What got you into miatas?

[—kung fu jesus—]

I was looking for a second car as a pleasure vehicle. I wasn't sure what I wanted and because I was living in Michigan at the time, I knew it probably wouldn't see any winter duties. This was in '99.

I was already racing a Mazda-based Ford (Escort GT) and those of us who were used Miata sites for technical info for improving our cars. I took a little test on the Click and Clack website (Car Talk on NPR) and a 240 SX was suggested. I drove a few of those and wasn't 100% sold on them. I had previously owned a Mustang V8 and BMW e30, so I was leaning towards a RWD car, but a convertible wasn't on my radar. My daily driver was a Honda CRX Si and then a '92 Integra. I was considering and test drove a few DC Integra GS-Rs and was >< that close to buying a real Type R when I checked on the insurance rates. I passed on it and kept looking.

A new friend I made through racing had a '95 R-pack as his summer and auto-x car, and talked me up on it. I started looking into them more. It seemed like an obvious choice because I was already familiar with the Mazda B-series engines. By this time I had already bought a 323 GTX for winter driving and rally-x duties. I loved the mariner color and was finding the B6 more favorable over the BP. So, I spent the next 6-9 months looking for a LNC mariner with low mileage.

I found my car in the autumn of '00. It was owned by a professional couple less than an hour away. He was well over 6' and couldn't fit in the car, she was a surgeon. They had twin boys about 5-6 years old and she rarely drove it because she couldn't take both kids with her. He had bought her a 911 convertible to replace the Miata because it had a back seat.

I spent a *little* more than I intended for it, but now that I have owned it for almost 12 years now, it was still a great purchase. It has been the most reliable car I have owned, despite my efforts to break it. It has also become to the most influential item in my life...just because of the people I have met through it. That was never a consideration, it just happened.

[revlimiter]

I wasn't looking for a car. I was quite happy with what I was driving. I actually had no interest in Miatas. At all. They weren't even on my radar.

Then I test drove one and that was it. I owned Sharka about 3 months later.

[Martin]

It has also become to the most influential item in my life...just because of the people I have met through it. That was never a consideration, it just happened.

Your welcome!

(Yes, I know it should be "you're" - inside joke)

[miatadave22]

I loved racing my Pro-7 prepped Gen. 1 RX-7, parts were getting a little harder to find but I really like the parts availability and price afforded the entry-level Mazdas.The extra power and gm-like parts prices are very attractive to. Lloyd, who bought the 7, is another mazda convert, now! The Hard-Dog rollbar bolted right in and am getting ready to install the Boss Frog cabin sidebars. I did install the frame-rail supports and they really do work great. I am looking forward to my first trackday with this car since I haven't raced for a year and this is my first track day car in that it is also my daily driver. Did I mention the VW Corrado front rotors. Not on yet but have been informed by EBC and DBA N O T to put them on and that the stockers are better. How can a 10.6 dia. be better than an 11.2 dia. rotor?? Has anyone tried installing vented rotors on the rear?

[— YellowYata —]

Couldn't afford a 911.

[Cxmoney]

cousin had a beat up 90. i always wanted to drive it, but he would never let me. all i did was ride in it. that fueled the fire, and i had to have one. 2 years later i bought one, and i have had one ever since.

[morr]

I had a Nissan Sentra and wanted something more fun, RWD, and easy to maintain. A fellow Sentra owner pointed me in the direction of the Miata and I was in love after the first test drive. Also, like KFJ said it has allowed me to meet tons of cool people thru the Miata scene which is a huge plus.

[Grumpy]

edit: duhh I already responded to this thread... LOL!

[Grip Driver]

One drive in my friends 99 at an auto-x was all it took, I bought my 01 3 months later and the rest is history.

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[mizboo102]

I don't remember what first got me interested in them, probably cute, good gas mileage, small. Mom said no
So a few years later my dad gets one (not sure how he pulled that off) so I finally got mine. Absolutely LOVE IT.

[maharaj]

I had a couple in college and thought they were fun and inexpensive....fast forward about 10-15 years and an employee of mine show's me youtube video's of miatas on a track owning corvettes and vipers and I'm hooked.

[artcentermiata]

My interest in the Miata came by complete surprise.

I lived in Pennsylvania during my school years, a very wooded and back country area of Pennsylvania. My interest back then was offroading, so i owned a multitude of ATVs/dirtbikes and a Ford Explorer to get them around.

When i made the decision to move to California, I sold those and started searching for a fun coupe now that i wouldnt have to worry about the winter weather.

I initially found my 99 nb while searching for other options- i was all over the place, nissans, volvos, bmws... i had no idea what i wanted, i just wanted a fun and sporty car.

The nb stuck out to me because the listing was for an incredibly good price for a miata with 26k miles... so i jumped on it- inspected the car and bought it without even knowing anything about the Miata other than it was a very well balanced car and some people use them for spec racing...

After a few weeks of owning it, and settling down into California, i searched the web and came across clubroadster.net- In there i discovered the KINOD meetings that took place weekly not 20 minutes from my house.

I drove to the meeting one friday, and met the awesome community surrounding the miata- and thats when the interest started. After seeing all the awesome things that others have done with their car, i had got hooked.

a few years later, i wouldnt trade my car for the world- and it was more because of the community than the car!

[Jeremiah]

Back in high school, some of my classmates drove em. 2 had NA models and one had a NB. At the time I was driving my Integra GSR (99 model) and always admired the MX-5. Small, lightweight, 50/50 weight distribution, low slung body/seating position, tremendous after market support, etc. So I said to myself, one day I will have to own one. So after having a DC2 teg and a EP3 Civic, I am now proudly driving a 2000 brilliant black LS model. I just love these cars, handling is superb and predictable, good looks, reliable, decent on gas, etc. The list can go on and on...simply put the MX-5 is a wonderful sports car.

BTW I chose an NB because of its FD RX-7 esque body lines...but I would be happy with any generation. I plan on keeping this one and in the future purchasing an NC or ND...gotta be black or white with the hardtop.

What can I say...I am a Miata fan. (previously a Honda head)

[DK Wolf]

Got kicked outta the house, dad took my Porsche, left to fend off in the wild world by my lonesome. Wanted a fun car as my Grand Marquee wasn't cutting it. Snagged my 92 for a brilliant 300 dollars. 2 crashes, and a blown motor later, I revived it, drove it a bit more, sold it. Still love Miatas as my FD just wasn't as nimble (it was also retarded more expensive to maintain, and I just wasn't gonna deal with that crap).

[Doward]

My uncle's 63 Triumph Spitfire and Tr4. They were the first cars I drove with a standard trans at the age of 14.