> From:          Michael King <mapco@worldnet.att.net>
> How can someone tell the difference between a regular used Miata and a
> used Miata R? What parts or equipment differentiate the two? Is leather
> an option on the R or is cloth the only "option"? Thanks in advance.
     There used to be a website that clearly showed all the 
differences.  I do know that leather was never available in the R 
package.
     Rs are basically base models with the go-fast parts and no pimpy 
frills. :-)  No PW, PS, or power mirrors.  AC is optional.  No ABS 
either.  The R package is the only way to get the torsen diff, manual 
steering, and in some years (Rs are 94-97), all of the frame braces. 
    Rs also have the spoiler, air dam, and rear skirt.  The air dam 
is functional.  I don't notice help from the spoiler.  The rear skirt 
may seem like a frill but it's needed.  I saw my Miata R without it 
and the car looked goofy with the air dam on and no skirt.
     Don't get a base model just to have manual steering.  In some 
years, the bases came with the 14 x 5.5" steel wheels while all other 
Miatas had 14 x 6 alloys.  That is obviously bad.
Hope this helps.
Mike Lowe    mikelowe@phoenix.net    http://www.phoenix.net/~mikelowe
Texas A&M Sports Car Club    Houston Region SCCA    Miata Club of America
'96 Miata R   BS 93
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