Miata Mailing List: April 1997, Message #49
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From: 	mg <griff@columbia-center.org>

Subject: Re: 1993 LE and 1994+ R Package

Date: 	Tue, 1 Apr 1997 11:46:23 -0500



John D. Emerson wrote:

> 

> I wrote:

> >>The 93 Black/Red had all that, and was essentially an R Package on a

> limited Edition.

> 

> Randy answered:

> >Sure, if you concider the 'R' model just Bilstein shocks and spoilers

> >(although it did have 14x6 wheels). The '93 Ltd had power steering,

> >leather seats, leather steering wheel, smaller 11mm rear sway bar,

> >standard 19mm front sway bar, NO Torsen and standard rate springs.  I

> >disagree with the comparision, I think the '93 Ltd was very different

> >from the 'R', maybe an "evolutionary predecessor"?

> 

> I guess it's a semantic distinction, and not all that important.  However,

> the 1993 LE had other goodies that define the 1994-97 R Package: front air

> dam, rear skirt, rear lip spoiler.  It is true that it had the viscous

> limited slip and not the Torsen which was introduced on Miatas in 1994.

> But that isn't an "R" issue -- Miata replaced the viscous limited slip

> with the superior Torsen in 1994 on all models that have limited -- not at

> all unique to the R. Randy, I believe you are mistaken on one point:  The

> 1993 LE DID have heavier springs than stock.  In fact, I believe that

> Sports Car International actually complained about them! (too stiff).

> Some folks used the 1993 LE on the track even though it had the luxury

> equipment, power everything, air.  And in some cases they were successful.

>    I think it's fair to say that the 1993 Red/Black LE was ROUGHLY the

> equivalent of a Limited Edition Miata with the 1993 equivalent of the

> later R package.  You are free to disagree!

>    The original point was that Mazda had put "R-like" equipment on a

> loaded Limited Edition in 1993, so why do they not allow anyone who wants

> an R Package now to pay their $1500 and get it?  At least, one ought to

> be able to add the Miata's rather good power steering unit to an R Package

> with air.  If that were possible, the R package might not be so extremely

> rare this year!  I still vote for choice!

> Cheers,

> John Emerson, 1992 Sunburst Yellow A

> Middlebury, Vermont



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As I have said in the past, the entire point of the “R” package is to

allow a person to get a light weight , stripped, high performance

version of a Miata.  An “R” is a racer.  The 93 LE was a fat option

laden Miata with handling and appearance packages.

I don’t think air should have a place on a “R”.  Power steering, well

that would just destroy the idea even more.  What Mazda should do is

offer separate handling and appearance packages that would be available

on any Miata. 



Mark

97 R (with air, oh well, it was all I could find)