THE Miata thread
 

Seeing as APC has threads on climate change, slavery, and Bill Gates's human microchips, I figured we should have one on the most controversial topic of all to stop future thread drift.

Is the Miata a sports car?

It’s only controversial for people with absolutely no automotive knowledge

All Cars Matter!!!

I’ve had three over the years. Rwd, 50:50 weight distribution, drop top....to name a few.

Yup. :cool:

Hopefully this thread will be short...like Miata [emoji3]

I don't know, sounds risky.

Automovist, etc.

The Global MX-5 Cup is a race series sanctioned by the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America). Kind of weird for the SCCA to use a car that apparently isn't a sports car.

It doesn't have a lot of horse power, I get it, but horsepower is not what makes a sports car. Would you say a Decathlon isn't an aerobatic plane because it isn't as capable as an Edge 540? Would you say a T-6 isn't a warbird because it was a smaller engine than a P-51?

Like a Decathlon and a T-6, a Miata separates good drivers from bad drivers on a track. Without the extra power, if the operator messes up, they aren't able to cover up their mistake with power. Plenty of people show up on their first track day with a Mustang or Corvette and have no idea how to drive. The enter a corner too hot, mess up the line, and end up coming out of the corner at a low speed. Since all they have to do is hammer the throttle as soon as they get on the straight, they aren't aware of their mistake and spend the whole day thinking they are fast.

$60K for an MX-5 Cup car. Its a sports car and its fun. Just slow. For $15k you can get a Spec E30. Run in as big a group. Have faster lap times and be a normal sized person:D

I agree. I never said it was the best sports car, just that it IS a sports car.

But if price to fun is what you care about, I can do you one better. My first track car was a 1993 Miata. $4,000 car with roll cage, $5,000 supercharger, and finally 2 sets of tires ($2,000). $11,000 for a 2,100 lbs car with 270 horsepower was a great way to get into racing... As long as you aren't taller than 6 feet.

On top of it, when I wrecked it in a turn, I was just out $400 for a new fender and control arm. Now if I did that in my previous Z06, I probably would have been too depressed (and broke) to ever get on a track again.

it takes nowhere near $60k to buy a spec Miata car, which would be an actually appropriate comparison

I said an MX-5 Cup car. Turn key is $60k. A competitive Spec Miata is probably $15k to $25k depending on the motor. 2 different animals. Either way it doesn’t make them any bigger for someone over 6’. For what it’s worth a BRZ will clean up on a Miata for a similar cost and normal sized people can fit. Just not a large class to run with.;)

I’ve owned mine since 1992 and don’t give a sh!t how much grief I take...it’s fun as hell to drive and has been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned.

If a Miata hits a chicken, which one crosses the road???

While we ponder that one I'm curious as to which one is able to leave the scene of the accident under its own power.

Safe money is on the chicken.

Ill take the chicken too, holding out hope for the miata though.

why would you compare a mx5 cup car to a spec e30? The spec Miata is the analogous class

Preach. I see plenty of guys on track days smoke 180HP bikes on a Ninja 300 with like 40HP. The rider/driver makes the difference

I consider the Miata a sports car. I also think it along with the E30 M3, and GTI MK1 have been some of the most influential cars over the last 30+ years to help erase the terrible cars of the ‘80s. However, by some people reasoning an Amazon delivery Ford Transit van is a sports car since it can hand a 911 Turbo it’s a$$ on a track with the right driver.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5KiC03_wVjc

also good thread to get away from it all. Much like a drive in a good sports car

Sadly, the Queen of the Ring (driver in that video) just announced she's fighting cancer and it doesn't sound so good.

That can be fixed with a LS engine transplant!

"Slow car fast is better than fast car fast." -Regular Car Reviews

Only because 2stgTurbine in the previous post specifically mentioned the Cup car. I agree with you on Spec e30 and Spec Miata. However, e30 still is faster and cheaper to be towards the front of the field. Front of the field in Spec Miata can get crazy with $15k motors. My biggest issue with the Miata is fitting. 6'1" is uncomfortable in a helmet in that car.

Best track performer for the money out there imo: Camaro SS 1LE. The only stereotype you have to combat is people think it can only go in a straight line.

yeah but HPDE gets boring without some actual wheel-to-wheel competition. So the camaro performance is kinda wasted without a competitive class.

I think you've got an outstanding car, reliable and fun to drive. What else you need?

Was planning on going wheel to wheel and buying a car this fall. Was looking at Spec E30 and SRF. On hold now with the MOAD and all the uncertainty. Occasional HPDE for now will have to suffice.:rolleyes:

what is a miata?

same here. Whole race season more or less got canceled :(

That thing on guard that goes “meow”

OMGawd it's back??!!!

Quarter mil... for an '88 M3. The article is pretty sarcastic.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/35045/...LzcvALTKjhNhvM

very sad news. I hope she pulls through

A good friend recently bought an E46 M3 on BAT. Since then we’ve been watching a few other M3 auctions (pandemic entertainment). I watched that one live the winning bidder had an aviation related monicker. I think it was something like SouthFLWings. There were 3 very interested parties until the end and the price climbed from 130k to 250k in a crazy 30 min back and forth. It’s a beautiful car and I guess worth that price to the bidder, but some people have more cents than sense.

I've been seeing the new Vette around town, that thing is going to be pretty popular.

I imagine after 2 or 3 years of refinement it'll be a Ferrari eater. Such a nice sports car.

A pro racer's take on the Miata: https://youtu.be/2n77AWaNJ4Q

Another guy's opinion on why it's a better sports car than a Mustang GT500:

https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/32886/2020-mazda-miata-rf-review-why-its-better-than-a-760-hp-mustang

I haven't seen one in person yet, but I'm looking forward to it. I've never been a huge Vette fan, but this one definitely got my attention. Incredible amount of performance for the price. Wish I could get it in stick, though*.



*Yes I KNOW an auto is faster - that's not the point.

Was over at Rusty Wallace Chevy and mentioned no stick, ya, ya, we know, we know.

Do they have a new Vette there? A short drive for me and I’d like to see one.

They had one and poof! gone. Some nasty race cars though.