Mike, As I implied in my last response, I mean no disrespect to the Miata.
It is a really wonderful car. In fact, when it first came out, someone,
probably on this list, wrote to Road and Track, after their artical on the
Miata, that the Datsun Roadster was the first Miata with good reliaibility
in an English type design. That letter got my memory of my first Roadster
going and within 6 months I had purchased my current one.
Thirty years ago parts were as readily available for the Roadster as they
are for the Miata today. You could break it and fix it. The manufacturer
would build a new part to replace the one distroyed. That is not the case
today. In 30 years, the Miata may also be as rare as the roadster is
today, although they have built a million Miatas to 40K Roadsters, and at
that time it too may no longer be a "throwaway car".
An example: Doesn't it really bother you when they drive an XKE into a
building for an effect while making a movie? Does is bother you to see a
1998 Corvette in the same place? The vette is replaceable, the cat is not.
Nor is the Roadster.
John Schmitt Telecommuter External # - 847-458-7829
pager 800-759-8888 pin# 8710561
"datsunmike" <datsunmike@nyc.rr.com> on 03/21/2001 07:02:52 AM
To: John Schmitt/Schaumburg/Contr/AT&T/IJV@IBMUS
cc: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>, <Robert.Long@CSDInc.com>
Subject: Re: How hard is AXing on your car?
They said the same thing when the Roadsters were being built.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Schmitt" <jschmi7@us.ibm.com>
To: "datsunmike" <datsunmike@nyc.rr.com>
Cc: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>; <Robert.Long@CSDInc.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 7:28 AM
Subject: Re: How hard is AXing on your car?
>
> 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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