Actually, Scott, I have seen an Elan with its clothes off. The
backbone frame is just that, the primary structural part of the car.
It supports the largly unstressed body, the engine, transmission,
suspension components and differential. The Miata is not built like
this. The main structural member is the monocoque (damn, unibody is
easier to spell) itself. The subframe to which I was referring is
vibrationally isolated from the unibody and supports only the engine,
transmission and differential. It does not support the body, but is
supported BY the body which in turn is supported by the suspension.
This arrangement, along with the absence of the rubber doughnuts in
the driveline, helps to eliminate the "rubber band" loping that Elan
owners know so well. Put another way, this subrame unites engine,
tranmission and differential into one unit, not unlike the single-unit
effect in a mid-engine car. Not to stray too far from British cars,
but maybe our Miata-driving folks can pass on the factory claims for
this design. Miata was suposed to be a light-weight, inexpensive
sport car. It is neither. The Spridget is. (Yes I know Loti are
lighter, but inexpensive?) phile@pwcs.stpaul.gov
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Login name: phile In real life: Philip J Ethier
Phone: 298-5324
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