Mazda Engineers are pushing for more RWD cars.

[12,000 RPM]

Yeah, Mazda defined the Miata when it made it a two-seat roadster for the last 20+ years.

And guess what, that shit matters. People lost their shit when they took off the name Miata from the MX-5. So no, after 20 years, the definition exists beyond just a label. It would be like calling the Cayenne a 911. It doesn't work like that. It's as much an idea as a name; maybe moreso.

A Cayenne is way further from a 911 than a small hardtop 2+2 coupe is from a Miata. People flipped their shit... who cares? Fuck em. They took the name off and the car still moves sustainable units. I'll bet the loudest critics of the name change never bought a Miata brand new, or a Miata period. More body styles would only make the MX-5 that much more sustainable without really doing any damage to the brand at all. Look at all the positive reaction to the Miata coupe here. Pedantic traditionalism is a useless endeavor.

[Raza]

A Cayenne is way further from a 911 than a small hardtop 2+2 coupe is from a Miata. People flipped their shit... who cares? Fuck em. They took the name off and the car still moves sustainable units. I'll bet the loudest critics of the name change never bought a Miata brand new, or a Miata period. More body styles would only make the MX-5 that much more sustainable without really doing any damage to the brand at all. Look at all the positive reaction to the Miata coupe here. Pedantic traditionalism is a useless endeavor.

They put the name back.  That was my point. 

[280Z Turbo]

Ragtops are tey gay. Leave the cloth roofs in the 1900s where they belong.

[Onslaught]

Miata people are the ones that freaked out. Other people don't give a shit. As a matter of fact, a large number of people I know didn't even know Mazda still made the Miata. I never gave a shit because I call my car an MX-5.

But a hard top miata with back seats isn't a miata anymore. It's more like a mix of an RX-8 and MX-5. It's an MX-8. But an MX-5 with two seats and a real roof is a Miata coupe and that's fine. Just like the BMW coupes of their Z cars.

[MrH]

No, no.  People laughed when you said that you'd buy a Miata if it were a fixed roof 2+2, because that's no longer a Miata.  Had you said that you'd buy a Miata-based fixed roof 2+2, no one would have questioned it. 

We also laugh because they basically made just that, in the BRZ and FR-S twins, and then he proceeds to write it off, despite not having driven it, due to a dip in the torque curve he read about.  Then proceeds to buy the exact opposite of what makes a miata special. Trolololo

[TurboDan]

I get a kick out of torque steer. It's like, this car is so badass, it goes where it wants, bitches!

If torque steer is your bag, then I'd be searching for deals on a Cadillac Allante or Saab 9-3 Viggen at this point. Points go to the Allante for having a V8. Points go to the Viggen for making you wonder if you're going to smash into a toll booth every time you approach one on the highway.

[TurboDan]

I came across one for sale about a year or so back, it was mint and was actually pretty cheap.

Wow, the Elan surprisingly holds up legit over the decades...

[Rupert]

If torque steer is your bag, then I'd be searching for deals on a Cadillac Allante or Saab 9-3 Viggen at this point. Points go to the Allante for having a V8. Points go to the Viggen for making you wonder if you're going to smash into a toll booth every time you approach one on the highway.

I've got enough in my 164, thanks!

[Onslaught]

If you want torque steer then try out the original Mazda MX-6 GT when the turbo kicked in. You better be holding on.

[NomisR]

Reason for rear wheels on a FWD car?  To keep the rear end from dragging on the ground. 

[12,000 RPM]

We also laugh because they basically made just that, in the BRZ and FR-S twins, and then he proceeds to write it off, despite not having driven it, due to a dip in the torque curve he read about.  Then proceeds to buy the exact opposite of what makes a miata special. Trolololo

Lmao you are so butthurt its downright amazing

I guess holding grudges like a teenage girl also fits under your "umbrella of awesome"

[AutobahnSHO]

Ragtops are tey gay. Leave the cloth roofs in the 1900s where they belong.

you = dumb

[Onslaught]

http://wot.motortrend.com/1311_mazda_design_director_discusses_miata_scion_fr_s_market_appeal.html#ixzz2juXXB0Gz

[Madman]

I looked into trying to find one of those to import and couldn't. I also looked into getting the Mazda replacement parts from Japan to build one off an NB from over here but couldn't either.

Seems to me any decent body shop could replicate this roof on a standard Miata. 

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Seems to me any decent body shop could replicate this roof on a standard Miata. 

With a suitable cut(a roof that would fit that shape and general dimensions) you could probably have a shop weld it on and do some rough finishing work(not paint work) for a few thousand dollars.

[Onslaught]

Um guys, not normal body shop would touch a job like that. Normal body shops just fix damaged cars and don't do much fabrication work because fabricators get paid WAY more. You'd have to take it to a specialty shop that had the equipment to bend, and form the metal for something like that.  And it would cost you a fucking arm and a leg! You've not only got the outer skin they would have to make by scratch but the internal metal that supports everything too. Then you'd have the special interior part and all the special glass work. You're talking about a huge job that would cost way more then any MX-5 would ever be worth.

Now if you had the OEM parts or a clip of a Japanese coupe then it would be workable for a resealable amount. And by reasonable I'm talking thousands of dollars with parts and labor.

And I worked on Mazda's at a "normal" Ford/Marda body shop shop for 16 years before we got sold out. All I did all day long was work on them and if my boss came up to me and told me I had to do a job like that I'd tell him to fuck off.  And I'm not making a joke.

[cawimmer430]

They should just like totally buy RWD platforms from BMW! The next Mazda 3 should be built on a second generation BMW 1-Series platform!

*HIDES FROM THE ROCKS THAT 'SPINNERS WILL THROW AT HIM IN UTTER AND COMPLETE DISGUST AT THAT OUTRAGEOUS IDEA*

[Onslaught]

I actually think that a BMW/Mazda pairing would be a great thing. I've always looked at Mazda as the poor mans BMW when it comes to handling and having a sporty feel in most all their cars.

[cawimmer430]

I actually think that a BMW/Mazda pairing would be a great thing. I've always looked at Mazda as the poor mans BMW when it comes to handling and having a sporty feel in most all their cars.

Wouldn't you lust after a RWD Mazda 3 based on a 1-Series platform? 

[TurboDan]

Wouldn't you lust after a RWD Mazda 3 based on a 1-Series platform? 

BMW would have to have one foot in bankruptcy court before that would happen...

[Onslaught]

Wouldn't you lust after a RWD Mazda 3 based on a 1-Series platform? 

No. "Lust" and "Mazda 3" will never be two words that go to ether for me.

[280Z Turbo]

No. "Lust" and "Mazda 3" will never be two words that go to ether for me.

Jesus, man. Are there any cars you like other than Miatas and RX-7/RX-8s?

[Onslaught]

Jesus, man. Are there any cars you like other than Miatas and RX-7/RX-8s?

Many. But a Mazda 3? Or should I say lust for a Mazda 3?

[NomisR]

Many. But a Mazda 3? Or should I say lust for a Mazda 3?

You don't... lust ... for a Mazda 3.... you simply get one for other reason, but lust after one typically isn't one of the reasons.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I wonder what a Mazda 3 with a renesis mounted transversely with a 7 speed DCT would be like.

[NomisR]

I wonder what a Mazda 3 with a renesis mounted transversely with a 7 speed DCT would be like.

This.. he would probably lust for... but probably not a Renesis but some version of the 16x

[Onslaught]

It would be interesting but at it's heart it still be a basic, simple point A-B car that has some stuff thrown on it. I'm sure it could be cool but I'd "lust" over something made from the ground up to be special. I'm most saying I hate cars like the 3, civic or corolla. I just don't care about them all that much.

Now if Mazda made the 3 wagon into a 4WD turbo car with Recaro seats and all kinds of other bad ass shit then it's possible I could lust over something like that.

[NomisR]

It would be interesting but at it's heart it still be a basic, simple point A-B car that has some stuff thrown on it. I'm sure it could be cool but I'd "lust" over something made from the ground up to be special. I'm most saying I hate cars like the 3, civic or corolla. I just don't care about them all that much.

Now if Mazda made the 3 wagon into a 4WD turbo car with Recaro seats and all kinds of other bad ass shit then it's possible I could lust over something like that.

So.. a Mazdaspeed 3 with a Recaro seat?

[MX793]

So.. a Mazdaspeed 3 with a Recaro seat?

Speed3 isn't AWD.

[NomisR]

Speed3 isn't AWD.

oh, i thought it was, that's why it was a pig.. guess not.