riding - driving the slow machine fast..

[lucydad2]

All,

Yep, chose the V7R analog for retirement car.  2016 Mazda Miata.  Only 155 hp, but VERY light weight, very responsive, and severely refined machine.  Like the V7R, the Miata is:

--just gorgeous
-- other riders wave
-- people just stare
-- smooth and just loves to be revved
-- not very practical, but who gives a crap?
-- makes me grin and gets under my skin.

Pushing the V7R results in a bit more than you expect, but it takes some riding skill to obtain its best performance.  Tires WILL chirp, it can corner faster than you think, but never got a wheelie out of it.  Similarly the Miata can corner like a banshee and above 5000 RPM surprises with a nice dV/dT and a planted feel.  Ass on ground, just so responsive.  Loved the Boxster S, no doubt its great, but maybe like some of the older big block exotic Guzzis a bit more than I want for issues. 

V7R and Miata:  predictable as a p



uppy with a bone.  Let's go play!

Here is your picture!!  Miata is no girl car.  That is pure baloney and ego and hubris junk.

One interesting thing:  encouraged my wife to drive the six speed manual.  She had not driven a manual in maybe 20 years.  No issues at all.  Why is that?  Great design:  light and very smooth and linear clutch, absolutely easy six speed shifter with gear indicator, and very forgiving.  That says a lot. 




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[ScepticalScotty]

One of the greatest cars ever made , I would love one if I had a garage to put it in. But I also have a hankering for a Caterham 7.

[Muzz]

We had the '98 6 speed 1800 with the Bilstein shocks, chassis bracing, Bose stereo and directional tires. That car was an absolute blast. Great fun!

[Kev m]

The confident man's choice!

Nice!

[webmost]

Not to hijack your ebullience here, but sometimes people say things which make me wish I could figure out what they're talking about. Like these two:

"surprises with a nice dV/dT"
Google gives me various hits for dV/dT; but none of them make sense in this context. What are you talking about here?

"linear clutch"
Wuzzat mean?

[charlie b]

dV/dt = acceleration.  Change in Velocity per unit change in time.

[Nic in Western NYS]

dV/dt = acceleration.  Change in Velocity per unit change in time.

Got it!  delta velocity/delta time...  OK, Alex.  "Fun with Miatas for $200"  The answer is:  "Linear Clutch"  Ding!  What is the sensation of the clutch smoothly grabbing as the pedal is released?

[webmost]

duh

[Nic in Western NYS]

Just my guess and I didn't get the dv/dt time reference either.

[Shorty]

I loved mine, even though I had to remove the armrests to fit my large arse in it. All the fun of a Brit sports car without all the fuss.

[ohiorider]

I took my Mazda MX6 to the dealer for an oil change on an unusually warm Saturday morning in Feb of 1996, when a lovely blue/green MX5 with top retracted caught my eye on the showroom floor.  Two hours later, I'd traded the MX6 (a nice machine) and drove into the next three years with the Miata as my only car.

When the 36 month lease expired, the Miata had 65,000 miles on the odometer ..... and all pleasant fun miles (well, there were a couple of times where the snow had the bottom dragging.)  Winter driving did require installing a set of Bridgestone Blizzacks from Tire Rack on dedicated steel rims.

I'm kind of tossing around the idea of another Miata.  Great cars!

Bob

[wrbix]

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But I also have a hankering for a Caterham 7.
[/quote]
Careful what you wish for ....... can be construed as self abuse. 

[MGPilot]

Linear clutch - means that there is a steady engagement as you release the clutch pedal. Particularly some racing clutches, while the pedal might have 3" of travel, it completely engages/disengages within the first 1" or less -- making it abrupt.

Mazda 5 is a great car. I tried to like them over the years, but just felt too cramped. The new series adds the 1" of legroom & distance to the steering wheel that I was looking for. Makes a lot more sense than my Morgan!

Great car - hope you have many, pleasant miles in it.

[guzzipete]

You are going to love that car.

If at some point you would like to improve the handling and performance:

https://www.flyinmiata.com/

They sell a V8 conversion kit.

If it were mine, I would tighten up the suspension, put on a set of summer only tires and head to the autocross track.

[lucydad2]

All,

Thanks for many kind and encouraging comments.  The more I drive the little Miata the more I like it.  My riding buddy Ed was just over, drove his yellow Mustang Saleen.  He had suspension tweaked a bit, etc.  Then I took him for a ride in the Miata, and let him drive it.  Ed has a BMW K touring bike, Ducati Diavel, brand new Corvette C7 convertible, the Saleen, a 1970 convertible Camaro SS, and a BMW 550.  Yeah, he is a gear head.  Rowing the gears on the Miata he got a silly grin.  Not the formidable V8, but plenty of fun, and just refined.

Apologies for physics talk.  Linear clutch is BIG deal for me given past junky transmissions on my old 1984 Corvette, Vega GT, Peugeot 505, etc.
This car will not wear you out driving Houston stop and go traffic. 

Thinking about possible suspension upgrades and maybe a bit of cosmetics to make it unique.  A bit of very tasteful red striping or accents? We will see.  Have two little paint chips on from already.  Ordered repair kit, and likely will have a clear bra put on.  Got XM Radio initialized, still need to figure out garage door opener synch. 

Rode Triumph this morning.  109 HP and 400 pounds.  Mazda is 155 HP and 2332 pounds.  You do the math on power to weight.  The Triumph has plenty of performance for this old guy when he needs his kicks. 

End of retirement car discussion.  Heck it is now prime riding season on the Gulf Coast of TX.  Need to test ride one of the new V9s, and see if Guzzi comes out with a "Special" type variant.  If they do, might just happen next spring. 

[ScepticalScotty]

Hey my first car was a Honda Z360, and my second was a Mini Moke. I loved the Moke but my particular one was a very poor example, bad body, bad engine. I see a Caterham 7 as a much faster, better handling, replacement for the Moke I had 32 years ago....

[charlie b]

My choice would have been the Miata as well.  OK, so only if you don't consider the Lotus 7 (or various derivatives).

Yep, the 7 is cramped, noisy, harsh ride, etc, etc.  But, they are SO much fun.  :)

Story:  Was stopped in Pagosa Springs for gas.  An MGB pulled in (there was some sort of sports car event going on).  Lady got back in and no start, as in nothing.  Voltge was good.  A Triumph TR6 stopped in and tried to help.  A Miata stopped.  He was the group mechanic.  Cursed the exposed starter solenoid the MGB had on it.  He pointed at the Miata and said, "That's why I drive this.  All the fun, none of the problems."

[bad Chad]

👍that's what I would have done!

[toma nova]

Congrats, Greg.  Now join us for some drives.

10-29 PCA autocross, Grandsport Speedway on 45S toward Galveston.  Paul and I are both driving (911 and Boxster S) - (lsrpca.com - Lone Star Region Porsche Club of America)

11-12 PCA car control school at Houston Police Academy.  I'm registered.  Great way to learn your car with an instructor all day.  Great group, good feedback, take it as fast or slow as you're comfortable with.  No timing or competition.

11-13 PCA AX at HPA.  I'm registered.

11-20 BMW club AX at HPA (Houston-bmwcca.com)

12-3 and 4 PCA track day at TWS.  I'll be registering on Nov. 3, my first DE.

Join any of the above and we'll get you acclimated, or come by and check any of them out to see how they're run, talk to other Miata owners, etc.  Most start driving around 10:00am, prep from 8:30am.

Tom

[dguzzi]

Nice to see Miata gets some love here. I've heard all the girly car cracks but let me outrun your bike on the curvy sections!! Certainly not like a rigid rear axle muscle car....

[Sheepdog]

My retirement car will be a '62 VW Type I...if I'm going to get yelled at for driving slow, I want an obvious excuse.

[PJPR01]

Congrats, Greg.  Now join us for some drives.

10-29 PCA autocross, Grandsport Speedway on 45S toward Galveston.  Paul and I are both driving (911 and Boxster S) - (lsrpca.com - Lone Star Region Porsche Club of America) Tom

Hear hear!

There will be Guzzi content too at the race this Saturday - as each of our Porsches has a bumper sticker on it referencing the Guzzis!   Weather forecast is going to be perfect too.  If you come down, bring your helmet with you.  Tom...if you want to rendezvous at downtown I-10 & I-45 at a specific hour, we can then convoy down to the track.

[Muzz]

Nice to see Miata gets some love here. I've heard all the girly car cracks but let me outrun your bike on the curvy sections!! Certainly not like a rigid rear axle muscle car....

I was used to it. Remember, "the Breva 750 is a lady's bike". How times change.

[lucydad2]

Congrats, Greg.  Now join us for some drives.

Tom,

Holy mole enchilada:  lots of opportunities.  Geez... will give it a think.  Closing on 250 miles....lol.  Spent two hours figuring out how to link the garage door opener. 

They little Miatas near big brawny Porsches?  Funny thing:  other Miata drivers wave.  But had a HD by my drivers side, and I had top down:  loud pipes about broke my ears. 

[dguzzi]

You make a good point...and sunny days can toast your eyes and burn your head.