Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Help me talk my buddy out of buying a Miata.

shakran · 09-08-2003, 08:22 PM

I always wonder why people rag on cars they've never even driven. Drive a Miata and you'll appreciate it. Anyone who thinks a camaro is even remotely close to being in the same handling league as a Miata (both stock) either never takes corners or has never driven a Miata. Sure, a muscle car will handle just as well as a Miata in a straight line, but once you hit the switchbacks, the Miata will leave it in the dust. First off, it's not exactly sporting to compare a modified Camaro to a Miata (even though I'll still put money on the miata in the twisties 95% of the time) because if you put enough time and money into a car you can make it do anything you want it to do. If, however, you're judging a car on its merits rather than the merits of the parts you add to it, you have to compare stock vs stock. Second, even if you upgrade the handling of the camaro by a lot, it will still have a larger transitional roll factor than the miata because you will NEVER get the Camaro down to the Miata's weight. The Miata is so light that it's extremely tossable. It'll switch directions very quickly, and the Camaro simply won't be able to match it because it's got so much more weight to put through the transitional roll.

Now, in a drag race, unless the Miata has been heavilly modified (again an unfair comparison) the Camaro will beat it every time... as long as it's not a V6 Camaro

So it really comes down to personal preference. Do you like getting (comparitively) horrible gas mileage so you can win stoplight drags, or do you like going fast through the twisties?

The bottom line is that you should never choose a car because of what others do to it or think of it. If some ignoramuses want to think of the Miata as a chick car, more power to 'em. The lucky ones among us who own Miatas will be laughing while they watch you fall farther and farther back in the tight turns.

Just like you should never choose not to get a Civic just because some dorks make their Civics look stupid -- doesn't mean you have to, and it doesn't mean it's not a great car. If you like a car, buy the damn thing, no matter what other people think.

BTW, a lot of people think the Camaro is a redneck car and won't buy it because of that, even though they love the way it looks and drives. IMHO they're just as stupid as the people who won't buy a Miata because of it's "chick" image.

09-08-2003, 08:22 PM	#53 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	I always wonder why people rag on cars they've never even driven. Drive a Miata and you'll appreciate it. Anyone who thinks a camaro is even remotely close to being in the same handling league as a Miata (both stock) either never takes corners or has never driven a Miata. Sure, a muscle car will handle just as well as a Miata in a straight line, but once you hit the switchbacks, the Miata will leave it in the dust. First off, it's not exactly sporting to compare a modified Camaro to a Miata (even though I'll still put money on the miata in the twisties 95% of the time) because if you put enough time and money into a car you can make it do anything you want it to do. If, however, you're judging a car on its merits rather than the merits of the parts you add to it, you have to compare stock vs stock. Second, even if you upgrade the handling of the camaro by a lot, it will still have a larger transitional roll factor than the miata because you will NEVER get the Camaro down to the Miata's weight. The Miata is so light that it's extremely tossable. It'll switch directions very quickly, and the Camaro simply won't be able to match it because it's got so much more weight to put through the transitional roll. Now, in a drag race, unless the Miata has been heavilly modified (again an unfair comparison) the Camaro will beat it every time... as long as it's not a V6 Camaro So it really comes down to personal preference. Do you like getting (comparitively) horrible gas mileage so you can win stoplight drags, or do you like going fast through the twisties? The bottom line is that you should never choose a car because of what others do to it or think of it. If some ignoramuses want to think of the Miata as a chick car, more power to 'em. The lucky ones among us who own Miatas will be laughing while they watch you fall farther and farther back in the tight turns. Just like you should never choose not to get a Civic just because some dorks make their Civics look stupid -- doesn't mean you have to, and it doesn't mean it's not a great car. If you like a car, buy the damn thing, no matter what other people think. BTW, a lot of people think the Camaro is a redneck car and won't buy it because of that, even though they love the way it looks and drives. IMHO they're just as stupid as the people who won't buy a Miata because of it's "chick" image. Last edited by shakran; 09-08-2003 at 08:25 PM..