Polaris Slingshot, toy or not?

[LittleLebowski]

Just curious, a friend is interested in these.

[Lester Polfus]

People drive a bunch of F-350's around here. On a motorcycle, bumper height of a F-350 is right about my hip. That's bad. In one of those Polaris dealies, it looks like my head would be right about F-350 bumper height. That seems worse.

[Welder]

I like my speedy vehicles with 4 wheels and 2, but this type of contraption does nothing for me. At a glance, it shares the worst attributes of motorcycles and cages.

[RevolverRob]

Hot garbage.

1) Powered by a very, very, mediocre engine (2.2 GM Ecotec) - Worst car I've ever owned was powered by a 2.2 Ecotec. It just wasn't a particular strong motor and not something I'd be keen to own again. Not particularly easy to work on. It wasn't unreliable, but it wasn't fantastic in terms of power output/rev-range and certainly not fantastic for hop-up ability.

2) Classified as a motorcycle - not car. This means no crash testing, no chassis reinforcements for crashes, none of the refinements a proper car has. - Also means you need a motorcycle license to drive it.

3) Very, very, mediocre build quality. Lots and lots and lots of plastics, very uncomfortable seats, poor cockpit design overall. The ones I've seen with any miles on them have worn out suspension, weird tire-wear issues (more in a second), creak, rattle, and look like they were built by toddlers. Scratch that...my toddler niece could build something better.

4) The suspension design was clearly done by someone had never built a damn car before. It's setup for comfort and cruising, not for speed or handling. It's so low, the suspension doesn't really do much to dampen. It's almost like someone who had never built a car before designed something vaguely suspension-like. There are alignment issues that contribute the weird tire-wear issues. And to top it all off...the pick-up points and design are such that without significant re-engineering it will never - never - handle particularly well. So you can't even fix the stock issues.

5) Limited ability to modify overall. The aftermarket really hasn't picked up on this thing, because it's basically hot garbage.

___

Your friend wants a two-seat toy? A brand new Mazda MX5 RF. Or an older MX5 Club Sport, or a moderate mileage (<75k) Honda S2000. Faster, better looking, an actual CAR, and trust me - you can have more fun driving a MX5 than a Slingshot any day of the week, not to mention you can actually DRIVE the thing for longer than 45-minutes without a wicked headache/backache.

The Slingshot is a toy'ish thing that looks like a cool track-day special. It has virtually all of the terrible things about track-day specials (lack of windscreen, bad muffling, harsh-ride) and none of the good things (fast, good brakes, good suspension, sticks to the ground, fun to drive).

[txdpd]

I drove one in a parking lot and I thought the steering and oversteer were pretty terrible. It didn't want to stop turning and straighten out and any power in a turn and the back tire would start to break free. It was very fast in a straight line. Kind of like a Chevelle 454 on bias ply's on a wet road, kind of, except for the part about having any dignity.

I think it's better to know someone that owns one than own one. It'd probably be ok to drive around at the speed limit, but I don't think it's a track tricycle.

[Wondering Beard]

I had no idea what a Polaris Slingshot (some kind of tactical slingshot?) was so off to Google I went and, of course, ended up disappointed.

If one must have a three wheelie, it better look like this:

http://www.carbuzz.com/resizeimg/imageshandler.ashx?w=640&h=480&url=http://db.carbuzz.com/images2/260000/5000/200/265242.jpg

Or like this:

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/83de18ea687b4310aa8058ffb2ff2658/looks-like-a-3-wheel-morgan-has-honda-engine-classic-car-show-pembrokeshire-d0rmm5.jpg

[RevolverRob]

PS: Let's not forget that the answer to most sportscar related questions is "Get a Miata"

Example:

Q) I want a car that is fun to drive, that I can go to work in and take a weekend road-trip bombing down country roads in.
A) Get a Miata.

Q) I want a car I can drive to the track and then drive home in.
A) Get a Miata.

Q) I want a car I can autocross or race, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to run and is challenging, but fun to drive.
A) Get a Miata.

Q) I need a fun car that can haul my wife and two kids.
A) Get two Miatas.

Q) I need a COUPE that can haul four people, that is reliable, doesn't cost an arm and a leg to drive and insure, and I can race on Sunday, drive to work on Monday in.
A) Get two Miatas with hardtops.

Q) I need a reliable coupe that is faster than a Miata and has seating for four, is reliable, and I can race on Sunday and drive to work on Monday, and the main exec of my company doesn't ask me if I have a mangina.
A) Porsche 911 and/or V8-swapped or turbo/supercharged Miata.

____

ALL sportscar questions have one (or two) of two answers; Mazda Miata or Porsche 911.

[Default.mp3]

ALL sportscar questions have one (or two) of two answers; Honda S2000 or Porsche 911.FIFY.

[BehindBlueI's]

Q) I need a reliable coupe that is faster than a Miata and has seating for four, is reliable, and I can race on Sunday and drive to work on Monday, and the main exec of my company doesn't ask me if I have a mangina.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4zSIVpVMaw

If you need headroom for a bun and only enough trunk space for your purse, stick with the Miata. :)

[Rich@CCC]

My son was in Texas working as a motorcycle mechanic when these things came out. Evidently they could not, at that time be registered in Texas. They did not qualify as a car because of the open cockpit and three wheels. The did not qualify as a motorcycle because, three wheels. They did not qualify as a trike because of the side by side seating.

[RJ]

ALL sportscar questions have one (or two) of two answers; Mazda Miata or Porsche 911.

Porsche Cayman?

[RevolverRob]

FIFY.

Not really. I think the S2K is an amazing car, but compared to the availability, affordability, and driveability? The Miata is really the best car going.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4zSIVpVMaw

If you need headroom for a bun and only enough trunk space for your purse, stick with the Miata. :)

Actually...if you want to drive something fun and get good at driving, stick with the Miata. ;)

Most people can't drive a Miata at 10/10ths, let alone a ZL1 Camaro. If you can drive a ZL1 Camaro at 10/10ths, awesome, enjoy it. I raced V8 Mustangs for several years, won a few races, podium'ed more, and on shorter, tighter tracks, would regularly get lapped by properly setup Miatas and Porsches.

When I finally gave up the Mustang (I should say, when the Mustang's owner decided to sell it and I didn't have a race car anymore). I switched to drag racing Mopars, but when I finally got back to road racing, it was in smaller, lighter, cars with less power (Miatas, Mazda2s, B-Spec Honda Fits). And frankly? It was way more fun, very competitive, and generally a better drive. It's much easier to take those cars to the limit than a ZL1 Camaro.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE horsepower and speed. There is something carnal and intoxicating about slamming the skinny pedal down and turning the world into your personal version of a warpdrive. But if you're racing, to win, or if you're an okay driver who just wants to have fun...less power + less weight = More fun.


Is it possible for someone 6'2" or taller to drive a Miata and look through the windshield instead of over it?

Try and see, but the new ones have "sling"-style hammock seats, that lower the drive another 2" or so and make it so even larger drivers sit below the windshield. If you don't find it comfortable, you certainly wouldn't find something like the Slingshot comfortable. You'd be better off with plan B for a sportscar - used Porsche 911.

[RevolverRob]

Porsche Cayman?

To get a Cayman that is nearly as fast as a bone-stock 911...you have to spend bone-stock 911 money. :(

Race wise, they benefit from sharing the Boxster platform, but they drive better/different than Boxsters. As a result they need different tuning setups. Porsche Club of America introduced a Spec-Cayman class last year, that should help move it along. Maybe in ~5 years Porsche Cayman would be a good answer. Right now, if you want an entry-level Porsche, probably go Boxster.

Oh and the Caymans don't have backseats.

[txdpd]

Is it possible for someone 6'2" or taller to drive a Miata and look through the windshield instead of over it?

It's the Raptor option.

18391

[orionz06]

Rob said it all. They're the cargo jorts of vehicles.

[RJ]

Oh and the Caymans don't have backseats.

I'm ok with that. :)

Actually who am I kidding. My talent runs out at 5/10s. Hell, if I'd wind my old E92 Dinan-tuned M3 past 6,000, it'd scare the hell out of me. :cool:

Driving the Ram 2500 with the Cummins I6 is a bit different experience.

[Odin Bravo One]

Taking the "Nope" train to FuckThatVille.

[BehindBlueI's]

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE horsepower and speed. There is something carnal and intoxicating about slamming the skinny pedal down and turning the world into your personal version of a warpdrive. But if you're racing, to win, or if you're an okay driver who just wants to have fun...less power + less weight = More fun. .

If I was doing road courses then maybe. I fit in a Subaru better, though. For something I'm actually going to drive, I'll stick with my Camaro. I've tried other cars, but always circled back. My current one is a 2012 SS/RS with the 6.2L/6M. Pedders adjustable suspension, and otherwise stock. It's big enough to be comfortable and to carry luggage, has a usable back seat, and is incredibly composed. Need to pass a semi on a 2 lane with a short passing zone? Drop to 2nd, teleport in front of it. It's a fantastic handling car as well. Not as comfortable as my Ram...but honestly other than a TownCar I've yet to find anything that is.

I might eventually go back to another Corvette, I came fairly close this time, but for now I'm going to keep the back seat option.

[RevolverRob]

I'm ok with that. :)

Actually who am I kidding. My talent runs out at 5/10s. Hell, if I'd wind my old E92 Dinan-tuned M3 past 6,000, it'd scare the hell out of me. :cool:

Driving the Ram 2500 with the Cummins I6 is a bit different experience.

I always tried to gauge my 10ths against the car I'm driving. But I know myself, 500 horsepower is basically the number where I run out of talent. A part of my thing is, unlike most pro sportscar/GT drivers, I never had much seat time in a shifter cart. I basically borrowed a ride in a Honda Civic Si for SCCA Solo, got hooked and started driving cones and then courses. By contrast a Civic Si on cones and even a road course is miles slower than the way things happen in a kart or even dirt-track racing. I drove friend's 500-horse American Iron X-prepped Camaro into a gravel trap at about 110 mph after missing a braking point by about a meter. I just flat lack the reflexes and experience to drive stuff that fast.

My next ride is definitely a Porsche 911. I have my "Miata" in the form of the '63 Sunbeam Alpine. Which is rather quickly (to my surprise) coming along now and should be ready for SCCA Solo B-Prep Limited next season. But a buddy called last week to tell me he is ready to part with his cherry '74 911 2.7/5-speed car and offered me a killer friend price...

[OlongJohnson]

PS: Let's not forget that the answer to most sportscar related questions is "Get a Miata"

Example:

Q) I want a car that is fun to drive, that I can go to work in and take a weekend road-trip bombing down country roads in.
A) Get a Miata.

Q) I want a car I can drive to the track and then drive home in.
A) Get a Miata.

Q) I want a car I can autocross or race, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to run and is challenging, but fun to drive.
A) Get a Miata.

Q) I need a fun car that can haul my wife and two kids.
A) Get two Miatas.

Q) I need a COUPE that can haul four people, that is reliable, doesn't cost an arm and a leg to drive and insure, and I can race on Sunday, drive to work on Monday in.
A) Get two Miatas with hardtops.

Q) I need a reliable coupe that is faster than a Miata and has seating for four, is reliable, and I can race on Sunday and drive to work on Monday, and the main exec of my company doesn't ask me if I have a mangina.
A) Porsche 911 and/or V8-swapped or turbo/supercharged Miata.

____

ALL sportscar questions have one (or two) of two answers; Mazda Miata or Porsche 911.

Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer


Is it possible for someone 6'2" or taller to drive a Miata and look through the windshield instead of over it?

Dave Coleman, who's significantly responsible for Miataness at Mazda R&D in Irvine, is about 6'2", and says the new Miata fits him just fine. It doesn't quite fit me. He has personally owned several older Miatas, too.

I'm 6'4" and sold a '99 Miata last winter after having it for eight years, daily driving it much of that time. Suspension was dialed. Did quite a few track days with it. In SoCal, it was better than a therapist and much cheaper. In TX, it really didn't make enough sense to keep around. Sold it to someone who drove it back to Cali where it belongs. It was always just slightly too small, even after I did the "foamectomy."

The Miata is a remarkable case of the whole being better than the sum of its parts. The steering isn't great, the engine isn't great, the suspension has some oddities and doesn't respond to tuning in quite the same way most other cars do, the chassis is far more flexible than a coupe. The brakes aren't great, and ABS is waaay too rare an option. But through all that, it has no specific faults that hold it back, or keep the overall system from reaching its potential. It's a thoroughly well-balanced package. All the parts work in harmony, and it delivers what people want from it. It's ridiculously inexpensive to operate, even running it very hard. It's very reasonable to call it the Glock 19 of sports cars. I can recommend it.

I also had an '85 MR2 and spent a lot of time driving an MR2 Spider when they were new. The latter was set up to deliver the exact same handling numbers as an Elise, and still rode great. In both of them, I'd move the seat all the way back, then forward one notch to have it perfect. The Spider was quieter than the Miata, and had better steering and light years better brakes. You could drive it buttoned up and tidy, or hang the tail out and drift it for days in perfect control. Anyone who says mid-engine cars are inherently twitchy hasn't driven one that works well. The engine wasn't the bombproof cast iron lump that's in the Miata, but you can always get another one out of a Corolla if you need to. They want some oiling help if you track them a lot.

If I could find one in clean enough condition, I'd buy a 1998 M3 with a solid roof. A nearly perfect car, although it requires a lot of maintenance. Time is a real bitch, sometimes.

The Cayman is a good street car, but people who get serious about setting them up for the track end up spending more than the cost of a Miata just to make them reliable in that environment.


My next ride is definitely a Porsche 911. I have my "Miata" in the form of the '63 Sunbeam Alpine. Which is rather quickly (to my surprise) coming along now and should be ready for SCCA Solo B-Prep Limited next season. But a buddy called last week to tell me he is ready to part with his cherry '74 911 2.7/5-speed car and offered me a killer friend price...

Don't do it. That's the worst 911. Hundreds of pounds heavier and significantly less powerful than a '73. But still costs just as much to operate as the good years. A stock '99 Miata will humiliate it. At least get a 3.0L if you're going to go post-'73, pre-964.

[RevolverRob]

Don't do it. That's the worst 911. Hundreds of pounds heavier and significantly less powerful than a '73. But still costs just as much to operate as the good years. A stock '99 Miata will humiliate it. At least get a 3.0L if you're going to go post-'73, pre-964.

Hundreds? It's a stock, base-model 911, with virtually no options, other than a factory short shifter...so it weighs ~2370 pounds, it is about 100-pounds heavier than a '73 base which was ~2270 curb weight. And the 2.7 base is 150-hp to the '73's 2.4 base 140-hp. If you're comparing it to the 2.7 RS then yes, down on power by comparison (210 on the RS).

If you want to lighten it, ditch those impact-bumpers and retrofit a '71-73 style set of bumpers and boom - that extra 100 pounds is basically gone.

Also this particular car has just had the 2.7 gone through, by a Porsche Specialist out of Texas. Carrera rods and pistons, very mild cam, and a set of Weber IDFs to replace the Bosch mechanical injection. No sunroof, moderate suspension upgrades (adjustable Konis, bigger sways)...I just plan to put a set of 17" Fuchs with some Michelin Pilot Sports on them and drive the piss out of it daily.

It's not a competition car or a car meant for tracking. Like I said, I've got the Alpine which I'm setting up for B-Prep Limited SCCA Solo and will work fine for HPDEs and maybe the occasional open track day. - I'm pretty much done racing cars heavily for competition. Solo is a nice one a month Sunday past-time and allows me to stay sharp and refine my ride. The Porsche is just for driving.

[RJ]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a10349976/koenigsegg-test-driver-miata-nurburgring-video/

That looks...fun.

I may have to look more at these Miatas, sometime down the road.

We had an entertaining conversation about a *cough* second car driving up to Washington yesterday in fact.

I'm familiar with older model BMWs, and it occurred to me since I pretty much can deal with the typical problems of an E46, perhaps a '03-'05 330iC might be a nice weekend car. I'll have to look into this if we ever decide to get back into some kind of sticks and bricks house or condo in FL type of thing.

[60Driver]

Also this particular car has just had the 2.7 gone through, by a Porsche Specialist out of Texas. Carrera rods and pistons, very mild cam, and a set of Weber IDFs to replace the Bosch mechanical injection. No sunroof, moderate suspension upgrades (adjustable Konis, bigger sways)...I just plan to put a set of 17" Fuchs with some Michelin Pilot Sports on them and drive the piss out of it daily.


Ran a similar but slightly more developed RS Repro for years. She still sits in my garage waiting for more time on my part. Depending on Cam that 2.7 with Webers will be snotty on the street. You will love it but it will require a lot of love.
https://pistol-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10714&d=1474485126

[Doc_Glock]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a10349976/koenigsegg-test-driver-miata-nurburgring-video/

That looks...fun.

I may have to look more at these Miatas, sometime down the road.

We had an entertaining conversation about a *cough* second car driving up to Washington yesterday in fact.

I'm familiar with older model BMWs, and it occurred to me since I pretty much can deal with the typical problems of an E46, perhaps a '03-'05 330iC might be a nice weekend car. I'll have to look into this if we ever decide to get back into some kind of sticks and bricks house or condo in FL type of thing.

I sort of fell into a 2001 3.0 Z3 for cheap. I scorned the Z3 as not much of a sports car when I was reading all the magazines back in the day. I didn't want to like it much. I was wrong, and I love this thing. I have driven it back to back with 3rd and current gen Miatas, and S2000s and would not swap cars with any of them. Granted I am an enthusiast driver and not a race car driver, but it excels on mountain roads and the throwback semi trailing rear end is a hoot. It reminds me of the old 5.0 Mustang in a lot of ways. Torquey, kinda clunky to shift and a great kick in the pants.

It is based on the a simple and relatively bullet proof E30 suspension, and the engine has responded to some minimal replacement of plastic parts well.

They are cheap, easy to work on and under valued IMO. Just be sure to get enough engine because I think it would suck with the 4 cylinder. Of course, just about any minivan is faster than an early 2000s sports car any more, I think it is still quick enough and tons of fun to daily drive.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170725/1afb362b83a1920e9398276d44d0bbbb.jpg

[rd62]

Hundreds? It's a stock, base-model 911, with virtually no options, other than a factory short shifter...so it weighs ~2370 pounds, it is about 100-pounds heavier than a '73 base which was ~2270 curb weight. And the 2.7 base is 150-hp to the '73's 2.4 base 140-hp. If you're comparing it to the 2.7 RS then yes, down on power by comparison (210 on the RS).

If you want to lighten it, ditch those impact-bumpers and retrofit a '71-73 style set of bumpers and boom - that extra 100 pounds is basically gone.

Also this particular car has just had the 2.7 gone through, by a Porsche Specialist out of Texas. Carrera rods and pistons, very mild cam, and a set of Weber IDFs to replace the Bosch mechanical injection. No sunroof, moderate suspension upgrades (adjustable Konis, bigger sways)...I just plan to put a set of 17" Fuchs with some Michelin Pilot Sports on them and drive the piss out of it daily.

It's not a competition car or a car meant for tracking. Like I said, I've got the Alpine which I'm setting up for B-Prep Limited SCCA Solo and will work fine for HPDEs and maybe the occasional open track day. - I'm pretty much done racing cars heavily for competition. Solo is a nice one a month Sunday past-time and allows me to stay sharp and refine my ride. The Porsche is just for driving.

Sounds saweeeeeet!

[RevolverRob]

Ran a similar but slightly more developed RS Repro for years. She still sits in my garage waiting for more time on my part. Depending on Cam that 2.7 with Webers will be snotty on the street. You will love it but it will require a lot of love.

Sweet car! What color yellow is that (the original RS paint-code, or a different one?). My Sunbeam is in need of new paint and I've been leaning towards one of the Porsche yellows.

As for snotty, yea, I'm unsure on the cam situation. Knowing my buddy he wanted it to idle a bit rough to sound nice and he wanted it to pull harder off the line, but still drive pretty well without crazy maintenance. His mechanic has been building vintage racing P-cars and other exotics for about 35-years, so I imagine when described as a "mild street" motor it's not too far from that. Even still, it'll require considerably more maintenance than a new Mazda Miata would. But then again, it's a vintage Porsche. And frankly, since I was about...6-years old, I've been in love with Porsches and always wanted one, but never actually owned one (come close a couple of times...).

When my friend bought this one about 5-years ago, as a driver/mild restoration project, I took one look at it and started teasing him, "Man, thanks for buying and restoring my Porsche." Now it's back to bite me in the ass, "So Rob, are you ready to buy your Porsche?"


Sounds saweeeeeet!

Right?

Now for the real challenge...convincing my wife. Who is already like, "You have a sportscar! And we have a 5-door hatchback with adjustable suspension and sticky tires. Why do we need another sports-type car?" - To which my reply is, "Because Porsche."

I think the deal is going to be, I get a 911, she gets a house (aka I get a garage). Apparently, "I got you a dog! You get a dog, I get a Porsche!" Isn't seen as an equivalent trade...:o:confused:

[60Driver]

Paint is original code 73 Chrome Spec Yellow.

With the 2.7 builds an "Early S" Cam = a very aggressive street cam. Mine has a WEBCAM variation on this theme that only behaves on the street with a Jacobs box instead of the original Bosch Ignition system. Basically it comes on cam around 4000K and will pull to 9 plus if I am willing to take it there. Other things to be aware of is that valve and carb tuning are critical on these motors and they prefer and OPEN exhaust. IF you already have not read Pelican Parts Forum, go there and Rennlist.

The Weber 2.7 motors get RPM NOW! and are true to the original RS sound and fury, for a dual street track car I would honestly go with a 3.2 motronic, easier to maintain, more torque, flatter power band. But for a purist 2.7 is where it is at.

I have been out of the PCAR club racing scene for many years and really do miss it. Like you I started with too much car and never really got that good, but had a blast doing it.

Basics on mine:

1970 911T, slight flare to run 16 7's and 8's
Full cage tied to front a rear suspension
2.7 as above, RS jugs, time certs etc etc
Adjustable Koni's, bigger torsion bars and sways, adjustable spring plates.
SC slotted rotors
901 gearbox (lighter but fragile) short shift kit with "airport" gears
RS style gutted interior
Paint is rough, but it was built and was a steetable track toy

I have owned it since 1984, 2 engine rebuilds and more $ than I dare add up. Built it with my dad and grand dad and my boys will learn to race in it. Props on the Alpine, friend race a Tiger...it was a handful!

Once you get yours, if you have any questions my amateur knowledge can help with hit me up. Oh and also owned a 2nd gen Miata. WAY easier way to play the cone game with almost equal smiles. Junior Pilots in my squadron used to give me S#$%, offered to run against any of them in autocross with it or break out the real race car. They shut up!

[RevolverRob]

Paint is original code 73 Chrome Spec Yellow.

With the 2.7 builds an "Early S" Cam = a very aggressive street cam. Mine has a WEBCAM variation on this theme that only behaves on the street with a Jacobs box instead of the original Bosch Ignition system. Basically it comes on cam around 4000K and will pull to 9 plus if I am willing to take it there. Other things to be aware of is that valve and carb tuning are critical on these motors and they prefer and OPEN exhaust. IF you already have not read Pelican Parts Forum, go there and Rennlist.

The Weber 2.7 motors get RPM NOW! and are true to the original RS sound and fury, for a dual street track car I would honestly go with a 3.2 motronic, easier to maintain, more torque, flatter power band. But for a purist 2.7 is where it is at.

I have been out of the PCAR club racing scene for many years and really do miss it. Like you I started with too much car and never really got that good, but had a blast doing it.

Basics on mine:

1970 911T, slight flare to run 16 7's and 8's
Full cage tied to front a rear suspension
2.7 as above, RS jugs, time certs etc etc
Adjustable Koni's, bigger torsion bars and sways, adjustable spring plates.
SC slotted rotors
901 gearbox (lighter but fragile) short shift kit with "airport" gears
RS style gutted interior
Paint is rough, but it was built and was a steetable track toy

I have owned it since 1984, 2 engine rebuilds and more $ than I dare add up. Built it with my dad and grand dad and my boys will learn to race in it. Props on the Alpine, friend race a Tiger...it was a handful!

Once you get yours, if you have any questions my amateur knowledge can help with hit me up. Oh and also owned a 2nd gen Miata. WAY easier way to play the cone game with almost equal smiles. Junior Pilots in my squadron used to give me S#$%, offered to run against any of them in autocross with it or break out the real race car. They shut up!

Truly awesome set of wheels.

Good luck with the sons! I hope they enjoy it. My dad got me hooked on cars as a kid and it was his boss's AI Mustang I raced. I think I got a motor oil transfusion at about 5-years old and I've been effectively obsessed with things with wheels since.

My oldest nephew (7 later this year) is getting close for TAG kart racing. But you can see his eyes glaze over and the focus come on intense when he sees quarter-midgets going in circles on dirt. I'm not sure he's going to get the bug like grandpa and uncle to turn left and right, but he's got the need for speed, it's there burning inside of him. Last time I saw him at home, he was trying to figure out how to mount a left-over weed-eater mower to his younger brother's tricycle.

[RJ]

Ok, Miata guys.

Budget is $10k.

Can I get a decent daily driver, MT, in this price point?

What are the things to look out for on a used purchase?

Any absolute Red Flags?

[RevolverRob]

Ok, Miata guys.

Budget is $10k.

Can I get a decent daily driver, MT, in this price point?

What are the things to look out for on a used purchase?

Any absolute Red Flags?

Absolutely yes.

I would look for a second generation (NB) Miata. Mainly, because I think it is the best-looking made, until they released the RF this year. The NBs all have the larger 1.8 liter motor (later versions of the first-gen NA Miatas had 1.8s as options). They also had optional 6-speeds with slightly better ratios for autocross and trackdays. Both NAs and NBs had optional Torsen Limited-Slip diffs. If you find an NB with a 1.8 and 6-speed, it should have a limited-slip diff.

Here is Road and Track's NB Buyer's Guide that lays out most of it - http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a29765/nb-mazda-miata-buyers-guide/

Red flags - avoid heavily modified cars, period. There are a lot of beat up Miatas out there and if you're building a race car/track toy/something you don't mind fixing a beat up Miata is perfectly fine. But you want a driver car - just avoid things that have been heavily modified.

I'm partial to the '99 10th Anniversary NB Miatas myself, the color is gorgeous, with a color-matched top and interior, they came factory 1.8/6spd/Torsen/Bilstein shocks. They're out there and your price range should allow you to find a cherry, low-mileage one. Similarly you could look for some of the other limited-edition models (all conveniently called "Special Editions) which tend to be optioned better than base models.

http://jalopnik.com/your-guide-to-every-special-edition-mazda-miata-ever-so-1675339097

[Welder]

Ok, Miata guys.

Budget is $10k.

Can I get a decent daily driver, MT, in this price point?

Too bad you weren't looking on CL in my area about a month ago, on a Sunday afternoon at about 3:20 p.m. I'd just listed my '95 R Package with 114k miles for $7k, or $500 more than I bought it for awhile back. Had a Flyin Miata suspension installed, but all of the R package stuff came with it. Shortly afterwards, I got a call from Chapel Hill, NC. "Hold it for me and give me your address, I'm leaving my driveway now!" "Hey man, glad to do that, but it's a Sunday; you do have CASH, right?" "Oh yeah!"

Sure enough, around 4 hrs later he pulled in, took a short test drive, handed me $7k in neatly stapled $1k chunks, and was on his way home. And I had thought I'd priced that car at near the top of it's value. It wasn't on CL for more than 5 hrs, and was only really available for 38 minutes.

[RJ]

Absolutely yes.

I would look for a second generation (NB) Miata. Mainly, because I think it is the best-looking made, until they released the RF this year. The NBs all have the larger 1.8 liter motor (later versions of the first-gen NA Miatas had 1.8s as options). They also had optional 6-speeds with slightly better ratios for autocross and trackdays. Both NAs and NBs had optional Torsen Limited-Slip diffs. If you find an NB with a 1.8 and 6-speed, it should have a limited-slip diff.

Here is Road and Track's NB Buyer's Guide that lays out most of it - http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a29765/nb-mazda-miata-buyers-guide/

Red flags - avoid heavily modified cars, period. There are a lot of beat up Miatas out there and if you're building a race car/track toy/something you don't mind fixing a beat up Miata is perfectly fine. But you want a driver car - just avoid things that have been heavily modified.

I'm partial to the '99 10th Anniversary NB Miatas myself, the color is gorgeous, with a color-matched top and interior, they came factory 1.8/6spd/Torsen/Bilstein shocks. They're out there and your price range should allow you to find a cherry, low-mileage one. Similarly you could look for some of the other limited-edition models (all conveniently called "Special Editions) which tend to be optioned better than base models.

http://jalopnik.com/your-guide-to-every-special-edition-mazda-miata-ever-so-1675339097

Thanks a bunch. I'll pick this topic up in December when we get back to FL.

A condo with a garage has been mentioned, and the possibility of a "second" car has not yet been actually disapproved by SWMBO. Although negotiations, are of course, still ongoing, :cool:

[rob_s]

PS: Let's not forget that the answer to most sportscar related questions is "Get a Miata"

Example:

Q) I want a car that is fun to drive, that I can go to work in and take a weekend road-trip bombing down country roads in.
A) Get a Miata.

Q) I want a car I can drive to the track and then drive home in.
A) Get a Miata.

Q) I want a car I can autocross or race, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to run and is challenging, but fun to drive.
A) Get a Miata.

Q) I need a fun car that can haul my wife and two kids.
A) Get two Miatas.

Q) I need a COUPE that can haul four people, that is reliable, doesn't cost an arm and a leg to drive and insure, and I can race on Sunday, drive to work on Monday in.
A) Get two Miatas with hardtops.

Q) I need a reliable coupe that is faster than a Miata and has seating for four, is reliable, and I can race on Sunday and drive to work on Monday, and the main exec of my company doesn't ask me if I have a mangina.
A) Porsche 911 and/or V8-swapped or turbo/supercharged Miata.

____

ALL sportscar questions have one (or two) of two answers; Mazda Miata or Porsche 911.

Sooner or later we were bound to agree on something. (sorry if that ruins it for you)

I've been keeping a passive eye out for a 99-01 "limited" in the dark, almost british-racing-green, with leather seats and tan top.

[LittleLebowski]

Awesome thread, love how it evolved.

[Doc_Glock]

Absolutely yes.

I would look for a second generation (NB) Miata.

http://jalopnik.com/your-guide-to-every-special-edition-mazda-miata-ever-so-1675339097

2300 lbs! Now I'm looking.

[rob_s]

Too many miles on it, and too much body damage, but this is exactly what I'm looking for.
https://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/d/mazda-miata-se-mx-british/6218616452.html

[David S.]

Is it possible for someone 6'2" or taller to drive a Miata and look through the windshield instead of over it?

I don't know anything about Miata, but you might consider e30 or e36 BMW's. At 6'9" and 200lbs, I could fit in an E36 M3/4 fairly comfortably, better than most full size sedans.

I'm guessing the e30 is more inline with the Miata concept.

[Doc_Glock]

I'm guessing the e30 is more inline with the Miata concept.

E30 M3s have become collectors and have skyrocketed in price. Plus engine parts are super hard to source and expensive. So I hear. They would run 3-4 time the price of the 2nd gen Miata.

I would love one. Of course I would also love an Elise.

[RJ]

E30 M3s have become collectors and have skyrocketed in price. Plus engine parts are super hard to source and expensive. So I hear. They would run 3-4 time the price of the 2nd gen Miata.

I would love one. Of course I would also love an Elise.

Yep.

A sorted E30 M3 would be...cool.

Of course, my 'win the lottery' car would be more old school:

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BMW E9 at Caffiene and Octane, Atlanta, circa 2012. I really like this car. :cool:

[RJ]

I haven't been in (or paid much attention to) Miatas since the late 90s. The one I drove back then was a total clown car with me in it. With the top up, my head touched the top and it's ribs. With the top down, my head was higher than the windshield and the crossbar on it directly inline with my eyes. I either had to slouch or crane my neck to get a moderately unobstructed view of the road. I was just not a good fit for that car.

None of this really matters as I'm unlikely to be buying a car, especially one just for fun, anytime soon. :)

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:cool:

[olstyn]

Of course, my 'win the lottery' car would be more old school:

Mine wouldn't be *quite* as old-school, but I feel like lots of the folks in this thread would approve. If I had infinite money to burn, I'd have a Porsche 959, all the way, no questions asked. That car was just too awesome for words. :)

[RJ]

Mine wouldn't be *quite* as old-school, but I feel like lots of the folks in this thread would approve. If I had infinite money to burn, I'd have a Porsche 959, all the way, no questions asked. That car was just too awesome for words. :)

I dunno if you are ever planning to be in Naples FL, but you might enjoy this:

https://revsinstitute.org/plan-a-visit/

I went with a group from the BMW CCA for a private tour, and it was a blast. If I was a Porsche-file, it'd be on my bucket list.

[RJ]

...and speaking of clown cars, I still miss mine.

I miss my 2003 E46 ZHP, too.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170730/7bec25ed7a6e5a973b22e0fb1bab41a2.jpg

:)

[olstyn]

I dunno if you are ever planning to be in Naples FL, but you might enjoy this:

https://revsinstitute.org/plan-a-visit/

I went with a group from the BMW CCA for a private tour, and it was a blast. If I was a Porsche-file, it'd be on my bucket list.

Ooh, I didn't know that even existed, and it looks really cool. Sadly, it's basically on the opposite end of the state from where my in-laws live, so it'd be tough to arrange a visit as a part of whenever we next visit them, but if I'm ever going to be down there, that looks like a very fun way to spend some time. I'll have to keep it in mind.

[Joe in PNG]

...and speaking of clown cars, I still miss mine.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170730/7bec25ed7a6e5a973b22e0fb1bab41a2.jpg

:)

A proper Brit Mini is like a Tardis- they're somehow bigger on the inside. I'm 6'2", and could fit inside comfortably. With friends.

[RJ]

A proper Brit Mini is like a Tardis- they're somehow bigger on the inside. I'm 6'2", and could fit inside comfortably. With friends.

Yeah, you aren't kidding. I'm 5'6", and it was a lot of fun.

I bought it in 1993 in Birmingham, UK. Turns out the owner/restorer (it was a proper 1967 Austin Cooper S 1275) worked for Rovers and the team re-introducing the modern Mini-Cooper at that time.

He knew John Cooper, so he introduced me. I had it converted to unleaded gas at Mr. Cooper's garage in Ferring, West Sussex.

Mr. Cooper was one of the nicest gentlemen I've ever met. I had a couple conversations in his office. Kinda impressive, being a dual Formula One World Champion. I mean, he knew Mr. Honda for Pete's sake. Really nice guy.

Tony the shop foreman sorted me out with a "works" Long Centre Branch exhaust. The engine had been balanced and ported by Avonbar Racing. I guess mine made a bit over 76HP. At 10' long, it was a hoot to drive.

I sold it to a collector from Paris. Mine was the Real Deal, and I had several books of documentation on it.

As a rally car, it had dual fuel tanks and the teeniest disk brakes. Best story I had was I was filling it up one day in Orlando, lady asked me if it ran on batteries lol. It was quite the chick magnet.

[RevolverRob]

I dunno if you are ever planning to be in Naples FL, but you might enjoy this:

https://revsinstitute.org/plan-a-visit/

I went with a group from the BMW CCA for a private tour, and it was a blast. If I was a Porsche-file, it'd be on my bucket list.

Every car geek on the planet should visit Stuttgart, for five reasons.

1) The birthplace of the automobile and motorcycle
2) Porsche Factory
3) Porsche Museum
4) Mercedes-Benz Factory
5) Mercedes-Benz Museum

The birthplace of the car and motorcycle, a greenhouse converted to a workshop/the first car garage.
18589

Taken by a friend of mine, touring the Porsche Museum with me, here I am photograping Porsche No. 1. The original, real, and genuine, No. 1 Porsche.
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Porsche Model 64, high-speed touring car.
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This is a prototype land-speed record car, designed by Ferdinand Porsche for Mercedes-Benz before the war. It never ran, but was estimated that it might hit 387 mph. I just feel like this is the car that little boy's dreams are made of. This one is at the Mercedes Museum.
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Blue Wonder...at the Mercedes Museum.
18590


No factory pictures, none are allowed. FYI - one MUST schedule a Porsche factory tour in advance via email, it's not easy to find how to do it, but it's worth it. And it's free.