My impressions of driving a CB Midget vs a CB B:
1. Leg, shoulder, thigh room -- the Midget is seriously constrained in
these areas compared to a B. If you fit, you're golden -- if you don't
fit, there's not much you can do about it (liposuction? amputation?
remove the doors?). Try before you buy.
2. Steering and straight-line stability -- the B's steering is quick and
precise. The Midget's steering is even quicker, some might describe it as
"nervous". Combined with the short wheelbase and rear-end steer, it keeps
you on your toes, so to speak. No chance of falling asleep at the wheel.
3. Performance -- at least driving solo, the Midget seems quick enough,
revving readily. On paper it doesn't impress, but in real life it's fun.
Sure, it's buzzy at freeway speeds, but what do you want? <g> I haven't
done any extended trips in a Midget, but I know a lot of listers have.
4. Prestige -- the only "social stigma" attached to the Midget (if you
care to put it that way) is that it is essentially a "badge-engineered"
Austin-Healey Sprite. But that is certainly a legitimate heritage,
sportscar-wise. And MG has a long tradition of Midgets, and small
displacement sportscars of all kinds. So I wouldn't think there is any
parallel to the Porsche situation you mention. I have been known to
gently tease Midget owners on occasion, but really, they're part of the
family.
FWIW, IMO, etc... if you like it after a test drive and it checks out
mechanically, don't hesitate!
Tomsjetta@aol.com had this to say:
>Hello-
>
>A beautiful Midget has caught my eye, and I was curious to see what kind
>of a
>Spridget presence there is on this list.
>
>If there are any of you out there, I'd like to know how these cars are on
>the
>highway (Can I sustain 55-65 without going nuts?), will I blow off to the
>shoulder when a semi passes me at 80? How different is driving a Midget than
>an MGB? Do MG fans like these cars, or are they frowned down upon by the
>purists, the same way that, say, Porsche fanatics looks at the
>914/924/944/968/928 cars?
>
>I'd love to hear of any good web resources (I've already hit britishcars.org
>and Midgetweb).
>
>Thanks for your time,
>
>Tom
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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