Miata Mailing List: May 1993, Message #123
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   From: (none)
Subject: Passenger perception
   Date: (none)

Miq writes:
> said speed.  I have driven a Miata with ~150 hp (turbo kit) and my Miata has
> about 130 hp due to modifications I have.  The 150 hp Miata was not as
> drivable as my car, and even less than the stock Miata with 40 less hp.  I
> don't that that the miata is in need of a 180 horsies to do the job its
> supposed to do:  be fun to drive, fairly competitive in the twisties, and
> function with the best of them as a daily driver.  If you want an unhandling
> pig that goes like a deamon in a straight line, but wallows around the
> corners then go get a used 5.0l mustang LX.  
I'm inclined to agree.  I do think that the car should be around 125-130hp 
in it's stock form though.

> I've said it before, anyone who thinks that the Miata is anemic, hasn't had a
> ride with me driving one.
Then again I've always thought that perceived speed for the passenger is
somewhere between 1.5 and 2 times actual speed, or maybe the relationship is
geometric and varies relative to actual speed and curve radius...

I suppose we could measure it with a strain gauge in the passenger seat that
checks "butt tension".  ;-)
            _
            /        Jeff Maurer, Sr. Analyst
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