Miata Mailing List: February 1993, Message #51
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   From: (none)
Subject: Re: okay, so do i "concert" my miata to a '93?
   Date: (none)

i wrote:
> > so, as everybody knows, the '93 Miatas have the
> > new corporate Mazda hood ornament.  should i get
> > one and "convert" my '90 into a '93, or not?

> From: Joshua_Bloch@transarc.com
> Subject: Re: okay, so do i "convert" my miata to a '93?
>     Obviously there is no accounting for tastes, but I, for one, think
> this would be lunacy.  I think it was a big mistake on Mazda's part to
> add the hood ornament.  The physical beauty of the Miata is, in large
> part, due to the total absence of junk.  (Hood ornaments, phony
> "aerodynamic" body parts, side striping, etc.)  If you've looked at
> other cars, you know just how rare this is.  Treasure it, don't mess
> with it!

i basically agree, i don't like extra badges, unnecessary grills,
screaming Firebird hood chickens, etc.  ornaments for ornaments sake
are generally not a good idea.  simple & clean = good in my book.

however, i think few would argue that the badge on an MG, Porsche,
Ferrari, Alfa or Fiat Spider, etc. is obtrusive or out-of-place.
if the Mazda logo had existed in 1989, i bet few would have had
anything to say about it, either (unless you all hate the actual
logo _design_, which is another issue altogether...)

i think the controversy with the Miata is due largely to the fact
that Mazda just recently "invented" the logo, so there's no history
or tradition behind it (yet, anyway).  (and also because we have
an existing car to compare it against; it didn't "start out" with a
badge on it...).

i must admit that i think the new badge would look out-of-place on
the '84 RX7 i owned, but i s'pose i feel that way mostly because
i got _used_ to the look without the badge.  perhaps the same applies
to the current Miata situation; now that we're used to seeing the clean
nose, we like it that way...



BTW, the logo has two pins in the back that fit into 2 holes
drilled into the bumper.  removing the logo would leave 2 holes
to be filled...  or, i suppose you could buy a replacement bumper
piece ($$$?), assuming the holes are not pre-drilled...