Anybody else notice how cheap miatas are these days?

[Christien]

You knew it was coming.

[vash]

that picture of those two guys having a "fabulous" time in the miata just makes me laugh THINKING about it.

i do like the car tho. but my friends here are brutal. my wife would have to get the car, and "let me track it".

[onewhippedpuppy]

I drove a $2k Miata a while back. Mechanically perfect, 150k, dirty but solid interior, dull paint. It was a lot of car for the money. I just can't force myself to like ragtops.

[BeerBurner]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I just can't force myself to like ragtops.

I solved that problem by buyinig a hard top and ripping out the rag top.

BB.

[svandamme]

nothing wrong with y'all coming out of the closet...more chicks for me !

[mikeferg75]

My 91 has been a trouble free Daily Driver for a year now. One set of plug wires and plugs for good measure, gas and oil change, that's been it. Happily gives me 32 mpg, and is good fun to rip through traffic with.

I got lucky and found a mint low miles one owner "late" 91 (no short nose crank issues), they are a used car bargin.

I do get razzed by some friends, but whatever

Ferg

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by Dottore

This is a point I've made here many times. The French are a fine example. They drive their little Peugeots and Renaults at 90% on public roads all of the time. Every day is track day.

So true! I had a LeCar that I drove flat-out, balls to the wall, every single day. No-one ever noticed. Great fun!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I wonder if it has to do with the passage of Prop 8. Now gay couples can't give them as wedding presents anymore...

In all seriousness, I'd LOVE to get my hands on one of the Mazdaspeed MX5 turbos. Lots of potential there.

[Tim Walsh]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Tim you got a link to the suspension goodies?

I compete in stock class,so I can't do a whole lot. I had a 7/8" front sway bar, a set of Koni Sports(yellows),shorty supertrapp exhaust and Kuhmo V710s/Hooser A6's rubber.

I'm trying to step it up this year with setup. I've got the bilsteins sent off to bilstein to be revalved to dumb setting(Steve, they're FastMike valved) and a 1.25" hollow front bar is in the garage ready to go on when the shocks show up.

I bought the car for $3K with 200K on it 3 years ago. The engine rebuild only cost me $1500, the head was about $300, another $300 for the bottom end in machine work. Another $160 for brand new OEM overbore pistons... The cost difference between a 911 and a miata really is just plain stupid.

[Tim Walsh]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

So true! I had a LeCar that I drove flat-out, balls to the wall, every single day. No-one ever noticed. Great fun!

Yep, I'd rather drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by BeerBurner

I solved that problem by buyinig a hard top and ripping out the rag top.

BB.

Yeah, mine came with a hardtop. It was nice, but when my wife bought a miata, we got the hardtop repainted to match her car and put a new top on mine with a glass rear window. I've never cared much weather I had a convertible or not, and this car is probably only top down 5% of the time if that, but when I do put the top down, it's very nice to have.

Funny that I'm not a drop top guy, but my last two cars have been basically that, 911 targa and miata.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I drove a $2k Miata a while back. Mechanically perfect, 150k, dirty but solid interior, dull paint. It was a lot of car for the money. I just can't force myself to like ragtops.

I'm the exact opposite. To me, there is no such thing as an uncool ragtop. Everywhere you go, it's like being on vacation.

[Tim Walsh]

Originally Posted by masraum

Yeah, mine came with a hardtop. It was nice, but when my wife bought a miata, we got the hardtop repainted to match her car and put a new top on mine with a glass rear window. I've never cared much weather I had a convertible or not, and this car is probably only top down 5% of the time if that, but when I do put the top down, it's very nice to have.

Funny that I'm not a drop top guy, but my last two cars have been basically that, 911 targa and miata.

Blasphemer! The top on our miata is almost never up, only if I've got an out of town event, or it's pouring does it come back up. When it gets cold out, just crank up the heat and you'll be ok. I'm a coupe kinda guy but I can definitely see the appeal of the drop top.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by BeerBurner

I solved that problem by buyinig a hard top and ripping out the rag top.

BB.

My cousin says that a hardtop is virtually mandatory for a miata because the little crappy plastic windows quickly become opaque.

Originally Posted by notfarnow

So true! I had a LeCar that I drove flat-out, balls to the wall, every single day. No-one ever noticed. Great fun!

Having do drive all out just to keep up with normal traffic or merge safely in normal traffic is not my idea of fun. I personally view underpowered cars to be quite dangerous.

Originally Posted by Tim Walsh

Yep, I'd rather drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow.

I am the exact opposite. I like knowing that i have 300+ hp if i need or want it.

But it would be wrong to believe that you have to drive a miata "balls out" in normal traffic. These cars will easily do 115+ in stock form, probably more.

[Tim Walsh]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

My cousin says that a hardtop is virtually mandatory for a miata because the little crappy plastic windows quickly become opaque.

Ya, the 89-97 miatas had a plastic rear window if not maintained will become opaque really quick. My solution is to just leave the top down.

[m21sniper]

That would be my solution too.

[pwd72s]

Does anybody auto-X Sprites these days? Probably considered obsolete...

[masraum]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Does anybody auto-X Sprites these days? Probably considered obsolete...

I'm sure there're a few. My guess is that due to age, they are prone to breaking, and the parts probably aren't cheap on this side of the pond (because they're rare). I suspect because of age and collectibility they don't see lots of track action.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Tim Walsh

Blasphemer! The top on our miata is almost never up, only if I've got an out of town event, or it's pouring does it come back up. When it gets cold out, just crank up the heat and you'll be ok. I'm a coupe kinda guy but I can definitely see the appeal of the drop top.

Yeah, there are lots of folks on the miata boards that are rabid about miata tops never being up. Here in Houston during the summer, it's too darn hot, and my skin is too fair for me to go top down.

I like dropping the top in the spring and fall and especially in the evenings/at night. being able to look up and see the stars and moon is pretty cool. When the wife is in the car, I almost never drop the top. She'd almost always be too cold.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Tim Walsh

Ya, the 89-97 miatas had a plastic rear window if not maintained will become opaque really quick. My solution is to just leave the top down.

Or, like I used to do, zip the back window down or eventually replace with a glass rear window.