914 vs Miata Options

[shaggy]

QUOTE

A 914 is midengined (47/53)...

really 47:53?

ive heard better than that in a review thing i have form the 70's or so...

they claim 51:49!

so what is it?


and

miata's are evil.(especially the new ones with those damn fender flares (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/barf.gif) )
914's aren't.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[Andyrew]

You cant chop up a miata like you can a 914

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)



Though Im contemplating doing so for a daily thrasher (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) (primer black, flares, black wheels... exhaust cutouts, s2k engine/turbo... hmmm)

[So.Cal.914]

The Miata I drove reminded me of my 67 Mustang fastback as soon as the rear tires got loose, with no weight to keep them down the rearend would swing around. I didn't make it I just drove it, I don't have anything against them but when I canyon run I want something that will keep me on the road.

[So.Cal.914]

The Miata I drove reminded me of my 67 Mustang fastback. As soon as the tires in the rear broke loose without the weight to keep traction, the rearend came around. I just drove it, I didn't design it. Now I have nothing against them, but when I canyon run I want a car that is going to keep me on the road. That just happens to be a mid-engine Porsche.

[mrobin]

i've owned both of them and like everyone is saying, miata is a dime a dozen car.

one thing hasn't been brought up.........shifting...
the miata gearbox/shifting is really great..

[pfierb]

QUOTE (J P Stein @ Mar 13 2006, 11:30 PM)

The Miata is a great little car. THE only thing wrong wth them is ....there are too many of them. Complete strangers won't  walk up and say "Nice Miata, I haven't seen one that nice for 20 years. I remember when I was a kid.....yada,yada" (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

You are so right I have owned at one time or another 1 e-type Jaguar, 4 Alfa spiders, 3 Porsches, 3 Fiats, 1 Mustang GT,1 Sunbeam Alpine aside from maybe the Jaguar none has had the wow factor that this 73 914 has....can't stop for gas without some one running over and asking about the cool car.....Also it is more fun to drive and own than any of the above,warts and all.

Paul F.
Oh yes I forgot the 1949 Ford V-8 Coupe with duals and Smitty mufflers boy did that car sound great going from 0 to 60 in 15 seconds.

[VaccaRabite]

Ask a 914 board about the 2 and the responces are going to be a little baised...

Get what will make you happy.

Zach

[grantsfo]

QUOTE (J P Stein @ Mar 13 2006, 07:30 PM)

The Miata is a great little car. THE only thing wrong wth them is ....there are too many of them. Complete strangers won't walk up and say "Nice Miata, I haven't seen one that nice for 20 years. I remember when I was a kid.....yada,yada" (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

I have to admit I have more complete strangers stop me and say is that the new Miata? Than stop me in the 914. But I guess the new MX5 is a more rare car than the 914 and previous generation Miatas currently.

[balljoint]

Maybe for you in California. But on the rest of the planet the 914 is rarely seen. In my case, over the 10 years that I have owned one, and other than in repair shops etc., I have seen only 4 914's on the road. Seen more Deloreans, Ferrari's, Lamboreghini's, Camry's, etc. by a large margin.

[pfierb]

QUOTE (balljoint @ Mar 14 2006, 11:13 AM)

Maybe for you in California.  But on the rest of the planet the 914 is rarely seen.  In my case, over the 10 years that I have owned one, and other than in repair shops etc., I have seen only 4 914's on the road.  Seen more Deloreans, Ferrari's, Lamboreghini's, Camry's, etc. by a large margin.

Maybe that is one of the reasons 914s have the wow factor

[Jeff Nelson]

FWIW Grassroots Motorsports corner-weighed a 914 for the Nov/Dec 1997 issue. Without driver they came up with 44.6% front and 56.4% rear. Unfortunately these don't add up to 100% so I'm not impressed with their math skills. They did give the corner weights however:
469 473
585 604
The total is 2131 and by my calculations the distribution is 44.2% front and 55.8% rear. They didn't mentions how full the gas tank was or whether the top was in place. The car was a 74 2L with Fuchs.

While I'm at it let me give you the 0-60 time they measured: 9.17 seconds. (This was a welll-built but stock motor.) In the April 1988 issue of Car and Driver a never-overhauled 1973 2L was tested at 8.6 seconds. That car had a curb weight of 2222lbs. BTW, what is curb weight, does it include driver?

[914-8]

IMO if you'd even consider a Miata -

a 914 is not for you.

[olav]

In a 914 you get thumbs up from 356's.

I did and was shocked.

[turboman808]

Well haven't driven a 914 yet but I will Sunday. Now when I autox this year and the miatas are kicking my ass I may regret the 914

Miatas are pretty badass little autox cars though. Not sure about 914s honestly.

[grantsfo]

QUOTE (914-8 @ Mar 14 2006, 08:23 AM)

IMO if you'd even consider a Miata - a 914 is not for you.

I agree Miatas are for sissies or for husbands to drive when its raining. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-2-1141527051.jpg)

[Mueller]

QUOTE (turboman808 @ Mar 14 2006, 09:39 AM)

Miatas are pretty badass little autox cars though. Not sure about 914s honestly.

depends on the level of prep on each car......you'll be shocked (pleasantly) how well a 30 year old car does up against newer modern cars.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/MDB2.gif)

the skill of the driver make a huge differance, if you suck at driving the 914, jumping into a Miata isn't going to make you any better (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

I've never driven the older Miatas, I did get a chance to flog the new MX5 a few times and it was okay....I'd buy one if I could only have one car.........

[mikelsr]

Before I bought the Boxster I went looking at Miatas. I was looking at a new one not used at that time. I am 5'10' with broad shoulders. When I sat in the Miata my shoulder would hit the door. When I went on a test drive I had to "lean" to the right to drive it and that was not comfortable. I bought the Boxster (love at first sight).

Before I bought the 914 I again went looking at Miatas for autocrossing/track use. I found some in my price range and even found some that had been turbocharged. I thought I could life with the lean for AX and track but then my back reminded me that it doesn't like to lean too often. The Miata is a nice car and if you fit in one and like that type of car then buy one.

I bought by teener because 1) I have owned Porsches since 1988, 2) I love Porsches, 3) I have always liked the 914, 4) the car was in good shape, and 5) the price was right.

Good luck with your decision which ever way you decide.

Mike

[turboman808]

QUOTE (mikelsr @ Mar 14 2006, 09:14 AM)

When I sat in the Miata my shoulder would hit the door. When I went on a test drive I had to "lean" to the right to drive it and that was not comfortable. I bought

HAHA reminds me when I bought a 2000 celica to learn to race in. For a stock car it was pretty badass and with the auto tranny I spent the summer focusing completely on taking proper lines.

Anyways Everything was good I had the new car and was all ready to race. Then I went to the first autox. Put on my helmet and realized I don't fit HAHA (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

I had to recline the seat to drive that car but it was still alot of fun.

[ninefourteener]

Gay car? Chicks car? Whatever.. thats irrelevant.

Miatas are too "round". To me... they look like a giant suppository.

Not to mention..... you only see..... what? Maybe a thousand of them every day?

They have no "character".....

Buy a 914 (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif))

[Plastic Buddha]

Pretty interesting discussion! 1/1 scale, go for what tickles your fancy. Personally, I'd purchase a 914 (still being prodded by AirBoston (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/poke.gif) ) as it is a rare sight and surprisingly affordable (at least "tip of the iceberg" wise!). That is if I quit nickle and diming myself with 1/10th scale projects. I've built the Miata: (a "chick" actually owns the reference car)
(IMG:http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/mikevillena/Miata/DSC03492.jpg)
(IMG:http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/mikevillena/Miata/DSC03486.jpg)
I'll let you know as soon as I build the 914 from GT Performance and find a club member who would be kind enough to share some reference photos. My apologies for the OT tangent.