Miata Mailing List: November 1993, Message #151
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   From: Mike Rother 
Subject: Saw a '94 Today
   Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1993 13:48:30 -0500


Stopped at a dealership to view the '94.  The new "Laguna Blue"
disappointed me.  Salesperson chuckled and called it "neon blue."  It
really did look kind of blue-lavender.  I was expecting a dark blue.
However, the car still wore its protective shipping "wax," so the
actual color probably looks a little different.  Plus the sun is
currently on its 6-month vacation from Michigan.

The new wheels are nice, yet for my eyes don't match the Miata as well
as originals or Panasports.  I want to buy the new wheels (lighter,
wider), but the old ones look better on the car.

Opening & closing the doors you notice they are *much* heavier, with a
solid, big-car feel & slam.  I didn't realize how massive the new
side-impact gear is.

The dashboard's center-panel area (heater/radio area) has been given
more swooping edges - perhaps losing some of the simple character of
the original.  This development does remind one of U.S. versions of
70's British roadsters, although Mazda is certainly doing a better
job than MG did with the "B.".

New engine looks nearly the same as the 1.6, but the air-intake
crossover ducting is redesigned and routed entirely at the top of the
engine bay.  The underhood area seems more crowded with stuff (I was
looking at a fully-optioned model).

A new addition under the hood is a plastic shield covering the gap
between the top of the radiator and the nose.  This is the same shape &
location as an aluminum item offered in the ads in the first few pages
of the current Miata Magazine.  The magazine ad stated that the shield
directs more air to - instead of around - the radiator for better
cooling & performance.  They called it something like a racing
accessory.  Anyone know about the validity of this?  If Mazda is adding
it, I assume it must serve a purpose.

Overall I left with greater appreciation for my "simple," base-model
1991.  The '94 is considerably heavier and more expensive.  However,
there was no time for a test drive.  The new 1.8, Torsen diff, and
additional chassis bracing could easily make the '94 more attractive
than a first look suggests.

So, who's installing the new supercharger?