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| MCS in Space | I'm a '99 Miata owner and I've had a lot of fun with that car. But, I'm really feeling that it's time to move on. Any other former Miata owners out there? Any regrets on leaving the Miata behind? Gary |
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| Somebody help me! | Yes, I had a 1990 Miata with 270K miles. I sold it to a friend for a project car so I could get the MINI. I needed a backseat for child #2 (whi is now 6 months old) as taking 2 kids to daycare in a Miata is a bit difficult... ![]() I still miss the Miata (the MINI is my first front-wheel drive car), but I have no regrets. I probably could have saved a few bucks and picked up a Mazdaspeed Protoge, but where's the fun in that? Muprhy's take on Rallyes: Measurements will always be expressed in the least useable units. Velocity, for example, will be expressed in furlongs per fortnight. |
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| | #3 (permalink) |
| Trained Monkey Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 12:46 AM
Posts: 41,220
Offline | Quite a few of the peope around here have gone a similar route. Try a search for Miata, I know there's a lot of discussions about them. There aint no party like my nana's tea party |
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| | #4 (permalink) |
| I miss Ruthie Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: City of the Angels Local Time: 04:46 PM
Posts: 6,369
Online | Hey Gary, Paul is right there have been a lot of people who have come to MINIs after driving Miatas and a search should yeild quite a few threads. You should also search using the international name for Miata (is it MX 5?....someone will correct this if I have it wrong) since many of the threads may not have "Miata" in the title. I never remember reading about a Miata lover who was disappointed after buying a MINI. While most Miata owners remembered their old cars fondly, and many kept the Mazdas as second cars, the folks who have posted here have been thrilled to find a car in a more "practical" form factor that kept (or surpassed) the fun factor and amazing handling of their Miatas. Have you driven a MINI yet? ![]() |
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| | #5 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tulsa, OK Local Time: 05:46 PM
Posts: 48
Offline | I had a 90 Miata with 165,000 miles before the MINI. My main requirement for a MINI was it HAD to have a sunroof. You can't go from convertible to enclosed. No way. No how. The Miata's new owner was quite happy with his purchase and I'm glad it got a good home. I wouldn't call it "dumping" the Miata! It was adopted! Angie ![]() |
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| | #8 (permalink) |
| MCS in Space | I'll have to try that (MX-5), as most of the "Miata" hits were just comparisons (only one on switching). I wouldn't mind taking that option of keeping the Miata, but I need a more balanced pair (1 small, 1 medium size). Also, both are "fun" cars so it would always be a struggle of figuring out which one to drive! I have an aging Maxima which is going very strong... I was either going to replace it with an A4/G35 and keep the Miata, or trade out the Miata for a MINI.I did manage to test drive an MCS at Fairfield MINI (CT). The handling, feel, and acceleration were all very good. This car feels more refined than the Miata, and certainly more powerful. I just wonder if I'll really miss having the rag top. The MINI has a nice sized sunroof and I like how the rear seat has a complimentary glass panel above it. Unfortunately I test drove the MCS on a cold night, so I didn't open it. I'll have to do a daytime drive. But I have to be honest, the quality problems reported by first release owners really scared me. It is comforting to see 2003 owners having far fewer problems though, and more "corrections" introduced in 2004. Gary |
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| | #9 (permalink) |
| MCS in Space | You really put your Miata through the paces, Angie! Mine has been more of a fair weather driver. I got a '99 with 27k in 2002 and it just cleared 35k. I love the way it handles, but it's just a little too small for me (I have to slouch to see the top of the speedometer) and I'm becoming hungry for a little more "punch" from the engine. About the sunroof, I absolutely agree. I went from a sunroof car to a complete hard top once... never again. It's either a generous sunroof or a ragtop. But you're right... I shouldn't have said "dump". "Trade" or "Part with" would have been more respectful. ![]() Gary |
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| | #10 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Senior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Upstate NY Local Time: 07:46 PM
Posts: 356
Offline | The answer to your "punch" problems can be found at: http://www.flyinmiata.com Turbos are relatively cheap and the motors were practically designed to have one from Mazda. You can generally run 12 to 15 psi of boost with no modifications to the car (other than ecu). 2004 Winning Blue Mazda RX-8 |
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| | #12 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Senior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Upstate NY Local Time: 07:46 PM
Posts: 356
Offline | Oops, forgot we were talking about a 99 Miata. I have a 95 and the base turbo kit is "only" $3500. Generally clutch and flywheel stuff isn't needed until you hit the higher boost levels. 2004 Winning Blue Mazda RX-8 |
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| | #13 (permalink) |
| BamaCooperS Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alabama Local Time: 06:46 PM
Posts: 15
Offline | I could not part with my Supercharged Miata when I purchased my 2004 MCS. Still too much fun and way too many mods . There is a time and place for both in my garage. Love my MINI but still love my Miata. Web page is dated but you can see my Miata that was featured in Sport Compact Car magazine several years ago at :http://webpages.charter.net/hbrown3124/home1.html Happy Motoring! |
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| | #14 (permalink) |
| MCS in Space | Oh, yeah (ow, ow)! I can see why you couldn't part with it. If I had an M1 outfitted like that, I'd be hard pressed to leave it too. Very tasteful cosmetic mods. The color matched rims are a nice touch too. Is that a double-DIN Bose stereo you have in there? The engine looks sweet, to say the least. Gary |
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| | #15 (permalink) |
| I miss Ruthie Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: City of the Angels Local Time: 04:46 PM
Posts: 6,369
Online | I'd bet there would be a few days every year when you would really miss the rag top. The sunroof, however is really nice. Mine, here in So Cal, is open 90% of the time....and even closed the huge glass panel brings in so much light and a feeling of open-ness. I think for the compromise of losing the rag top you will be gaining a lot of advantages with the MINI...I'm a little prejudiced obviously....and once I would have love having a Miata (had I been able to stuff my overly tall frame inside...just no way I could fit with the top up). This MCS owner is very satisfied with the quality of my November 2002 built 2003 MINI. ![]() |
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| | #16 (permalink) |
| BamaCooperS Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alabama Local Time: 06:46 PM
Posts: 15
Offline | Thanks for the kind words. The stereo is by Pioneer. It's an AM/FM, Single CD, CD Changer, and the face drops down for a Cassette Tape. The screen is great with all kinds of visual displays. All the speakers have been upgraded including the headrest speakers. You can actually hear the stereo with the top down and at speed. The wheels are by MOMO. The supercharger is by Eaton, same as that in the MINI. I'm hoping my Eaton contacts can help me with the MINI at some point. |
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| | #17 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Massachusetts Local Time: 06:46 PM
Posts: 15
Offline | Have a 90 Miata with 101,000 miles. Bought it 4 years ago with only 30,000. Love the car, particularly in the good weather. The top is almost always down then. My MCS is due in a month or so and will probably have to sell the Miata (peace at home). But it will hurt since the price will likely be under $3,000. Miatas run forever with very little trouble. I hate to give it up because on top of being great fun, it's cheap transportation. I agree with the sunroof. A hardtop would be too much cold turkey. |
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