Ben,
Well I'm close, I'm 48.
Listen guys and girls (to make all of you feel younger), when someone
asks if it's good/wise to use a Roadster as a daily driver I had to give
an honest opinion regarding parts availability and affordability,
maintainance, RUST, etc. Back when these cars were new they were the
cream of the crop, and except for some unreliable (actually it was
because most mechanics and owners didn't know how to maintain them and
because of Prince of Darkness electronics) British cars, oh and some
Italian cars FIAT and Alfa, there really was no competition about price
or reliability.
However, 30+ years later there are better alternatives to someone who
has to use it as a daily driver. I drove these cars when they were new
(my friend's father was a Datsun dealer) and I've owned my current
Roadster for 20 years. Over the years I've seen the parts getting harder
to find and rather pricey for certain essential items (do Ball Joints,
tie rods, calipers and rotors, oh, and drums, ring a bell?). And where I
was able at one time to get a starter motor or alternator at my local
parts shop, now they look at me with a ? on their faces when I tell them
the model number. Even a young whipper snapper parts guy @ a Nissan
dealer told me they never produced such a car, or at least imported it,
and he still didn't believe me when I brought to him the parts book.
As far as a Miata being a "chicks" car, so it be. But after I set up my
Miata I'll challenge any Roadster to keep up, and I doubt they would be
able to. How many Roadsters have 140HP - 240HP AT THE REAR WHEELS, and
are reliable? How many Roadsters can run almost 1G during cornering and
still maintain a somewhat civilized ride?
I LUV my Roadster, but truth and objectivity is essential. Yes, it has
character, charm and is exotic, that the Miata does not have and
probably will never ever have, and people stare at it and talk to you
about it, but how much good is that when you need to get it serviced or
need parts and it's your only ride?
Another $.02,
Mike
66 1819
73 240
91 Miata
-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Zech [mailto:motormite@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 7:53 AM
To: motormite@hotmail.com; shifty@best.com;
datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Miata vs. Datsun Roadster Vs. MGB et al (was Miata)
I guess I'm the oldest on the list so far, 50 in March.
Short hair (pony tail, 1969)
Anybody else?
BZ
>From: "Ben Zech" <motormite@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: "Ben Zech" <motormite@hotmail.com>
>To: shifty@best.com, datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: Miata vs. Datsun Roadster Vs. MGB et al (was Miata)
>Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2000 23:17:07 GMT
>
>I own a 90 Miata 100K+ and has never let me down.
>Not stock by any means either, but I will have to admit you see a lot of
>women driving them (I think this is what the thread was refering to.
>
>1 Miata
>6 Roadster(s)
>1 95 Jeep Cherokee
>1 66 Chevy Van (20K original miles)
>1 90 929 another very reliable car
>1 82 Ford pickup for hauling Datsuns home
>1 53 GMC bus for storage (parts)
>
>Pretty diverse, huh?
>BZ
>
>
>
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