Miata Fans?

[choneofakind]

Thread resurrection.

I just drove an old supercharged MR2 today. T-tops out, windows down, fart cannon burping on every heel-toe; really got me in the mood for a convertible fun car, so I did some searching on the Miata again. Motor Trend did a nice compairo with the 2016 BRZ. Looks like both cars are still a riot to drive.

Link to original page on YouTube.

[MrAtom]

I still like the 1st gens the best.

[choneofakind]

The NA's with the teeny 1.6L and the pop up headlights that are sadly no longer allowed on new cars sold in the US? That car had character. I drove one a couple times in High School. The car has since been totalled, so that won't happen again.

But the good news is everyone has said the ND is better in every way, but still keeps the pure attitude of the original, and that's a great thing. I really like Miata's. Always have, likely always will. I just hope I can manage to own one as a second car. I'm not sure I'm ready to give up the motorcycles, but I really want a Miata.

[MrAtom]

I tried to get one of those cute little NA's but people around here either wanted $3500 firm for one with 250k miles on it or they were rusted out (well, presumably) from being in a coastal city.

[Ninjinsky]

The NA was the real Miata. The whole idea was a virtual copy of the Lotus Elan.
The new car is no doubt very good isn't that, it lacks the '60s British sports car thing.
I tried an MR2 mkII for a while but if you are considering one know that it is difficult to get so much as an attache case into it so sports car holidays are out
I ended up trading for a Probe, which despite being a "sports" car, has a gargantuan trunk esp with the back seats down. When I was rebuilding the house I got a bath, wc and cistern in the back with the tailgate closed. Any one who has owned one will confirm that "tardis" quality

[windingroads]

Friend of mine moved to Milwaukee years ago, and started doing some house renovations. Called me one Thursday, wondered if he could please borrow my Nissan truck, sorry to impose but he needed to haul some supplies that just wouldn't fit in his Miata.

Offered to just swap vehicles for the weekend, he was really grateful. Picked up the Miata on Friday, drove it till Sunday. That's what we call a symbiotic relationship; he got his stuff hauled, and I had an awfully enjoyable weekend

[Apex]

Miata's are rather fun. I used to ride with the Texas A&M car club and meet up with them for auto-x events. One guy had one with a roll cage. The thing was fast and looked really fun. I almost got a 1st gen that year too.

At one race I had the pleasure of cruising in a '02 WRX, and I was sold by the first turn. Strangely I have not gotten one yet, but if I do end up getting a toy in the future, I'm going with an STi. Most likely rebuild the engine (possibly with forged internals) and a small turbo upgrade, front mount intercooler, with a tune and aftermarket exhaust. Then maybe some coilovers at each corner.

My wife calls it "rice" (she only wants Mustangs), but I'm tired of Mustangs. I've had one (at least one) from '96 until 2012. I'm just bored with them. Time for something new if I get the chance.

[sharky nrk]

Originally Posted by Apex

Miata's are rather fun. I used to ride with the Texas A&M car club and meet up with them for auto-x events. One guy had one with a roll cage. The thing was fast and looked really fun. I almost got a 1st gen that year too.

At one race I had the pleasure of cruising in a '02 WRX, and I was sold by the first turn. Strangely I have not gotten one yet, but if I do end up getting a toy in the future, I'm going with an STi. Most likely rebuild the engine (possibly with forged internals) and a small turbo upgrade, front mount intercooler, with a tune and aftermarket exhaust. Then maybe some coilovers at each corner.

My wife calls it "rice" (she only wants Mustangs), but I'm tired of Mustangs. I've had one (at least one) from '96 until 2012. I'm just bored with them. Time for something new if I get the chance.

Former TAMSCC member myself and loved the fact I could autox so close to campus while I was there. Been meaning to get back out and run a round or two with the BRZ but life gets in the way lol.

[choneofakind]

I've never done AutoX. There's not really any around my school that I know of (Lima, OH area) but there's some near home (Akron, OH area) that I've been meaning to check out. looks like a blast!!!

[sharky nrk]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I've never done AutoX. There's not really any around my school that I know of (Lima, OH area) but there's some near home (Akron, OH area) that I've been meaning to check out. looks like a blast!!!

I really liked AutoX as it is a relatively safe way to explore a cars limits and work on your driving skills. And there is a class for pretty much everything if you wanted to do it.

Best ones were always the locals ones, rather than the SCCA sanctioned events though. Mostly because its more a fun, family environment without someone showing up thinking its F1 lol. But if you enjoy driving as well as riding, its work the look.

[Jono]

Well, hot damn!

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mazda...#slide-3689143


Give me the Spyder right now!



I think the Speedster concept would look better with a little windshield.

[choneofakind]

I love the cowl on the speedster. I like the spider more as something I'd realistic my drive.

[Flying]

I'm always dreaming about dropping one of those Ecoboost engines into a Miata.


One day....

[sharky nrk]

admittedly the Spyder looks pretty amazing

[algs26]

The Fiata:

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/11/18/f...rison-feature/

[choneofakind]

Undecided. Initial reaction: Blehhh

[Brother Michigan]

I love the new Spyder. I'd probably buy it over the Miata if the turbo lag isn't too noticeable.

[choneofakind]

See... I love the engine option there, straight from the 500 Abarth. We know it's a ringer and a hoot. It also sounds great without any muffling

Buuuuut that rear overhang is just too much for me. I'll have to check it out in person, maybe it's not as bad as it looks from the couch. They could have kept the same rear shape, but if they made it shorter, it would have been very BMW Z4 and that's not a bad thing. I bet the trunk is bigger this way, and that's not a bad thing either.

Also no mention of the shock tune they're giving it or a limited slip differential. Would be nice if they upped the sway bar rate a hair to keep it cornering a little flatter than the miata.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

See... I love the engine option there, straight from the 500 Abarth. We know it's a ringer and a hoot. It also sounds great without any muffling

Buuuuut that rear overhang is just too much for me. I'll have to check it out in person, maybe it's not as bad as it looks from the couch. They could have kept the same rear shape, but if they made it shorter, it would have been very BMW Z4 and that's not a bad thing. I bet the trunk is bigger this way, and that's not a bad thing either.

Also no mention of the shock tune they're giving it or a limited slip differential. Would be nice if they upped the sway bar rate a hair to keep it cornering a little flatter than the miata.

In theory it should sound the same as the Abarth. But they majorly muffled it.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Will need a muffler delete immediately! And I am not a big fan of the looks. I think the Miata looks much better. But the sound of the Spider will be nice (once opened up). I'm just hoping Mazda makes a Mazdaspeed version of the Miata.

[choneofakind]

^^ What a shame, muffling that wonderful sounding little engine. The 500 Abarth has no mufflers at all. A hair raspy, but the turbo brings the volume level down that they didn't need one to pass sound testing. Sounds good.

[Jono]

http://jalopnik.com/the-2017-mazda-m...-it-1766514055

Link to original page on YouTube.





I love it! I don't care that it will be heavier and it's still "underpowered". It is beautiful. I will never be able to afford a Porsche 911 Targa 4 or Jag F-Type but this car will be affordable and almost as beautiful as those cars. So yeah. Where can I sell a kidney?

[choneofakind]

Dude, I'm so happy for this. The weight is disappointing. I'd rather see a manual T top with a power dropping rear window (like that on the older 4-Runners) but I love this car.

All the benefits of a coupe, will all the fun of a convertible.

[sharky nrk]

^^ that thing is gorgeous

[algs26]

Fiata Abarth

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Jono]

I like the sound of those Abarth's but I love the looks of the MX-5. The Fiat just doesn't do it for me in the looks department like the Miata does. That sound though is tough to beat. Luckily I can't afford either car so I don't have to figure out which I'd rather buy. Haha

[sharky nrk]

Originally Posted by Jono

I like the sound of those Abarth's but I love the looks of the MX-5. The Fiat just doesn't do it for me in the looks department like the Miata does. That sound though is tough to beat. Luckily I can't afford either car so I don't have to figure out which I'd rather buy. Haha

I have not seen one in person but I too like the Mazda visually a bit better from images. It may be the overhangs on the Fiat being longer that bugs me a bit. I do not really care for the Mazda's front end though.

Mazdaspeed version of the Miata with the Abarth's drivetrain anyone?

[choneofakind]

The heck with that, just drop the 2.5L skyactive engine (from the 6 and the CX5) into it!! 185 hp of NA terror!


I'm not a fan of the Fiata's overhangs. It looks fat. But! I'm super happy it exists, because it gives us all options!! Flyin' Miata was sharing on Facebook, looks like they've received a Fiata for test fitting components and such. I think the Fiata will be a hit in towns like mine, where car buyers are typically a little older and have a little more to spend. I've already seen a handful of the 2016 MX5's floating around.

[CycleCam303]

The fiat used an NC chassis. Goodwin racing makes a lot of good parts for those. I'm a bit over the wheezing turbo motors. They still have lag, they still fall off in the top end, and they don't have that crisp feel that should be in a light weight vehicle.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by CycleCam303

The fiat used an NC chassis.

Sure? Everything online suggests (at least the way I'm reading it) that they use the ND chassis. It's the same dimensions as the ND, aside from the overhang, and we know the NC is larger.

[Brother Michigan]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

The heck with that, just drop the 2.5L skyactive engine (from the 6 and the CX5) into it!! 185 hp of NA terror!

You're giving me ideas that I can't afford to have.

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I think the Fiata will be a hit in towns like mine, where car buyers are typically a little older and have a little more to spend.

I'm pretty sure MSRP is lower on the 124 than the Miata, actually; at least for the base model.

[VaFish]

Originally Posted by Apex

Depends on what you consider sport.

Straight or curves, each have their own idea of fun.

To some, sports cars must cost over $60K. I've met a few that seriously looked down on you for driving something cheaper than 60K, as it isn't "sporty" enough for them. Gotta love those guys...

I read one persons definition of a sports car in a magazine once. It went something like must have 4 cylinders, 4 or 5 speed manual transmission, and a soft top. I thought that's pretty cool my 65 Jeep CJ5 is a sports car.

[VaFish]

Damn, now you guys got me looking on Craigslist for Miata's. Lots of early 1990's cars for $2500-$3,000.

[sharky nrk]

Originally Posted by CycleCam303

The fiat used an NC chassis. Goodwin racing makes a lot of good parts for those. I'm a bit over the wheezing turbo motors. They still have lag, they still fall off in the top end, and they don't have that crisp feel that should be in a light weight vehicle.

I don't believe that is true. They are on a ND chassis with a NC transmission and maybe rear end to handle the torque of the little turbo mill.

[Jono]

Miata and Fiat have the same chassis and almost the exact same interior.

[CycleCam303]

Holy misinformation batman. Yes the fiat uses an ND chassis with a NC tranny.