not saying I havn't done it before...

The FD is a GREAT car. I can womp on $110K Porsches at track days. And it looks great. I guess I'm just getting too conservative to enjoy triple digits speeds on twisty mountain roads. Sure I can drive at about half throttle and probably go the same speed I would be going in my Miata at full throttle... but it's more fun to push a slower car at near its limit of performance than to have to hold back in a faster car.

Kento

Definitely have to agree with you there. The Miata is the true definition of a fun car that you can "fling" through the corners. Plus they're relatively durable.

billt

iTrader: (1)

Notice how only half the cars made both SCI's & Reader's top ten lists-RX7 made both lists.

billt

iTrader: (1)

Notice how only half the cars made both SCI's & Reader's top ten lists-RX7 made both lists.

billt

iTrader: (1)

Notice how only half the cars are in both SCI & readers list? RX7 made both lists!

PhoenixDownVII

Been contimplating that for a while now, and that's the best way to put it.

I almost feel bad for my FD because I can rarely use the second turbo in 3rd gear....

..can't wait for track days. Definitely would love a miata as a DD if it only had more space :P

Outkast

I have owned 11 Mazdas. 2 first gens, 5 2nd gens, 2 3rd gens, 1 RX8, and one 2001 base model 5-speed triple black MX-5 (Miata). I traded the Miata for an FD, because it was too small and it made my head look big LOL and it was underpowered. In defense of the Miata I have to say that I got very many complements on it, and it ran excellent. It is clearly and truly a dedicated sports car. I have video footage ( 8mm analog ) Of me spanking 2001 V6 Mustangs and highly modded twin-cam Saturns at the local meet, and being accused of running a supercharger. The car got mistaken for a Viper by some of the more ignorant folks, and a Jag by many more. The top was easy to operate and pure joy when dropped. Unlike, the convertible S5 I've owned, which is a nightmare to drop, you really feel like you're outside. The car was extremely reliable, and I miss it a lot. The gears are so awesome, it chirps 3rd gear hard with little effort. Mine ran high 15s bone stock. I smoked an old Camaro with a V8. It is one of the very best handling sports cars in the world. After 15,000 miles of pure hard-core abuse, Madza had to give all my money back + tax, because they advertised 155 hp instead of the 142 it actually had. Although the MR2 Spyder is rated at 138 hp, it makes 125 to the wheels, the Miata only 110. They are supposed to run low 15s due to their great mid-engine launch, but from a roll they could never pull a single inch on my Miata. The Miata is underpowered in some ways but it has the perfect amount of power when you're ******* it 100% going all out in the turns with full confidence. The FD is plain scary. So don't diss the Miata even if a lot of ******* like it.......

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Are you talking about your Miata or RX-8 here? I wasn't aware that there was a prob w/ the Miata...but I know Mazda offered to buy back RX-8s due to a promised 255 hp, vs. the actual 238hp it put out (or they got free maintenance for life)