Don't knock the Miata

[C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

So, you think an aluminum backbone chassis with independent suspension all 
around, a slick shifting tranny, a lively four cylinder and excellent 
brakes and steering has no "soul" (whatever that means).

BS.

The Miata is a very fine car, and a bargain even at today's prices. The 
factory tires are crapola but then that's what the market is prepared to 
pay for. Most buyers can't tell a great tire from pure crap anyway (can you 
imagine any real driver wanting to buy a tire that actually touts the fact 
that it will last 50,000 miles or your money back?). Change the tires as 
she comes off the showroom floor and I guarantee you will be smiling all 
the time you drive the little gem. A set of Pirelli P 6000 and that car 
handles like it is on those proverbial railroad tracks.

There's nothing wrong with the Miata and it is reliable as a block of wood. 
Mazda's are true to their Japanese heritage and that's the only thing wrong 
with them. They won't break and they won't let you down. They're no fun 
because there's nothing you can do to improve them. The car is perfect 
right out of the box.

Those that accuse the Miata of having no soul are, like me, just not happy 
with Japanese soul.  Mazdas have soul, and honesty, and character. It's 
just Japanese, like paper houses and taking your shoes off so you can squat 
down to eat. Civilized and very different.

One thing all Mazda's have, except the 626 which is built in America, is a 
basic honesty of design and manufacture. They look Japanese, they sound 
Japanese, they spurn the service shop like a Japanese car, they are 
excellent value for the money, and did I mention they just run and run and 
run. Like a Japanese TV, a Japanese telephone, a Japanese 
VCR/DVD/Stereo/Computer etc etc, these are excellent devices for having 
trouble free fun.

Let's get off the anti-Japanese kick and criticize them for their real 
faults. They are not European cars and never will be. The sooner they stop 
trying to be the better they are. The Subaru WRC, the Mitsubishi Lancer 
Evo, the Honda/Acura NSX, etc etc are just brilliant cars, if you like that 
sort of thing.

I don't like any of them (well maybe that Lancer Evo, it seems pretty 
potent!) but not because they aren't great cars. I just don't like the feel 
of a Japanese car (those strange fiddly looking engine compartments with 
all those accessible bolts and fittings and stuff are really off putting, 
no need to take out the radiator or the right front wheel just to change 
the alternator belt, totally weird man).

Now, the new Maserati Coupe really has my attention, an affordable Ferrari, 
wow man. Where's my CAN$100,000.00 when I need it?

Cheers






Michael Smith
White 1991 164L
Original owner
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