Contenders of the Miata?

  • Thread starter Thread starter AlexGTV
  • 46 comments
  • 4,712 views
YSSMAN
The Sky Red Line was absolutely brilliant in its ability to be both a hardcore sports car, but also a comfortable cruiser when otherwise necessary. That 2.0T engine that GM crafted was a masterpiece, especially when you think about what a terrible condition the company was in at the time. The Solstice GXP wasn't too bad of a vehicle either, especially in the Coupe form that added the targa top.

Long story short, GM answered every question that Mazda didn't, but ended up forgetting how to do simple maths. A shame they didn't let one of the cars carry on as a Chevrolet or Buick, or even a Cadillac.
Click to expand...

That engine sounded like it was filled with pennies...and felt like it too.

The Saturn/Pontiac products were grossly mediocre and no amount of marketing could overcome its shortcomings. It may have checked all the right boxes when you look at its specs/features...but the end product was far less than the sum of its parts.

The Miata has always nailed 'it'. Light, inexpensive, well put together, durable, and loads of fun. The cheapness, harshness, and poor dynamics (they tend to porpoise) of Solstice/Sky doomed them from the start. They were not good cars...so no one bought them.
 
Although it's had competitors, most of them have come and gone while the Miata sticks around and is just as popular as ever. If Mazda stays true to their "lighter, smaller" car plans for the next generation, it can only get better.
 
BrutherSuperior
The Miata has always nailed 'it'. Light, inexpensive, well put together, durable, and loads of fun.
Click to expand...
The NC Miata isn't on my wish list and never will be. It's too heavy, it's too expensive, the interior is far too fancy looking without feeling equally nice, and it's not nearly as fun as the old cars.

The cheapness, harshness, and poor dynamics (they tend to porpoise) of Solstice/Sky doomed them from the start. They were not good cars...so no one bought them.
Click to expand...
I see them all the time during summer, actually. The Solstice in particular was a stunningly beautiful car, and the GXP has the turbo balls to back up the looks. It was never meant to be a luxury car, and I thought the interior was perfectly appropriate, from design to quality. Plus the backwards hood is just badass.

A Solstice is on my wish list. I'd take either a normal or GXP roadster.
 
Keef
The NC Miata isn't on my wish list and never will be. It's too heavy, it's too expensive, the interior is far too fancy looking without feeling equally nice, and it's not nearly as fun as the old cars.
Click to expand...

The NC really isn't heavy at all, and can be equally as fun as the older cars with just a few mods. ;)
 
R1600Turbo
The NC really isn't heavy at all, and can be equally as fun as the older cars with just a few mods. ;)
Click to expand...

Especially a post-update NC. The guy I bought my blown NA from is basically building the same car with a new NC. I've driven it once or twice and it is pretty damn nice.
 
Although I wouldn't recommend it as a long term solution, even an NC with cut stock springs handles A LOT better than the stock car. ;)
 
So all Mazda really needs to do is shorten the springs by 25.4 mm? Seriously?
 
Jim Prower
So all Mazda really needs to do is shorten the springs by 25.4 mm? Seriously?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about the length, but you'd be surprised at the result. The NC shop car at Flyin Miata had cut springs on it for a while, including during the first 20 Years celebration at Laguna Seca and people kept asking what suspension was on it. :lol:

The only reason we cut them in the first place was to figure out the height we wanted to use for the FM Springs. I drove that car all the way back to Colorado after that event and could not complain about it at all.

This was also a Sport Package car with the factory Bilstein's. 👍
 
AMCNUT
I know it's mid-engined, but what about the MG F or TF? Not in North America maybe, but It's in the same size/price/performance bracket right?
Click to expand...

X-Power
A modern interpretation of the MG B could out sell the MX-5 if it was executed well. The MG brand is still known to the general European public as a performance brand and from what I hear is very respected over in the US. (correct me if I'm wrong) Let's hope the new MG Motor will make a new roadster in a few years time once they've established themselves again. :)

The above is of course my opinion and I am biased since I love MG's but I like to think that a new MG roadster would sell by the ton if marketed correctly.
Click to expand...

The MG F and MG TF actually outsold the MX5 in the UK throughout their time on sale.
 
This one wasn't sold in the US, but the MG RV8 would be a good contender: basically an MGB with a Rover 4.0 V8... it had an outdated suspension with live axle, but even the Mustang has live axle. I bet stripped down and with suspension sorted it would make one hell of an autocrosser. Here's one for sale in Japan:
http://exchange.goo-net.com/usedcars/spread/700080229620091013004.html

70008022962009101300400.jpg
 
Boz Mon
I think you mean solid axle. A live axle would mean that it doesnt have a diff.
Click to expand...
You've got it turned around. A live axle has a differential (thus "live"). A solid axle is actually the same thing.

cov-08live1.jpg


I personally never refer to them as solid axles. I reserve that term for axles that actually are solid, like the unsprung shaft you'd find on a go kart:

Sep2503.JPG
 
Boz Mon
I think you mean solid axle. A live axle would mean that it doesnt have a diff.
Click to expand...

As was pointed out before a live axle and solid axle are the same thing.

You are getting it confused with a spool, which is a live axle (or solid axle) without a differential, just gears that drive both inside and outside wheels at the same speed all the time.
 
Spools are great for off roading or on extremely high powered race cars, the Porsche 935, for example, have spools.
 

Latest Posts

Back