The Mazda Miata is 20 years old?

billbillw

joeparaski wrote: »

... I mean come on, go and look at the picture in the second post....it is just .....wrong.

Joe

Dude, that's the 1st gen from 1989! Most of the cars from 89 look pretty lame by today's standards.

xj4094dg

bobman1235 wrote: »

Sorry, but if you think your car says anything about your sexuality (with a few very rare exceptions, like a pink VW New Beetle or something), chances are it has nothing to do wtih the car.

Its still a chick car. No way around it. No matter how you slice it. Even my girlfriends agree. Most women would not want their men driving one.

LessisNevermore

xj4094dg wrote: »

Its still a chick car. No way around it. No matter how you slice it. Even my girlfriends agree. Most women would not want their men driving one.

Would it help to hang a set of 'truck nuts' on one?



.....nah, probably not.:D


The term "romantic comedy", was invented to counter "chick-flick" too. It's still a chick-flick.

danger boy

heiney9 wrote: »

My Dad used to race MG's and Austin Healey's in the early to mid 60's. About 6-7 years ago he bought a British racing green w/ black leather interior and toneau cover Mazda Miata.

He said it was the closest thing to the "old school" British roadsters any one made. He still has it and has a blast driving it around town. Balanced, simple, reliable, nice looking 2 seat roadster. He's 66 years old and he and my mom have fun taking long road trips on weekends in the summer. It goes in storage during the late fall and winter thru early spring. And this is from a guy who also raced some of the fastest '60's cars around (in the day) and owned the very first year Corvette Stingray and a stable of Mustangs.

H9

I like MG's and Austin Healey's. those were before my time.. but, hella fun to drive.. at least my MGB was. Talk about having to tinker with it to run right though. OMG British cars of that era were so finnicky.

As for the Miata. I see more men driving them around here than I do women. but then again who cares.

danger boy

sorry to hijack. this is the older brother to the MX5 Miata.

the RX7.

About the Mazda RX-7 FD3S
The 3rd and final generation of the RX-7 was, and still is, one of the best handling sports cars ever produced. With its powerful yet efficient RE13B 2-rotor Wankel Rotary engine and sophisticated twin-turbo system, excellent balance, and light-weight, the FD RX-7 had all the ingredients of a true sports car and is still a much sought-after machine amongst driving enthusiasts. Its beautifully curved futuristic body shape remained alluring throughout a production run that spanned 11 years and it remains an instantly recognizable icon that has also staked its claim in popular culture with appearances in major movies such as the Fast and the Furious series, games such as the Gran Turismo series, and the Japanese animation hit Initial D.

danger boy

To commemorate 20 years of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, known in Japan simply as the Mazda Roadster, its parent company has released a special edition version of its lightweight open-top sports car for the Japanese market. The Mazda Roadster 20th Anniversary goes on sale at all Japanese Mazda dealerships.

Celebrating its 20th birthday this year, the 2010 Mazda Roadster has attracted a wide range of customers since its launch in 1989, and is currently sold in approximately 60 countries. The Roadster was certified as the world’s most produced two-seater, open-top sports cars by Guinness World Records when production reached 800,000 units. Total production of the Mazda Roadster now stands in excess of 860,000 units.

The Roadster 20th Anniversary is based on both the soft-top model with a 6-speed manual transmission, and the retractable hard-top with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Special equipment includes unique red and black RECARO bucket sport seats, exclusive ‘20th Anniversary’ badges, and clear front fog lights.

Special equipment include RECARO bucket sport seats, ‘20th Anniversary’ badges, clear front fog lights and bezels, 205/45 tyres and 17-inch aluminium wheels, front strut tower bar and heated seats.

All 20th Anniversary models come in Crystal White Pearl Mica, used for the first time on the Mazda Roadster.


Ooo. I want one of these now.

concealer404

schwarcw wrote: »

Chicks will tell you the Miata is a chick car.

You know, everyone says that about Celicas, too....

Yet i've never had anyone tell me that MINE is a chick car, or a girl's car.

Check out any motor enthusiast site, they will almost ALL recommend a Miata as a first track car.

Willow

Ron-P wrote: »

...and what makes a car "look" like a women's car over any other car?

It looks dainty and fragile.

concealer404

Willow wrote: »

It looks dainty and fragile.

Lotus Exige is a chicks car?

Willow

billbillw wrote: »

Joe, Willow,
So what kind of car do the "guy's" guys drive up there in Canada? Joe, like it or not, the people you describe also sound like people who are intelligent, have good sense of style, and like the finer things in life.QUOTE]

I drive till this September a Nissan Xtrail after that it'll be another SUV ir Xover

billbillw

Willow wrote: »

I drive till this September a Nissan Xtrail after that it'll be another SUV ir Xover

Ah ha...An SUV!

You really have no right to take part in this conversation. SUV drivers do not have the correct frame of reference to talk about performance cars.

Bottom line, the MX-5, Miata, Mazda Roadster, or whatever you want to call it, is a capable no frill roadster created with the same mindset that many classic European roadsters were created in: Light, agile, and fun to drive.

True, some people buy the car because they think its 'cute' or whatever, but there are so many others out there who buy it because of its performance thrill/$ ratio. Those who don't know call it a chick car. Those who do know, respect it for what it is. Nearly every serious car magazine has held this car in very high esteem since its creation 20 years ago. There are only a handful of other models that have been as universally lauded during this time period: the BMW 3 series, the Porsche Boxster/Caymen, the Corvette, the Honda Prelude, and the Honda Accord. Pretty good company there.

concealer404

I'll just leave this here....

nadams

I'll take an S2000, thanks -

billbillw

nadams wrote: »

I'll take an S2000, thanks -

No doubt, the S2000 is a better car, but the cost is much higher. About 14k higher MSRP, and usually about 7-10k more on the used market for a similar year/mileage.

zingo

Supercharged 5 Liter

shack

nadams wrote: »

I'll take an S2000, thanks -

I actually like the Mazda MX-5 better that the S2000. Bang for the buck is excellent with that car. However, if I was to get a small 2 seat roadster, I would go with a Boxter...




In the $25K -$50K ± price range I prefer the Porsche over the BMW Z4 , the Nissan 370Z, the Audi TT, the Solstice/Sky or the the S2000.

heiney9

Yep, the Boxster has always been the "one" I would buy as well. Never really have liked any of the Japanses offerings. I do drive my Dad's Miata on occasion and it's a nice little tossable, involving, fun to drive car. They are a bit underpowered, but a blast to drive. Reminds in some respects of the 1st generation 1984 Rabbit GTi I had shortly after I got out of high school. Probabaly around 1986 or so.

Talk about low cost, economical, practical (fit a 27" TV in the box in the hatch) and loads of fun to drive!! I'd give Trans Am's and M3's of the day fits off the line they'd always catch me but I had many a driver ask me what I had under the hood. Just a 4 cyl, 8 valve, 1.8l motor with a K & N filter all of 90hp.

H9

billbillw

Porsche is in a different league and the price reflects that. $47k+base price.

EDIT: I checked my local dealer and couldn't find a new Boxster with an MSRP of less than $50k.

concealer404

I'll take an MR2 Spyder over the S2000. I'm unsure if a Miata beats the MR2 Spyder for me or not.

shack

heiney9 wrote:

Reminds in some respects of the 1st generation 1984 Rabbit GTi I had shortly after I got out of high school. Probabaly around 1986 or so.

I had an 85 GLI Wolfsburg Edition. Red w/grey leather, sunroof, 5 speed, trip computer, special Pirelli wheels and tires, a 16.6 cf trunk that would hold a ton of stuff, 26/32 mpg and fun as hell to drive. I miss that car!

shack

billbillw wrote:

Porsche is in a different league and the price reflects that. $47k+base price.

EDIT: I checked my local dealer and couldn't find a new Boxster with an MSRP of less than $50k.

Over the Miata...yes they are different leagues. Over the Honda...no, they are considered in the same league. One of my customers is a Porsche, Audi, VW dealer and has a new one on his lot right now he will sell for less than $50K. He will also put in an order for a no frills base model at MSRP + delivery fee.

heiney9

shack wrote: »

I had an 85 GLI Wolfsburg Edition. Red w/grey leather, sunroof, 5 speed, trip computer, special Pirelli wheels and tires, a 16.6 cf trunk that would hold a ton of stuff, 26/32 mpg and fun as hell to drive. I miss that car!

Funny! I had an 1986 (I think) Jetta GLI Wolfsburg same exact car you describe (Red too) with the special Pirelli rims, etc.. The leather was grey and black, IIRC. Put alot of miles on that car. I sold my '84 GTi got get the "newer" Jetta.

H9

P.s. except for one time I have always owned a Volkswagen. When I was married we had to decide between a 1996 Passat or 1996 Maxima. Wife wanted the Maxima; no matter how hard I tried to convince her on the Passat. She's gone............and the Maxima went with her . At the time I had a 1992 GTi/8V.

xj4094dg

nadams wrote: »

I'll take an S2000, thanks -

Another chick car.

billbillw

shack wrote: »

Over the Miata...yes they are different leagues. Over the Honda...no, they are considered in the same league. One of my customers is a Porsche, Audi, VW dealer and has a new one on his lot right now he will sell for less than $50K. He will also put in an order for a no frills base model at MSRP + delivery fee.

I still think a $35k Honda and a $50k (or $47k if possible) Porsche are in slightly different leagues, but that's just my opinion.

billbillw

xj4094dg wrote: »

Another chick car.

Oh whatever. Are you kidding? A race bred car with a 9000RPM screamer of a motor? I've never seen a chick driving an S2000.

Willow

billbillw wrote: »

I've never seen a chick driving an S2000.

Me either. I don't mind the S2K

xj4094dg

billbillw wrote: »

Oh whatever. Are you kidding? A race bred car with a 9000RPM screamer of a motor? I've never seen a chick driving an S2000.

This, the Boxster, all of these cute little cars SCREAM chick. Sorry, those are the rules.:D

bobman1235

HAHA, yeah, a Boxster is a chick car.

shack

heiney9 wrote: »

Funny! I had an 1986 (I think) Jetta GLI Wolfsburg same exact car you describe (Red too) with the special Pirelli rims, etc.. The leather was grey and black, IIRC.

I know the GLI was available in Red, Black, Grey and Silver. I think you could only get the Wolfsburg in Red, Black and Grey. Oh, I almost forgot about the black rear deck spoiler that I believe was only a Wolfsburg item.

billbillw

heiney9 wrote: »

Funny! I had an 1986 (I think) Jetta GLI Wolfsburg same exact car you describe (Red too) with the special Pirelli rims, etc.. The leather was grey and black, IIRC. Put alot of miles on that car. I sold my '84 GTi got get the "newer" Jetta.

H9

P.s. except for one time I have always owned a Volkswagen. When I was married we had to decide between a 1996 Passat or 1996 Maxima. Wife wanted the Maxima; no matter how hard I tried to convince her on the Passat. She's gone............and the Maxima went with her . At the time I had a 1992 GTi/8V.

Since we are so far off the original topic, I guess I can say that I've been driving the same VW for over 9 years now. Passat V-6 5-speed manual. At the time I bought it, I really wanted an A4 quattro, but I wanted to keep my payments down. The Passat of that era was really close to the A4 in the way it drove. Same steering, same engine, same brakes...in fact, they share something like 80% of the same parts.

Lots of torque from that V6. Fun to drive, but practical too (I can fit a pair of SDA 1C and/or Mirage M3 in the trunk).

My next car? Who knows. GLI will be at the top of my list along with a WRX, Mazdaspeed3, or who knows? Probably depends on whats hot when I buy. This whole roadster discussion is purely fantasy for me since I have two small children. I will pretty much always need a 4 door for the time being.