Pic of my weapons

[DailyDriver]

.

 

[jeebusm3]

Oh crap, are you telling me that the MazdaSpeed3 is also "too much car" for street driving??? Damn, maybe I really should get a Mazda 5! (rofl2)

In the Vette there have been times I've hit 110 mph in areas that should have been traveled through at 40 mph... and it feels like nothing... you can get into serious trouble when you have that much capability. You gain lots of speed way too quickly and the car deals with it way too effortlessly. But that's what I'm trying to avoid now. I want big thrills but at much slower (safe, legal) speed. So the Miata sounds like the solution... cool... I'd be interested if I didn't need a rear seat and some degree of cargo space.

the mazdaspeed3 is much closer to being usable...but still it's generally more than anyone needs. a little too much power is fun though.

 

[Vater]

Unfortunately, I'm not sure there's a perfect solution for you, considering all that. The Miata is a blast at 'normal' speeds because of how small it is--it really does feel like you're going faster than you are most of the time. Also, the handling is unparalleled, at ~2500lbs. and a 50/50 weight ratio. My '91 was actually under 2200lbs, and far less hp than the NC, but truly felt like a go kart. I do miss driving it, but I don't regret getting the Speed3. It's obviously much larger and faster, but there is a hint of that go kart-like handling in there somewhere.

I wouldn't necessarily say it feels like too much car for street driving, although it can sometimes be just that during my commute, which is an hour each way with (fortunately) very little bumper-to-bumper traffic, but far too many stoplights and pokey drivers to ever get to appreciate what the car was built for. I have moments of bliss, with open road (and even some twisties) before me, but it's rare and usually short-lived as I'm boosting up on someone's rear end before I can count to 15psi.

But, like you, I needed four seats and four doors, and I wasn't about to settle for just any old car after owning a sports car. After all, I got the Miata for the sole purpose of making my commute less of a drag. I had a '99 Explorer as my DD and after so many years I was absolutely miserable driving it. It was a chore...and I was seriously having some road rage issues. I couldn't believe that, after a few months of owning the Miata, I was actually happier, not stressed out all the time, and consequently a more pleasant person to be around. It was nuts. So, yeah...I wasn't about to get another boring car. All things considered, the MS3 was the perfect fit for me.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

Oh and about that Mazdaspeed5...Car and Driver recently took this project on. They had a hard time with it but I don't think they had the greatest experts to help them.

they totally botched this. i was so disappointed.

 

[Antoine]

(cool)

Nice juicy thread and what a great stable of Mazdas you've got there...Thanks for sharing!

 

[DarkSpeed3]

You automatically get to weed out all the n00bs.

LMFAO! (cabpatch)

 

[jeebusm3]

(cool)

Nice juicy thread and what a great stable of Mazdas you've got there...Thanks for sharing!

thanks!

they totally botched this. i was so disappointed.

so was I. They seriously seemed to have NO idea what they were doing.