2006 Miata

ifcar · Moderator

2006 Miata

thewizard16 · V-12

Looks pretty good. Looks like they shrunk the RX-8 a little.

-- Edited by thewizard16 at 19:19, 2005-02-02

Kevin · GMPenguin

I think it looks too much like the RX-8, but that's not a big deal, because I do like it.

thewizard16 · V-12

quote:
Originally posted by: Kevin
"I think it looks too much like the RX-8, but that's not a big deal, because I do like it."

Well, it looks slightly more conservative than the RX-8.

Maxxum · 4 Cylinder

I hope they think about some sort of a hardtop convertible option sometime in the future. Now that mainstream cars are beginning to get the technology (G6). ...

thewizard16 · V-12

quote:
Originally posted by: Maxxum
"I hope they think about some sort of a hardtop convertible option sometime in the future. Now that mainstream cars are beginning to get the technology (G6). ..."

It's not so much "technology", I think, it's just costly. Making a hard top convertible (just talking materials alone) is more expensive than a soft top, especially when you're using aluminum alloys (or whatever it is they use in the Lexus SC and MB SL). It would be nice to see a Miata hardtop, but I think it's unlikely.

ifcar · Moderator

There's the problem of cost, and there's the important problem of weight. The Miata is light and nimble, and needs only a small engine to be quick. With a 500-pound hardtop, it would lose its best aspect.

The Bartender · 4 Cylinder

quote:
Originally posted by: ifcar
"There's the problem of cost, and there's the important problem of weight. The Miata is light and nimble, and needs only a small engine to be quick. With a 500-pound hardtop, it would lose its best aspect."

Agreed. What keeps the Miata affordable and simple is that it is pretty basic. Besides just adding weight, which is bad enough, a hardtop set up would add weight HIGHER on the car, raising the center of gravity, which is bad in a car meant to be a nimble little tourer.

thewizard16 · V-12

I hadn't thought of the center of gravity problem. By that logic though, just put the top down to make the car handle better.

The Bartender · 4 Cylinder

quote:
Originally posted by: thewizard16
"I hadn't thought of the center of gravity problem. By that logic though, just put the top down to make the car handle better. "

Humor noted, but on a serious note, convertibles are "looser" as a rule, even ones designed as convertibles, with the top down.

While I love big old American Iron, I can clearly appreciate the advantages of light weight as idealized in the Miata, S2000 and Elise. Adding weight to any of these cars, especially weight that was not offset by performance gains, is wrong.