Also I have a Miata

[WRXtranceformed]

I always end up driving to ATL instead of flying because it takes just as long and I don't have to deal with an awful airport. But I always rent a car to do it because I too have dodged some questionable things that should not be on a highway. I-85 is such a miserable stretch. Needless to say we are renting a car for vacation in a few weeks mostly for free because of all of my trips to ATL.

BTW nice Miata haha! Those cars are like STDs, they just keep getting passed around this club

[ScottyB]

I-85 is miserable

fixed that for you. i've driven every mile between DC and ATL and it only gets worse once you go north of Durham; i've driven on smoother rallycross courses.

so yeah, i'll see myself out now, sorry Chan

[Evan]

Any plans for the track Chan?


you're free to pillage my spare parts bin for anything that you can use.

[BLINGMW]

so yeah, i'll see myself out now, sorry Chan

Given my penchant for derailing threads I welcome any topic here. I could rant on about the DMV (OMG, the ATL DMV if you really want to get me fired up!) and we could discuss the inherent problems with various government services. Then maybe we could drift on to police brutality and/or the absurd US incarceration numbers for non-violent drug offenders. We might run out of steam or get distracted by the Wagon Wednesday thread before moving on to doomsday prepping and the advantage of carbureted vehicles in the impending zombie apocalypse.

Any plans for the track Chan?
you're free to pillage my spare parts bin for anything that you can use.

Not really? If the car turns out to be pretty solid I might do an HPDE now and then, but I still cannot afford racing and instructing just didn't do it for me. I should give you a call about parts, thanks....

[Beej]

Since they're often spoken of in the same sentence as e30's (hell sometimes even 02's), I'm curious to hear what you think of the Miata given your vast and illustrious experience with God's Chariot.

But STS looks lame. :mrgreen:

:lol: CSP Miatas do look way more badass.

[BLINGMW]

I cannot do fair comparison since I've never driven a convertible E30, nor have I flogged this Miata yet. Two observations so far:

It takes a lot of work to get a tin-top E30 to be this light (not possible) and nimble (maybe), while this mostly stock, well-worn Miata seems ready to go. Short and positive shifting, great steering and pedal feel, all of which have to be "fixed" on a stock E30. A convertible E30 would be even worse, with 700lbs of fat the Miata doesn't have. Clearly the E30 was a good answer to, "How do we make this 5 passenger vehicle sporty?" while the Miata is, "How do we make this go-kart a survivable daily driver for two?". On the track, they somehow end up pretty even. :dunno:

Powerband on even the 318, and certainly the 325 is wider, more available down low. It's pretty easy to break traction taking off on even a 318, and I haven't done it yet on the Miata.

[Senor_Taylor]

These 1.6s are so freaking gutless below 3500, it's painful. Sometimes you'll feel like you need to downshift to 3rd on the highway just to pass.

[SlimKlim]

Uhhhh yeah I thought that was implied with the 1.6, it makes like 100ft-lbs at 5500rpms.

I drove mine like a light switch, on or off, no half-measures. You're either in the lowest gear possible imprinting the throttle pedal into the floorboard or you're on the brakes.

While I'll admit having to do an autocross launch from every stop light just to avoid being run over by the gazillion horsepower V8 snorting down your neck did get a little old, even a few years after selling it I still miss commuting home in NOVA traffic driving the nuts off of a car without breaking any traffic laws. Neither the BMW or GTI are particularly fast cars by modern performance standards, but both of them are still capable of earning me a reckless driving ticket in 2nd gear on 90% of NOVA roads.

[Jake]

These 1.6s are so freaking gutless below 3500, it's painful. Sometimes you'll feel like you need to downshift to 3rd on the highway just to pass.

Ummmm yeah, welcome to Miatas. If you're not denting the floor with the throttle, you're doing it wrong.

[Senor_Taylor]

Didn't say that was a bad thing. It's fun romping up to the redline and never going above the speed limit. When I was driving back from NC I passed a lady in a convertible eclipse in 3rd gear on 29 and I'm sure from the sound of it,she thought I was doing 100, but in reality I was just trying to not get dusted by an old lady.

[rherold9]

Ummmm yeah, welcome to Miatas. If you're not denting the floor with the throttle, you're doing it wrong.

"Gas, gas, gas!!!!" - Brian Maeng

I'd like to see Maeng instruct a Miata. The one time he actually says brake you are probably about to die.

[Jewels]

Ummmm yeah, welcome to Miatas. If you're not denting the floor with the throttle, you're doing it wrong.

"Gas, gas, gas!!!!" - Brian Maeng

I'd like to see Maeng instruct a Miata. The one time he actually says brake you are probably about to die.

Maeng knows all about Miatas. He tracked one for a while.

[Evan]

These 1.6s are so freaking gutless below 3500, it's painful. Sometimes you'll feel like you need to downshift to 3rd on the highway just to pass.

if only they made first gen miatas with a slightly larger engine and substantially more torque for not much more $.......

[SlimKlim]

My first on track experience was in Maengs Miata. He hit the brakes after I thought we had made contact with the corvette in front of us, for every. corner. It was awesome.

[Goodspeed]

Hi Maeng's Miata!

[Senor_Taylor]

These 1.6s are so freaking gutless below 3500, it's painful. Sometimes you'll feel like you need to downshift to 3rd on the highway just to pass.

if only they made first gen miatas with a slightly larger engine and substantially more torque for not much more $.......

Dude, when will you stop with these fantasies? No such thing has ever existed. The only thing that is real is overpriced NA6's.

[.RJ]

Hi Maeng's Miata!]

Hi, dr nick!

[BLINGMW]

Hi Maeng's Miata!

It's funny to be reminded that more reasonable people bought, tracked, moved on from, NEWER versions of a car, and here we are with older ones acting like it's something new and exciting. :lol:

[Scott]

These 1.6s are so freaking gutless below 3500, it's painful. Sometimes you'll feel like you need to downshift to 3rd on the highway just to pass.

if only they made first gen miatas with a slightly larger engine and substantially more torque for not much more $.......

That's why my other '90 Miata has an NB motor and megasquirt.....