What's wrong with Miatas?
Well, they like japanese motorcycles, are nasty reminders of what the
british motor industry could have evolved to.
Think BSA/Triumph/Norton upright twins. Great machines that leaked
prodigious amounts of oil, shook incredibly and required a lot of
maintenance. When in "good nik"
they were a joy to ride. On the other hand....
Now think Yamaha vertical twins. The early ones were good clones, even
to the vibration. Then they added a balance shaft and developed from
there to todays superbikes.
Cars? Well look back on the Datsun Fairlady. An OK copy of an MGB,
right down to the copied SU carbs. Driven a Nissan sports coupe
lately? A Honda roadster?
The Miata is what the Elan could have been. Just as much fun but
without the maintenance issues. They handle well, especially when
equipped with some fat sticky rubber. They have pretty, technically
advanced engine bays. They have one hand tops. etc. etc.
What's wrong with Miata? It has reneged on one of the pivotal roles of
the Sports Car. That being, the requirement that you know your vehicle
intimately so that when she lets you down, and she will, you have the
knowledge and the boot full of spares to get her running again.
That's what is missing in a MIata. That certainty that at any given
time you will be sitting at the side of the road, muttering and cursing
because your English Lady has let you down again. That and that quint
british ritual, "The Sunday Morning Topping Up Ceremony".
On Tuesday, June 6, 2006, at 04:45 PM, Triumphs@Autox.team.net daily
digest wrote:
> Subject: Re: [TR] Miatas
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