truckstop
03-22-2006, 06:15 AM
Hi - first post.
I'm curious if there's any other former or current Miata owners on the board that can help me out with the comparison. I haven't spent much time in a 318ti besides a test drive in a '97 automatic base model that was a bit of a basketcase. The two cars aren't entirely dissimilar, the 318 is about 10" longer and 400lbs. heavier, but they're both 1.8/1.9 liters and rear wheel drive. The Mazdaspeed Miata has nice suspension, and it's turbocharged so it beats the BMW for grunt and HP because it's lighter.
I have to get rid of the Miata because I don't want the car payment, but still want something fun to drive. I love hatches (and with the Miata, I really miss having trunk space and the ability to have more than one passenger) and rear wheel drive in deep snow with good snow tires is heaps of fun. (I'm not kidding - I've gone ice racing a couple times.) I've thought about a Lexus IS300 but they're out of my budget. Gotta be around $6K to not have payments.
I've done some reading here, and have been poking around various parts shops online. I doubt I'd spend the money to do a conversion, and would maybe consider the supercharger in a year or so if that would bring the HP/weight ratio up to what the Miata is. I don't have testosterone ruling my ego, :tongue: and get my track thrills on a motorbike so I don't need it to be blinding fast or anything, but the one I test drove felt kind of like... a tank. I'm sure it had to do a lot with its condition, but it was as rickety as a '89 Mazda 626 I used to have.
I'm looking at a couple '98 sports that are over 1,000 miles away from home, and want to make sure I'm not disapointed if I decide to get one of them. I'm a little spoiled with a brand new car and all. Thoughts?
Other random questions and observations:
Do most 3-series parts fit? Like suspension upgrades if it starts riding like a waterbed?
Are there any aftermarket exhausts that don't have 2 cans if I wanted to do something more free-flow? I'd like to eek out a few more HP until I can get the SC.
Thanks - Jen
I'm curious if there's any other former or current Miata owners on the board that can help me out with the comparison. I haven't spent much time in a 318ti besides a test drive in a '97 automatic base model that was a bit of a basketcase. The two cars aren't entirely dissimilar, the 318 is about 10" longer and 400lbs. heavier, but they're both 1.8/1.9 liters and rear wheel drive. The Mazdaspeed Miata has nice suspension, and it's turbocharged so it beats the BMW for grunt and HP because it's lighter.
I have to get rid of the Miata because I don't want the car payment, but still want something fun to drive. I love hatches (and with the Miata, I really miss having trunk space and the ability to have more than one passenger) and rear wheel drive in deep snow with good snow tires is heaps of fun. (I'm not kidding - I've gone ice racing a couple times.) I've thought about a Lexus IS300 but they're out of my budget. Gotta be around $6K to not have payments.
I've done some reading here, and have been poking around various parts shops online. I doubt I'd spend the money to do a conversion, and would maybe consider the supercharger in a year or so if that would bring the HP/weight ratio up to what the Miata is. I don't have testosterone ruling my ego, :tongue: and get my track thrills on a motorbike so I don't need it to be blinding fast or anything, but the one I test drove felt kind of like... a tank. I'm sure it had to do a lot with its condition, but it was as rickety as a '89 Mazda 626 I used to have.
I'm looking at a couple '98 sports that are over 1,000 miles away from home, and want to make sure I'm not disapointed if I decide to get one of them. I'm a little spoiled with a brand new car and all. Thoughts?
Other random questions and observations:
Do most 3-series parts fit? Like suspension upgrades if it starts riding like a waterbed?
Are there any aftermarket exhausts that don't have 2 cans if I wanted to do something more free-flow? I'd like to eek out a few more HP until I can get the SC.
Thanks - Jen