Miata Mailing List: September 1996, Message #0155
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   From: skirkham@mail.1stresource.com (Scott Kirkham and Woody)

Subject: Re: '97 & '98 Miata Info

   Date: Mon, 2 Sep 1996 16:28:34 -0500





>BTW, if you are looking for a new Miata, this dealership doesn't do the

>usual dealer added profit and handling charges.  They sold the first ones

>for MSRP.  They keep it simple and cut the BS.  His name is Brian McNulty

>at 303-443-1200.  He is a Miata nut and supports our local Peak to Peak

>Miata Club.



My arrangement was for less than MSRP. And there were no dealer add-ons on my

car to start out with either.

>

>The '98 Miata is scheduled to be at dealers in the USA on 1 March 1997 for

>an early model year launch.  It is a "major change" which means none of the

>sheet metal will be the same.  It will be roomier, heavier and more

>powerful.  He said that they were told that no outsider knows what the car

>looks like, it is not the two shown in the car mags recently.



Well, one out of three is good. More powerful sounds great. But roomier and

heavier? I take it this means that the car will become the size of, at least, a

civic? Bleaaaahhhhhh!!!! The more I hear, the more I am glad that I bought my

'96 and didn't wait for the "redesign."



>The engine will be more powerful to offset the increased weight.  He heard

>rumors of a V6 option, but doesn't think it likely.



But will the car still maintain the "flavor" so inherent to a Miata? I seriously

doubt it. Sounds to me like they are going to try and come up with a replacement

for the RX7 and the Miata, finding a happy medium, and wind up with a watered

down RX that does no justice to the Miata name. I guess I'm just a cynic though.

Why mess with success?

>

>As we were discussing the changes, and I said I hoped they didn't ruin the

>car, he commented "all good things must change".



He was wrong. The Porsche 911 has changed very little, relatively speaking,

since the beginning. They have maintained the same flavor all along, while

mildly changing the packaging and radically changing the power offerings. The

Porsche has changed every year, but when one sees an early 911 and then compares

it to a later model, they are obviously related. All good things must change is

merely an excuse. Just 'cause they stick a Miata name on the new car, doesn't

make it a Miata. Think about Chevy's second iteration of the Nova, or the latest

Monte Carlo. How about the Mustang II?





Scott and Woody, who hopes she'll recognize her younger siblings.



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             Wind in my hair, shifting and drifting,

              mechanical music,  adrenaline surge

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