Mike, I have been on this list for 6 years and this is my first
politically incorrect statement. Bring on the flames !!!
A Miata is a great car. I wish I had more garage space(and money) or I
would own one. But from a pure standpoint f intrinsic value, a Miata is
just like a Camry. If it breaks, you can have it fixed at your local
dealership and you are on your way. If it is smacked in back end, the body
shop can get the parts or they can total it and you can have another one,
just like it, in a couple of days and you are on your way. In saying
throwaway maybe I should have said expendable. With 10 million of them on
the road, they are far from rare nor are they becoming more rare.
A Roadster is rare. Every day another one is crushed. If you wreck it you
will be hard pressed to find a new front end for the bodyshop. I'll bet
you could buy 10 timing belts for the cost of a timing chain for a 2L.
When I AX my roadster, I don't come into turn 7 at Blackhawk at full
throttle, brake very late and see if I can make it. Agricultural driving
is very hard on a 30 year old car. That technique is done every weekend in
CRXs and Miatas because they know they can replace everything in the car
before the next race in 2 weeks. They just pull off the broken part and
throw it away without too much concern. You can't do that with a Roadster,
or a Fiat 124, or an MGB or a Mini etc. They are not throwaway cars.
John Schmitt Telecommuter External # - 847-458-7829
pager 800-759-8888 pin# 8710561
"datsunmike" <datsunmike@nyc.rr.com> on 03/20/2001 07:31:49 PM
To: John Schmitt/Schaumburg/Contr/AT&T/IJV@IBMUS,
<datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
cc: <Robert.Long@CSDInc.com>
Subject: Re: How hard is AXing on your car?
John,
You must mean "A Miata is a throw around car" :)
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Schmitt" <jschmi7@us.ibm.com>
To: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Cc: <Robert.Long@CSDInc.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2001 6:08 PM
Subject: Re: How hard is AXing on your car?
> Robert, I Solo 1 my 2L on a 1.7 mile road course. I dont wind it out
> above 6K, at the expence of being beaten by Neons, but I drive it as hard
> as I can otherwise. I only race it 2-3 times a year because I too want a
> daily summer driver and don't want to distroy it.
>
> It is hard on the car. Last year, at the last of the season, I caused my
> exhaust pipe to come off after HITTING the apex in the chicane, I also
> broke one of the throttle return springs (a note sent last week looking
for
> replacements) and used a years worth of tires and brake pads in one day.
> If I keep it reasonable and don't try to get trophies, I think I can keep
> up with the repair costs. A Miata is a throwaway car, a Roadster is not.
> But, it is reasonably durable and great fun to test your skills.
>
> The first race this year is 4/21 and I will be there.
>
> John Schmitt Telecommuter External # - 847-458-7829
> pager 800-759-8888 pin# 8710561
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