Car Talk 6: Best of times and Worst of Times
Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:47 pm
On-topic, off-topic, who cares!
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Yeah, it really is.
If it has a reasonable price it wouldn’t mind one at all… but Toyota decided they are a luxury brandMrH42 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 3:11 pmYeah, it really is.
It's the same with the Elise. They were mid $40k new 20 years ago. They go for the same money or more if they're in good shape. A tiny bumper hit and they're totaled, so a ton of them are salvage titled. The giant fiberglass shells crack with the slightest bump. The whole chassis is fragile. It's a whole lot of bullshit to put up with for that kind of money. You can get a miata new for much cheaper with none of that.
I want Toyota to revive the MR-2. Mid-engine Miata competitor would be awesome.
MrH42 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 3:11 pmYeah, it really is.
It's the same with the Elise. They were mid $40k new 20 years ago. They go for the same money or more if they're in good shape. A tiny bumper hit and they're totaled, so a ton of them are salvage titled. The giant fiberglass shells crack with the slightest bump. The whole chassis is fragile. It's a whole lot of bullshit to put up with for that kind of money. You can get a miata new for much cheaper with none of that.
I want Toyota to revive the MR-2. Mid-engine Miata competitor would be awesome.
My friend had one and it was a build quality disaster.coogles wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:19 pmHow about $79k?
https://gatormotorsport.com/sales/inven ... 6000-miles
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That’s 8 years old …. I have seen 2021-2 for that much or not much morecoogles wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:19 pmHow about $79k?
https://gatormotorsport.com/sales/inven ... 6000-miles
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The Elise was certainly something else.D Griff wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 4:25 pmMrH42 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 3:11 pm
Yeah, it really is.
It's the same with the Elise. They were mid $40k new 20 years ago. They go for the same money or more if they're in good shape. A tiny bumper hit and they're totaled, so a ton of them are salvage titled. The giant fiberglass shells crack with the slightest bump. The whole chassis is fragile. It's a whole lot of bullshit to put up with for that kind of money. You can get a miata new for much cheaper with none of that.
I want Toyota to revive the MR-2. Mid-engine Miata competitor would be awesome.I have a lot of seat time in Miatas and I've driven an Elise on track and the driving experience is not even the least bit similar. Your points are def valid but comparing it to a Miata just isn't fair, the Elise is the closest thing to a race car I've experienced, it rotates completely differently than anything I've driven, the steering is otherworldly, just a completely different drive versus a Miata that just feels like 'an old friend' to drive.
this is my inner James May coming out, the nuremburg ring ruined cars with everyone chasing lap times, etc. My Miata handles the train tracks I cross everyday better than the BMW comfort wise, and can go around a corner faster.D Griff wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 11:13 amI mean... I own an 86 and have owned a Miata, I don't disagree, they're great sports cars for regular folks. I certainly don't have the second lightest/simplest car for sale in this country accidentally. I also noted in a thread here recently that my favorite driving memory ever was in a Fiat 124, so I love these things. Pinnacle is just a strong word. All very subjective though, the Miata is definitely a fantastic sports car and great value, especially used.golftdibrad1 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 10:47 am
Lotus has become stratospherically expensive and un-obtanioum, and heavy(er). They forgot about simplify then add lightness.
I think my comment revolves around new shit being too stiff, too fast, too much grip, too uncomfortable, too wide, too complicated, too expensive, just TOO MUCH. I mean is all that shit you listed bad cars? no. But they take away alot of that sporting fun aspect of a car by both taking you to go to jail speeds before you can explore the limits of grip and having a bad outcome on the other side due to said speed should the loose nut behind the wheel get it wrong. Combine that with the fantastic cost involved and there are a lot of rich assholes out there with more money than skill in very, very, very fast cars.
Corvette did used to be / feel like a bigger faster more rattly miata. I cannot comment on C8 driving dynamics personally but they definitely went for more traditional supercar layout and feedback from reviews suggest it drives like one. Incredible value for the money, but thats still a cheap supercar not a sports car.
The Miata and the 86 do the sports car for the people thing well; its fun as fuck, not over-tired, quick but not fast, and comfortable to use every day. Oh and not closer to 100k than not too. IMHO Miata is better, thats all.
golftdibrad1 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 06, 2024 7:49 amthis is my inner James May coming out, the nuremburg ring ruined cars with everyone chasing lap times, etc. My Miata handles the train tracks I cross everyday better than the BMW comfort wise, and can go around a corner faster.D Griff wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 11:13 am
I mean... I own an 86 and have owned a Miata, I don't disagree, they're great sports cars for regular folks. I certainly don't have the second lightest/simplest car for sale in this country accidentally. I also noted in a thread here recently that my favorite driving memory ever was in a Fiat 124, so I love these things. Pinnacle is just a strong word. All very subjective though, the Miata is definitely a fantastic sports car and great value, especially used.
And to my earlier point, chasing lap times is cool and all on a track, track weapon special, or if you are into that and want to mod your sports car. A sports car should not be a street legal track car, it should be a good car that is also fun to drive quickly. I feel like alot of the new shit in the last 10 years has forgotten this and are more concerned setting a good ring time, or for the lightning lap at VIR, or reviewing well at big willow, etc. Miata and FRZ 86 dont have the price point to make the power to do those things, so they dont chase those metrics and just make a daym good fun to drive car.
Today was a miata day, and that thing is a joy to be in and drive even slow around town. THAT is what makes a great car. I sold my mustang for this exact reason - it was a hoot to grab by the scruff and do fast things with, but it was dogshit as a daily.
Yeah, the Porsches are better cars and deliver most of the driving experience, but if you really want that ultimate drive, the Lotus is it to me. Even the Ferrari 430 didn't come too close.Johnny_P wrote: ↑Tue Aug 06, 2024 6:53 amThe Elise was certainly something else.D Griff wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 4:25 pm
I have a lot of seat time in Miatas and I've driven an Elise on track and the driving experience is not even the least bit similar. Your points are def valid but comparing it to a Miata just isn't fair, the Elise is the closest thing to a race car I've experienced, it rotates completely differently than anything I've driven, the steering is otherworldly, just a completely different drive versus a Miata that just feels like 'an old friend' to drive.
The Cayman S got very close while having a better interior, suspension, motor, and build quality.
The view over the caymans hood was shit though. Looked like you were in a beetle with the curved wheel humps and bumper. The Elise was way cooler to look out of. Actually the BRZ was too, with the sharp fender lines.
Haven’t driven a Miata. I’d like to some day. But I’d rather own a Bronco oddly enough. People drive like clowns here. Even being in my accord (which is enormous for a sedan) makes me uneasy at times.