Hello all! I'm new here (as you can tell by my post count), so I'll give you a lengthy introduction about myself so we can get acquainted. If you couldn't tell by the title, I'm thinking about picking up an NC Miata. I've been a car nut my entire life, and I'm not really brand loyal. I go where my wants, needs and desires take me, which is evident by the cars I've owned.
I started out in a 2006 MKV GTI. Boy did I love that car; I couldn't have picked a better first vehicle (I almost put money down on a Cooper S, but the GTI was on the floor in the configuration I wanted and I happened to like it a bit more). While in high school I interned with a VW/Audi performance shop as part of a senior program my school had. I had quite a bit of fun modding that GTI. It was stage 2 cranking out 22 psi of boost, had a full catless turboback exhaust, sat on Patec coilovers and had various other modifications on it. I was probably pushing about 310 hp and 320 lb-ft out of the 2.0T.
I went to Maine for college and I sold the car after my first year up there. A slammed FWD car wasn't the best choice for the harsh winters and extreme snow--even with snow tires. I knew I wanted something AWD, quick and fun to replace it. I thought about WRX/STIs, but I wanted something less boy racer, so I bought a 2008 Legacy GT SpecB. Again, this car saw the usual slew of mods: custom software, exhaust and some other bolt-ons. This car is currently my daily driver, and it's making about 330 hp and 340 lb-ft.
Okay, all of this leads me up to now. I graduated from college back in May 2011. I've since moved back to New York (I live in a suburb of Manhattan called Westchester). My Subaru sits parked 5 days out of the week, the only time I really drive it now is for pleasure. I started a great career (I'm employed in the field I want to be in, and love my job) and I work in Manhattan. I walk to the train every morning, work a full day, then I take the train home -- so my car is usually untouched most weekdays. I live walking distance from my supermarket, favorite bars/restaurants, town, etc. I liked my Subaru a lot, but I never truly loved it, not like I did the GTI, anyway. And to be honest, I don't get the same joy from it that I used to. It's got about 85,000 miles on it (yes, I drove a ton before I graduated), and I want to get rid of it before something major happens. A turbo may blow any day, or I may get 200k out of it, who the heck knows
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Are you thinking what I am? Why do I still have a 4-door AWD sport sedan when really all I need as a weekend warrior (cruiser).
I never liked the large size of my Legacy, I miss the GTI every time I need to back up or pop into a tight parallel spot. I also never liked the chassis on it. It's not as spry and responsive as the GTI or a WRX/STI, and that's an important characteristic to me. I never really have people in my car, so I can lose a backseat (this will be a great excuse to not take my car places, too), and I've always loved top-down cruising in the nice weather. So I began to think: what's affordable, fun, easy to maintain and reliable--the MX5 is! I've had seat time in one back when they were refreshed (2009-ish), so my memory is a bit foggy, but I plan to stop in my local Mazda dealer this weekend to drive one again.
I guess I'm popping in here to say hi, get some feedback and learn as much as I can from everyone on here before I make a purchase. I'm definitely planning on getting a Touring or Grand Touring model. I've always driven 6MT and I don't think I could get used to a 5MT. I notice for 2012, the suspension package is standard on Touring and Grand Touring models; when did this become the case? I may not buy new, as I've found some 2010-2011 lightly used models that I like. How can I tell if they're equipped with the suspension package? On my current Subaru the Bilstein suspension is yellow, is this true for the MX5, because that would be an easy visual cue. My biggest concern, though: torque! I've owed turbocharged cars that make torque insanely low and pull hard up to (near) redline. I'm a bit concerned I'll miss the gobs of torque if I buy a Miata. But on the flip side, does the precision handling of the Miata make up for that lack of torque, I certainly think it may! I guess my first time on an auto-x course with it will confirm :mrgreen:.
Oh, here are some pics of the GTI and SpecB
GTI:
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SpecB:
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If any of you read Jalopnik, you may have seen this video, it's actually my car!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW3064x5_aE
I started out in a 2006 MKV GTI. Boy did I love that car; I couldn't have picked a better first vehicle (I almost put money down on a Cooper S, but the GTI was on the floor in the configuration I wanted and I happened to like it a bit more). While in high school I interned with a VW/Audi performance shop as part of a senior program my school had. I had quite a bit of fun modding that GTI. It was stage 2 cranking out 22 psi of boost, had a full catless turboback exhaust, sat on Patec coilovers and had various other modifications on it. I was probably pushing about 310 hp and 320 lb-ft out of the 2.0T.
I went to Maine for college and I sold the car after my first year up there. A slammed FWD car wasn't the best choice for the harsh winters and extreme snow--even with snow tires. I knew I wanted something AWD, quick and fun to replace it. I thought about WRX/STIs, but I wanted something less boy racer, so I bought a 2008 Legacy GT SpecB. Again, this car saw the usual slew of mods: custom software, exhaust and some other bolt-ons. This car is currently my daily driver, and it's making about 330 hp and 340 lb-ft.
Okay, all of this leads me up to now. I graduated from college back in May 2011. I've since moved back to New York (I live in a suburb of Manhattan called Westchester). My Subaru sits parked 5 days out of the week, the only time I really drive it now is for pleasure. I started a great career (I'm employed in the field I want to be in, and love my job) and I work in Manhattan. I walk to the train every morning, work a full day, then I take the train home -- so my car is usually untouched most weekdays. I live walking distance from my supermarket, favorite bars/restaurants, town, etc. I liked my Subaru a lot, but I never truly loved it, not like I did the GTI, anyway. And to be honest, I don't get the same joy from it that I used to. It's got about 85,000 miles on it (yes, I drove a ton before I graduated), and I want to get rid of it before something major happens. A turbo may blow any day, or I may get 200k out of it, who the heck knows
Are you thinking what I am? Why do I still have a 4-door AWD sport sedan when really all I need as a weekend warrior (cruiser).
I never liked the large size of my Legacy, I miss the GTI every time I need to back up or pop into a tight parallel spot. I also never liked the chassis on it. It's not as spry and responsive as the GTI or a WRX/STI, and that's an important characteristic to me. I never really have people in my car, so I can lose a backseat (this will be a great excuse to not take my car places, too), and I've always loved top-down cruising in the nice weather. So I began to think: what's affordable, fun, easy to maintain and reliable--the MX5 is! I've had seat time in one back when they were refreshed (2009-ish), so my memory is a bit foggy, but I plan to stop in my local Mazda dealer this weekend to drive one again.
I guess I'm popping in here to say hi, get some feedback and learn as much as I can from everyone on here before I make a purchase. I'm definitely planning on getting a Touring or Grand Touring model. I've always driven 6MT and I don't think I could get used to a 5MT. I notice for 2012, the suspension package is standard on Touring and Grand Touring models; when did this become the case? I may not buy new, as I've found some 2010-2011 lightly used models that I like. How can I tell if they're equipped with the suspension package? On my current Subaru the Bilstein suspension is yellow, is this true for the MX5, because that would be an easy visual cue. My biggest concern, though: torque! I've owed turbocharged cars that make torque insanely low and pull hard up to (near) redline. I'm a bit concerned I'll miss the gobs of torque if I buy a Miata. But on the flip side, does the precision handling of the Miata make up for that lack of torque, I certainly think it may! I guess my first time on an auto-x course with it will confirm :mrgreen:.
Oh, here are some pics of the GTI and SpecB
GTI:
SpecB:
If any of you read Jalopnik, you may have seen this video, it's actually my car!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW3064x5_aE
. I'm sure you'd be able to make the switch, grab some suspension bits and FI the thing for less than what you'll get out of that Spec B.
