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#1
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Perhaps I should buy a Miata?
i'm sure pretty much every answer i get here will be *slightly* biased
since this is a miata usenet group, but here we go... my '91 Honda CRX probably threw a rod about a week ago and i've been scrambling for cash to either repair or replace it. i haven't actually been able to talk to him just yet but i found out yesterday that a friend of mine is thinking of selling his '91 miata (british racing green with tan leather interior) and would give me a great deal on it... $900 the CRX has been a great car and fun to drive... it's a completely stock 4 speed auto with the only "mod" being projector headlights so i can see better at night. i've heard good things about the miata so i'm considering buying my friends car and would like a few opinions on the matter from current miata owners. i'm looking for a fun commuter since i work on the other side of town and spend a good part of the day in my car. here are the issues: room... the crx is spacious for a small car, especially with the back "seat" floded down and has plenty of head and leg room. the miata seems as though it may be cramped (haven't been in one for a while) but i've also driven a porsche 914 in the past and wonder if anyone knows how it compares in head/leg room? power windows... one of his power windows falls down into the door when going over bumps in the road... how difficult is that to repair? convertable... how serious is road noise and weather concerns with the miata soft top? repairs and maintenance... with only a slight bit of mechanic ability i'm only able to do so much on my own, what sort of issues should i keep my eyes open for with the miata? comfort... what's it like to sit in one of those stock leather seats for a couple of hours? that's it for now until i get a few responses... i've got about a week before i need to make a decision and any useful input would be appreciated. |
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#2
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Perhaps I should buy a Miata?
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#4
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Perhaps I should buy a Miata?
> wrote in message oups.com... > i'm sure pretty much every answer i get here will be *slightly* biased > since this is a miata usenet group, but here we go... my '91 Honda CRX > probably threw a rod about a week ago and i've been scrambling for cash > to either repair or replace it. > i haven't actually been able to talk to him just yet but i found out > yesterday that a friend of mine is thinking of selling his '91 miata > (british racing green with tan leather interior) and would give me a > great deal on it... $900 > > the CRX has been a great car and fun to drive... it's a completely > stock 4 speed auto with the only "mod" being projector headlights so i > can see better at night. i've heard good things about the miata so i'm > considering buying my friends car and would like a few opinions on the > matter from current miata owners. i'm looking for a fun commuter since > i work on the other side of town and spend a good part of the day in my > car. > > here are the issues: > room... the crx is spacious for a small car, especially with the back > "seat" floded down and has plenty of head and leg room. the miata seems > as though it may be cramped (haven't been in one for a while) but i've > also driven a porsche 914 in the past and wonder if anyone knows how it > compares in head/leg room? > As for carrying things, I borrow a friend's Camry any time I want to carry anything bigger than a 2 gal gas can, though by being creative with bunge chords and pads, I have carried 2x4 sheets of plywood and a boxed 19" TV! > power windows... one of his power windows falls down into the door when > going over bumps in the road... how difficult is that to repair? > > convertable... how serious is road noise and weather concerns with the > miata soft top? > > repairs and maintenance... with only a slight bit of mechanic ability > i'm only able to do so much on my own, what sort of issues should i > keep my eyes open for with the miata? > > comfort... what's it like to sit in one of those stock leather seats > for a couple of hours? > I use my Miata as a daily driver, but I average only 10K per year. Any more than 4-5 hours at a time and the car starts to feel uncomfortable. Then again, maybe turning 60 has something to do with that. > that's it for now until i get a few responses... i've got about a week > before i need to make a decision and any useful input would be > appreciated. > FWIW, I will be selling my Miata in the next few months and will be buying an Altima (or maybe I'll think green and spring for a Prius). I'm a realtor, starting over in FL after moving from SO CAL. In CA, I was established as a listing agent and never had to carry clients, but starting over in FL means working with buyers, so I need 4 seats. There is also an issue with aging and a bad back that make rolling out of my Miata more of a problem than it used to be. And finally, I'm just not enjoying the car as much as I used to - CA twisties were just more fun than the bumpy straight roads they have here in FL. I've had a Miata for 9 years and I feel sad just thinking of giving it up.... |
#5
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Perhaps I should buy a Miata?
Debated over 30 years about a sports car but never practical with a wife
and 2 kids, and a big house/property in the suburbs....and then there was the college tuition in the last 8 years. Finally bought the "toy" ('05 silver) and love every minute of it. I commute 3 hours a day in the NE with no problem, although my near 60 body may start to complain. Got through the panic of buying snow tires (just any snow tire would not do...."it is the ride stupid" ... and using my wife's car to carry the four originals back home for storage. No room except for my wife, but what a ride! Like someone said, it hums along and does your bidding with enthusiasm, taking turns, and avoidance swerves (did I tell you how bad New England drivers are) with no effort. I have not had enough experience with the service and repair yet, but all my research points to the car being very reliable. I found a reliable dealer, and a really great salesperson, who is also a long-time Miata owner, so the learning curve was easy. $900! Are you sure the seller is okay? wrote: > i'm sure pretty much every answer i get here will be *slightly* biased > since this is a miata usenet group, but here we go... my '91 Honda CRX > probably threw a rod about a week ago and i've been scrambling for cash > to either repair or replace it. > i haven't actually been able to talk to him just yet but i found out > yesterday that a friend of mine is thinking of selling his '91 miata > (british racing green with tan leather interior) and would give me a > great deal on it... $900 > > the CRX has been a great car and fun to drive... it's a completely > stock 4 speed auto with the only "mod" being projector headlights so i > can see better at night. i've heard good things about the miata so i'm > considering buying my friends car and would like a few opinions on the > matter from current miata owners. i'm looking for a fun commuter since > i work on the other side of town and spend a good part of the day in my > car. > > here are the issues: > room... the crx is spacious for a small car, especially with the back > "seat" floded down and has plenty of head and leg room. the miata seems > as though it may be cramped (haven't been in one for a while) but i've > also driven a porsche 914 in the past and wonder if anyone knows how it > compares in head/leg room? > > power windows... one of his power windows falls down into the door when > going over bumps in the road... how difficult is that to repair? > > convertable... how serious is road noise and weather concerns with the > miata soft top? > > repairs and maintenance... with only a slight bit of mechanic ability > i'm only able to do so much on my own, what sort of issues should i > keep my eyes open for with the miata? > > comfort... what's it like to sit in one of those stock leather seats > for a couple of hours? > > that's it for now until i get a few responses... i've got about a week > before i need to make a decision and any useful input would be > appreciated. > |
#6
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Perhaps I should buy a Miata?
I'm a new Miata owner (a week or so) and have been in both CRX's and 914's.
> here are the issues: > room... The Miata is tight but comfortable for me. I'm 6-1" and 220lb, but not long-legged. The only squeeze is getting the seat belt on because the car is narrow. If I had longer legs the Miata would be contra-indicated fer sure. The CRX was definitely more roomy in front, altho I didn't enjoy riding in back. The 914 too, had a "wider" feel to it. Head room was about the same, tho the view from the Miata is much more compressed - it's like I'm in a bunker, until I remember it's fabric. =:O > convertable... how serious is road noise and weather concerns with the > miata soft top? I thought the car had a rear end bearing problem until I happened to drive over a small section of brand new tar laid down last September... the noise stopped while I was on the new tar! Everywhere else in the city it's noisy. It's on a par with previous small ragtops I've had - a Spitfire and an MGA. I'd say it's borderline noisy to where I'd avoid taking longer trips in it. Weatherwise I can't help you except to say it's got a good heater. Hope that helps. miker |
#7
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Perhaps I should buy a Miata?
i used to own a '88 crx and loved it. that was the first year of the new
and last body style (same as yours). the car was sporty and fun and had lots of cargo space. being front wheel drive it was a champ in the snow. i regularly got over 40mpg (and as high as 52 at times). fun: i now have a '95 miata. it is much more fun to drive. the handling is responsive and precise. with good tires it sticks to the road much better than the honda ever did. the honda looked sporty, the miata is sporty. noise: however the miata is noisy. the crx wasn't a quiet car by any means, but the miata is far nosier. that doesn't matter when the top is down, but with the top up, it makes long highway trips undesirable. i suppose that a hard top would go a long way to help reduce the noise but they are not cheap and you need a place to keep it when it is not on the car. space: the miata it is much smaller than the crx, so small that i actually have to make concessions about what i pack when traveling with someone else. so small that i often don't buy things in stores because i know i can't take it home in my car. so small that i have to get out of it to change my mind. i really miss being able to put my bike in the back like i could in the honda. snow: the miata being light and rear wheel drive is pretty bad in the snow. many people in the northeast either store them for the winter months or have a second set of tires (true snow tires). if it is to be used as a daily driver then you really need a set of snow tires. i have year round tires and simply keep it parked until the streets are clear enough to drive in the winter (not an option for many people). all that being said i love the miata. but the above are real issues that you should consider. also, the miata is a reliable car, on par with the crx. unlike the crx, there is amazing support for the miata. between miata.net and the great people in this group there is a wealth of information available to address any problem that you may encounter. > wrote in message oups.com... > i'm sure pretty much every answer i get here will be *slightly* biased > since this is a miata usenet group, but here we go... my '91 Honda CRX > probably threw a rod about a week ago and i've been scrambling for cash > to either repair or replace it. > i haven't actually been able to talk to him just yet but i found out > yesterday that a friend of mine is thinking of selling his '91 miata > (british racing green with tan leather interior) and would give me a > great deal on it... $900 > > the CRX has been a great car and fun to drive... it's a completely > stock 4 speed auto with the only "mod" being projector headlights so i > can see better at night. i've heard good things about the miata so i'm > considering buying my friends car and would like a few opinions on the > matter from current miata owners. i'm looking for a fun commuter since > i work on the other side of town and spend a good part of the day in my > car. > > here are the issues: > room... the crx is spacious for a small car, especially with the back > "seat" floded down and has plenty of head and leg room. the miata seems > as though it may be cramped (haven't been in one for a while) but i've > also driven a porsche 914 in the past and wonder if anyone knows how it > compares in head/leg room? > > power windows... one of his power windows falls down into the door when > going over bumps in the road... how difficult is that to repair? > > convertable... how serious is road noise and weather concerns with the > miata soft top? > > repairs and maintenance... with only a slight bit of mechanic ability > i'm only able to do so much on my own, what sort of issues should i > keep my eyes open for with the miata? > > comfort... what's it like to sit in one of those stock leather seats > for a couple of hours? > > that's it for now until i get a few responses... i've got about a week > before i need to make a decision and any useful input would be > appreciated. > |
#8
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Perhaps I should buy a Miata?
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#9
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Perhaps I should buy a Miata?
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#10
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Perhaps I should buy a Miata?
On 2005-12-13, Mr Pickwick > wrote:
> Got through the panic of buying snow tires > (just any snow tire would not do...."it is the ride stupid" ... and > using my wife's car to carry the four originals back home for storage. I used to haul 4 tires in my '96, but the idiots at Mazda shrunk the trunk in the NB design, so I can no longer fit one of them in the trunk -- now I have to make two trips when I buy new tires. [I do the normal spring/fall changover myself: get an extra set of wheels for the snow tires and a floor jack -- it's worth it]. -- Grant Edwards grante Yow! I'd like MY data-base at JULIENNED and stir-fried! visi.com |
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