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Just to be a pain in the ass - a leather wheel swap on a base Miata would probably hold up under "comfort and convenience" scrutiny, at least on a protest committee in our club if I was a part of it.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

If I start driving well enough to get protested then I'll swap back out-or start looking for a plastic steering wheel. With the number of people that will be in STT next year, I doubt I'll get protested for a while. I haven't done the swap yet and may not like it, so I may switch back to power before next season anyway.

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'99 Mk IV Jetta VR6 now claimed by the better half.

'90 Miata A-package, Floats like a butterfly and buzzes like a BEE with loudspeakers.

I am not sure I can agree with Mike on this one. The leather wheel does give you a performance advantage. The plastic on my R package is a pain in the butt. It is slippery and really soft. Plus they are known to absorb water that swells areas on the wheel. The top of the my wheel is swollen about 25% over the rest of it.

If you are going to convert to a manual rack and only the cheap plastic steering wheel came with it, you should put the cheap plastic one on. That will give you the full experience

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Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

Heartily disagree. I own both the "Matchbox size" and the full-size.
The full-size is called a 3rd generation Mazda RX-7.

(Not that I'm biased, but the bigger brother surely would come from the same car manufacturer).

OK first I have to say I love the 3rd gen RX-7.

BUT calling that a full sized car is kind of funny too

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91 Jetta GLI STS/DSP 111
85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
http://www.blackforestindustries.com

Miata = Matchbox size sports car + rag top + regular 4-banger
RX7 = Matchbox size sports car + hard top + rotary 4-banger
Vette = Full size sports car + either top + V8 baby!!!

Unless you are 5ft tall or shorter there is nothing full-size about either of those cars. The RX7 is more fun. I drove a 1st gen a couple of times. But both cars make me feel clostrophobic when I get in them.

The overwhelming value of a Miata in my mind is a very low cost, entry level sports car, that is fun to drive.

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http://www.greywinds.com

Although a SC or turbo can make a Miata a truly fierce amazingly fast tiny nimble car. 250+ HP in a <2000lb shell == BIG fun!

On topic: The search is on for a 1.8 w/o LSD for $4000 or less...

--Kevin H.

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2003 WRX (again!)

Ahem...the RX-7 is a TWO "spinner/wobbler" and not a banger. Two rotors @ 1.3L of displacement (but works more like 2.6L of pistons), two turbos, and 255 flywheel horsepower in stock form. The only thing it resembles in terms of a 4-banger is that the ignition timing is similar.



I'm a shade over 6 feet here. It's not your height, it is more of how you are constructed - torso/leg ratio and height as to whether or not a Miata/RX-7/smaller car "fits". I do understand and I know several guys who do love the cars enough that they will cram themselves into them any way that they can because of how well they are engineered. Not that the Corvette is anything to sneeze at (I sure wouldn't mind owning/driving/open-tracking a C5).



Had a 1st gen for a while. Great car, miss it, but it would have taken too many dollars to redo all the 20-year old suspension to make it drive "right". So I bought a slightly newer and "airier" version - the Miata.

Claustrophobic? Stop thinking car and think Jet-fighter cockpit.

Ashraf,

I was just having fun with the Miata crowd. It was too hard to resist. If I could have somehow tied in slamming Subarus then that would have covered 95% of the club

The C4 also works well for people with certain size/shape/weight and not so good for others. Same idea. Like sliding into a cockpit and not sitting on top of a chair. I could just as easily tell you why NOT to buy a Corvette.

After all Kevin asked to convince him NOT to buy a Miata. Good luck with your Miata hunting Kevin.

Graham

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http://www.greywinds.com

I wouldn't call the C4 exactly roomy. Yes they have better leg room and head room than a Miata but I'm 5'10", so I don't care. That's an aweful big weight penalty just for a little leg and head room. Chevy opened them up some in the C5 and probably even more in the C6, but the C4 is a very big (and massive) car with a fairly tight interior.

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'99 Mk IV Jetta VR6 now claimed by the better half.

'90 Miata A-package, Floats like a butterfly and buzzes like a BEE with loudspeakers.

[quote="jimpastorius"]
Plus they are known to absorb water that swells areas on the wheel. The top of the my wheel is swollen about 25% over the rest of it.
quote]
Jim you have got to stop banging that sweaty forehead on the top of the wheel

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1998 BMW Z3
1987 BMW 325is
2000 BMW
1996 F250 Turbo Diesel

No I wouldn't call it "roomy". But in a coupe you don't feel clostrophobic. You're right on it being a snug fit for a large sports car. They did it on purpose on the drivers side. The wrap around dash and the fit was to give that cockpit feeling. You sure don't slide around in there

I don't consider the weight a penalty given its size. And pound for pound the Horsepower to Weight Ratio the Vette is pretty good.

On an autox course you win hands down because most courses aren't very big. So any small nimble sports car has an advantage. I didn't buy my car for autox. That was an afterthought. I'll still keep it even if it isn't the right choice for autox. It's still a blast to drive and a challenge on most courses to maneuver it. It's more suited to the track.

But... to each his/her own.

Bang for the buck a Miata is hard to beat.

Graham

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http://www.greywinds.com

Actually, I'm impressed with how well the Vettes do considering their size and weight. (I think it has a little to do with the drivers too) The Corvette, especially the C5, is serious bang for the buck considering comparable (big power) sports cars generally cost 1.5 - 3 times as much.

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'99 Mk IV Jetta VR6 now claimed by the better half.

'90 Miata A-package, Floats like a butterfly and buzzes like a BEE with loudspeakers.