| Author | Message | ||
     Sifo |
Question for any past/present Miata owners... I was told that if you have the glass window in the rear, it must be unzipped to drop the top. Is that true? I was told that by the owner of the turbo modified Miata, but he was just trying to flip it, so I don't know what he really knew. Not a big deal really, but I have seen a Miata stop at a stop light and have the top up in about 5 seconds without even unbuckling his seat belt. That's pretty slick! | ||
| Pwnzor |
Sifo, I've forwarded a picture of your bike to my friend in California... He seems interested, might be willing to fly out there and ride it home. | ||
| Sifo |
Thanks! PM sent. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
My top has the rear glass. No un-zipping required. Push the release button next the latch. Pull latch down Toss roof back Give it a little push down if it didn't catch the latch that holds it down. 3 seconds to get it down 5 seconds to get it up..... that sounds strange...  | ||
| Sifo |
He didn't know much about the car. He was flipping vehicles trying to get into a Harley of some sort for his wife. He was also less than accurate about the condition. It was still worth checking out for me though. It was a turbo. Wolf, we are going out tonight to check out an NC model like yours. A local dealer has one, but the price is in the Vette range. It should be a great comparison for what you have. I'm hoping to check a Z4 tonight too. We are thinking the Miatia is about perfect for the bang for the buck though. Have you run it past your wife yet? | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I will this evening. I put it out there last night. She has had a day to stew on it... I'll let you know how it goes. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
 is what I got.... | ||
| Chauly |
Interpretation: "Not...on...your...freakin'...life...NO!" ? | ||
| 86129squids |
Wazzup widdat, Mark? Yours won't let the Miata go, mine won't let one come home to play with us! Wimmerns. (nod to the Unknown Hinson) | ||
| Sifo |
Mark, all for the best perhaps. I was half way to making plans to go out there to make the deal happen. I tested a 2013 last night, and it's much more refined than the previous generation. The dealer wanted way more than a Miata is worth to me at this time. Wonderful car though, and the added power of then newer engine is much appreciated to me. We were actually discussing the easiest way to get to Columbus and back on the way to test a Z4. The Z4 we were going to see was gone by the time we got there though. The good news is that they had another one being unloaded that had just come from Missouri. We were checking it out as they were washing it. We both loved the styling like we did with the Sky, without the downsides of the Sky. In fact, while I will have to verify this as fact when I get the chance, I'm pretty sure that I could get two dead bodies into the trunk of the Z4. That's a real nice plus. The interior seems more refined than the Miata, which isn't a big deal to me, but who doesn't like luxury when it's available? They said they couldn't let us actually test it until they give a good once over mechanically. I can understand that. Can't really be certain until we drive one, but we both really fell for the Z4. They are considerably heftier than the Miata, so I don't know how that will translate into the driving experience. Driving at 7 to 8 tenths of it's potential, it may not matter much. One kind of funny thing for a car these days, it had zero cup holders. So if anyone has any horror stories about the Z4, please speak up. This thread has been very helpful so far. I do think that either the Miata or the Z4 would be wonderful to own. I would guess the Z4 is likely to be a bit more expensive for normal maintenance stuff though. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I suspect his mrs (like most spouses) would rather he took his speed need out in the Miata than on a bike. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
she just quit smoking and "hot flashes" have descended upon my home... she could pull the car out of the garage tomorrow and set it on fire... with me in it. Just depends on which way the wind is blowing...              | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The new Alfa Romeo roadster is hot too supposed to be nearly the same foot print of the Miata, damnit if I can't find the article that R$T had that said they shared parts. | ||
| Sifo |
I was just looking at some Z4 reviews. The Miata sounds a bit better now! Mark, let me know if things change in the near future. No worries either way. | ||
| Sifo |
Brian! Great to hear from you again! Tell stories! | ||
| Cityxslicker |
What's to tell, here a bomb, there a bomb Here a cute girl, there a cute girl here American Special Forces - there Russian Spetnaz Here new HumVees in Desert Camo - there new Russian ECM mobile trucks. They are joisting for a war; and it is stupid. Nothing new. Currently east of Kiev, aiming for Crimea, then Sochi, and maybe Moscow for a month. | ||
| Sifo |
Stay safe my friend! | ||
| Cityxslicker |
There was an MG that had the Buick v-6 in it; it was the same mill that later became the block for the GNX turbo... I remember seeing it on Road $ Track TV - I want to say 82-3 THAT would be the hot little convertible to have. Of course the Cobra FIA 289 would be killer too while we are at it. And the Sunbeam Tiger.... damnit - see what you started. | ||
| Daddio |
That Tiger had the Ford 260 V8, right? Which little roadster got the Olds/Rover 215 aluminum V8? | ||
| Etennuly |
When I was in Votech.....early '70's.....some guys in the mechanics class built a late '60's MG B with a 327/Muncie 4spd hotrod. Tire smoke was a problem. Handling was not so good. Drivability sucked unless you were going nearly straight line 1/4 of a mile at a time. The guys in the body shop built a '66 corvair with a mid engine 327. Wheelies were a problem, steering sucked. Somehow both of these hotrods got wrecked in their perspective parking lots and therefore never finished to road worthiness.  I repaired a customer's Z4 last summer for minor crash damage. Despite claims, aftermarket parts do not sufficiently fit or work out. Her insurance company had me build it twice to prove that point. BMW had build problems with the front strut towers on the Z4's. Hitting a pothole 'could' break the front strut towers loose from the chassis. My customer's car had been welded back together on both sides under HER insurance policy after she encountered a pothole. Common problem for the Z4 according to their forums on the net. Also their motorized headlight system sucks and are over a grand each. In time they get unfixable moisture inside the lenses that kill the look. With these, or any sports car, check their main on line forums. A lot of good information there, not unlike BadWeB, but as always, take the internet info with a grain of salt.  | ||
| Azxb9r |
Dont test drive a Z4 unless you are prepared to buy it...driving one is absolutely intoxicating. The 3.0L I-6 is a very sweet engine with a nice sound. The downside to the Z4 is that it is a BMW which means BMW prices for replacement parts. So far they have not been problematic, you just need to be prepared for the price tag associated with any thing it needs. The retractable hard top on the newer Miatas is a very nice feature. It seals out the cold and wet, and keeps the car from smelling like a gym locker after it rains. Also, it does not sacrifice trunk space like some cars do. | ||
| Buellish |
Just got back from the Atlanta Auto Show,down and back in a 2014 Miata (sorry MX5),hard top version.Twelve seconds to put the top down.Fun little car,very different than my '89 NB.It was missing a pedal.He bought a 2012 with a six speed,married for thirty years and didn't know she couldn't drive a stick. The Series I Tiger came with a 260,the Series II came with a 289.My friend Bill has a Series II | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Datsun FairLady 1600 Austin Healey BugEye Sprite Triumph Spitfire TR6 Triumph TR8 Saturn Sky And for pure hooligan topless fun - the new Atom Nomad  (death before minivans!) | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
hold the phone.... the wind might be changing directions.....  | ||
| Sifo |
Let me know if it happens. I missed this one by a couple of hours.   | ||
| Sifo |
Austin Healey BugEye Sprite I had a friend who had one of those. He built it up with a custom tube frame/roll cage. Looked like a NASCAR chassis. He also had a built up Ford 302 with a Ford 4 speed and a Detroit Locker. He only drove the thing a few times for some reason.  | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
I just sold my 2003 Miata for a healthy profit from when I got it just 1 year earlier.. trade my Moto Guzzi for it and sold it to get another one '77 Lemans 1. ! it was a gas, first car I've owned in 24 years (have Company car). the one thing I didn't like was the 5 speed, fun to shift but rev'd too high cruising on the hwy.. maybe the 6 speed would be better at that.  | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Daddio, that'd be the MGB GT V8. As it was an alloy block it weighed about the same as the standard iron block 1800cc 4 banger, but at 3.5 litre the car was a bit over-powered. The shoehorning necessary to squeeze it it in was something to behold as well, the twin SU carbs offset to the rear of the motor to clear the hood etc. | ||
| 86129squids |
Dammit Sifo, that was a schweeet one! HAAATE it when I miss something like that! I'm wondering if following this thread is becoming a hazard to my bank account... | ||
| Sifo |
We went to the bank yesterday to be ready for a cash deal. They are required to ask certain questions for large cash withdrawals these days. When he asked what it was for, it was worth getting hit by Mary to say "drugs and small arms". The banker laughed. That was kind of a special car that was used for magazine reviews. It's got a seating upgrade with larger bolsters that really wrap around you that seems to be quite hard to find. Others will come along though. |
