Miata Mailing List: May 1999, Message #185

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The first Miata I ever drove was my current 1994 R pkg.  I feel instantly in 
love, and my mind wandered back to a certain Austin Mini Cooper 1275 GT I 
spent some time with.  Both cars were "sparse" and handled better than 
anything else I've driven.

This is definitely a case of "less is more."  A lighter car needs less power 
to accelerate, and has less body roll, and all other things equal, corners 
better.

You couldn't give me leather seats, power windows, mirrors and antenna in a 
sports car.  If the car is light enough, and the suspension geometry is 
right, I would never have power steering either.

Many listers are trying to make "R's" out of their Miatas, and as someone 
said earlier, it's not so much what you add on, as what you leave off.

It's not difficult to make an "R" out of a luxury package Miata - It's 
impossible - But you would have a nice collection of parts laying around your 
garage if you tried!

Don Miller
Biloxi, MS
Red '94 R