Miata Mailing List: September 1997, Message #624
sponsored by



     



From: 	todd.barney@ons.octel.com (Todd Barney)

Subject: SUVs. Little/no MC. Was: Re[2]: Miata "shortcomings"

Date: 	Thu, 4 Sep 1997 13:19:39 +0000



     I'm in a strange position (okay maybe not that strange. It's pretty 

     common actually) in that I have both a Miata and an SUV (Explorer).

     

     Our Explorer is NOT a 4X4. I don't believe in On-road vehicles needing 

     all that, and I don't take it off road.

     

     But I find the Explorer as practical in its own way as the Miata is in 

     its.  As a homeowner who NEEDS stuff from Home Depot from time to 

     time, the Miata is not always enough.  But with these two, I don't 

     need anything else.

     

     The Explorer gives me the space and person-carrying capacity of a 

     station-wagon, the cargo hauling capabilities (mostly) of a pickup, 

     towing capacity up to 5,000 lbs, (in case I want it AND the Miata to 

     go with me somewhere).  It rides reasonably well, decent acceleration 

     (V6), and goes plenty fast. Oh, and turning radius? Let's just say 

     that it's better than the following other vehicles we've owned: 

     Mustang GT, Saturn SC, VW Cabriolet, Chevy S10. I don't know how they 

     did it, but it's incredibly easy to manuever in parking lots.

     

     Plus, I can drive over curbs! I love driving over curbs! I sometimes 

     look for the wrong way out of a parking lot just so I can drive over 

     curbs! Maybe it's because I CAN'T in Miatoy.  My wife hates this, btw.

     

     Mileage is not unreasonable - low 20's.

     

     I've driven (briefly) an Expedition, and I would agree with your 

     points below regarding that behemoth. But the Explorer doesn't drive 

     that truck-like, it's more stable in a curve than people give it 

     credit for (just realize you'll feel the lean more, and the tires WILL 

     complain) :-).  But, someone who ONLY drives an SUV might not drive it 

     the way someone who also has access to a sports car does. I know I get 

     impatient with other Explorers when I'm driving mine.

     

     I certainly agree that I don't like driving behind them when in the 

     Miata. But then again, everything on the road is so "high rumpted" 

     these days, you can't see over, say, an Altima any better than a 

     Blazer.

     

     Didn't intend to turn this into an Explorer advertisement, but I like 

     my MSV (Miata Support Vehicle). I can't see being without one, even 

     landlocked here in a bastion of American suburbia. :-)

     

     Todd 

     & Miatoy - 91 White A

     & Bob - 96 Green Explorer XLT (aka "Miatow")





On the subject of SUVs, Kevin and Eric wrote:



Hear, Hear!  I couldn't agree more.  I was looking at a Land Cruiser parked 

in front of my gym today, and I thought to myself that I couldn't imagine a 

less practical car.  The same goes for the several dozen different kinds of 

oversized, underpowered, road-cloggers that I have to work to avoid every 

day.  Why does the average American think that they NEED a sport-ute or a 

mini-van, when they /never/ haul anything or go off road, and are driving 

alone 98% of the time.  What's worse is they don't know how to control 

those 4500 pound behemoths that get 12 miles per gallon.

     

----------

> From: Eric Amador <theamadors@earthlink.net>

> I always make nonbelievers laugh when I call Miatas practical, but in 

> many respects they are.

> 

> Consider:  Low maintenance, high mileage, low insurance, relatively

> crashworthy, quick-handling (thus safer), reliable, light-weight, easy 

> to park, tight turning radius, little drain on natural resources (car 

> materials), latest safety features (for what they're worth), durable, 

> inexpensive to repair, good at absorbing low-speed impacts (twice I've 

> been rear-ended with no visible damage), relatively low purchase price 

> (until recently), easy to service oneself for little cost, high resale 

> value, many original equipment and aftermarket parts available, good

> (top-down) visibility, non-ticket magnets, and good brakes.  And last 

> but not least, great informational and moral support on the List!

> 

> What's not to like?

> 

> (Also, compare a sport-ute:  heavy, high insurance, high maintenance, 

> high purchase price, poor-handling, poor parking, poor turning radius, 

> poor mileage, poor visibility, expensive parts.  And that's just the

> beginning!)

> 

> -- 

> Eric Amador, L.A.

> Team Miataless

>