Miata Mx5 - BMW Z4 Compare

E Brown wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Jun 2006 15:54:38 -0400, pltrgyst
> > wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 16 Jun 2006 17:43:23 +0100, "Dori A Schmetterling" >
>> 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."
>>
> MG didn't stop production before the first Miata was released -
> weren't they making cars up until last year? How were those?
> epbrown

MGBs were last made in 1980 IIRC.
Thee were cars produced in limited numbers after that that bore the MG
nameplate, but they were hardly comparable.

In article >,
Dori A Schmetterling > wrote:
>Exactly.
>
>I don't think the MGs were a bundle of joy in that department.
>
>The best car is a RELIABLE car and the MX5 was that when it launched, was it
>not?

Bah. Real sportscars only work weekends.

--
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On Sun, 18 Jun 2006 22:46:37 +0100, Dori A Schmetterling wrote:

> Exactly.
>
> I don't think the MGs were a bundle of joy in that department.

Actually, MGs were pretty much bulletproof, and still make a reliable
everyday proposition nowadays.

> The best car is a RELIABLE car and the MX5 was that when it launched,
> was it not?

Yup. The MX5/Miata may have looked a little like an Elan but it was
definitely the spiritual successor to the dear old MGB. And there's
nothing wrong with that.

(If you cornered me and insisted that I compare my Z4 to a Brit sportscar,
then I'd probably have to compare it to a big Healey....)

- Robin

--
Trout: Slightly fishy but never coarse. http://www.troutmag.org

In article >,
Robin Parkinson > wrote:
> Yup. The MX5/Miata may have looked a little like an Elan but it was
> definitely the spiritual successor to the dear old MGB. And there's
> nothing wrong with that.

It *is* the spiritual successor to the Elan - that's what it was modelled
on. Superb handling, decent comfort, good steering, gearbox, brakes and
willing engine. Not just out and out performance, but fun to drive.

Really not a lot like a 'B' - however nice they can be. But I always
thought the Spriget a better car than the B.

--
*The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article >,
Robin Parkinson > wrote:
> (If you cornered me and insisted that I compare my Z4 to a Brit
> sportscar, then I'd probably have to compare it to a big Healey....)

I'd have said it's closer to a Stag. The Healey is a brutal heavy car to
drive...

--
*OK, who stopped payment on my reality check?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article >,
> Robin Parkinson > wrote:
>> Yup. The MX5/Miata may have looked a little like an Elan but it was
>> definitely the spiritual successor to the dear old MGB. And there's
>> nothing wrong with that.
>
> It *is* the spiritual successor to the Elan - that's what it was modelled
> on. Superb handling, decent comfort, good steering, gearbox, brakes and
> willing engine. Not just out and out performance, but fun to drive.

I understand when the original Miata was first introduced to the press
in Japan, a nice original Lotus Elan - and nothing else - was on hand
for comparison.
The first Miata I ever saw was an autocrosser that was painted in
the classic Lotus two-tone colors

On Mon, 19 Jun 2006 18:16:57 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)" >
wrote:

>Of course it's more reliable than cars with points ignition and carbs.

Especially *multiple* carbs. Especially SU's.

Uni-Syn fans, anyone? 8

-- Larry

On Mon, 19 Jun 2006 22:21:17 +0100, Robin Parkinson > wrote:

>(If you cornered me and insisted that I compare my Z4 to a Brit sportscar,
>then I'd probably have to compare it to a big Healey....)

Dead-on.

-- Larry

On Mon, 19 Jun 2006 22:32:02 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)" >
wrote:

>I'd have said it's closer to a Stag. The Healey is a brutal heavy car to
>drive...

The Stags I drove felt more nose-heavy than my TR-8.

Now maybe a TVR...

-- Larry

"pltrgyst" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 19 Jun 2006 22:21:17 +0100, Robin Parkinson >
> wrote:
>
>>(If you cornered me and insisted that I compare my Z4 to a Brit sportscar,
>>then I'd probably have to compare it to a big Healey....)
>
> Dead-on.
>
> -- Larry
>

My Z4 reminds me a bit of the Jensen-Healey I nearly bought in the 70's.

Tom K.