Looking at a Miata after the FR-S

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by winstonscifi

You might want to consider a Fiat Spider 124. Built by Mazda on the Miata chassis, but with a turbocharged Fiat engine. Personally I like the looks of the Fiat better than the Miata, and the trunk is just a tad bit bigger.

I have never been 'attracted' to the Miata, I just think they are too "generic" and "bland" in design like a rolling bath tub, but the 124 I could live with as it has more character, particularly in the Abarth clothing...

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by xdavidx

I would highly recommend just getting it in a manual. It's not that hard to pick up and the learning and improving process is actually a lot of fun. I have taught a number of people to drive manuals and every one of them have become proficient for basic traffic within the first day.


As for the miata itself, I am like the guy who posted that guy with a bag over his head driving one. Not sure that I could personally handle the image issue, but if you are good with that it is a really great car. I put the corvette in that same bag over head category, just on the other end of the spectrum. To be fair though, the new miata looks a lot more masculine and there is a chance it will shake the 'hairdresser' car image with the newer generation. It's mostly just old guys (like me) who think of a miata as the cutesy pop up headlight 1st gen from the 90s.

Not the pop up headlights that ever bugged me. It is that damned happy face grill that Mazda loved so much for so long.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Johnny Horsepower

I'm in the market for a new car, after my FR-S was flooded.

Well, if you are interested in a roadster, you can't do much better than a MX5.

mrs humfrz and I toured for 8 years and 88,000 miles in our 2006 MX5 before we got our FR-S.

As far as the car, what you see and feel is what you get. Yes, packing for long trips does take some adjusting to. However, we (in our late 60s) could carry enough stuff to allow us to tour for two weeks at a time.

It's surprising how much crap we think we need to take on vacation. Simple solution - custom fit luggage: Here ya go, sweet pea, pick three out of the five bags, when they are full, that's all you get to take. And then you know they will fit in the car -


humfrz

[xdavidx]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I have never been 'attracted' to the Miata, I just think they are too "generic" and "bland" in design like a rolling bath tub, but the 124 I could live with as it has more character, particularly in the Abarth clothing...

I definitely prefer the 'look' of the flat, but have you driven one? I test drove these twice (new). On the first one, the engine seemed to be having some weird issues, bogging and such. This didn't happen on the second one, but both test drives the car smelled strongly of burning plastic afterwards. I know sometimes there are coatings on engines that make them smell when new, but this didn't smell like that.... Smelled like the turbo charged flat engine would be a nightmare.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by xdavidx

As for the miata itself, I am like the guy who posted that guy with a bag over his head driving one.

That is Chris Harris.




Guys tracking the early ND's had transmission issues.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by xdavidx

I definitely prefer the 'look' of the flat, but have you driven one? I test drove these twice (new). .

No, I haven't driven one. I looked at them, but by the time I get it configured the way I would by it, it's close to $40K. There's other cars (new/used) I'd rather have for that type of money.

[bcj]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

No, I haven't driven one. I looked at them, but by the time I get it configured the way I would by it, it's close to $40K. There's other cars (new/used) I'd rather have for that type of money.

Here ya go, Pops -




humfrz

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Here ya go, Pops -

humfrz

Nah, my Grandmother drove a Buick. I favor my Grandfather's choices. He drove a Cadillac, when he wasn't driving his pickup.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Nah, my Grandmother drove a Buick. I favor my Grandfather's choices. He drove a Cadillac, when he wasn't driving his pickup.

Well, OK - as long as it has 4 doors, has an AT and is white -


humfrz

[James H]

For some reason, seniors seem to be the exception to this Miata image problem. If you are over 60 with grey hair, it just seems to be ok driving a Miata because people figure you are a retired oldie and you just want a car that's more laid back. At least that's my personal opinion.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by James H

For some reason, seniors seem to be the exception to this Miata image problem. If you are over 60 with grey hair, it just seems to be ok driving a Miata because people figure you are a retired oldie and you just want a car that's more laid back. At least that's my personal opinion.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by James H

For some reason, seniors seem to be the exception to this Miata image problem. If you are over 60 with grey hair, it just seems to be ok driving a Miata because people figure you are a retired oldie and you just want a car that's more laid back. At least that's my personal opinion.

Yep, gray hair, suspenders, cap and a sweater vest, to top off the image -


humfrz

[DandoX]

I would also suggest you take a look at used s2000s.

Miatas I think are cool. The idea of the drop top intrigues me. However the driving style is different, if you like how the twins have that tail out, keep pushing character. The Miata has a different character, one that doesn't push you to drive as aggressive, and instead be more laid back. The suspension doesn't have the on rails feeling the twins have and it is not as tail happy.

Also a diff is not standard on all Miatas, so if you get one make sure it has the diff and ideally the club suspension package or something similar to fix that rolley-polley feel. Also don't think for one second this car will be practical in any way other than good mileage. Your not going to costco with this thing.