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2006 Miata



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 14th 06, 06:18 PM posted to rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata
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Default 2006 Miata

I am SERIOUSLY considering purchasing a new 2006 Grand Touring MX-5. Would
be interested in hearing feedback about the car, int/ext colors and options.
THANK YOU!


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  #2  
Old May 15th 06, 02:27 AM posted to rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata
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Default 2006 Miata

chance wrote:
> I am SERIOUSLY considering purchasing a new 2006 Grand Touring MX-5. Would
> be interested in hearing feedback about the car, int/ext colors and options.
> THANK YOU!
>
>


After looking at the Honda S2000 (which frightened my wife), Mini
Cooper, and 350 Z (didn't consider a Z4 because I think that it's too
damned ugly), I bought a 2006 MX-5. I didn't consider the Solstice
because of no storage space with the top down and when I see one, the
first word that pops in my head is "Fiero" (synonymous with "bucket of
bolts"). In my opinion, the MX-5 has the best bang for the buck.

Mine is a Sport model with the handling package, galaxy gray with black
cloth interior and black top, 6-speed. It does not have the Bose stereo.
At first, I wanted blue, but all my other cars are blue. Both shades of
red look good. White kind of hides the lines of the car.

If I had to do it differently, I might have bought the run-flat tires
with the tire pressure monitor (there's no spare, which is kind of scary
except for the roadside service included with the car).

I believe with the GT you get the keyless ignition system and an alarm
system, which may discourage theft. You also get leather seats, which I
am not convinced is better than cloth for a convertible.

You also get electronic nannies that prevent slides and such, but I
don't think it's worth it to have them. The chrome windshield frame
doesn't (I think) add anything to the car for me.

I rarely play the radio in my car, so the upgraded audio makes little
difference to me, but you might prefer the better sound quality.

There's some metal trim in the GT interior that kind of spruces it up a
bit, but that's not really necessary. It is, after all, a sports
car/driving tool, not a boulevard cruiser.

Many malign the door cup holders. I use it for my sunglasses and it
doesn't bother me.

Except for automatic transmission (which defeats the purpose of the car,
in my opinion), the rest of the options are cosmetic and you can add
them later through the after market if you want to.

By the way, don't get discouraged if you think the shifter it balky at
first. Mine loosened up quite nicely after about 1500 miles and now it
is a joy.

Good luck, and I am sure that you will enjoy whatever MX-5 you purchase.
It's the most fun car to drive that I've ever owned.




  #3  
Old May 15th 06, 06:53 AM posted to rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata
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Default 2006 Miata

Fabiano > wrote in
news:5OQ9g.4940$Sh3.4507@trnddc05:

> Many malign the door cup holders. I use it for my sunglasses and
> it doesn't bother me.


Come back when you've got a permanent ulcer in your leg just below the
knee where the damned thing cuts it open. I found the new MX-5 to be
the only car I've ever driven that was actually painful, I cut short
the test drive so I could get out of the thing.

  #4  
Old May 15th 06, 11:30 PM posted to rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata
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Default 2006 Miata


"XS11E" > wrote in message
...
> Fabiano > wrote in
> news:5OQ9g.4940$Sh3.4507@trnddc05:
>
>> Many malign the door cup holders. I use it for my sunglasses and
>> it doesn't bother me.

>
> Come back when you've got a permanent ulcer in your leg just below the
> knee where the damned thing cuts it open. I found the new MX-5 to be
> the only car I've ever driven that was actually painful, I cut short
> the test drive so I could get out of the thing.
>


Can't the cup holder be removed? Alternatively, you could have your left
leg removed at the knee and buy an automatic.


  #5  
Old May 15th 06, 11:40 PM posted to rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata
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Default 2006 Miata

"Frank Berger" > wrote
> Can't the cup holder be removed?


It's molded into the entire door panel. If ever an aftermarket product is
needed, this is the one - a clean door panel for the NC. I figure about the
same time they start coming off of the recently offered two-year leases,
there will be stuff like that available.
--
Ken Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red - waiting to buy his NC
Inside the Beltway
[Remove the first two digits to reply]


  #6  
Old May 16th 06, 01:05 AM posted to rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata
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Default 2006 Miata

"Frank Berger" > wrote in
:

>
> "XS11E" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Fabiano > wrote in
>> news:5OQ9g.4940$Sh3.4507@trnddc05:
>>
>>> Many malign the door cup holders. I use it for my sunglasses and
>>> it doesn't bother me.

>>
>> Come back when you've got a permanent ulcer in your leg just
>> below the knee where the damned thing cuts it open. I found the
>> new MX-5 to be the only car I've ever driven that was actually
>> painful, I cut short the test drive so I could get out of the
>> thing.
>>

>
> Can't the cup holder be removed?


No, but the effects are reduced by having a tall bottle that's the
same diameter as the holder, that extends the thing high enough to move
your leg off of the sharp edge and helps a little.

> Alternatively, you could have your left leg removed at the knee
> and buy an automatic.


Hey! I can't walk much now, I'd not be able to walk at all if I did
that. Of course I could get an artificial leg and let the bottle
holder wreck it or.... WOW, GREAT IDEA! I could keep my 1992 which
fits me perfectly, won't cost me any money to buy and is cheaper to
insure and license.

  #7  
Old May 16th 06, 01:16 AM posted to rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata
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Default 2006 Miata

"chance" > wrote:

>I am SERIOUSLY considering purchasing a new 2006 Grand Touring MX-5. Would
>be interested in hearing feedback about the car, int/ext colors and options.


I have a white GT. White prevents the pronounced contours from becoming
too offensive, in my opinion, but so does red if a white Miata is too
fast for you.

I am happy with the car, but I do have a couple of gripes. Number one
is the handbrake position. Why do I need to dig my fingers in the knees
of a passenger to secure the car? What was Mazda thinking? The second
gripe is that compared to the M1/M2 Miatas, there is a definite hint of
"SUV" about the new one. The fact that it is bigger and higher, those
steering wheel buttons, all those cupholders, and other "convenience"
features such as auto-window down, the radio box that is called the key,
the door locks (on a convertible??), etcetera, all tend to detract from
the image of a true sports car to me.

Then again, maybe my ideas of sports cars are colored by the fact that I
am not rich enough to drive the really expensive sports cars.

I have the suspension package, and I believe there is lots of griping
on miata.net about the springs being to soft and the shocks being too
soft. I think this is true but the fact is that I am *much* faster in
autocross in my 2006 than in my lowered, *supercharged* 1996 with R-springs
in rear, Koni shocks all over, and much stiffer antiroll bars. And in
my new Miata I am in C-Stock rather than Street-Mod! )

While the car does have a lot of lateral motion, the shocks, however soft,
seem to take the brunt out of it before it comes to hunt me. The car is
quite forgiving of coming in a bit too fast too, unlike my 1996.

I am impressed with the Michelin Pilot Precede(?) tires, though I do not
think they will last me very long.

I am also getting ready to admit that the steering wheel is a lot better
than the M1 "cookie box" design, buttons or not. It no longer really
bothers me, and I do like that it is adjustable.

The trunk is smaller than the one on my 1996, even while it does *not* have
a spare tire in it (the car comes with a tire-repair kit instead), and the
trunk lid design makes getting anything big in it difficult. However, I
believe this was intentional: by reducing the opening, Mazda should have
been able to increase stiffness a lot. They did really work on getting a
stiffer, very light car:
http:://www.dommelen.net/miata/other/102305/index.htm

The Bose sound system is good. I am not going to argue with audiophiles
about the detailed balancing of every frequency, but simply note that the
sound is much more audible and understandable above wind and engine noise.
And I believe it would be considered of very good quality by any reasonable
person even sitting in the car at rest with the engine off.

Despite naysayers, I like the interior. It is a lot less spartan/depressing
than the standard M1/M2 interiors. The leather seats give me good lateral
support, and I have the CG lock when needed.

I thought the seats in the base Miatas too hard for long trips, and too
unsupportive, and that and the need for cruise control pretty much forced
me to the GT package. The suspension package was a no brainer to me,
despite the criticism on miata.net.

Somebody else tried the traction control package and found the car to be
lethargic until it was turned off. If the computer is constantly braking
a wheel or two, you are not going to go very fast. Gee. And my idea
of a keyless entry system on a convertible is to leave the doors unlocked,
not stupid gizmos.

I did get the polished aluminum fuel tank lid, of course. One can never have
enough shiny parts on a white Miata.

Let me know if you have any specific questions
Leon
--
Leon van Dommelen Bess, the Miata Bozo, the Miata
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
The only thing better than a white Miata is two white Miatas
  #8  
Old May 16th 06, 02:22 AM posted to rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata
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Default 2006 Miata

Not going to happen - the cup holder doesn't interfere with my knee. Try
an 82 BMW 320i - the seats were so hard and poorly designed that trips
over an hour induced sciatica! And they called it the ultimate driving
machine...

Changing the subject a bit, I find the cup holders in the console
absolutely useless for drinks. They're better for change and other small
odds and ends.


XS11E wrote:
> Fabiano > wrote in
> news:5OQ9g.4940$Sh3.4507@trnddc05:
>
>
>>Many malign the door cup holders. I use it for my sunglasses and
>>it doesn't bother me.

>
>
> Come back when you've got a permanent ulcer in your leg just below the
> knee where the damned thing cuts it open. I found the new MX-5 to be
> the only car I've ever driven that was actually painful, I cut short
> the test drive so I could get out of the thing.
>

  #10  
Old May 16th 06, 03:49 AM posted to rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata
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Posts: n/a
Default 2006 Miata

On Tue, 16 May 2006 01:22:26 GMT, Fabiano >
wrote:

>Not going to happen - the cup holder doesn't interfere with my knee.


Same here....after a week or two I didn't/don't even notice it.
 




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