Yep. Same industrial process creating totally s***ty parts that the company (Mitsui) could care less about servicing/replacing/honoring warranty service about.
Sold a lot of Datsuns/Nissans due to it.
Strange thing is that a 1st gen, turbo, AWD Eclipse is a f**king blast to drive and held up well. Al
Agreed. A friend had a non-turbo FWD Laser and it seemed to be decent enough. I expected it to self destruct at any second just because I knew who'd made it but she had it for years. I guess their anti-engineers must have had an off day when designing that series of cars?
Girlie keeps looking at WRXes and Evos... I told her if she bought an Evo that I would refuse to so much as put new wiper blades on it, because I didn't want to be held responsible for anything bad that could (would) happen to it.
nate
Mazda MX5 3rd Generation. Also called the Eunos or Miata in earlier generations in different markets. Don't know if they still are.
Purebred small engined two seater open top sports car.
They really have. They don't feel as good, and don't last as well.
Hopefully if and when it is finalised and publicised, the Koenigsegg buyout will give back the sensible eccentricities and longevity.
I'd agree except for the "gobs of power" thing. My mom has a first-gen and really likes it, but it's far from overpowered.
funny thing is, I've been arguing with SWMBO about Miatas for years... I keep telling her that they're the closest thing on the market to what she wants in a car (fun to drive, reliable, no special instructions, reasonably priced) and yet she resists because "everyone has one" (well, maybe that's because it's a good product) and "it's a chick car" (maybe there's something I ought to know...?)
Now if Mazda made a Miata with the motor from the old RX-7 Turbo (or just hadn't discontinued the really nice looking RX-7 in favor of the hideous RX-8) that'd really perk my ears up.
nate
166horses in a 2 seater that grips so well isn't that bad. Combined with the adjustable suspension and already mentioned grip they aren't about power they are about a sweet drive.
The 3rd gens are slightly bigger but every effort has been made to keep the weight down so it weighs very little more than the 1st gen.
See if you can get a drive in a nice 3rd gen with the 5 or 6 speed manual and find somewhere nice and twisty to throw it through.
I like big power, had my share of Saab and Toyota turbos, but there is something very sweet about having enough power to be able to make use of a lot of it, and a chassis that just works.
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