That's why I don't drive one on the streets here. ;)

You just described the type of tool that tries to race everyone at a stoplight. It's not your Miata, it's the penis compensator sitting next to it.;)

Every time I read this thread it stirs my emotions. Having had a '99 Miata before my Boxster I believe it is one of the most misunderstood cars in the car world. Most of everybody has never driven one. Driving into the carwash I remember a young woman just smiling, almost laughing at mine. They don't get no respect as Rodney Dangerfield would say. The Miata has the sweetest manual transmission going. Not much power but enough to have fun on the twisties.

It has also great feel, great handling. So driving the Boxster(or I would think any kind of Porsche) people stare at the car trying to figure it out maybe. The curves of the body draw people in and sometimes they take pics.

Street racing is out of the question in my opinion in any kind of car. And don't forget the Miata does not have a lot metal around it in the event of an accident. The Boxster has more metal and is more solid. If you want to prove yourself go to the track, perhaps put a rollbar on it(that is what I did) and drive the snot out of it. Also you could turbocharge it. Don't forget the Miata is the most tracked car in N. America.There is a reason for that coz it is so much fun. And oh yeah cheap to run compared to a Porsche.....:)

I love Miatas, we've had 3. The sweetest chassis. But after I copped a knock to the head in a rally car crash, I insisted the Mrs get out of hers. The exposed metal frame of the soft roof in a Miata sits right at the temple. Check it out next time you get in one. I cant help but think in any crash, it would do bad things. I used to smack my head all time just in normal driving. I'm damned if I know how it can get through crash testing.

They are the most aggressive and dangerous types out there.

For some reason the cops will not pull them over, I think they might be afraid of them.

Stuartj,

I've hit that exposed metal with my head during a fairly minor accident. In any other car, my head would not have been bleeding.



If it was so good, why do I not see them in top level motorsports? Oh yeah. No power. Flimsy chassis. They are good for cheap thrills, though.

I've owned one for 12 and half years, they're good for what it is. A cheap sports car.

Why would anyone want to race a Miata from a stop...

I second that it's some kind of "meet me at the next rest-stop" code.

Don't forget those damn Prius drivers. Smug bastards who love to say their "saving the world" while trying to cut you off at 80 mph!

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You wouldn't be allowed to drive that in Sochi!!!!;)

You ain't kidding! The ones around here are terrifying!

people who try to stoplight race miata's and other small low power sports cars are idiots. i have had folks try to race me in my mr2 stoplight style, but they clearly do not understand what the car is far.

the funnest reactions to small low power sports cars are the dudes with the lifted, completely perfectly clean, giant tires with smoke stack brodozer trucks. for some reason small little sports cars actually insults them or something, esp when you have a pretty girl in the other seat. i've had them try to race me, try to black smoke me, try to run me off the road (not really but you know what i mean) etc etc. for some reason, they just cannot be around a car like that, and not do something completely boneheaded.

a girlfriend of mine i think said it best "small sports cars are for guys, big trucks are for girls, we need them to tow our horses around"

I love driving my Miata but I can't imagine that much horsepower in such a light/flexible chassis... it would be truly frightening.

I drive our past our little local school on the way down the hill in the morning sometimes. I try very head to avoid going out at that time. You should see them fly up the hill in these narrow streets that only can go pass. They are always late. Some of moms can't see out of them because the dash on the new ones are so tall.

Some guy in a Escalade tried to race me and my Miata down a twisty road, it was fun at first but then he tried to pass and was wobbling all over the road... I slowed down and let him go on before anyone got hurt... and I'm a little up in years to be participating in such childish play.

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This is not that much of a problem for me anymore. It seems like everybody was trying to street race in the early 2000s.

I did recently have a super gratifying experience in my exige. A mustang wanted to race so bad I think he could taste it. I was doing 35 down a small street and he pulled up next to me and goosed it a feww times, his car was loud as hell. He got frustrated that I just smiled and waved. He took off like a bat out of hell.

I saw the police car light up just a bit down the road. I smiled and waved again as I drove past still doing 35. Kinda felt bad for the guy he was probably going 80 when he got tagged.

Don't speed in the woodlands. There are 2 cops for every citizen

I had this happen once. Some bozo in a truck with side skirts, front air dam, racing stripes was trying to goad me into racing at a light. I wasn't going to race him, but I'd have smoked him. I didn't rev my engine or even look at him. I knew he was screwed if he did anything because my V1 was screaming that there was something behind us. There was several rows of cars behind us, so I figured one was a cop that I couldn't see. When the light turned green this guy rolled smoke off of his one back tire through the intersection. You should have seen how fast that cop was on his ass driving through the grass to get around everyone. It was pretty funny.


Some miata folks are like that. I put my top down occasionally, but the weather's got to be just right. I prefer dark to sun, skin cancer doesn't sound like much fun. I'd have gotten a coupe if they were available.

I didn't race the guy, I was just putting along, he tried to race me several times.

But to be fair.....this is the Japanese idea of quality. It is a cheap, mass produced, accessible sports car. Its not a Lotus. Mazda has made an enduring little roadster that's both a drivers car and a hairdresser's runabout.

Spiritual successor to the MG, starts every morning like a Mazda.

The Miata is a very rewarding drive, and because it has no power (and the traction control system on the newer ones reduces power by 80% at the drop of hat) a driver has to carry chassis speed. Its a great driver "trainer" which, ofcourse, wont deliver the big horsepower thrills. Any knuckle head can mash the foot down.

On the flipside, you'd have to do something really stupid to get the miata out of shape...I agree, it's a great training wheels type sports car for beginners. Become any more advanced and it's limiting and boring.

But then, I like cars that demand respect from their drivers. Ones that would bite if you messed up.

The Miata is TOO forgiving and safe.

If it is so forgiving, how is it that I seem to go over cones backwards or sliding sideways at least once every time I autocross it? Need more practice bouncing off the rev limiter I guess.