Miata Mailing List: March 1998, Message #164

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Just stumbling by the used lot at my local Mazda dealer to look over an RX7
they had on the lot, I noticed something vaguely familiar staring at me ..
a red convertible parked infront of the show room with the top down.. the
used dealer came to show me the ups and downs of the 7 and the first
question was "is that a 99 miata?!?!" .. yes he answered.. and before I
could ask, he handed me the keys!!  (I suppose having my 94 right there
with the top down, just waxed and detailed he figured what I was going to
ask) :) .. I hopped in the thing and drove it for about 15 minutes around
town and I was really really impressed.. the car was so tight, and it
seemed the engine has a new tune to sing... not as throaty as my 94, it had
a little more of a 'high tech' sound to it.. actually, starting the engine
reminded me a lot of the 94 RX7 I had test drove before it..  the
agressiveness of the exterior is really attractive.. I went into the show
room and they had 5: 2 blue, a red, white, and hunter green... they had
already sold 3 he said since thursday (this was Sat).. and the white one
was sold in the 1.5 hrs I was there.. I know the sales manager pretty well
having bought both my previous miatas there, and he came right up and told
me he could have me one with everything i wanted on it, there by the end of
next week.. Im still pretty content with my 94, having put as much work
into her as I have, but the new 99s are definately a work of art.. looks
and drive.  The sound system was really something else as well.. I missed
the headrest speakers, but the new door tweeters provided a good bit of
treble .. The base I was driving did not have the Bose system in it, but
the base sounded really good.. I was told the Bose system was only avail in
the leather package, although Ive since seen it advertised as an add-on to
the touring.. Another point of interest was quietness with the top up..
definately quieter than my 94.. and the glass window seemed to be
wonderful.. a little window cleaner vs a plastic cleaner and polish and
virtually no scratches!! :)   

All-in-all  I was VERY impressed and wanted to ask if anyone on the list
has purchased one yet and had any advice on what options to get/not to get
on a new one.. I ordered a black w/touring package just to see what the
black looks like.. Ive had a black 94 since 94 and not sure if I want to
get another black one, even if I do LOVE black.. the new starlight mica (?)
was a really nice color.. 

I also found myself raising an eyebrow to what little or unsure knowledge
the dealer had on the options/etc... I had remembered from miata.net the
options and packages, and when explaining that to my salesman, he looked at
me sorta funny .. claims the ONLY way to get a Bose system and power
antenna/power locks, is to get the leather package.. is that true?  The
table on miata.net shows the touring as having power locks/antenna, and the
Bose as an additional addon (standard on leather, but avail as an add-on to
the touring pkg).. I suppose they arent completely familiar with the 99 yet..

Anyways, thought I would share my thoughts on the new one.. i was really
excited and surprised to see one, much less 5, much less drive one :)

Im having problems sleeping because I cant decide if I want to sell my 94
and get the 99 I ordered (i KNOW i will fall in love with it on first
sight), or keep my 94.. its in perfect condition, and theres really no
reason to buy a 99 other than the obvious.. 

-Jason
94 Black B