Detroit Steel

After reading a recent Car and Driver report, we're inclined to think more than a few Corvette Forum members would opt for the Miata.

Read the rest on the Corvette Forum homepage. >>

t.renz791

That's an awesome picture with the nose in the air.

That said on a typical autocross course I would not want to drive a new Z06. Too big, too much of well everything.

A C6Z51 is a handful but controllable and very fast

stevebz06

Miatas make really good autocross cars, but they aren't as exhilarating to drive.

jdmdohcpower

I run my s2000 auto-x. That isn't the Z's stomping ground.

C7_Z06

Sure the ideal cars to autox are the Miata's, S2000's, BRZ/FRS's, etc... but the C7 is still fun to autox plus you'll learn how to approach technical slaloms/turns and control & balance the car and modulate the throttle. On that note, I love to autox the C7 (Z51 or Z06)... been doing it regularly year after year. So with a good or seasoned autocross driver, it can perform very well in its class. (i.e. SS). I can attest w/ a few examples!

Tripleblk6spd

The times say it all right there!


No brainer....Z06!

Snorman

Those tight little courses favor a car of the Miata's characteristics.
But a Z06 will smash a Miata on a road course. The new Miata is a very cool little car.
S.

SaberD

I've seen a stock c5z with only slicks and shocks get the best time of the day 5 seconds faster than all the tricked out miatas on slicks.

A c5 frc is actually a very capable car on autocross. Maybe the Miata would do better on a 30mph course the size of a living room, but that's about it.

c7z not so much with a curb weight of 3,524. I'll stick with my c5 frc for autox

Honestly, I continue to be heartbroken at the fact that GM keeps on making the corvette heavier.

This is a good read:
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/fo...e/17026/page1/

Bill Dearborn

A LS6 engined Miata would be the perfect auto cross and track car. Weight difference and front to rear weight distribution would be about the same as the LS aluminum engines are probably no more than 40 lbs heavier than the Miata's stock engine. I have seen them on the track and they are very fast in the corners and on the straights. Instead of catching the one ahead of me on the back straight of the Glen it actually pulled away from me at a pretty good rate. A lot different than the stock Miata where you have to be careful not to run into them due to the speed differential.

Bill

Tripleblk6spd

Here is the problem.....IT'S A MIATA!

If your going to build a purpose autocrosser.... go A-Mod and have some real fun! As long as you will be doing anything else at all with it.... the Z06 hands down, not even a question.

JCar

I'd rather my miata for autocross, but my vette for the track. The miata cant be beat in tight maneuvers but will quickly run out of steam with any daylight ahead on a straight - unless of course, you have my son's turbo'ed '99. So many choices.....
Jeff

JerriVette

I own both a c6 z51 m6 and I just picked up a mint 1994 mx5. The reason in my opinion a mx5 is the easier car to auto cross is because the car is so small especially in width...gives you wider lanes....and more room .."

The mx5 doesn't handle better...it's just a tiny little car so the courses seem larger.....

I love both the corvette (on my third corvette) and I'm enjoying the little go cart mx5....

Tight course and inexpensive to run both on the street and the track.

The corvette offers super car like performance. The mx5 is a fun light sports convertible.

theseal

you guys beat me to it. ls7 in a miata. simple. frankly, an uglier version of the car the vette should have been.

Speednet

Is this a joke? Will the next post compare a Z06 to a Honda Civic?

Les

Given the original choice I'd choose the Miata since autocross courses can be so damned restrictive for heavier cars with big power.

However, regarding Saber's post, A few years ago I saw a C5 Z06 w/ slicks do battle with a Porsche (GT2 or GT3- can't remember) with slicks in a back & forth battle throughout an autocross event- the Z06 finished on top and nothing else was even close. I remember the P car being very composed and fast but not fast enough. The C5 Z06 power level combined with the light weight is very usable and fast on smaller courses. I've told friends for years that if I ever decided to seriously autocross, that would be my car.

bob guzzy

Not very long ago there was an LS6 miata for sale over at the miata help site.

From the video's supplied the car was quite capable wouldn't mind having one for myself for a DD.

NOreasonY

It depends on the course and the place where you autox. In South Jersey Region SCCA we do it on a big multi lane run way. Really makes for pretty fast courses at times. We have C5 Zo6s getting FTD from time to time so they can be capable with the right driver mod.

That being said I would take a modded miata because its more more compact and forgiving.

BWFitz

Why would you think that? I own both. The Miata is a track dog and the Z06 is what my girlfriend refers to as "my fun car". Both are ridiculously overpowered (the Miata has an LS2 up front) and before you start talking about "weight Distribution" just bear in mind, the aluminum T56 6 speed/LS2 combo weighs just 43 pounds more than the iron 4 banger/4 speed it replaced. Just offset by the new 8.8 diff in the rear. Both handle well except the Z06 has a Z07 package on it and it is far and away the better car for 'cone wars'!

BWFitz

Naw, just a Bimmer M3, which is about the same. After all, in Europe they use them for taxicabs. Who wants to pay 63 grand for.... a...taxicab?