911 cab vs Miata

[cantdrv55]

I know the Miata can't touch the 911 in the speed department but I heard it kicks our A$$ in handling. Any truth in this? I'm going to autox my SC in a couple of weeks and will probably see some Miatas there. Are they really slow also? What are their performance numbers? Anyone out there know this stuff?

[911]

When it comes to autocrossing, the Miatas beat A LOT of cars! They are normally one of the top cars in their respective class (B Stock?).

[dd74]

I'll put it to you this way: Miata.

The Porsche is more powerful, and can handle brilliantly, but if I had to do it all again, I'd give the Miata a good hard look.

They have equal weight distribution, close ratio gearing, are light and retain a very wide track.

In L.A., they get all sorts of "girlie" raps, but a guy near my work has a Spec Miata, and by all accounts, I'd be more afraid of him than a lot of other cars, power nothwithstanding.

[widebody911]

The Spec Miatas are very quick on the track, and you can get into one for less than that of a beat-down SC.

If you're buying one for the street, you might as well get the M001 "Rainbow Sticker" package while you're at it.

[Danskman]

Sorry, but what is a "spec" Miata?

[dd74]

Originally posted by Danskman
Sorry, but what is a "spec" Miata?

Look here...

http://www.specmiata.com

[k9handler]

anything is possible, but the driver is key!

[dd74]

This is what the Spec Miatas tend to look like.

[Jack Olsen]

They are slow.

[dd74]

Originally posted by JackOlsen
They are slow.

Hilarious! Of course they're slow, compared to 3.6s.

But seriously, the Spec series was meant to be a cheap and fair way for guy A to compete against guy B.

Of course, guy C shows up with a black '72 3.6, and all hell breaks loose...

...push comes to shove...

[350HP930]

When I think miatas and auto-xes it brings the letters FTD to mind (for street cars that is).

Small tight courses will severely favor the miatas and long fast courses will reduce the time differences between the two.

[k9handler]

in that case a well sorted 944 or 924 can autox well...it's all about the driver as I said above.

[89911]

Originally posted by JackOlsen
They are slow.

I agree. A friend purchased a turnkey spec miata after spending years doing PCA and SCCA racing with a NA 944. He is highly qualified as a driver on a familiar track. I think I passed him twice at our last outing in my heavy 3.2. As long as your running with others that have a similar setup, I'm sure its equal and fun. It didn't look like it provided the power to keep my interest, and I can tell he was somewhat dissapointed, (he kept looking through the set up on the car.) Another driver that has done some minor modifications to his Miata would repeatedly pass him also, so they must be heavily restricting the output of this cars compared to the weight savings. Other Miata's that I have run against can be made to be fast, just like our cars, with suspension and engine mods.

[lvle1416]

I have a 93 miata LE (black-red leather) with many mods and an 84 carrera(black-red leather). Huge power difference--porsche (w/sport suspension) out handles the miata but is not as easy as the miata to drive in an autocross. Porsche demands full attention to drive--miata much easier.
Both fun but porsche wins out--I had a ton of fun with the Miata before the Porsche--great little car.
I wish my Porsche shifted like my miata.

[masraum]

Miata's make fun street cars unless you have to be able to drag race on the street. They make great autocross cars, but for track cars that are running with lots of other cars.... I can't say for sure, but I think a miata would probably do well on a track full of stock 914's.

Miatas weigh depending upon the year and options anywhere from 2200 - 2500 lbs (older being lighter). They come with either a 1.6 or 1.8L motor (changed in the mid 90's I think). I think they will run 7-8 second 0-60's, and run the quarter in 15-16 secs. That's pretty slow, but not horrible.

Where they really excel is handling which is due to the fact that they are small, low, and light. You can whip the little thing around, they turn fast, you don't have to slow down much for corners.

And they are really cheap and upgrades are really cheap. Oh, don't forget that there are turbo chargers, superchargers and also Ford 302 conversions, so if you are looking for speed... (I think you can get a turbo/super charger kit starting at about $1500

Yes, a 924/944 ok for autocrosses, but I don't think they would be near as good as a Miata, that's like comparing it to a 914, they are much heavier and they turn slower since the weight is distributed at the ends of the vehicle. The miata being lighter and more like a mid-engined car with their weight distribution will turn much faster and be more nimble. 944's would make better track cars.

I'm actually getting ready to sell my 911 (a temporary thing) and will almost definitely be replacing it with a miata for the year or so that I am without a 911.

[Danskman]

Originally posted by JackOlsen
They are slow.

Yea, I bet they are, but in the late 70's / early 80's I used to run a showroom stock VW Rabbit in SCCA and it was a total blast. It's exciting pushing a car, any car, to it's absolute limits against others doing the same. No question that the 911 is more fun to drive, though. I've rented a Miata a couple times when traveling on business, and it's a fun car. No question. Shifts and handles well, low HP, but with the top down on a warm day and twisty road it's a fun ride.

[jester911]

I think the miata is more in the realm of the 356. Not really fast but light and great handling. It is a solid sports car and for the price there aren't really any other cars that you can buy new that compare.

Having said that, there is still no substitute...

[fredmeister]

Never having driven one I cannot say with certainty that they are slower on the track than a well sorted 911. I have a friend who owns a heavily modified suspension (964) and races Spec Miata. He claims the Miatas are as fast or faster than the 964 around Lime Rock and Watkins Glen. One being a relatively short course track (Lime Rock) and The Glen is a high speed track. Look at the times for Spec Miatas against PCA Club race times for a good source of comparison. They are pretty comparable. However, the price difference to race a Miata competitively is a winner versus the Porsche....can you afford to break the 911 after a hard track day? I can't....though I love the 911. Miatas are easier to toss around as well, since they are very neutral handling, he claims they often don't use the brakes much around the track, think of all the money on brake pads you will save too.

[cstreit]

With all due respect, PULEEEZE!

They aren't faster, NOR do they handle better than a 911, guys c'mon!

I beat a number of spec Miatas driving a beat up 85 Honda CRX! A Miata beating a Porsche, pshaw I say to you sirs... PSHAW!

[89911]

Fred, I'll dig up the video of my car approaching, passing, and then leaving a spec Miata last year. I don't care how well they handle, If you can blow by them that fast.