Random thoughts thread

[babydriver]

Speaking of which, the new Mazda ad for the 2016 Miata is airing now and I think it is quite effective. The target audience in this case is the older driver (re: me) who owned a Miata years ago. Having been through half a dozen "practical" cars (all Mazdas of course) he now opens the garage and finds the 2016 Miata beckoning. All of a sudden he's back to being 19 again, at least inside his own head.

I for one do not like the looks of the new Miata, although I am definitely in the minority.

[themadscientist]

Excellent audience target. Around here all the 86 and BRZ drivers are guys my age and demographic. They look like old car guys coming back to a little sports car again. I'd say the Roadster is targeted at the same group.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by babydriver

If a Miata is a sports car, then so are the twins. Case closed.

Miata is sporty car. Rx8 is sporty car. Rx7 is sports car.

That's my opinion

[Tcoat]

The official statement of all things Wikipedia:

A sports car (sportscar) is a small, usually two seater, two door [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile"]Car - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] designed for spirited performance and nimble handling. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the first known use of the term was in 1928.
Sports cars may be spartan or luxurious, but high maneuverability and minimum weight are requisite. They may be equipped for racing, "especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds


Sounds like a Miata to me!

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The official statement of all things Wikipedia:

A sports car (sportscar) is a small, usually two seater, two door Car - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia designed for spirited performance and nimble handling. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the first known use of the term was in 1928.
Sports cars may be spartan or luxurious, but high maneuverability and minimum weight are requisite. They may be equipped for racing, "especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds


Sounds like a Miata to me!

Serial had an MR-2/S Spyder, definitely a sports car. The twins will be like a sporty Grand Tourer in comparison for him.

But yeah, +1 on the Miata as sports car.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dimman

Serial had an MR-2/S Spyder, definitely a sports car. The twins will be like a sporty Grand Tourer in comparison for him.

But yeah, +1 on the Miata as sports car.

Probably get beat up for this but the twins are a Grand Tourer not a sports car!
For crying out loud it is right in the name (in most markets).

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Probably get beat up for this but the twins are a Grand Tourer not a sports car!
For crying out loud it is right in the name (in most markets).

I don't necessarily disagree with you, although some may just based on this portion of the definition of a GT:

Originally Posted by The All Knowing Wikipedia

a tribute to the tradition of the grand tour, used to represent automobiles regarded as grand tourers, able to make long-distance, high-speed journeys in both comfort and style.

And then there is this:

The engines "should be able to cope with cruising comfortably at the upper limits on all continental roads without drawbacks or loss of useable power."

In the end I use my 86 very frequently as a Grand Tourer and very much less like a sports car. If I had to pick between, say an Elise and the FR-S to drive between Georgia and California, I'd definitely pick the FR-S.

[gramicci101]

Maybe there should be a class just below Grand Tourer called Pretty Good Tourer.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Maybe there should be a class just below Grand Tourer called Pretty Good Tourer.

And Sports Car Sorrta.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The official statement of all things Wikipedia:

A sports car (sportscar) is a small, usually two seater, two door Car - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia designed for spirited performance and nimble handling. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the first known use of the term was in 1928.
Sports cars may be spartan or luxurious, but high maneuverability and minimum weight are requisite. They may be equipped for racing, "especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds


Sounds like a Miata to me!

Miata is Sporty/GT car.

Sports car is F40, Rx7, 911 GT3 RS-R and several others were meant for track and they didn't think bout street drive in consideration.

Supra, GT-R, Berlinetta, Huracan and all other water down sports cars are GT cars.

That's just me.

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

And Sports Car Sorrta.

There should be:
Race-looking sports car
Sports car
Sporty-looking car
Overpowered family sedan
Sporty-looking family sedan
Family sedan
Race-looking economy car
Economy car

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

There should be:
Race-looking sports car
Sports car
Sporty-looking car
Overpowered family sedan
Sporty-looking family sedan
Family sedan
Race-looking economy car
Economy car

Oh the guys that make the stick on letters would love you!
Yep, just picked myself up a nice Fiesta RLEC.

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Oh the guys that make the stick on letters would love you!
Yep, just picked myself up a nice Fiesta RLEC.

Speaking of dumb letters on cars, I saw a new Mercedes C250 yesterday. On one side of the trunk it said C250. On the other side, it said REGINA in big chrome block letters. That were crooked. Oh, and Regina had put eyelashes on the headlights, too. That's just straight up class. One day I hope I can be that sophisticated.

[Want.FR-S]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Oh the guys that make the stick on letters would love you!
Yep, just picked myself up a nice Fiesta RLEC.

Don't forget the ST for Fiesta...