What makes economic sense varies according to your circumstances. My wife
has a '96 Miata R which we autocross along with our '94R. This year it
became apparent that the '99 and '00 Miatas have a small advantage. A
serious conversion to CSP or DP could easily cost $15,000 to $20,000. For
about $21,000 or so, I can buy my wife a new 2001 Miata that my son & I can
autocross and she has a new car to drive to work. We can either sell the old
one or keep it.
We replace one car in the family every 4 years anyway, so stock class is
VERY economical for us. But, for others, it would not be.
Jim Hedderick
Houston
-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Ford <EGFord@mazakcorp.com>
To: autox@autox.team.net <autox@autox.team.net>
Date: Thursday, August 10, 2000 12:35 PM
Subject: New Miata
>So what is the consensus of the new Miata with more horsepower, 16" wheels,
and additional chassis bracing? It discourages me to have my car become
obsolete after owning it for a year and a half. Heck, I haven't even learned
how to really drive it well yet. A road racer once told me if I was going to
race that I should buy a proper race car and forget running a stock class
car and all the expense it entails making it raceworthy. I'm inclined to
believe him now. Is it any easier to run in a more rules-stable prepared or
modified class? Or does it just appear so to me? And monetarily, would I
have been better off to have gotten a decent dedicated race car (FM or CM?)?
Although I'm not so sure that would be a good place to start out. But then
again, I'd have been slow as heck in anything starting out. I really enjoy
autocross and developing my skills as a driver, but I'd like a shot at
winning something someday without breaking the bank. Any thoughts out there?
>
>
>Anthony C. Ford
>Mechanical Engineer
>Mazak Corporation
>(859) 342-1382
>FAX 342-1537
>B-Stock Cendiv #25
>'99 R-model
>
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