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The VW Beetle... I hear people say that the Porsche Cayman/Boxter are "feminine," but I think that's untrue...... when you see those folks driving them with the local Porsche Club, you may think otherwise espechially the "S" versions. They kick butt on the autocross courses, and this is coming from a 911 guy. Same goes with Miatas, they handle well and many people enjoy them. What does "feminine" mean anyway with cars? lol
That wouldn't be a bad thing. It would be more like a Shelby Cobra roadster than the anemic toy car it is now. Contrary to popular belief, a car can be light and makes gobs of hp. The Shelby's weighed just 2300 lbs.
Wasn't that back in the 1960s? Lots of kit that we would expect in a car wasn't even around then.
It's about finding that engineering sweet spot - light, powerful, affordable, pick 2. And don't overlook marketing, either. Sure, you can go down the road of the dedicated track weapon, but then you've lost the mass appeal, and that means lower production numbers and higher cost. Caterham 7s are awesome, but have no broad appeal and you don't want to drive one in the rain.
You call the MX-5 a toy car, and I don't think that's much off - it's fun. An MG that works, at a price that lets it be built.
Wasn't that back in the 1960s? Lots of kit that we would expect in a car wasn't even around then.
It's about finding that engineering sweet spot - light, powerful, affordable, pick 2. And don't overlook marketing, either. Sure, you can go down the road of the dedicated track weapon, but then you've lost the mass appeal, and that means lower production numbers and higher cost. Caterham 7s are awesome, but have no broad appeal and you don't want to drive one in the rain.
You call the MX-5 a toy car, and I don't think that's much off - it's fun. An MG that works, at a price that lets it be built.
But seriously, it wouldn’t kill Mazda to put a turbo or something on that lame dinosaur of an engine. They have 4cyl turbos pushing pickup trucks and Jeeps these days while Mazda’s stuck in 1985. It doesn’t even good gas mileage and that sad excuse for power is after fueling it with the recommended premium fuel.
There’s no engineering behind it, they’re just cheap and Miata fans settle for it and think it’s part of some master design.
The VW Beetle... I hear people say that the Porsche Cayman/Boxter are "feminine," but I think that's untrue...... when you see those folks driving them with the local Porsche Club, you may think otherwise espechially the "S" versions. They kick butt on the autocross courses, and this is coming from a 911 guy. Same goes with Miatas, they handle well and many people enjoy them. What does "feminine" mean anyway with cars? lol
The newer Boxters are legit, but the old ones were one of the most feminine looking cars ever made.
It could run 8 second quarter miles and spit tobacco and you would still have to carefully explain to every single human being that it’s not a girl’s car. I see one and my respect for the driver just drains. There’s no way I could respect a man driving one.
But seriously, it wouldn’t kill Mazda to put a turbo or something on that lame dinosaur of an engine. They have 4cyl turbos pushing pickup trucks and Jeeps these days while Mazda’s stuck in 1985. It doesn’t even good gas mileage and that sad excuse for power is after fueling it with the recommended premium fuel.
There’s no engineering behind it, they’re just cheap and Miata fans settle for it and think it’s part of some master design.
We're going to have to agree to disagree - I really think we're debating something that's a matter of taste, and there's no settling that. Then again, I used to like Italian motorcycles - Ducati also put a premium on handling over raw power.
I will quibble over "There’s no engineering behind it, they’re just cheap", though. Engineering is about resource allocation and building a car like the Miata to the price point that it's sold at speaks to excellent engineering.
We're going to have to agree to disagree - I really think we're debating something that's a matter of taste, and there's no settling that. Then again, I used to like Italian motorcycles - Ducati also put a premium on handling over raw power.
I will quibble over "There’s no engineering behind it, they’re just cheap", though. Engineering is about resource allocation and building a car like the Miata to the price point that it's sold at speaks to excellent engineering.
You have to admit, in terms of performance and gas mileage, they've been pretty flat for over a decade. I would appreciate the raw old school small roadster that everyone else has seemed to leave behind, but in my opinion they don't even do that well. You sit far too low in the seat and the door comes up way too high. A Honda S2000 had the right idea. The Miata feels much too big for it's size. The Mini Cooper roadster and convertible have a more appropriate upright seating position more reminiscent of an old school roadster.
One that is funny to me is the Hummer. I see a Hummer, I see a Dr. Laura car. On top of that everyone I know who owned one was either a woman or an effeminate man. Maybe my outlook on them is skewed by experience, but they are girly cars to me.
Maybe owning the hummer to look more tough than what they are?
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My friend's parents bought his younger sister (a natural blonde) a new one for her to drive while attending UCSB....and living in Isla Vista.
