The Perfect Solution

[solo1]

for me.

I just came back from a satisfying drive this AM.  70 miles on nice somewhat twisty country roads.
Small towns, Monroeville, Hoagland, Decatur, and the spot in the road, Poe (you heard that right  )

The Miata performed as I knew it would. Squaring off the corners with aplomb, quiet except when revving to 6500, and comfortable but stiff ride.  Fuel mileage, 31-32 mpg about the same as the other love in my Life, the Valkyrie.

I could not have picked a better substitute to take up where my riding left off.  The experience (for me)is almost the same as riding.  I'm in the wind, I don't have to hold it up when stopping, no quirks like sidecaring has, plenty of storage, cheaper to own, AND the ability to get out of the weather if my 87 year old wimpy butt desires.

The Miata has a bad rep with some.  I've delved into the engineering that was done on the Miata and it was done right, from the ground up with no parts scrounged off of other Mazdas. Four wheel full trailing arm suspension, NOT Mc Pherson Strut.  All four wheels fully adjustable for caster, camber, and toein. 50/50 weight , 2400 pounds. Willing revving four banger that is understressed just like the boxer six in the Valk. A six speed tranny that is the best shifting  that I've ever owned.

I've had more negative camber dialed in front and back and it sticks to the road beyond my ability, I think.  The light weight of the NB's (mine) gets the most out of what some call meager horsepower.
That's fine with me.  Keeps me out of trouble and the car is balanced.

I am more than happy that I can still be in the wind and THAT makes up some for quitting riding.

That's how I really Feel.

[Headbanger02]

 

[hubcapsc]

To save money, my Mini has some parts (suspension is one thing I heard) scrounged off
this thing...



-Mike "I'm OK with that  "

[old2soon]

Wayne-sounds to me anywho like It's makin ya happy-the wind is ruffling yer feathers and the wind DO NOT care HOW ya got to her!  And if it rains you can put he top back in place.  You know what happens when you hit rain on a scoot!  RIDE SAFE.

[_Sheffjs_]

Preface, my wife (56) has her helmet on before the key hits the ignition on the bike and is antsy with an ear to ear grin. I hit 110 on some straight rollie hills yesterday and when we ran out of hills she says, can you do that again!!  That was fun!  Ok so now you see.

I do believe you are onto something and I applaud your Mazda Miata option and here is the conversation we had driving home this morning in the car.  Me: So there is someone posting on the general board that must be a long time valkster and he is talking about now that he is 87 he drives a Mazda Miata convertible and that is his perfect wind answer. Sherry: you know you have to admit there are some real positive advantages there like, Air-conditioning, I can drive also, sudden nasty weather, storage and no need for helmets.  And I answered: right, and I like the thought that you can drive and I can enjoy the scenery for once!  For now we are totally enjoying the new 1800c and very interested in seeing where Mother Honda goes with the F6 platform in the years to come hoping they expand options, If not...........    Anyway.  

[Momz]

I want to own the so called Monster Miata, that is one with a small block Ford or Chevy V8, bigger brakes, T-Bird rear diff/axle combo, four or five speed trans. and the heavier springs.

Keeping my eyes on a couple on ebay.

They are the modern equivalent of the Shelby Cobra's of the sixties. And set up properly they'd smoke most of today's Muscle Cars!  

[sandy]

I want to own the so called Monster Miata, that is one with a small block Ford or Chevy V8, bigger brakes, T-Bird rear diff/axle combo, four or five speed trans. and the heavier springs.

Keeping my eyes on a couple on ebay.

They are the modern equivalent of the Shelby Cobra's of the sixties. And set up properly they'd smoke most of today's Muscle Cars!  

The Monsters were Ford 302's when I kept up on them. I don't know if they've changed any in the last few years.

[solo1]

Some in the Miata forum agree that much of the good attributes like light weight go away when changing to a V8.

if I had the dough and the inclination, I would add a supercharger instead.  About 190 hp with 6 pounds of boost, which is plenty, and only 20 pounds weight, no other changes. Suspension, drive train, and brakes, no change.

[Alien]

I still miss my NA.  After a long and frustrating love affair with MGB's, I moved on to a 1991 Miata.  I found it to be everything that the MG could/should have been if it had been allowed to evolve past the '70's and hadn't been wired by the Amish.  The only real complaint that I ever had with my Miata was that the rocker panels would hold water and the car would slosh when coming to a stop or accelerating.  A drill fixed that quickly.  I've never driven an NB, but I frequently think about purchasing one, especially in the wintertime when the price drops dramatically.

Drive Safe,

Alien

[solo1]

This is my second NB.  There were various improvements over the NA especially in chassis stiffening.
The weight was kept down and a modest increase in horsepower. I believe that the NB is the best of the series. My Miata has larger brake discs, variable timing engine, and limited slip diff. Mazda ,however, screwed up. This variable timing engine was supposed to make 155 HP but only made 142.  

 In 2006 the NC came about but it gained weight and horsepower.

2015 has brought a new design and a DECREASE in horsepower with a corresponding loss in weight again.

IMHO, it takes a lot of guts from Mazda to decrease horsepower in the Miata for the American market.
However, they are now using a modified for rear drive a direct injected fuel engine with 12 to 1 compression. A very efficient engine.

Sorry, I was raised in an era where there were electric motors and internal combustion
engines

[legender]

I too love my 2000 Miata when the temperature can't get below 80 at night. Makes for a nice quick alternative to the Valk. They are almost as much fun, even if my brother wants to take away my man card when he sees me in it. I've still got it. Easy to work on with a great support forum as well.
Enjoy the ride on whatever suits you at the moment.

[Valkjerk]

I went to a "cars and coffee" with my son because he has his 1400hp six cylinder Nissan GTR to show and one of the more interesting cars there wasn't one of those multi-hundreds of thousands of dollars super cars but a Miata with a late model Corvette engine in it. He said it was a stock factory engine with around 500hp and kept stock for reliability and what the hell would he need any more horse power for anyway? He said the work was done professionally by a shop that specializes in these extreme modifications and they employ engineers to strengthen the frame or substructures, drive train, brakes etc. He said the cost was comparable to a new ZR1 or ZO6 but was more interesting to him than a new super car. I have pics but no means to attach them to this post.  

[Valkjerk]

Oh......and by the way Wayne.....nice car and great color.

[solo1]

BTW,  I asked about the 'man' thing on the Miata forum and damn near got thrown off the forum.

Where that got started I don't know but I guess it's because it's small and I won't touch that thinking with a 10 foot pole let alone a....................never mind.

I'm sold on the Miata and I couldn't afford or would i want a Corvette since I have nothing to prove!

[Valkjerk]

Yea, like what's a 87 year old d#@K gonna prove either. Woohoo Wayne, you old dog. LOL