Miata Mailing List: November 1996, Message #30
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   From: TOM_VERVAEKE@HP-ColSprings-om1.om.hp.com

Subject: Miata's with AutoTrans are Miatas too darn it...

   Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 12:40:19 -0500



Item Subject: cc:Mail Text

Hello:



I guess I'm going to have to form a secret club: Miata owners who have 

automatic transmissions. It seems that we're looked down upon by our 

manually operated brethren. Not sure why... Sure, the AT's are detuned, 

slower, etc.. but we love 'em just the same. Our Miata is for fun, not 

necessarily for speed. I do not consider the Miata to be a fast car and I 

don't plan on spending too much to make it a whole lot faster.



Those of us who also own motorcycles, especially ones with displacements 

over 1000 cc, might tend to think that Miatas are just for fun. My Honda 

ST1100 can go 130+ MPH and do it fairly quickly. It gets better mileage, 

goes just as far on a tankful of gas (7.4 gallon tank) as our Miata, and is 

FAST. And my wife and I find it very thrilling. I've never seen a Miata yet 

who can follow me through the twisties on the bike. For real speed nuts 

motorcycles are pure fun and a lot cheaper than make a fast car faster. 



What I'm trying to say is that not all Miata owners are interested in speed 

or being the fastest on the road. Our Miata (Tweety) is for fun drives, 

semi-fast corners, good times, air in the face, etc.. It's our fun machine. 

So the fact that it has an AT is not a problem. I haven't had the urge yet 

to pass Preludes, MR2's, or Del Sols (Dull Slows?). My "Need for Speed" 

only happens when I strap on the helment and leathers. 



Maybe I should wait to post this message. I've only been on the list about 

5 weeks and am a newbie to Miata's. However, I want to feel like an equal 

member of the miata "family". When driving in bumper to bumper traffic I 

just smile when I think of the AT in there. And, it's my wife's car and she 

wanted an AT, so there! 



Tom Vervaeke

AT and Happy



PS: One of my first cars was a Dodge Charger with 440 ci and an AT. Now 

that was fun!

















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