I love my Miata

[FC]

Whatever helps them make their case, man. But certainly interesting.

I'm glad they still make it. I've been mulling the thought of upgrading it to a Boxster in the future when I no longer need to give kids a ride to school (3-4 years away), but I seriously wonder if there's an ROI there given the actual amount of fun extracted on public roads.

Yes, it's not fast. And the moment you deal with 50mph+, straight roads, you notice it. But on winding country roads, or even hwy exit ramps it's really hard to beat. I still attribute a lot of it to the short gearing, but sadly that is one of the big hits against the P-cars - their outrageously tall 1-2 (3?) gearing.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by FC

sadly that is one of the big hits against the P-cars - their outrageously tall 1-2 (3?) gearing.

I wonder how/if the 718 iteration changes that.

[equ]

You know, people complain about porsche 1/2 gearing, but there are benefits. The car is torquey enough, you end up shifting at low rpm's, and that makes it smooooth. Most sports cars buck and jerk (think e46M or especially modified rear ratios). The p-cars are smooth around town if not wildly fast. On the highway, 4/5/6 are always proper and that's when you fly.

[lemming]

Originally Posted by FC

Whatever helps them make their case, man. But certainly interesting.

I'm glad they still make it. I've been mulling the thought of upgrading it to a Boxster in the future when I no longer need to give kids a ride to school (3-4 years away), but I seriously wonder if there's an ROI there given the actual amount of fun extracted on public roads.

Yes, it's not fast. And the moment you deal with 50mph+, straight roads, you notice it. But on winding country roads, or even hwy exit ramps it's really hard to beat. I still attribute a lot of it to the short gearing, but sadly that is one of the big hits against the P-cars - their outrageously tall 1-2 (3?) gearing.

NC or ND is what you're driving?

[rumatt]

Originally Posted by equ

You know, people complain about porsche 1/2 gearing, but there are benefits. The car is torquey enough, you end up shifting at low rpm's, and that makes it smooooth. Most sports cars buck and jerk (think e46M or especially modified rear ratios). The p-cars are smooth around town if not wildly fast. On the highway, 4/5/6 are always proper and that's when you fly.

Yeah the gearing thing doesn't bother me either. I never understood the obsession with short gearing. Yes it pulls harder for the identical gear. But the moment the miata shifts to second, the Cayman is still in first and now has the gearing advantage. You also have to let off the gas more to shift. Long, shiftless pulls are fun.

And once you're above a moderate speed it's mostly just moving the shift points around. It's not a matter of right or wrong but whether the gearing matches the corner. In the Cayman you might come out of a ramp at top of 2nd at 65 mph. In a different car you'd have had to shift mid-ramp then between gears.

I'm not saying short gearing or a miata is bad. Just different.

[FC]

Originally Posted by lemming

NC or ND is what you're driving?

NC. Sports suspension, LSD, and aftermarket front sway bar.

[lemming]

Originally Posted by FC

NC. Sports suspension, LSD, and aftermarket front sway bar.

oh!

very good.

[John V]

Originally Posted by rumatt

Yeah the gearing thing doesn't bother me either. I never understood the obsession with short gearing. Yes it pulls harder for the identical gear. But the moment the miata shifts to second, the Cayman is still in first and now has the gearing advantage. You also have to let off the gas more to shift. Long, shiftless pulls are fun.

And once you're above a moderate speed it's mostly just moving the shift points around. It's not a matter of right or wrong but whether the gearing matches the corner. In the Cayman you might come out of a ramp at top of 2nd at 65 mph. In a different car you'd have had to shift mid-ramp then between gears.

I'm not saying short gearing or a miata is bad. Just different.

I don't know. The gearing is just weird on Boxsters and Caymans. First and second are too tall and sixth is too short. The engine has plenty of torque so why am I turning over 3,000 RPM at a reasonable cruising speed?

[wdc330i]

Has anyone here driven a Fiat 124 Abarth? Is it even available here with a stick yet?

[FC]

Originally Posted by John V

I don't know. The gearing is just weird on Boxsters and Caymans. First and second are too tall and sixth is too short. The engine has plenty of torque so why am I turning over 3,000 RPM at a reasonable cruising speed?

My point about the tall 1-2 gearing is that you can so seldom enjoy the engine singing to redline.