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The Car Thread ... !
- Thread starter D.T.
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Seriously, this thread needs a little Inigo Montoya ...
Yeah, it can be a bit of a back breaking chore, get yourself a nice little waterproof mat or pad, and just sit down right in front of the wheel (I've used a yoga mat when I'm in hardcore detail mode for a show or cruise-in).
That's a big factor I've learned when buying wheels (I've had quite a few), how easy they are to clean. I used to love 2/3-piece wheels (and they give you a *huge* range of fitment options), but, ugh, exposed fasteners, seams, are just a huge PITA. Some designs too, I love mesh (classic BBS style) wheels on some cars, but they are tedious to maintain. My current wheels, M600s are a breeze to clean, split 5-spoke, but the splits are big, so you can easily get a mitt in between them, and otherwise they're completely open, and I can actually reach the entire barrel on a mounted wheel.
Yeah, it can be a bit of a back breaking chore, get yourself a nice little waterproof mat or pad, and just sit down right in front of the wheel (I've used a yoga mat when I'm in hardcore detail mode for a show or cruise-in).
That's a big factor I've learned when buying wheels (I've had quite a few), how easy they are to clean. I used to love 2/3-piece wheels (and they give you a *huge* range of fitment options), but, ugh, exposed fasteners, seams, are just a huge PITA. Some designs too, I love mesh (classic BBS style) wheels on some cars, but they are tedious to maintain. My current wheels, M600s are a breeze to clean, split 5-spoke, but the splits are big, so you can easily get a mitt in between them, and otherwise they're completely open, and I can actually reach the entire barrel on a mounted wheel.
This is also why I ONLY use street-grade ceramic pads when I change them. The dust from them isn't as visible and also will usually just spray off.
I _might_ be putting wires on the MG(details to follow) but if I do the brand new ceramic pads that have been on the shelf for 2 1/2 years and haven't gone on because the current pads are too good are _definitely_ going on.
I’m so bad. Yesterday morning I went to start my 1982 Fiat Spider and it refused. Engine turns over, but likely either no spark or no gas. It’s just no fun having a 35 year old car that supposed to fun to drive, when you are always worried it’s going to poop out on you. 
It just so happened we saw a Z370 convertible in a restaurant parking lot, previously mentioned, and decided it would be fun to test drive one. No one has a z370 with a stick shift! So We test drive an automatic and blah, just a muscle car, I did not fall in love with it. Then this diabiolocal salesperson, says well I do have a Candy Apple Red 2016 Miata, Grand Turing Edition you are welcome to test drive.
To wrap this part of the story up, the end result:
It seems I fell in love, my wife too although it’s difficult to get her to admit it. She’s mostly happy we once again have a reliable convertible to tour in and we did not spend $50k for it.
This is the highest tech car I’ve owned although it is 2 years old. It beeps when I get too close to a lane edge, it has an icon that illuminates if there is a car beside me. I’m reading up on it. It listed new for about $31k, I paid $22k, I hope a good deal. Gotta sell the Fiat. More later.
It just so happened we saw a Z370 convertible in a restaurant parking lot, previously mentioned, and decided it would be fun to test drive one. No one has a z370 with a stick shift! So We test drive an automatic and blah, just a muscle car, I did not fall in love with it. Then this diabiolocal salesperson, says well I do have a Candy Apple Red 2016 Miata, Grand Turing Edition you are welcome to test drive.
To wrap this part of the story up, the end result:
This is the highest tech car I’ve owned although it is 2 years old. It beeps when I get too close to a lane edge, it has an icon that illuminates if there is a car beside me. I’m reading up on it. It listed new for about $31k, I paid $22k, I hope a good deal. Gotta sell the Fiat. More later.
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To wrap this part of the story up, the end result:
It seems I fell in love, my wife too although it’s difficult to get her to admit it.
More later.
Outstanding! Look forward to hearing your ongoing adventures with the new ride.
FWIW, I wouldn’t call the 370Z a muscle car, it’s more of a GT, and just a touch lifeless - especially with an auto (and the extra pudge of the convertible).
So, I got into a heated debate in this very thread because my wife owns and daily drives a 2000 Mazda Miata. Guys just aren't allowed to drive them. Unless we do.I’m so bad. Yesterday morning I went to start my 1982 Fiat Spider and it refused. Engine turns over, but likely either no spark or no gas. It’s just no fun having a 35 year old car that supposed to fun to drive, when you are always worried it’s going to poop out on you.
It just so happened we saw a Z370 convertible in a restaurant parking lot, previously mentioned, and decided it would be fun to test drive one. No one has a z370 with a stick shift! So We test drive an automatic and blah, just a muscle car, I did not fall in love with it. Then this disbilolical salesperson, says well I do have a Candy Apple Red 2016 Miata, Grand Turing Edition you are welcome to test drive.
To wrap this part of the story up, the end result:
It seems I fell in love, my wife too although it’s difficult to get her to admit it.
This is the highest tech car I’ve owned although it is 2 years old. It beeps when I get too close to a lane edge, it has an icon that illuminates if there is a car beside me. I’m reading up on it. It listed new for about $31k, I paid $22k, I hope a good deal. Gotta sell the Fiat. More later.
Super fun to drive, I hope you enjoy it!
Miatas are the modern incarnation of the "every man's sports car." They are one of the few TRUE sportscars being made these days.
If you want to spend under $100K on a new sports car, you're pretty well stuck with the Miata, some of the cars heavily based on it like the new Fiat Spider, the Boxster, and the lower trim Corvettes.
If you want to spend under $100K on a new sports car, you're pretty well stuck with the Miata, some of the cars heavily based on it like the new Fiat Spider, the Boxster, and the lower trim Corvettes.
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I drove an automatic hardtop. Not to offend any Z lovers, but lifeless is an applicable term. It felt heavy, and I’m sure automatic added to my displeaseure. The Miata, I put the car in reverse and a car was passing behind me, and the car warned me!
This car as compared to my 82 Spider, the 18 Z, and the 16 Miata, it’s not as heavy as the Z, slightly heavier in feel than the 82 Fiat, but snappy firm steering, it feels like a performance automobile.
- The Z weighs 3500 lb with 330 Hp, and gets about 22 miles per gallon, 0-60 in 4.9 sec..
- The Miata weighs 2300 lb, has 155 Hp, and gets 30-35 mpg highway, 0-60 in 6.1 sec. With a 2 liter engine, it feels just as peppy as the Z, although it would not win a drag race, and for a fun responsive driving roadster, the Miata is a huge win in addition to a sexy, curvy automobile. It’s beautiful!
Anyone know where the lug wrench should be? Also, this car has no spare! It does have a flat repair kit, where you shoot the tire full of goo to seal a puncture, and an electric air pump to reinflate it.
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The Old Miata folk say “drive it like you stole it!”It’s beautiful!
That’s how I drive mine.
Triple thumbs up. Driving home from Galveston today we were passed by several new/newish vets, and our replies were you’re not a convertible, and for the convertible, you paid 5 times as much for yours!
Lots of compliments rolling in.Oh, and it makes an audible vroom sound, I could not hear while driving the Z. Maybe the AC was loud in the Z.
The strange thing is I’ve looked at this car before, I did not think it was as pretty as it does now. That could be psychology at work now that I am vested.
The refresh for 4th Gen Miata is excellent [I’m especially fond of the front end] and there is a lot to like about that little roadster. First, is just eye-catching, especially in that striking red color from the OP’s picture above. Saw a few older Miata’s today and they just are in a league of their own in terms of how they have such a unique look, but in a way you just want to drive one and experience it. I have never driven one personally, but I have read the six speed gearbox is a pleasure to use coupled with its 2.0 four cylinder is vivacious. Easy to drop the top, _Fun_ acceleration and you really don't have worry about fuel mileage in a car that weighs around 2300 LB.
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So, someone tell me that this _isn't_ libidinous
(also, just trying to show that I know how to use a thesaurus also )
(also, just trying to show that I know how to use a thesaurus also
)
They say that happens the older you get, until you are back to being a 4 year old.
Of interest I had driven a 2017 Fiat Spider (last year) and did not care for it. Psychology again at play, my first taste I was expecting something that felt just like my 1982 Spider. When I discovered that this was a Miata chassis, I was not insensed, but I was disappointed, especially when you look at the cars side by side. I wanted some Pininfirina exotic goodness designed and made in Italy like:
This car is a head turner...
(Photo is not my car, but same model, year, and paint)
Side by side the new Spider and the Miata are very close in appearance and just because there is some Italian design draped on a Japanese chassis, not only am I aggravated about this (keep in mind, I’ve owned 2 spiders since 1975, (a 1975 and 1982 models), but I feel like my allegiance should go to the original manufacturer of this dreamy car, although it can be argued there is more to a car than its chassis. I still give the nod to the Japanese manufacturing design, but check out the America Influence article below.
Miata top and left
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_MX-5#Design_genesis
In 1981, Hall moved to a product planning position with Mazda USA and again met Yamamoto, now chairman of Mazda Motors, who remembered their conversation about a roadster and in 1982 gave Hall the go-ahead to research the idea further.[8] At this time Hall hired designer Mark Jordan to join the newly formed Mazda design studio in Southern California.
The California Influence It's the home of 15 automotive design studios
http://m.wardsauto.com/news-analysis/california-influence-its-home-15-automotive-design-studios
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Hey someone graffitied that car!First time seeing one of these in person. Absolutely exquisite design! Very provocative.
i’ve seen this somewhere, but can’t ID it. Help please.
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If one lives in the UK and has a spare £50K+ lying around, one can buy a new MGB GT with a Miata drive train.
Moss Europe also sells a drop-in conversion kit to fit the older 5-speed Miata gearbox to the MGB. I don't think it's caught a lot of traction in the US, and Datsun boxes are still preferred for 5 speeds.
I've been told that as part of the design phase, the designers went and listened to the exhaust note from a variety of MGBs and set that as a design goal. It's hard to make the high-revving Japanese Miata engines sound like the old long stroke, low revving British engines, but I think that overall they did a good job. The NA Miatas still around here(and there are a lot of them) sure sound a lot like the stock exhaust on my MGB.
The newer generations have put on some weight(something that's the enemy of handling) but that's unavoidable with safety regulations tightening. At the same time, my local British mechanic/restoration shop also has a couple of Miatas in the back that are smashed to pieces(he puts Miata seats in a lot of MGBs, and I think has done at least one engine/transmission swap) and the driver walked away from every single one of them.
Short of a Lotus, I don't know that there's a more pure sportscar being made today.
Moss Europe also sells a drop-in conversion kit to fit the older 5-speed Miata gearbox to the MGB. I don't think it's caught a lot of traction in the US, and Datsun boxes are still preferred for 5 speeds.
I've been told that as part of the design phase, the designers went and listened to the exhaust note from a variety of MGBs and set that as a design goal. It's hard to make the high-revving Japanese Miata engines sound like the old long stroke, low revving British engines, but I think that overall they did a good job. The NA Miatas still around here(and there are a lot of them) sure sound a lot like the stock exhaust on my MGB.
The newer generations have put on some weight(something that's the enemy of handling) but that's unavoidable with safety regulations tightening. At the same time, my local British mechanic/restoration shop also has a couple of Miatas in the back that are smashed to pieces(he puts Miata seats in a lot of MGBs, and I think has done at least one engine/transmission swap) and the driver walked away from every single one of them.
Short of a Lotus, I don't know that there's a more pure sportscar being made today.
My last car was metallic black (“Brilliant Black”), and gorgeous when it was clean and buffed.Got her washed after some errands today
I now live in a house with a ½ mile - long gravel driveway, so keeping my ride clean became a Sisyphean exercise. Sold it, and picked up a newer silver version. I don’t feel quite as dismayed now.
I'm on my 4th black car that I'm never going to buy again
Side note: automatic upvote for Greek mythological reference in the context of car care
It takes 10 minutes to get dirty again, but it looks the best for those ten minutes.I'm on my 4th black car that I'm never going to buy again
Side note: automatic upvote for Greek mythological reference in the context of car care
I will always get black, though.
What is a lower trim Corvette? My impression is that corvettes are heavy, 3300 lb, but with a frick’n 6 liter engine they can handle the weight, but is the steering light or heavy?
What is a lower trim Corvette? My impression is that corvettes are heavy, 3300 lb, but with a frick’n 6 liter engine they can handle the weight, but is the steering light or heavy?
Drive one and you'll understand why the Corvette has been considered a sports car since its introduction.
It's just unusual in the price class for having both superb handling-the long-time hallmark of sportscars(and what differentiates a traditional sportscar from muscle/pony cars like the Mustang and Camaro)-and power.
I believe vets have gained a ton of weight, since it’s inception. Just asking about the term lower trim.
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I'm on my 4th black car that I'm never going to buy again
Side note: automatic upvote for Greek mythological reference in the context of car care
The car design has a huge impact on me regarding which color I pick. Black is not near the top of my list though. Fiat 500 and Camero, the perfect color is yellow. I almost picked a rust colored 500.
Dodged the bullet on that one. For limited external color choices of the Miata, I’d pick red or white. I feel very lucky it was not silver or black (Personal preference). We had a metallic pearl colored Murano 7 years ago. It was beautiful.
Just asking about the term lower trim.
That was mostly in reference to my sub-$100K qualifier
You can spec a new Vette out to over $100K, but just playing with the Stingray(base trim) it's easy to build a really nicely specced one for under $70K(base price is around $56K). You can even keep a Z06 under $100K pretty easily.
Now, I just need to work on getting an MGB GT V8 over here from England...that way I get a nice, classic true sportscar with a V8
. As a side note, the Buick/Rover V8 in the displacement used in the MGB is actually 40lbs lighter than the 1800cc B-series engine. The whole car is a bit heavier than a 4-cylinder B due to the uprated suspension and drivetrain components, but we're talking about MAYBE a 50lb difference. That's in contrast with the MGC, which had a 700lb lump of cast iron that was long enough that it hung out over the front axle and totally spoiled the handling of the car. The B engine is a heavy lump of cast iron-I once made the mistake of thinking I could lift a partially stripped one(no head and a bunch of other parts missing, but still with a crank and pistons) out of the trunk of my car. I managed to get it a few inches up before deciding I couldn't do it, then spent the next day in bed and borrowed an engine hoist from work the following day. I have another fully stripped one sitting in the garage-the bare block is around 140lbs, and the beautiful NOS 3-main bearing crankshaft I have is a good 80lbs. I forget how much the rods weigh, but I've heard racers express frustration with the 3-main engines because there's no real way to lighten the rods-I'd guess them at 10lbs each or so. BTW, the 5 main engines(like the one I was trying to heft out of my trunk) add about 20lbs to the block and I think about as much to the crank. That's somewhat offset both in total weight and performance by much lighter rods.