mtn wrote:
NOHOME wrote:
Vigo wrote:
Doesn't Toyota/Subaru already make this?
touche, my friend. 
Not really. It was my hope that it would be the case, but the FRS does actually have what could pass for rear seating, and that changes the experience.
I really like that Miata coupe. Wonder what the real story of the decision not to build was cause I know for a fact such a meeting took place.
Nah, the reason that the FRS isn't "it" is that it feels underpowered (to me), whereas the Miata feels "right". Not sure if it is the gearing or just the powerband, but that is my opinion.
It's actually the fact that one has a very good chassis, and the other is pretty terrible by today's standards. Also see: The difference between an LS1 powered... Geo Metro, and an LS1 powered Corvette.
@ Swank Force One - what you are saying is that it could have been as popular as the hard top solstice. You know, I have never seen one of those in person either.
The buisness of selling hardtop versions of convertibles to people who hate convertibles but bought convertibles anyways is probably trickier then it sounds.
Rusnak_322 wrote:
@ Swank Force One - what you are saying is that it could have been as popular as the hard top solstice. You know, I have never seen one of those in person either.
The buisness of selling hardtop versions of convertibles to people who hate convertibles but bought convertibles anyways is probably trickier then it sounds.
I think you're confusing a lack of supply with a lack of demand in this case. 
At no point am i saying that it would have outsold the soft top cars, but i certainly don't think saying that if 10% of all Miatas were coupes at a $3-5k markup, they would have sold just fine, is that far of a stretch.
Swank Force One wrote:
Rusnak_322 wrote:
@ Swank Force One - what you are saying is that it could have been as popular as the hard top solstice. You know, I have never seen one of those in person either.
The buisness of selling hardtop versions of convertibles to people who hate convertibles but bought convertibles anyways is probably trickier then it sounds.
I think you're confusing a lack of supply with a lack of demand in this case.
I think in both cases... the Soltice coupe was not on the market long enough to establish demand.
kanaric wrote:
CGLockRacer wrote:
I wonder how hard that would be to convert to LHD? Or import the A-pillar back part of the chassis and graft on a US-spec Miata. Add LSx, stir, simmer on the dyno until desired HP is acheived, and mmm-mmm-mmm, yummy V8 Miata coupe goodness.
Since it's a NB miata find a NB miata bring one of these into the states and swap vins and say the original car was scrapped and the roof was welded on and overfenders swapped over, lol.
A JDM NB coupe sold as "street legal" in Texas a few years back. Air Force guy bought it and brought it back IIRC. I suspect something not too dissimilar from what you're describing happened there.
In reply to Swank Force One:
Wait... which has the very good chassis and which has the pretty terrible one?
FRS > Miata.
If you put FRS power in a Miata, you'd be pretty entertained, and not just because of the weight, but because the limits are that much lower.
mtn
UltimaDork
6/10/14 2:54 p.m.
Swank Force One wrote:
FRS > Miata.
If you put FRS power in a Miata, you'd be pretty entertained, and not just because of the weight, but because the limits are that much lower.
Honestly, that still isn't it. Just driving in a straight line on the street, I find that the Miata is a lot more fun. While it is probably slower, it feels faster.
mtn wrote:
Swank Force One wrote:
FRS > Miata.
If you put FRS power in a Miata, you'd be pretty entertained, and not just because of the weight, but because the limits are that much lower.
Honestly, that still isn't it. Just driving in a straight line on the street, I find that the Miata is a lot more fun. While it is probably slower, it feels faster.
You mean while it is most definitely not even in the same time zone in straight line speed, right? 
This is the product of modern engineering and a motor that's superior in every way, nestled in an unflappable chassis.
NOHOME
SuperDork
6/10/14 3:37 p.m.
Swank Force One wrote:
mtn wrote:
Swank Force One wrote:
FRS > Miata.
If you put FRS power in a Miata, you'd be pretty entertained, and not just because of the weight, but because the limits are that much lower.
Honestly, that still isn't it. Just driving in a straight line on the street, I find that the Miata is a lot more fun. While it is probably slower, it feels faster.
You mean while it is most definitely not even in the same time zone in straight line speed, right?
This is the product of modern engineering and a motor that's superior in every way, nestled in an unflappable chassis.
If "slow cars fast" is fun, then "under-chassied cars overpowered" is more funner yet!
This might be Keith's new battle cry!
NOHOME wrote:
Swank Force One wrote:
mtn wrote:
Swank Force One wrote:
FRS > Miata.
If you put FRS power in a Miata, you'd be pretty entertained, and not just because of the weight, but because the limits are that much lower.
Honestly, that still isn't it. Just driving in a straight line on the street, I find that the Miata is a lot more fun. While it is probably slower, it feels faster.
You mean while it is most definitely not even in the same time zone in straight line speed, right?
This is the product of modern engineering and a motor that's superior in every way, nestled in an unflappable chassis.
If "slow cars fast" is fun, then "under-chassied cars overpowered" is more funner yet!
This might be Keith's new battle cry!
I 100% agree. Our current tarblow 95 Miata is a riot because the suspension/tires suck so bad. Worried it won't be so fun 99% of the time when i fix those things.
wspohn
HalfDork
6/10/14 4:49 p.m.
Rusnak_322 wrote:
That would be sweet as a convertible.
The reason they didn't sell it elsewhere is that only Porsche can take a convertible, lose the expensive soft top and then get more money for it. Everyone else would expect Mazda to sell it cheaper then the open top car.
Not so. As witness my daily driver, which cost more than the convertible and continues to do so (significantly) on the used market!
The Miata coupe is really the successor in spirit to the Lotus Elan +2
The first picture looked a lot like my ZX2
Here is where everyone hates me.
What makes the Toyobaru better than the Hyundai Genesis Coupe?
Keith Tanner wrote:
We've been trying to get Mazda to hand over the Coupe to us so we can take care of it, instead of having it moulder away in a basement somewhere.
Was that a typo, or did you mean like Fox Moulder used to have a basement office? Works either way IMHO!
Sorry, that's my Canadian education :) http://www.thefreedictionary.com/moulder
Besides, that's Fox Mulder!
In reply to Keith Tanner:
Never apologize when all these heathens mention your spelling. It's not your fault that they can't spell the Queen's English properly.
dculberson wrote:
Swank Force One wrote:
Rusnak_322 wrote:
@ Swank Force One - what you are saying is that it could have been as popular as the hard top solstice. You know, I have never seen one of those in person either.
The buisness of selling hardtop versions of convertibles to people who hate convertibles but bought convertibles anyways is probably trickier then it sounds.
I think you're confusing a lack of supply with a lack of demand in this case.
I think in both cases... the Soltice coupe was not on the market long enough to establish demand.
Grassroots Motorsports did an article on the Solstice. Part of the reason why they didn't sell like gangbusters is because it was released soon before the economic downturn hit, so people couldn't afford one in the second model year, or after that. I think that Miata sales were dropping too, and those customers couldn't buy a Solstice or a Saturn Sky. Then, GM probably didn't have the money to make a few more improvements to the car, not to mention the bankruptcy. Then they had to kill it.
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