Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare

Personally, I don't care for the looks of the Z4 Roadster. I liked the
Z3 just fine.
I'm good with the new coupe though.
And Mazda could have changed up the looks of the MX5 a little more, but
it's a good-looking car. I love that copper leather interior.

Rex B

Charles U' Farley wrote:
> Beauty?
>
> Good God man, put on your eye-glasses before you spout nonsense like that
> again!
>
>
> "AM" <am01.RemoveThis@netvigator.com> wrote in message news:44817bce$1@127.0.0.1...
>> Hi,
>>
>> Many reviews of the Z4 - a great roadster in its own right - write that
>> the
>> car has a tendancy to understeer and for a sports car enthusiast lacks the
>> feel that translates the road through the steering wheel.
>>
>> The new MX5 which obviously in a different price bracket, is more of a
>> hardcore sports car, but of course gives up much of the refinement, beauty
>> and quality that goes with the Z4.
>>
>> I would appreciate it if people could comment on this - and anything else
>> they feel worthy of note. Unfortunetely where I am BMW dont have a Z4 for
>> testing so I have no means of comparison. I am looking mainly at the
>> 2.5siA.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Alex
>>
>>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:14:59 GMT, "Victor A. Garcia" <vgarcia1.TakeThisOut@tampabay.rr.com>
wrote:

>Yup, if you dare to ask .... go get the Miata, it's a nice car.
>
>When you grow up, drive a BMW, after that, you'll never ask again.

That's rather an ignornant, kennel-blinded statement.

The Miata is an excellent car in its own right. The biggest advantage it
possesses is that it is many hundreds of pounds lighter than any of the BMW Z
cars, and to some of us, light weight is the *primary* virtue of a sports car.
Its build quality is outstanding, and its powertrain is bulletproof -- probably
more so than the BMW's. It can be easily (and much more cheaply) track-prepped
to be just as competitive in its class as any Z-car.

When you consider price, most people would describe the Miata as a better value
than any Z car. I am considering a new roadster right now, and I know I do. But
then I'm loony enough to consider a Caterham as well. 8

Buying a BMW Z car, unless done for entre to a specific competitive class in
autocross or track, is not done for compelling sports car reasons -- it is done
for other qualities, which have more to do with luxury and comfort than street
performance.

-- Larry
-1995 Miata R, with as many track as street miles
-2005 330i
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

In article <795kg.9324$LT2.8094@tornado.tampabay.rr.com>,
Victor A. Garcia <vgarcia1.DeleteThis@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
> Yup, if you dare to ask .... go get the Miata, it's a nice car.

> When you grow up, drive a BMW, after that, you'll never ask again.

You mean the Z4 is an old man's car? The MX5 certainly ain't.

--
*Shin: a device for finding furniture in the dark *

Dave Plowman dave.DeleteThis@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 19:48:06 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
<dave RemoveThis @davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

>In article <795kg.9324$LT2.8094@tornado.tampabay.rr.com>,
> Victor A. Garcia <vgarcia1 RemoveThis @tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
>> Yup, if you dare to ask .... go get the Miata, it's a nice car.
>
>> When you grow up, drive a BMW, after that, you'll never ask again.
>
>You mean the Z4 is an old man's car? The MX5 certainly ain't.

Actually...
People are always claiming the MX-5 is a "chick" car, but I almost
never see a woman driving one. Usually, I see older guys in them - the
sort who look to have had an MG or Triumph when they were younger and
are sentimental enough to remember it fondly, but wise enough not to
repeat the experience.
epbrown
--
"Everybody wants a normal life and a cool car;
most people will settle for the car." Chris Titus
2003 BMW 325i Black/Black, 2003 BMW Z4 Black/Black
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

E Brown wrote:
>
> Actually...
> People are always claiming the MX-5 is a "chick" car, but I almost
> never see a woman driving one. Usually, I see older guys in them - the
> sort who look to have had an MG or Triumph when they were younger and
> are sentimental enough to remember it fondly, but wise enough not to
> repeat the experience.
> epbrown

That's pretty much on the money.
Nothing wrong with a Miata. My Z3 has a little more legroom, and that
was what I needed.
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 20:17:28 GMT, E Brown <three1983s RemoveThis @att.net> wrote:

> People are always claiming the MX-5 is a "chick" car, but I almost
>never see a woman driving one. Usually, I see older guys in them - the
>sort who look to have had an MG or Triumph when they were younger and
>are sentimental enough to remember it fondly, but wise enough not to
>repeat the experience.

That's pretty darned accurate! 8

Let's see, I'm 59, and have owned my present 1995 Miata type R (Hard Dog bar,
harnesses, Borla, short-shifter, etc.) plus the 1980 TR-8, 1975 Spitfire, 1975
Lola 342 1600 FF, 1972 Pantera, 1971 Lotus Europa S2, 1970 Elden 1600 FF, 1960
TR-3A.

Let's not even discuss the four Alfas and the Fiat Dino, among others...

Although I will say that the TR-8 with a Holley 390 4-bbl, manual rack, Konis,
and beefed-up competition brakes was the most rock-solid car I've ever owned for
street and track -- wish I still had it and the Dino today.

They were all a ton of fun. By comparison, today's Miatas and BMWs feel like
appliances -- they're almost too perfect.

-- Larry
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

In article <93f3929vjvj65hgcfilf3v6hioasl2jr1c.RemoveThis@4ax.com>,
E Brown <three1983s.RemoveThis@att.net> wrote:
> People are always claiming the MX-5 is a "chick" car, but I almost
> never see a woman driving one. Usually, I see older guys in them - the
> sort who look to have had an MG or Triumph when they were younger and
> are sentimental enough to remember it fondly, but wise enough not to
> repeat the experience.

It was actually modelled on a Lotus - the original Elan - which was a fun
car to drive, while it worked, which wasn't often. But had amazing
handling and comfort - rare in those days of the '60s. The engine was a
Lotus twin cam based on the Ford Cortina bottom end.

Older guys in the UK often just get an old Triumph or MG - there are
still plenty around and luckily spares are easy.

--
*Dance like nobody's watching.

Dave Plowman dave.RemoveThis@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
: In article <795kg.9324$LT2.8094@tornado.tampabay.rr.com>,
: Victor A. Garcia <vgarcia1 RemoveThis @tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
:: Yup, if you dare to ask .... go get the Miata, it's a nice car.
:
:: When you grow up, drive a BMW, after that, you'll never ask again.
:
: You mean the Z4 is an old man's car? The MX5 certainly ain't.

Not at all, I mean a BMW is for the 'refined man/woman that apreciate the
best quality, and is willing to pay for it', the Miata, while a pretty good
car ... it's not a same level as the Z's.

:
: --
: *Shin: a device for finding furniture in the dark *
:
: Dave Plowman dave RemoveThis @davenoise.co.uk London SW
: To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

The MX5 is the car that the British sports car should have been.

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
---

"Dave Plowman (News)" <dave DeleteThis @davenoise.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4e37805e17dave@davenoise.co.uk...
> In article <795kg.9324$LT2.8094@tornado.tampabay.rr.com>,
> Victor A. Garcia <vgarcia1 DeleteThis @tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
>> Yup, if you dare to ask .... go get the Miata, it's a nice car.
>
>> When you grow up, drive a BMW, after that, you'll never ask again.
>
> You mean the Z4 is an old man's car? The MX5 certainly ain't.
>
> --
> *Shin: a device for finding furniture in the dark *
>
> Dave Plowman dave DeleteThis @davenoise.co.uk London SW
> To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

Richard Sexton wrote:
> They also compared some tricked our ricer, like 30K pounds
> modded to a frogeye sprite. The Sprite was 3 secs faster.

Yeah, but the Sprite was an all-out race car, and the course was a
twisty, wet one. The ricers didn't realize they'd been had until it was
over.

> One thing about those British cars, when they work they're great.
>
> Sorry. If, not when.

<insert your facorite Lucas joke here>
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

On Fri, 16 Jun 2006 17:43:23 +0100, "Dori A Schmetterling" <ng RemoveThis @nospam.co.uk>
wrote:

>The MX5 is the car that the British sports car should have been.

Considering that the MX-5 first appeared ten years after the demise of the
affordable British sports car, that should probably be "would have been ten
years later."

OTOH, I've got a friend here in DC who currently vintage races MG-Bs, and
they're remarkably robust. I rode around Summitt Point Raceway in a bugeye
Sprite last year, and it still cornered like a roller skate and gace a thrilling
ride that you couldn't get out of any significant quantity production car today,
including the bloated BMW Mini-Cooper. My 1972 Elden is dead reliable, and its
1600cc British Ford race engine is at least 15 years old.

I think we're still seeing the cumulative effect of fifty years of Lucas
jokes...

-- Larry
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

In article <MY2dnVQF664yQg_ZRVnysw DeleteThis @pipex.net>,
Dori A Schmetterling <ng DeleteThis @nospam.co.uk> wrote:
>The MX5 is the car that the British sports car should have been.

Bollocks.

Top gear compared an Aston with an E type on their track and the
bloody E-type did staggeringly well, getting a faster lap time
than a Lotus Esprit turbo (I think, it was some hot Lotus).

They also compared some tricked our ricer, like 30K pounds
modded to a frogeye sprite. The Sprite was 3 secs faster.

One thing about those British cars, when they work they're great.

Sorry. If, not when.



--
Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare 

Richard Sexton wrote:
> In article <1295tm1fnbthh0a.DeleteThis@corp.supernews.com>, Rex B <""> wrote:
>> Richard Sexton wrote:
>>> They also compared some tricked our ricer, like 30K pounds
>>> modded to a frogeye sprite. The Sprite was 3 secs faster.
>> Yeah, but the Sprite was an all-out race car, and the course was a
>> twisty, wet one. The ricers didn't realize they'd been had until it was
>> over.
>
> Wellll, all out race car, what does that mean? It's still a stock
> frogeye frame.

If it's anything like the SCCA G or H Production cars on this side of
the pond, or even prepared to Vintage specs, it's a highly refined race
vehicle, despite it's humble beginnings. Those things run 13:1
compression in the engine, too.
 >> Stay informed about: Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare