Miata Mailing List: November 1996, Message #39
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   From: Shiv Pathak <105411.2111@compuserve.com>

Subject: Miata Elitists?

   Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 13:21:48 -0500



Mike writes...

>I have to agree with you. There's an elitist attitude from many others

>on this list that I can't begin to understand. People seem to say "I

>have a Miata and I'm much cooler that you  owners."



>



>Why must so many of you denounce any other sports car or roadster as a

>piece of crap? Speed Racer drives a VW GTI in a commercial, and this is

>somehow the a sign of the apocaplyse! BMW releases the Z3, puts it in a

>James Bond movie, and nearly everyone here says Z3s are terrible cars!

>Porsche, one of the most respected sports cars companies EVER, decides

>to release a roadster, and people have to say it sucks!! Honda releases

>a great commercial for the Del Sol (the beach towel one), and everyone

>has to say how sports cars can't have FWD! I'm wondering if it's ok in

>some of your closed minds for a sports car to have 4WD. (BTW, the Honda

>Del Sol and the VW GTI are sports cars).



>Loving Miatas does not preclude one from being able to admire other cars

>in the roadster class, or from loving sports cars in general. There are

>some that are not as good as the Miata, some that are just as good as

>the Miata, and others, like it or not, that are better cars than the

>Miata. Learn to deal with it. If I could afford to spend $45k on a

>Porsche Boxter, would I do it? Hell yes!!!! Would I rather drive a

>Porsche than a Mazda? Is the Pope Catholic?



You raise some interesting points.  Everything is subjective.  For 

example, before I bought my first miata, I was determined to buy a Viper 

(seriously... ask my brother).  With enough financial leveraging and an 

insane disregard for any past, present, and future bank savings, I 

ignorantly believed I could swing it.  Just think of the major girlie 

factor.  Didn't happen.  My point?  

I'm an idiot. 



Actually, my point is (along with me being an idiot) is that I began my 

relationship with the miata, in the frame of mind of it being a 

consolation prize... a real world compromise.  Nimble but no world class 

handling, leisurely acceleration, somewhat dated shape, with a good, but 

non-Viper-like girle factor.  I could live with it, but would I *really* 

like it?  Heck, how great can it be?  There has been a red turbocharged 

one in our garage since 1989 and I never even thought about it too much, 

let alone drive it more than a handful of times.



After 35,000 miles, and hundreds of labor hours, my opinion of MY Miata 

is no longer a fun little car, but a testament to my determination to 

express myself.  As corny as it sounds, I feel special driving it.  From 

it's neck-snapping acceleration to it's back road prowess, for me, there 

is nothing else in the world (I've seen) quite like it.  It's gotten to 

the point where I wouldn't change a thing (a free flow cat would be nice 

:)  

When I see a new 911 on the road, I'm not envious.  And it's not because 

I know my little monster can beat or match it an every performance 

catagory while getting me a tan at the same time.  But because I know I'm 

driving something that fits me perfectly.  I grew into my Miata as much 

as it grew around me.  It's incredibly fun, high performing, easy to 

customize, reliable, and isn't overly expensive enough to make you afraid 

to drive it hard.  The nice thing is, lot of us feel ths same way about 

their Miatas.  



I've driven lots of sports cars (Z3, M3, Eclipse turbos, 3000GT, 944, 

RX-7) and I easily prefer my miata to them all.  This shouldn't come as a 

surprise since I customized the car to fit me and to deliver *everything* 

I consider to be important for daily driving head rushes.



I like the roadster revolution.  I'm makes me proud to know I have picked 

what I believe to be the best clean canvas to paint on.



Now if I could somehow shoehorn a 6 speed in there.....



-Shiv



TEAM almost 12 psi this cold morning, still knock-free and running RICH!!



VRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOMMM!!!!!











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