Miata Mailing List: September 1997, Message #123
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From: 	"John Freas" <jfreas@gte.net>

Subject: Re: Racing expectations

Date: 	Mon, 1 Sep 1997 21:58:05 +0000



Previously on Racing expectations, Scott A. Keen <scott@foxpro.com> said...

 

> I read about 'charged Miatas beating 5.0s. I'm curious how stock 

> Miatas do.



Not nearly as well.



> How would a stock 1.8L Miata fare against the following (in other 

> words, who would win in, say, a 1/4 mile with drivers of equal ability):

> 

> Stock 1.8L Miata vs

> 

> 1) Z3 4-cyl



Tie.  Maybe Miata wins.



> 2) Z3 6-cyl



Z3 wins.



> 3) Mustang 5.0 (4.9)



Mustnag wins



> 4) anything else sporty you can think of. i.e. Vettes, Camaros, etc.



Camaro wins.  Boxter wins, Supercharged MR-2 wins, normal MR-2 makes you

work for it, 300ZX wins, Mitsu 3000 wins, Supra wins, RX-7 wins, old

Corvette wins, new Corvette laughs, gives you a 3 second head start and

still wins.  Get the picture?



> I love my car the way it is, I'm just wondering when I should rev my 

> engine at somebody.



In most cases I'd say wait until you have your blower in place.



The average car on the street is easy prey, but they won't race.  Some even

look tame but can make you miserable, like the Toyota SE-R and the Civic

Si.  Bottom line?  In a standing quarter mile sprint you're gonna lose. 

Want to torment those cars above, find some curves in the road and let them

try to keep up.  Just watch out for MR-2s with stickers advertising

aftermarket suspensions.



Caveat: I've not raced any of the above.  What you see is my limited

understanding based on known performance and on previous list comments.



	-John



------------------------------------------------

John Freas (jfreas@gte.net)

Red '90 Base #7690

Deer Park, Long Island

Team PBC

Team Roebuck

Team Voodoo

Team "I have no idea what those dimple things on the windshield frame are

for."

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