mgs
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Nostalgic Design

To: j_carlile@yahoo.com (IPM Return Requested)
Subject: Re: Nostalgic Design
From: William Elliott <William.Elliott@mail.mei.com>
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 14:49:40 -0500
Okay, now that I've "slammed" the Miata is a couple of posts, I think I should 
come to its defense after reading your last comments.

I agree that the aesthetic value of the Miata is lacking in many areas... but 
not that much visually... remember they used one of the most beautiful cars of 
all times, the Lotus Elan, as the basis for their styling.  The Miata does look 
a bit "overweight", but then again it's not a copy but a modern "rendition" of 
the Elan, which looks much "cleaner", "lighter" and more "fragile" in 
comparison.

The "tinny" engine sounds do hamper the driving experience (for me).  Its 
high-reving 16-valver simply does not have the aural appeal of small bore, long 
stroke British engines.  Not  really _bad_  but very different.  

Still, mostly a matter of taste... but both comments  support my earlier 
assertions that the two audiences are different in both their expectations and 
definitions of "class" and "style".

However, I can find no fault with the Miata's engineering.  I have seen (and 
driven) several examples in excess of 100,000 miles with no appreciable 
degradation... mechanically or cosmetically.  Some of those cars had led hard 
lives on the track and autocross course, some with an add-on turbo!  Any time 
you can simply strap on a turbo to an otherwise stock engine and drive it hard 
for 100,000 miles, you know the engineering is rock-solid (and a real 
improvement over the rather fragile RX7).  

 IMHO, the Miata has taken excellent advantage of the automotive advances of 
the last couple of decades and is a reasonable alternative to the otherwise 
generic crop of modern cars. (But I still don't want one. :-)  )

Bill Elliott
Lake Mills, WI


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>