Looking for a sports car bargain: $5K rebate on '08 Miatas!

[RACER X]

Originally Posted by Rider

Wouldn't a slightly used Z3 be a batter buy? Probably not as reliable but more performance and a better ride.

more performance. how so? straight line..........yes, cornereing no.

[Rider]

Originally Posted by RACER X

more performance. how so? straight line..........yes, cornereing no.

I've never driven a Z3 or any BMW for that matter, but I have driven a Miata(2004) and I was less than impressed with the power. I drove it back to back with the RX8 and the RX8 had far better handling capabilities.

Edit: The Miata was bone stock on a dealer showroom floor, so my opinion was not based on any mods that could be done to improve power or handling.

[Adeptus_Minor]

Originally Posted by TYEster

BTW I love how cars are sold here in Tx with "heated leather" seats. Just what I want when I get in my car after work with 100+deg outside/inside.

Yeah.
You'd think ventilated seats would have caught on as a much more common and desirable option for those of us below the Mason-Dixon.
Now, I can attest that heated seats are a nice indulgence during our short cold season, but I'd rather have ventilation for the other 9 months.

[Chris S]

Originally Posted by Rider

Wouldn't a slightly used Z3 be a batter buy? Probably not as reliable but more performance and a better ride.

Good thing I wasn't drinking at the time, I would have spit all over my monitor! The Z3 uses a very antiquated (i.e. crappy) rear suspension design, vs. the state of the art multi-link in the Miata. The ride/handling compromise is unreal - and for reference, I've recently had 2 S2000's, a Cayman S, and now also own an '08 M3.

At Harris Hill Road (closest track to Austin), the lap rankings/records were something like this last I checked:

1. Radical ~1:18
2. Ferrari 355 Challenge ~1:19-1:20
3. 911 GT3 RS ~1:23
4. '08 Miata (not mine) 1:26
5. Exige S ~1:26
Behind that are other Lotuses, Caymans, Corvettes, Porsches, etc.

The NC Miata can get a lot of rubber under those flared fenders, giving it a potential traction advantage over most other cars which can overcome the power deficit on tighter tracks.

Heated seats are great on cooler days/nights, it extends the comfort zone for topless motoring. Heck, we have 'em on all 4 of our cars & trucks, and once you have 'em, you'll problem appreciate them. I prob. won't use them again until Oct., but will be happy to hit the button when the temps drop again!

[Homeslice]

So those fenders are stock? You say rolled, what does that mean.

[Chris S]

The inside lip on the rear fenders (pretty much out of sight) was horizontal to the ground, but was bent upwards to create additional tire clearance. Front fenders are pre-rolled from the factory.

http://www.tom.actionfit.com/fenderolling.html

[TYEster]

Originally Posted by Adeptus_Minor

Yeah.
You'd think ventilated seats would have caught on as a much more common and desirable option for those of us below the Mason-Dixon.
Now, I can attest that heated seats are a nice indulgence during our short cold season, but I'd rather have ventilation for the other 9 months.

Definetly! At the very least if I have to suffer the "loss of performance for luxury" at least make em chilled seats.

[Chris S]

I would LOVE chilled seats, but that would involve quite a bit extra weight and complexity vs. heated seats, which add <1 lb. of switches and heating elements.

[Adeptus_Minor]

By the way, for all you who choke on the thought of adding expensive performance equipment to a Miata...
I should have snapped a pic of the Impala or whatever plain-jane, humdrum GM sedan it was that I passed on the way to work tonight sitting at a gas pump...with pimp-ass vertical doors wide open.

[RACER X]

chris, cars lookin great! i really like this gen vs the last one. this gen looks much more like the orig. versions.