Sold the motorcycle last weekend (1983 Suzuki GR650). It was reliable enough for me, got me to Maryland and back twice without a complaint (from it, mine were cold, loud, and many). I had been planning to upgrade to a modern bike but I am financing and full coverage insurance costs changed my mind! I thought about going with comprehensive but if something unfortunate did happen, I would be royally screwed for 5 years. I also did alot of thinking and in the end I am a car person, and always will be. Sure they don't have the power to weight ratio but somehow it just feels right to me. The two wheeled folks say we lean the wrong way, I say, my cars don't lean at all

Anyway, pending settling on one car and making it happen, my new car is going to be a Miata. This has been staring me in the face the whole time as I have several friends and ex-coworkers with Miatas, some of whom race, even race Spec Miata. Hell, even the guy who bought the GR had a Miata he took to the track! I'm currently focusing around the 2001 model year for about $12-13k, 35k miles is the norm. Pref. black or something dark. I thought about C4's but fuel mileage and new-ness settled me on the little car.

The aftermarket is incredible of course and as I can afford it I plan to get a (not just cosmetic) roll bar. My mind may change but I don't plan to upgrade it too much otherwise, the Vette still demands parts and I would much rather spend it on track days now that I'll have a vehicle that won't blow up or blow oil all over the track! I am very excited about getting back racing and track daying for the first time as I haven't even autoX'ed since CI 6.

Any other Miata owners? I did a search that didn't return much. They're going to be quite the mismatched pair.

-Chris

 

I used to have one.... Miatas are fun

 

My wife used to have a '92 Miata and it was a lot of fun. With good winter tires, a hardtop, and some weight in the back, it also did quite well in the snow.

The NB Miatas (99-04) are a good choice for DD, just don't expect luxo-boat smoothness down the freeway. Also, make sure you fit and are comfortable in the cabin with the top up. Some of the 99 & 00 cars had a thrust bearing problem, but that was cleared up by 01. The cars are quick, thanks to their great handling, but not fast unless you install a supercharger. Please, don't buy an automatic, it ruins the fun. Mileage should be in the mid to upper 20s thanks to the gearing, so don't expect 35.

 

Here's my '96 Miata.

I picked it up September 2005 w/67K miles. My '80 Vette is torn down for paint and I needed something other than my motorcycle for use during the winter.
I must admit that it is a really fun car that cost very little money. It's the first convertible that I've ever owned and I like that particular feature more than I thought I would!

 

Brought it back with me from Japan... 30+ mpg and while it doesn't thrill like a Corvette... it will bring miles of smiles to your face...

...and yes the steering wheel is on the wrong... er right side...

GUSTO

 

Umm...Miata's?



Here are some recommended DD "hot-rods":

 

I was going to buy one, but then something inside of me said, MIATA BUY A VETTE.....

 

My 97 with supercharger. Just a blast to drive , my wife likes it better then the vett 75 L-82 m21 vert.

 

Good choice, my DD is a 2003 Miata SE - 6 speed. lots of fun and great MPG too (30-35). the bonus is top down to and from work, I can't do that in the wife's Tahoe (we work at the same place). I spend my "mod" money on the vette - most of the time but maybe one of these days....

 

I spent this whole winter (Southern though it may be) riding my motorcycle every day. Every day but the one that it froze. Rain or shine. It was December 29th the second time I rode to Maryland. So maybe it's understandable I'm burnt out on the motorcycles!

It's going to be great to finally have a manual car again. Overdrive is also missed on the Vette. And shifting with my foot, clutching with my hand just wasn't the same :

TonySinclair, too many seats sorry! And the second one, I don't do rice.

-Chris

 

There's nothing rice about a turbo GTI pushing over 400hp...well...except the decals. But a Miata (even the V8 Monster Miata's) still scream

 

miata's corner harder than vettes when race prepped. A dude in my club made me sick in one lap.

 

Some say Vette owners are compensating, maybe being confident enough to own a Miata will even things out... er... so to speak

Like I said in my first post, I have a friend who's in a Spec Miata family (him, dad, brother) and know several others who race in clubs. I'm not buying the car for the image boost *cough* Viper! *cough*

Oh and for the record, I would absolutely drive the Vette every day if I could afford it and it didn't need restoration so very badly.

My next door neighboor thinks I should buy a KIA or Hyundai

 

Totally. My Cigarette is even named "Extension".

 

What a coincidence, I've had my 'extension' called "the cigarette"

no not really.

 

 

good luck with it,
This will probably be my next daily


oh, and I plan on growing a mullet just in case

 

Some ugly cars in this thread.

 

That's enough from you sandwhich boy.

 

those miatas are like fat chicks and mopeds...
they're fun to ride, until your friends see you