Miata Mailing List: March 1996, Message #33
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   From: hal 
Subject: Re: Does Mazda have a Suggestions Box?
   Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 12:38:15 -0500

On Fri, 1 Mar 1996 (doug?) miata@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu wrote:
> My suggestion is that the Miata could be vastly improved by removing some
> pork. 
> - Modify current steel doors to use a steel frame with aluminum panels.
> - Replace electric winders with simple handles to raise and lower windows.
> - Replace 4 side glass windows with plexiglass.
> - Aluminum fenders and trunk lid.
> - Remove some interior trim, including the ugly and pointless console.
> - Replace the very fancy, easy-to-use, weatherproof top with a simpler
>   version; emphasis on light weight. (No folding, snaps on screen header.)
> - Nuke the radio.
> - Move the gear ratios a bit closer together (5th gear is useless as is).
> - Tune the engine for higher (but peakier) power.
> - 16" wheels reduce tire weight. Keep them skinny, though: Fatness = badness!
> 
I read an article last year, probably in Sport Compact Car, which described
a car with a lot of the same features requested above, i.e, different cams,
no radio, a separate snap-on(?) top, aluminum trunk. The car was a Mazda
factory project. The author couldn't test drive it because some other
journalists wrecked it. 

-Harry