Convince me to NOT buy a Miata

Kevin Hoff · **Posted:** Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:16 pm

So Miatas:

--are cheap

--are reliable

--make great daily drivers

--make great auto-x cars

--make great track cars

--have awesome manufacturer support

What are the drawbacks, other than the unenlightened thinking it's a secretary's car (I'm confident in my maculinity! :lol:

) and it not being a Subaru? :wink:

I'm quite seriously considering either a '99 Sport for CS or an earlier car for ST2.

Given that, what do you Miata types think is the best 1st-gen car for ST2? Since the shocks and springs would be the first things to be swapped I can't see much point in trying to find a 95 R.

--Kevin H.

Mike Winn · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:30 am **Posts:** 110

Having a leaky top? I don't know of any real drawbacks however I'm not a Miata owner. I would like to own one as another car though!

Diane Hall · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:26 am

Kevin Hoff wrote:

What are the drawbacks, ...

Drawback: You can't make the monthly trip to the grocery store in them. Too small to put all you bought into it.

Upside: You can't spend $$$ at Home Depot. Too small to put all you bought into it.

Seriously, I wouldn't recommend it for an *only* car, but they're great for a fun car.

Diane ~ I own 2 miatas... if one is good, more must be better. (<-- Karl Shultz)

ps - my top does leak around the joints, but it's probably due to clogged channels and I'm too lazy to go try to unclog them.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Luke, come to the dark side!

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:45 am

I doubt you see much non Miata support here Kevin. Except for the folks that think it's a girly car.

I love ours and can't believe I didn't buy one before now. As matter of fact we almost bought Brad's to have another...damn Whitney.

Doug Jackson · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 11:33 am

Some downsides:

They are really boring to drive.
You get really tired of having the top down all the time on those sunny days with the wind blowing in your hair.
They are really hard to work on.
It's very hard to get parts and they cost an arm and a leg ( oh wait, that's my VW

).
I never, ever have a vehicle-induced smile on my face when driving.

Okay, that's all bullsh*t. They're great and I only regret waiting 14 years to get mine.

The 90 to early 91 miatas have the short-nosed crank problem to contend with and the later ones still suffer from keyway wear which affects timing. I just finished the Loc-Tite repair on mine and, while time consuming, was definitely a project any DIY'er can do. Plus it's better that you do it yourself unless you have devine confidence your mechanic will follow your instructions to a "T." Mine did not and I had to do the repair just 10k miles after the belt was changed.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

As a recent convert, I don't have much negative to say. Other than as a "nearly" six footer, it is not particularly comfortable on long trips. After 2 hours in a Miata, I am ready to get out. Not sure how 6'+ folks handle it. Miata + good suspension + sticky tires + Laurinburg = religious experience. Of course, I like my Mustang to, so what do I know.

Keep in mind, I did own a WRX myself, along with a couple other cars.

No offense to you WRX lovers, but ask me sometime how much I miss it.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 11:53 am

Les Davis wrote:

Other than as a "nearly" six footer, it is not particularly comfortable on long trips. After 2 hours in a Miata, I am ready to get out. Not sure how 6'+ folks handle it.

At 6'5" and 250 lbs. It might as well be a matchbox car as I can't fit in either one. However, I am able to wedge myself into the passenger seat.

David Spratte · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:13 pm

What are you waiting for?

I'm 6'2", I fit, but I carved about 2" of foam out of the driver's seat padding.

The trip back from Kershaw really wasn't too bad. Even in racing harnesses.

Adam Ligon · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:15 pm

The bad:

Eveyone who isn't a THSCCer will think your having a mid life crisis. That or your a really ugly chick driving a little baby car :moon:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:16 pm

Richard Casto wrote:

Les Davis wrote:

Other than as a "nearly" six footer, it is not particularly comfortable on long trips. After 2 hours in a Miata, I am ready to get out. Not sure how 6'+ folks handle it.

At 6'5" and 250 lbs. It might as well be a matchbox car as I can't fit in either one. However, I am able to wedge myself into the passenger seat.

I'm 6'3" and 200 lbs. I've gotten quite use to it and the space and it's no problem for me now.

It does take getting use to, but the good outweighs the bad in any Miata.

Like Doug...I just hate that I waited such a long time to get one.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:17 pm

Adam Ligon wrote:

The bad:

Eveyone who isn't a THSCCer will think your having a mid life crisis. That or your a really ugly chick driving a little baby car :moon:

Of course if you have a passenger you can't really stop and offer Adam a lift when one of his many VW's is broke down on the side of the road either.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Adam Ligon wrote:

The bad:

Eveyone who isn't a THSCCer will think your having a mid life crisis. That or your a really ugly chick driving a little baby car :moon:

Watch out or you might catch teh ghey too!

Mike Winn · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:30 am **Posts:** 110

Despite them being labeled as a "girl" car, look at the gender of the drivers you see driving them around town. I've noted that it's most often male and not female.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Mike Winn wrote:

Despite them being labeled as a "girl" car, look at the gender of the drivers you see driving them around town. I've noted that it's most often male and not female.

It's a "girlie" car, not a "girl" car. A comment about the driver's manliness. Those Miata drivers are all hairdressers.

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