Miata Mailing List: December 1996, Message #842
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   From: (none)

Subject: Re: SF Auto Show

   Date: (none)



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>Is there anyone who went to the Auto Show over Thanksgiving Week? What do 

>you think of the Miata Coupe? I think the show was weak-- no Boxster or 

>SLK, just the Z-3.  I noticed that everyone I saw who sat in the Z-3 were 

>comparing it to the Miata and they really liked it.

     

     Oh!  Thanks for reminding me...I was going to post my perceptions.  I 

     took notes but of course they're at home and this is my last day of 

     work this week.  If this spurs discussion I'll bring in my notes 

     Monday.  I'll also have pictures sometime next week, although I don't 

     have a scanner.  If someone's REALLY interested in a pic, I'll give it 

     to Marc to scan into the BAMA web page.

     

     Three Miatae--red, black and Montego.  Crowds around them and lines to 

     sit in them.  I saw two other BAMA members there but they aren't on 

     the list to my knowledge.

     

     The coupe was displayed on a no-touch stand.  The woman handling the 

     mike was fairly knowledgeable and she presented it well, but was not 

     very friendly.  She knew about this list but did not bother to mention 

     the MCA, the list, the web site or the "cult" status of the Miata.  

     Guess that's because all of those are geared toward the ragtop, not the 

     coupe, and the coupe is what she was talking about.  The coupe is still 

     the same Beech-Nut Diaper Yellow Mica.

     

     One Z3--medium blue.  Crowd around it and line to sit in it.  I heard 

     only positive comments and the only comparison to the Miata I heard 

     was about price and cost of ownership (the Miata compared favorably, 

     natch).

     

     I was greatly disappointed to see there was no SLK, no Boxster, no 

     MR-2 (is there one for '97?), no neat concept cars except Olds, no 

     VTECs...lots and lots of shiny boring sedans.  Rolls had a display 

     (convertible was $350K).  Porsche had four cars there, but none of 

     them were convertibles.  

     

     There was a Dodge (?) truck in a really pretty shade of teal...would 

     look great on a Miata.  One of the Acuras also had gorgeous 

     semi-metallic pigeon's-blood red paint, which IMO the Merlot should 

     have been, although "Pinot Noir" doesn't sound as nice, does it?  One 

     of the SUV's was a pretty emerald green metallic that's IMO MUCH nicer 

     than the new Mazda green and would look absolutely smashing on a Miata 

     with tan interior and top.  The Cobra section was interesting...what a 

     pain those tops must be!  Yamaha has a new Harley-Davidson wannabe 

     that's bright orange.  Eew!  The "History of Harley" section was very 

     interesting.

     

     Six-year-old Kelly had her usual grand time sitting in the backs of 

     SUV's handing out brochures to passers-by while Mom and Dad wandered 

     around in each section.  She'd love to get up on stage and present 

     cars as soon as some permanent teeth grow in...she's got three holes 

     in her smile right now, though!

     

     Jeannie Hobbs

     reporting from Boulder Creek, CA