Miata Mailing List: December 1998, Message #261

sponsored by

I'd have to agree.  I've driven a '99 Miata TP, a '98 2.8L Z3 (girlfriend's
dad's) and a '98 SLK (my dad's).  After spending a couple of days driving
around town with tops up and down, I still feel that the Miata has the most
bang for the buck.

The SLK has way too many creature comforts to make it feel like a
traditional roadster.  It's perfect for those life-long Mercedes owners
though.  The whole hardtop-in-the trunk idea is cool, but with the top
down, you feel more like you are in a car with a large sunroof and not a
true convertible.  Plus the SLK drives EXACTLY like an E Class or an M
class or any other Mercedes (I think that is what Mercedes owners look for,
they don't like surprises).

The Z3 is unstoppable in the straights, but is just too big and bulky in
the turns.  I also noticed that the Z3 now has a power top option.  Come
on, a power top for a two seater?  Why?  I understand a four seater where
the top just goes too far back to reach.  But why complicate and add
weight?  Just more moving parts to go wrong in 5 years (I can see the SLK
having top problems, way too many moving parts).  I believe in the KISS
theory (Keep It Simple Stupid).

Plus, and this is a big plus, the SLK and Z3 are pretty much "complete".
There's no aftermarket "individualization" that can be done with them.

I ended up purchasing a '99 Twilight Blue Mica TP 6 two months after they
came out and the smiles just keep getting bigger and bigger each day.

At 01:05 PM 12/2/98 -0500, Ian McCloghrie wrote:
>Well, it's worth noting that the '99 Z3 base now has the 2.5L 6 that's
>in the 323i, rather than the 1.8L 4.  That's a big power improvement,
>and I don't believe the price changed much.  When I looked at them,
>the 2.8 Z3 was nice, but not $15K nicer than the Miata.  Is the 2.5L
>Z3 $5K nicer than the Miata?  I don't think I'd say so now, after
>having owned my '99 LP for 5 months (has it really been that long?
>wow).  But back in July I might have thought so.
>
>--Ian
>'99 Emerald Mica LP
>