Miata Mailing List: November 1996, Message #60
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From: Todd Barney
Tom, First, I'd just like to say "Thank God for Copy-Paste!" I'm reading from the archives, which means I can't reply directly to your post, and I'm just thankful I didn't have to type in your email address! :-) Anyway, this topic has come and gone, and probably will again. It's sort of related to the other thread about "why do you Miata people think your Miatas are the only true sports cars anymore..." (Aside: I have to disagree with the statement from that thread that Del Sol's and VW GTI's are sports cars. Sporty cars, maybe, but not sports cars. Okay, back to topic.) You jump in the middle of us (we?) nuts, and you'll find two things: 1. Most of us are pretty durn opinionated. 2. A lot of us are pretty durn ridiculous when it comes to our opinions. I am of the opinion that manual transmissions are superior to autos when you want to really DRIVE. I don't have one for the go-fast factor, I have it so I can be sure to be in the gear I want to be in, when I want to be in it. Most of us look to our Miatas to give us the same rush you get from your bike when you ride. So, since we're coming from the position of "Drive the car for the responsiveness and the handling and the precisement, etc. etc. etc." we maintain that you need a manual to be able to do that properly. Having said all that, I am NOT of the opinion that automatic Miatas should be ostracized. I figure people get them for just the reasons you state, or other reasons that are none of my business. (Although in creeping traffic, I'll take idling along in 1st in my Miata over an automatic anyday.) I sort of take the "Car and Driver" magazine approach to vehicles: any car worth driving is worth driving with a manual transmission. A notable exception is our new Ford Explorer. But our previous six cars have all been sticks. Up until the Explorer, MY wife flat refused to drive an automatic. We both just like more control over the vehicle than an AT gives you. Sorry you've run into some on this list who tend to state their opinions as the only acceptable position on the argument. Ya gotta figure you're always gonna run into those types, anywhere. And once you get past the bluster, you find that they're really okay types, too. Especially Miata folks. But hey, consider yourself a full-fledged member of MY Miata family, at any rate, and if you're ever down Dallas way, look us up. FWIW, I'd be willing to *try* to follow your bike through the twisties. I've chased motorcycles through the north Georgia mountains before, and held my own pretty well. Okay, maybe for a few yards, anyway. :-) -- Todd & MIATOY '91 Crystal White A Team MCA Team Lone Star Team PMC Team Moo Team 100k "But officer, I DO have a certain responsibility to my gear ratios!" Original post follows... 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! \014 ==============================================================================