Miata more fun?
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 1
From: Miramar, FloriDUH
Granted I can't drive like Tsuchiya or even have the time or will to actually go to a track but I think I'm happier with the S more than I'd ever be happier in a Miata.
Reliability? DD All day every day this is my only form of transportation and I'm proud of it! I don't think there has been one day I haven't driven the S and I Put down nearly 40K VTEC filled miles in 2 years and the F20C never lets me down.
Comfort? - 6' 200 lbs and although snug, my car never feels uncomfortable (unless driving over Brooklyn potholes)
Looks?- I still look turn back with an intoxicating glance as i park it.
Fun? - Countless time spent VTEC land and it is still as exciting as the first time I nailed throttle past 6k. What's more fun than stickin to a corner at double the recommended speed limit?
I've driven faster cars (6.0 GTO puttin down 390 to the wheels, 550i, heavily booster SRT-4), more creature friendly cars ( TLs, TSXs, 745 IL, S500), big old trucks (F-150, F-450, Hummer H2)... etc. None lived up to the driving experience of the S.
To make a long story short. No other automobile does it for me like the S and I will have this car (knock on wood) as long as it is physically and feasibly possible. S2K FTMFW!
Reliability? DD All day every day this is my only form of transportation and I'm proud of it! I don't think there has been one day I haven't driven the S and I Put down nearly 40K VTEC filled miles in 2 years and the F20C never lets me down.
Comfort? - 6' 200 lbs and although snug, my car never feels uncomfortable (unless driving over Brooklyn potholes)
Looks?- I still look turn back with an intoxicating glance as i park it.
Fun? - Countless time spent VTEC land and it is still as exciting as the first time I nailed throttle past 6k. What's more fun than stickin to a corner at double the recommended speed limit?
I've driven faster cars (6.0 GTO puttin down 390 to the wheels, 550i, heavily booster SRT-4), more creature friendly cars ( TLs, TSXs, 745 IL, S500), big old trucks (F-150, F-450, Hummer H2)... etc. None lived up to the driving experience of the S.
To make a long story short. No other automobile does it for me like the S and I will have this car (knock on wood) as long as it is physically and feasibly possible. S2K FTMFW!
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 28
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Here's some telemetry to put some quantitative data to this debate...
Back story: just last week I switched from a lightly modified 1991 Mazda MX5 to a 1999 Honda S2000. Took telemetry of both (using a Traqmate GPS-based system), at the same racetrack (my local track). Best laps were 1.18.1 for the S2000 (best of 2 track days), and 1.20.9 for the MX5 (best of 12 track days). I'm a pretty average driver in terms of skill, do have some experience, about 30 track days total.
Anyway the velocity-vs-time shows where the S2000 (blue line) is quicker than the MX5 (red line), and the graph below that, the gap-vs-time shows how the gap between the two cars stretches out throughout the lap:
Here's a breakdown of where the S2000 shines, and where the MX5 is better:
The Mazda is obviously seriously down on horsepower, which leaves it way behind in the straights, but the MX5 matches the S2000 for low-speed cornering speeds and actually beats it by about 10 km/h in high-speed cornering. It's a lot friendlier at the limit. This for only half the cost ($7000 to buy/build my lightly modded MX5, and $14000 purchase price for the S2000). And if the track didn't have that huge straightaway that pulls out a 2.5 second gap, the laps times would be very close.
Now, some caveats: this was my first dry day at the track with the S2000, so I'm still learning how to drive it. And there's a few differences in the cars' conditions:
MX5:
- rollbar welded in (adds stiffness)
- better and lower suspension that stock: Koni Yellow shocks, Eibach 375/250 springs and Ground Control perches
- well-aligned to a track-friendly setup
- decent tires
- EBC Yellowstuff brake pads, fresh DOT 5.1 brake fluid
S2000
- completely stock
- slightly mismatched tires (different kinds of tires on front vs. back, and the fronts are grippier/better, so that leads to even more twitchiness/oversteer)
- no idea what the alignment is
- stock pads, no idea what the brake fluid is and what its condition is
Back story: just last week I switched from a lightly modified 1991 Mazda MX5 to a 1999 Honda S2000. Took telemetry of both (using a Traqmate GPS-based system), at the same racetrack (my local track). Best laps were 1.18.1 for the S2000 (best of 2 track days), and 1.20.9 for the MX5 (best of 12 track days). I'm a pretty average driver in terms of skill, do have some experience, about 30 track days total.
Anyway the velocity-vs-time shows where the S2000 (blue line) is quicker than the MX5 (red line), and the graph below that, the gap-vs-time shows how the gap between the two cars stretches out throughout the lap:
Here's a breakdown of where the S2000 shines, and where the MX5 is better:
The Mazda is obviously seriously down on horsepower, which leaves it way behind in the straights, but the MX5 matches the S2000 for low-speed cornering speeds and actually beats it by about 10 km/h in high-speed cornering. It's a lot friendlier at the limit. This for only half the cost ($7000 to buy/build my lightly modded MX5, and $14000 purchase price for the S2000). And if the track didn't have that huge straightaway that pulls out a 2.5 second gap, the laps times would be very close.
Now, some caveats: this was my first dry day at the track with the S2000, so I'm still learning how to drive it. And there's a few differences in the cars' conditions:
MX5:
- rollbar welded in (adds stiffness)
- better and lower suspension that stock: Koni Yellow shocks, Eibach 375/250 springs and Ground Control perches
- well-aligned to a track-friendly setup
- decent tires
- EBC Yellowstuff brake pads, fresh DOT 5.1 brake fluid
S2000
- completely stock
- slightly mismatched tires (different kinds of tires on front vs. back, and the fronts are grippier/better, so that leads to even more twitchiness/oversteer)
- no idea what the alignment is
- stock pads, no idea what the brake fluid is and what its condition is
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From: Deltona, FL
You got me. I'm hugely gay. Like HUGELY FLAMBOYANTLY gay. I'm wearing a shirt that's pulled up from the bottom, pulled inside and tucked through the neckline.
I'm sorry that I added fuel to the fire. I understand the perspective on these cars, but I just saw a few today and... boy are they ugly. I get it, they're fun. I also get it that fun is in the eyes of the beholder. End of thread. You all win. The Miata is funner for some people. It's better in hundreds, if not thousands of ways.
But it's ugly. Ungodly ugly. Well, at least the old ones that seem to be the only thing I see. The others must fade away into the crowd.
Maybe we should start a "Miata Talk" forum? Moderators?
I'm sorry that I added fuel to the fire. I understand the perspective on these cars, but I just saw a few today and... boy are they ugly. I get it, they're fun. I also get it that fun is in the eyes of the beholder. End of thread. You all win. The Miata is funner for some people. It's better in hundreds, if not thousands of ways.
But it's ugly. Ungodly ugly. Well, at least the old ones that seem to be the only thing I see. The others must fade away into the crowd.
Maybe we should start a "Miata Talk" forum? Moderators?
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