Discovery Channel - top ten cars

[StephanAlfa]

I joke about Miatas a lot: fake Alfa Romeo Giulietta, etc... but I must admit that by the sheer size of Miatas at COM they should have something that appeals.
I was watching the Discovery Channel (still here in Mont Tremblant on vacation) and among Enzo, Jaguar E-type, Aston Martin DB-5, Mercedes 300 SL (Gull Wing), McLaren F-1, etc. the little Miata came in 2nd after Porsche 911. I was amazed!
Commentators like Linda Jennings, Eddie Irvine, Chad McQueen, Lord Bracket (sp) all said the Miata brought back the sport car concept and made the new convertibles back in the market (ex: BMW Z's).
McQueen was the one who called it a "Girly car" but admitted it had an appeal. Others claimed to be a "watered down" sports car but overall in terms of balance, performance and budget, this car topped it all.
:thumbleft:
Still LOVE my Alfa ... don't get me wrong ... just an acknowledgement that what you drive is rated high.

[enjoythemusic]

Stephan,

Sure we all comment about the lil Zoom Zoom Miata cars, yet they are doing something very right to have neatly achieved their status in qty at track events in a handful of years. Many other automotive manufacturers could learn a lot from Mazdas rise on many fronts in the motorsport world.

Not just Miatas mind you, look at the lil 3... or Mazda's efforts in ALMS/etc. Even the new SCCA's FSCCA car uses a Mazda engine and Skippy's lil cars for school are going from Dodge to Mazda.

If someone came up to me today, said they were new and had $7k and wanted to DE track a car that was cheap to run, fix, etc.... i'd suggest the Miata without hesitation. Parts are cheap, plentiful, and track support is wide and long.

(Referring only to me, keep those panties unbinded everyone)
Only the really insane crazies go for tracking exotic Italian cars or open wheel devices

[DanB]

Miatas rock.

IMO, all these 3000+ lb. Porsches, Ferraris, Corvettes, Aston Martins, etc. etc, THEY are the "watered down" sports cars.

REAL sports cars are reasonably LIGHT WEIGHT!

All those performance-numbers-generating overwrought supermegaultracars will never have what makes the Miata so cool and fun: Simplicity and lightness.

Modern Porsches are the antithesis of the minimalist giant-slaying Porsches of old. The smallest, lightest weight Porsches today are right at 3000 lb.! Ferry must be spinning...

Colin Chapman must be quite pleased with the Elise, though! Now THAT's a SPORTS car!

Flame suit ON

[enjoythemusic]

Colin Chapman must be quite pleased with the Elise, though! Now THAT's a SPORTS car!
Flame suit ON

Not arguing and no Nomex needed.

Dan, hop into the "watered down" Porsche/Ferrari/Vette/etc... then the Miata, then the Lotus, and lastly a "proper" 1k lbs or so open wheel track car.

[StephanAlfa]

I was just surprized to see in the No. 2 spot shy of No. 1's Porsche 911.
Others were rated at their respective rank due to brakes (Aston Martin), weight (300 SL), electrical (most British cars - Jag and Aston Martin), price accessibility (Enzo, McLaren F-1), etc, etc. still the Miata topped these... Wow!

[DanB]

Somebody should tell 'em the 240Z is a better sports car than the 911

[MiataSteve]

Drink the Miata Kool-Aid and come join us

[DanB]

Dan, hop into the "watered down" Porsche/Ferrari/Vette/etc... then the Miata, then the Lotus, and lastly a "proper" 1k lbs or so open wheel track car.

I have driven a ~500 lb. open-wheel race car at Road Atlanta! Most people wouldn't call it "proper", though. It was a Formula 440 way back in 1993 (now the class is F500). Snowmobile engine, CVT V-belt transmission, screaming 75hp, no suspension (just bushings), WHEEEE!

[eclip5e]

I'd say my WRX is a non-watered down sports car, especially since I've gotten the weight down to 2100lbs!

[DanB]

I'd say my WRX is a non-watered down sports car, especially since I've gotten the weight down to 2100lbs!

What else did you remove besides the engine and transmission?

[enjoythemusic]

I have driven a ~500 lb. open-wheel race car at Road Atlanta! Most people wouldn't call it "proper", though. It was a Formula 440 way back in 1993 (now the class is F500). Snowmobile engine, CVT V-belt transmission, screaming 75hp, no suspension (just bushings), WHEEEE!

Think i saw one of those at last month's SCCA event. Wow that engine sounded different and the vehicle looked like fun. Maybe 'only' 75HP, yet look at thet P2W ratio! WHEEEEE indeed

[Stynger]

I was just surprized to see in the No. 2 spot shy of No. 1's Porsche 911.
Others were rated at their respective rank due to brakes (Aston Martin), weight (300 SL), electrical (most British cars - Jag and Aston Martin), price accessibility (Enzo, McLaren F-1), etc, etc. still the Miata topped these... Wow!

Good to see they figured out what we've known for years.
I've always liked The Discovery Channel.

[WillM]

I'm sure that what put the Miata so high on the list, is the "rebirth" of sportscars that it helped trigger. The Miata is not a top-performer on track as it gets beaten fairly easily by higher hp cars. In many comparison articles, even though the Miata may turn the slowest lap times, it is often credited as offering the most fun behind the wheel. The goal of the Miata was to produce a fun car. At the time of design & introduction, Mazda already had a fairly successful high-hp sports car, the RX-7.

Inspired by the Lotus Elan, the Miata was designed to be a reliable version of its European ancestors. The exhaust note had to be just right, and was worked on significantly. The top had to be quick & easy to use. The car had to be fun to drive at the limit. Skinny 185-series tires and a modest I-4 were mated to its relatively capable double-wishbone suspension and limited slip differential.

I've owned several over the years, and if it weren't for my sister-in law years ago, would have never even thought of getting behind the wheel. Fast forward 12 years, and the Miata has opened doors to competitive driving that I never even knew existed. Miatas are great daily drivers, and let the driver feel like a hero at relatively legal speeds.

A top-down romp through some back roads, with the radio off and the exhaust note singing away at redline, is a great treat, enjoyable on a daily basis.

[MiataSteve]

The Miata even beats the Merc SLK!!!!





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