Miata Mailing List: May 1993, Message #117
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   From: (none)
Subject: Re:  Miata Coupe
   Date: (none)

dealy@cs.utk.edu says:
> 
> Al,
> 
> I think it looks neat, but $32K for some wimpy 1.8l engine, sounds kinda far
> fetched to me. I love the miatas, and will be buying a used one soon as I get 
> out of school, but the prices for some of them upwards of $22k I think are 
> ridiculous. Now if they dropped in something with 180-200 bhp that might be
> different. Oh but then the insurance companies would have a field day on us 
> sports car nuts that desire some more power. Jeez everything is a trade off,
> maybe I should buy a pickup truck instead.....  :-)
> 
> Derek

Have you actually driven a Miata in a competition style event?  Either autox,
or track or something?  How about back roads scampering?  If you did, did you
wait until near redline to shift?  I don't think that anyone who has driven a
Miata agressively can honestly say that it is anemic in the power area.
Sure, its not as fast as a Porsche 944S off the line, but it does seem to be
holding its own in the Autocross front.  And the Miata's ability to hold a
curve at speed surpasses most driver's ability to navigate said corner at
said speed.  I have driven a Miata with ~150 hp (turbo kit) and my Miata has
about 130 hp due to modifications I have.  The 150 hp Miata was not as
drivable as my car, and even less than the stock Miata with 40 less hp.  I
don't that that the miata is in need of a 180 horsies to do the job its
supposed to do:  be fun to drive, fairly competitive in the twisties, and
function with the best of them as a daily driver.  If you want an unhandling
pig that goes like a deamon in a straight line, but wallows around the
corners then go get a used 5.0l mustang LX.  

I've said it before, anyone who thinks that the Miata is anemic, hasn't had a
ride with me driving one.


-- 

Miq Millman       miq@wv.mentorg.com         miq_millman@rainbow.mentorg.com
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