What car do you drive?

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

@Ryan: You've got the 10th Anniv. Miata right?

I had actually bumped into Jame May's review for it on old-school Top Gear recently:



I'd Kill for a an NA or NB. Simple as dirt to drive and maintain, fun to chuck in the twisties and unbelievably cheap to buy.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Yup! Interesting fact. The European version didn't get the sporty trim or the air conditioner by default.

[JsGameRoom]

I want an Ls1 swapped miata one day

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Yup! Interesting fact. The European version didn't get the sporty trim or the air conditioner by default.

Haha, I'm almost never a fan of 'sporty' trim a it usually involves too much chrome and ghastly body kits, but Mazda is such an oddball of a car company they manage to pull the right balance of design and looks. They're the only Japanese marque that still makes some really amazing cars everyone can buy (I'm looking at you Nissan and your overpriced, automatic-only GT-R), and have never really done things near the very 'mass-produced' feel typical of Toyota and Honda.

A friend got me into the FD RX-7 and it's very high on my want list (if I can ever afford one), but I'd take a Miata/MX-5, preferably a dead stock NA in red, blue, or yellow, if I can't ever get one.

I've been lusting after the Protege 5 Wagon lately myself though (again in either red, yellow or blue), as it's an affordable fun car without a lot of problems. Back in it's day during the early 2000's, and retroactively now, most car critics still claim it as the last "truly fun" sport compact thinks to it's firm, yet soft, suspension, slightly underpowered high-revving naturally aspirated motor, high quality of trim, lively steering and excellent overall design. It's a car that's otherwise boring to drive and a cinch to live with, much like a Miata/MX-5, but push the car and motor hard as you hit the twisties on a B-road and it truly comes alive.

protege5.jpg (49.3 KiB) Viewed 583 times

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

I want an Ls1 swapped miata one day

To quote every single speed shop I've ever been to: "It absolutely wrecks the car, sure it's a lot more power which is a ton of fun at the drag strip, but it adds so much weight and handling compromising wheel spin/slip to the car that you end up with a soggy mess that ultimately ruins what was once a truly great car."

The whole point of the Miata/MX-5 is to be underpowered. It's the essence of a truly great automobile, and a love letter to the great open top British sports car of the 50's and 60's. Taken for what it is, it's not impressive; you could even say it's overall pathetic. But, that's where you separate the wannabe's from the truly great drivers as anyone will tell you that in the end while power makes a difference, weight and handling is what wins races. That's why I always feel so sad every time I see an old Civic, CA/CB Accord, AE-92 or AE-86 that's been modified to hell and back. Over time what made these cars so incredibly amazing and great in and of themselves is being lost to the ravages of the street scene and slowly being replaced with the fart can laden image the tuner populace has created for itself in the past two decades.

I've been to an all access track day in my bone stock '88 Civic wagon, complete with awful auto trans, stock motor/suspension and 13'' steelies running regular Michelin Harmony road tires and people still couldn't believe I was doing half as well as I did. Sure, it's nowhere near as fast as anything else on the road, but you better believe it that I had the most fun I've ever had just chucking it into the turns and not worrying so much about getting any respect for something that's ultimately wasted in a day to day driving experience.

After all, it's a lot more fun to drive a slow car quickly than a fast car slowly.

[johnny turbo]

This is the only wagon i would ever own.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

A friend got me into the FD RX-7 and it's very high on my want list (if I can ever afford one), but I'd take a Miata/MX-5, preferably a dead stock NA in red, blue, or yellow, if I can't ever get one.

I've been lusting after the Protege 5 Wagon lately myself though/snip

The FD RX-7 is one of my dream cars. I hope to own one some day. Incredibly beautiful, both cosmetically and to drive.

I seriously thought about finding a MazdaSpeed Protege before I ended up with my Miata, since I had become a huge fan of the MazdaSpeed 3. The problem was finding a decent one. Great fun to drive though.

Also :

[hashiriya1]

My wagon of choice, a Stagea GT-R.

[JsGameRoom]

To quote every single speed shop I've ever been to: "It absolutely wrecks the car, sure it's a lot more power which is a ton of fun at the drag strip, but it adds so much weight and handling compromising wheel spin/slip to the car that you end up with a soggy mess that ultimately ruins what was once a truly great car."

And that's what I want it to be. a truly violent car, that is a blast to drive.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Drive a normal one in autox before you do that at the very least. Then maybe you'll understand what Mod_Man is saying.

The car feels good with a little more power. 200hp is no problem. With 400hp the car becomes ruined. Well not ruined. But it's no longer a Miata at that point.