Miata Mailing List: September 1999, Message #405

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My biased opinion to follow, but first an anecdote....

My dad leased a '91 Legend at Greenwich Acura (or whatever it's called)
which is right across US1 from Miller Motorcars, which used to be Chinetti
Ferrari.  There was an NSX on the lot, and a couple of guys were looking at
it and comparing it to the Ferraris available across the street.  One of 'em
said "Ferrari has decades of racing history.  This is just a Honda."  The
other guy said, "Well, Ferrari may have the older racing history, but Honda
has the FASTER racing history."

If C/D liked the Honda better than the Porsche, who am I to argue?  (SLK and
Mroadster, neat as they are, are still sedan-based and maybe shouldn't be
held to the same standards as far as "feel" goes.)


>>There are number reasons that I am not sold on the car.

When it comes time to buy your Miata a bigger sibling, "which do you like
best" is the only thing that matters when you put your money down.


>>1. Electronic Dash? In a retro convertible?

Hey, if it weighs less and works better, why not?  It's good enough for
Schumacher.


>>2. Power top in a smallish convertible.  The car already weighed in under
2800lbs, they could have saved some weight.

I gotta agree there.  No power windows, either, please.


>>3. VTEC reliability. can you spin 8900rpm racing all day, and then drive
home without worries?

You can if it's a Honda.  Don't forget, this company made its early money
building motorcycles.  8,900 rpm is "midrange" on a motorcycle these days.


>>4. Can the car come in for $32K?  

If Honda can build a TL sedan with everything including GPS for $32k, surely
they can build a roadster for that.

It might not be for me, but I'd sure like to see one.
- Bill