Mazda Engineers are pushing for more RWD cars.

[Soup DeVille]

Fuck off.


I like the NA miata, I really do. However - to turn up one's nose at drive wheels for cars that have like 5HP combined seems stupid. Drive wheels only matter when you hit the gas, anyways. Most handling comes from suspension geometry (which I guess fair enough, sometimes a front-heavy, everything-up-front, shared with something else, FWD setup might not be as ideal) and weight distribution anyways.

Handling is also how it handles when you do use the pedal on the right.

[2o6]

Handling is also how it handles when you do use the pedal on the right.

And with like 5HP, I the difference won't be that damn different.

[Soup DeVille]

And with like 5HP, I the difference won't be that damn different.

This is largely true.

[Payman]

Fuck off.


I like the NA miata, I really do. However - to turn up one's nose at drive wheels for cars that have like 5HP combined seems stupid. Drive wheels only matter when you hit the gas, anyways. Most handling comes from suspension geometry (which I guess fair enough, sometimes a front-heavy, everything-up-front, shared with something else, FWD setup might not be as ideal) and weight distribution anyways.

Fuck off, fuck off. I owned an '87 CRX, an '86 and '90 Prelude, currently own a '91 Miata, raced a '91 fwd Dodge Daytona, and did hot laps with friend's V8 modified. The differences are much more than you think, even between cars with similar weight and power. Never said I disliked fwd cars, but I do prefer rwd in dry conditions. Also, "drive wheels only matter when you hit the gas"? What exactly is your argument?

[2o6]

This is largely true.

Which is why we should have LWD vehicles. Vehicles with drive wheels on one side.

Fuck off, fuck off. I owned an '87 CRX, an '86 and '90 Prelude, currently own a '91 Miata, raced a '91 fwd Dodge Daytona, and did hot laps with friend's V8 modified. The differences are much more than you think, even between cars with similar weight and power. Never said I disliked fwd cars, but I do prefer rwd in dry conditions. Also, "drive wheels only matter when you hit the gas"? What exactly is your argument?

My point is it isn't a big fucking deal.

[Soup DeVille]

Which is why we should have LWD vehicles. Vehicles with drive wheels on one side.

My point is it isn't a big fucking deal.

It wouldn't be a big fucking deal if your car only had 5 HP. That part is largely true. Weakest car I ever owned had about 40 though, and it did- at least on snow.

[2o6]

It wouldn't be a big fucking deal if your car only had 5 HP. That part is largely true. Weakest car I ever owned had about 40 though, and it did- at least on snow.

Beetle? Dauphine? Metro?



What car did you have that only had 40HP?

[Soup DeVille]

Beetle? Dauphine? Metro?



What car did you have that only had 40HP?

Beetle. '66.

I have to have mentioned that I owned a few Beetles before, haven't I?

[Payman]

Which is why we should have LWD vehicles. Vehicles with drive wheels on one side.

My point is it isn't a big fucking deal.

It is for most enthusiasts, and conversely for people who live in northern climates. Fwd trumps rwd in ice, rain and snow. Rwd generally handles better in dry conditions.

[2o6]

Beetle. '66.

I have to have mentioned that I owned a few Beetles before, haven't I?

I was hoping it was the Dauphine

[Soup DeVille]

I was hoping it was the Dauphine

Nope.

[12,000 RPM]

It is for most enthusiasts, and conversely for people who live in northern climates. Fwd trumps rwd in ice, rain and snow. Rwd generally handles better in dry conditions.

The # of exceptions and qualifications for this statement kind of render it to be not true. RWD generally handles better if... a whole bunch of qualifications are lined up.

[MX793]

I'd argue that RWD handles "better" (willingness to change direction) in slick conditions too.  FWD handles "safer" (understeers).  It's more stable.  FWD's biggest advantage in the slick is that it has greater off-the-line traction versus a front engine, RWD layout.  Rear engine, RWD layouts offer the same kind of traction as FWD, though.

[Onslaught]

I cant stand torque steer. And I've never been in a FWD car that didn't have it in some form or another. And when you're in a turn and gas it then it's the worst time to have it. I've had one FWD car in my life and it was ok ut I'll never go back to another one.

[Onslaught]

FWD isnt that bad in the proper applications. The 4th gen Prelude is one of the best handling cars I've ever driven.

But I actually like the way both the 240SX's looked on the inside and out. Not so much the Prelude. And the 240 is RWD so that's even more of a plus.

[cawimmer430]

Slap yourself as hard as you can and save me a long trip overseas please.

Ooops... 

[12,000 RPM]

But I actually like the way both the 240SX's looked on the inside and out. Not so much the Prelude. And the 240 is RWD so that's even more of a plus.

A Crown Vic is RWD too. Id still rather the Prelude

[Onslaught]

A Crown Vic is RWD too. Id still rather the Prelude

With a choice like that I'd take the Prelude too. Then sell it and buy a 240.

[cawimmer430]

Prelude vs Crown Victoria...hmmm...

Crown Victoria for me! 

[Rupert]

I cant stand torque steer. And I've never been in a FWD car that didn't have it in some form or another. And when you're in a turn and gas it then it's the worst time to have it. I've had one FWD car in my life and it was ok ut I'll never go back to another one.

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

[Eye of the Tiger]

I rode in a new Mazdaspeed3 yesterday (an excellent car for the money), but the whole I time I was just thinking, "I wish they would put this motor in the Miata..."

[Raza]

They dont need too many more. Miata platform seems solid. People laughed when I said the Miata should have fixed roof and 2+2 options but I think expanding its lineup of body configurations and engines would help increase volume for not a lot of money. 2 seat, 2+2, ragtop, fixed top, 2.0L, 2.5L (both tuned for more power than in the 3/6) and a different model on the same chassis with a rotary called the RX-9. Seems like a no brainer if they can come up with the cash to do it, looking at the enduring success of the Miata and the growth of the segment in the last ~5-10 years.

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. 

[Raza]

I see people are still hung up on drivetrains rather than individual cars.  I learned long ago that the "FWD sucks!" attitude was way, way off. 

[280Z Turbo]

If they had made a Miata coupe, I'd almost certainly have bought one.

[12,000 RPM]

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.

If Miata called a CX-5 a Miata, guess what... it would be a Miata. You & the folks who were crying's collective Pavlovian pedanticism wouldn't change that. Granted, now I am making do with a 2 seater, so I would settle for a fixed roof Miata (with some more power). Again though, Mazda, not Raza, defines the Miata

[2o6]

If they had made a Miata coupe, I'd almost certainly have bought one.

That's hot

[Rupert]

[Onslaught]

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.

[Soup DeVille]

[Raza]

If Miata called a CX-5 a Miata, guess what... it would be a Miata. You & the folks who were crying's collective Pavlovian pedanticism wouldn't change that. Granted, now I am making do with a 2 seater, so I would settle for a fixed roof Miata (with some more power). Again though, Mazda, not Raza, defines the Miata

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.