![]() |
|
|
|
Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,185
|
Poll: Is a miata a sports car
So, some kid on the miata board posted a poll asking if a miata is a sports car.
Some folks wonder what the results would be on a Porsche board or vette board, so I'm going to find out. The kids reasoning is that they don't have brisk enough acceleration to be a sports car. My assessment is that they do have zippy acceleration, not fast, but zippy, and the kid's an idiot (but that's only natural, he's a kid ![]()
__________________
Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa ![]() Last edited by masraum; 06-23-2009 at 04:20 AM.. |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
definitely when they look like this:
![]() Ok well maybe that's technicly a RACE car. but either way with more mazdas roadracing than any other make, it's tough to say it's not a sports car.
__________________
Tim 1973 911T 2005 VW GTI "Dave, hit the brakes, but don't look like your htting the brakes...what? I DON'T KNOW, BRAKE CASUAL!!!" dtw's thoughts after nearly rear ending a SHP officer Last edited by Tim Walsh; 06-23-2009 at 04:31 AM.. |
||
![]() |
|
At the track = great day
|
They are a sports car... anyone who says otherwise hasn't driven one down a twisty road or out on the track.
__________________
Lane 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI Looking for another sports car.. |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Usa
Posts: 5,573
|
The only people who would say NO to this are those who haven't had the pleasure of flicking it down a twisting road and zipping through that lovely gearbox.
Not the fastest car on the planet and a bit common, but every inch a sports car. anglea
__________________
Hello http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1102514-we-lost-amazing-woman-yesterday.html |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
These guys seem to think so.
![]()
__________________
991.1 RS - Lava Orange 991.1 GT3 - Sapphire Blue - gone 997.2 GT3 - Guards Red - gone 996 GT3 4 Liter - Basalt Black - gone |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: secure undisclosed locationville
Posts: 24,316
|
i've seen guys at the track driving very aggressively, and having a great time in miatas.
i've also seen guys driving very aggressively and having a great time on modified lawnmowers. the thing is an econobox commuter with a stylish body slapped on top. it was never intended as a sports car. the fact that some people can push it hard doesn't change that.
__________________
1971 R75/5 2003 R1100S 2013 Ural Patrol 2023 R18 |
||
![]() |
|
![]() |
Registered
|
Quote:
__________________
Tim 1973 911T 2005 VW GTI "Dave, hit the brakes, but don't look like your htting the brakes...what? I DON'T KNOW, BRAKE CASUAL!!!" dtw's thoughts after nearly rear ending a SHP officer Last edited by Tim Walsh; 06-23-2009 at 05:07 AM.. |
||
![]() |
|
Bandwidth AbUser
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SoCal
Posts: 29,522
|
Where does this revelation come from?
![]()
__________________
Jim R. |
||
![]() |
|
Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,185
|
Quote:
Did you know that it's front engine, rear wheel drive (I've met folks that thought that it was front wheel drive), independent suspension with unequal length double wishbones front and rear (coilovers, not struts)? The suspension front and rear is adjustable for caster (front only), camber and toe. It was designed to have a 50/50 weight distribution if a 165# person is sitting in the driver's seat. The hood was made of aluminum to make the car lighter and the battery is in the right rear to create a more favorable weight distribution. The car was designed from the ground up to be a sports car. When Mazda was designing the miata, they bought a bunch of classic sports cars and compared the driving experiences and tried to take the best of all of them and build that into the miata.
__________________
Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa ![]() |
||
![]() |
|
<insert witty title here>
|
Is my 72 911 a sports car? Because the Miata makes more power than my 911. So if power is the only thing holding it back from being a sports car, I guess I drive an econobox.
![]()
__________________
Current: 1987 911 cabrio Past: 1972 911t 3.0, 1986 911, 1983 944, 1999 Boxster |
||
![]() |
|
The Unsettler
|
I think the Brits would think so.
That's like saying MG's and Triumphs are not sports cars.
__________________
"I want my two dollars" "Goodbye and thanks for the fish" "Proud Member and Supporter of the YWL" "Brandon Won" |
||
![]() |
|
Moderator
|
Absolutely, the Miata is a sports car, in my opinion.
But that all depends on what your definition is of a sports car. Granted, the Miata isn't as fast around a racetrack as a 911, a Vette, or a BMW M3. But since when is "It must be the fastest around a racetrack" a requirement for a car to be a sports car? There are very few cars which command their own racing class - but the Miata has its own - SM (Spec Miata), which is recognized by SCCA, NASA, and MCSCC. Wiki on Spec Miata. Oh, and Mazdaspeed, the motorsports branch of Mazda supports the Spec Miata series. I suspect they have more time, money and effort invested in the Spec Miata series than Porsche AG has in Porsche racing today. Hmm - maybe that makes the Miata more of a racecar than a Porsche.... ![]() Other links: SCCA Spec Miata rules & specifications NASA Spec Miata Info Spec Miata website On another note: the Miata alongside the VW New Beetle have been a popular choice among those who prefer an alternative lifestyle. NTTAWWT. ![]() -Z-man.
__________________
2010 Cayman S - 12-2020 - 2014 MINI Cooper S Coupe - 05-17 - 05-21 1989 944S2 - 06-01 - 01-14 Carpe Viam. <>< |
||
![]() |
|
![]() |
Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,185
|
Seems to me the Miata is very much like a 356 or Elan or Brit sports cars, except it's got a better suspension than most of those older cars.
__________________
Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa ![]() |
||
![]() |
|
Get off my lawn!
|
It is a sports car, but it is also a CHICK car. The only car that is more chick car is a new VW Bug. Any car that comes with a flower vase is marketed to chicks.
I have seen guys drive Miatas at the autocross. They are cheap and fast. They are very nimble. You will just not see them at the drag races. A Porsche 914 is a sports car and it is slower than a Miata.
__________________
Glen 49 Year member of the Porsche Club of America 1985 911 Carrera; 2017 Macan 1986 El Camino with Fuel Injected 350 Crate Engine My Motto: I will never be too old to have a happy childhood! |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
It's a sports car. It's just a ghey sports car.
If you've been to the track enough you've seen the spec miatas go pretty fast. But I'd rather drive a 911 slow than a miata fast. That's just me. A shifter cart is way cooler than a miata, and faster, too.
__________________
1979 911 SC Silver 2002 996 race car 2005 Ford Excursion Last edited by TechnoViking; 06-23-2009 at 11:11 AM.. Reason: chagned "gay" to "ghey" |
||
![]() |
|
Cogito Ergo Sum
|
Ya its a sports car. Now that doesn't mean that I won't put little pink bows and crap on my dad's when he gets one.
|
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,231
|
It is definitely a sports car and it matches the exact definition.
My question to you guys is: What makes the Miata and the Boxster a chick car? |
||
![]() |
|
Takin' hard left turns
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: So Cal
Posts: 1,412
|
Quote:
I think it's the lack of aggressive styling queues - kinda soft lines. |
||
![]() |
|
Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,185
|
Quote:
My miata is stock except for the Bilsteins and uprated springs and wheels. I don't think most girls would enjoy it much unless it was on perfect roads.
__________________
Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa ![]() |
||
![]() |
|
Free minder
|
A chick car is a cute convertible with an easy to shift gearbox, and a soft clutch pedal
![]()
__________________
1978 SC Targa, DC15 cams, 9.3:1 cr, backdated heat, sport exhaust https://1978sctarga.car.blog/ 2014 Cayenne platinum edition 2008 Benz C300 (wife’s) 2010 Honda Civic LX (daughter’s) |
||
![]() |
|