Miata?

[MHKflyer52]

Mazda,

 

You could always get one of theses and not have to worry about getting stuck in snow or mud. Still would need a top....LOL......:jester:

http://dailycar.info/autos/lotus/mustang-car-lotus-super-seven-replica-based-on-95-suzuki-samurai.html

[slngsht]

Mazda,

 

You could always get one of theses and not have to worry about getting stuck in snow or mud. Still would need a top....LOL......:jester:

http://dailycar.info/autos/lotus/mustang-car-lotus-super-seven-replica-based-on-95-suzuki-samurai.html

 

:rofl: where did u find that gem?

[Kitcat]

Skip-what a tale! Maybe you should write a book?

 

Jon, the switch from 1600cc to 1800 cc engine was in '94. I know because in 1994 I sold my white '93 for a white '94 R package, mostly to get the bigger engine, but also for the Torsen LSD.

 

I was an auto-x guy back then and the R-pkg was classified the same as the earlier model Miatas with the 1.6 motor. It was the only time I ever had the coveted motorsports "unfair advantage". It lasted 2 events and then the fastest 2 Miata drivers showed up w/their own R-packages and my brief moment of auto-x glory was over.

[Sean]

While I myself harbor no feelings of either love or hate for Miatas or their owners, by coincidence I did receive this in an e-mail just today :

[Ruadhd2]

I just sold a fully loaded 96 Miata for $4500.00 (LSD and many performance upgrades).

 

Here's a fully loaded MINI and it is British Racing Green. No affiliation.

 

Its hard to imagine these days what the dollar will buy.Here's a 6 speed, supercharged car with driver ergonomics, traction control, lsd,power sunroof, performance grade suspension design, electronic everything, cold weather stuff, etc. for this kind of money. Lots of great choices out there.

Edited January 12, 2011 by Ruadhd2

[gjslutz]

Take a look at the VW TDI, The older Passat & Jetta's can fit into this and can be screwed with to run quite well, talk to Roman. Our 2010 Jetta TDI Wagon can do the 1246 mile trip to the son's house with two fuel stops at "GOOD" highway speeds. Some who drive much slower could do it with one stop. That is with an 14.5 Gallon tank. As you know, they are great for light towing.

[slngsht]

finally settled on a rust free '99 base miata.

[Boxologist]

since it doesn't have sport brakes u want these

http://www.sccaforums.com/forums/forumid/65/threadid/394280/scope/posts

[slngsht]

since it doesn't have sport brakes u want these

http://www.sccaforums.com/forums/forumid/65/threadid/394280/scope/posts

commuter car, commuter car, commuter car, commuter cartelling self>

[Sean]

Traffic can stop quite suddenly when commuting, I have found... :devil:

[slngsht]

Traffic can stop quite suddenly when commuting, I have found... :devil:

lol. mod $$$ must go to vette and rotus.

[11Budlite]

Congrats Mazda! I've been looking for something similar. My daily commute is going to be changing from 15 miles roundtrip of all backroads to 70 miles roundtrip of mostly highway driving sometime within the next few months. Not the greatest drive for the Birkin. :banghead: I'm hoping to get one in the same color as yours but with the tan interior/top. Either that or one of the '01 BRG SE's if it doesn't cost too much more. Hopefully I can find one that hasn't been stuck up to it's axles in some farmer's field!

[slngsht]

Bruce, based on my 2 minutes of behind the seat time in a few miatas, try and get a 6 speed if you have a long highway commute. The 99 was revving pretty high in 5th at 70.

 

Of course I'm used to cruising at 75 at 1600 rpm in the vette. Incidentally, the vette gets really decent mileage on the highway... On a 2 hour drive from Richmond, VA to DC, including an hour of stop and go traffic, I averaged 31 MPG. Where the vette suffers is around city driving. I normally get about 19, partly because my right foot has a problem The miata cures that somewhat.

[11Budlite]

Bruce, based on my 2 minutes of behind the seat time in a few miatas, try and get a 6 speed if you have a long highway commute. The 99 was revving pretty high in 5th at 70.

 

Of course I'm used to cruising at 75 at 1600 rpm in the vette. Incidentally, the vette gets really decent mileage on the highway... On a 2 hour drive from Richmond, VA to DC, including an hour of stop and go traffic, I averaged 31 MPG. Where the vette suffers is around city driving. I normally get about 19, partly because my right foot has a problem The miata cures that somewhat.

 

Geez, maybe I should be looking into a Vette instead! From what I understand the 6-speed doesn't have that much taller of a top gear than the 5-speed, it's just that the rest of the gears are closer together. I'm going to have to check it out and see the actual difference.

[Boxologist]

6 speed and 5 speed are the same final rpms for highway cruising. 6 spd just will keep u in power band better. Almost no rev matching needed, but i usualy am skip shifting. again 01+ is the 1.8 w/ fancy heads 'n' cams. the 01/02 SEs had the polished look 16" twist wheels. If u opt for the SE u get the sport brakes which most 15" wheels can't fit over.

 

an 02+ LS that has been well maintained may be a better bet for commuting.

[scannon]

The 5 speed Miata trans is a much smoother shifting box than the six speed. The Miata has a wide enough torque band that the closer ratio six speed is superfluous.

 

I've had two Miatas with six speeds and hated both of them. Seems like you were always shifting at the most inconvenient times, such as getting on the throttle just past the apex and hitting the rev limiter.

 

Get used to running the engine at higher revs on the highway, it won't hurt it, the engine was designed for it. On one trip a group of six Miatas ran at triple digit speeds for over an hour and a half with no problems.

[11Budlite]

Thanks Jon and Skip. Still more research to do but I still have some time before the long commute starts.