Mazda Miata?

[Teamwalker_imp]

Troll away physics-teacher!! Using your logic, the best car would be the one that sells the most. Using one model year sales figures would put the Ford Fairmont in contention for the title of "world's best car". S2000 was produced for a long time. At the time, it had the best hp per liter of displacement of any naturally aspirated car, even beating Ferrari at the time. Today they are still competitive in road racing, even though they are grouped against larger displacement vehicles. Miatas generally compete against Miatas, not S2000s. S2000s still dominate in most autocross type events. The Miata is a great sports car, but it was designed for the masses. The S2000 was designed for enthusiasts!

Troll time. If the S200 was such hot stuff, why is it the Miata is unquestionably the world's best selling sports car, in continuous production for decades, while the S2000 is just a memory? Kinda like the Vincent; if it was the world's greatest bike, why did its contemporary Harley outlast it? You can't just say people don't appreciate true greatness. Look at the Miata, or say, the Corvette, also in production continuously for decades.

[LongRanger_imp]

To me, Miata = CB1100. Affordable, reliable, good build quality, makes you feel good, forgiving, sporty but not a racer and never intended to be.

S2000 = VFR1200. High tech, relatively expensive, excellent quality, high performance, a bit more discriminating customer.

Or not.

[the Ferret]

Funny on todays ride, I had to go down the main drag to the Honda/Yamaha shop to pick up some 10/30 for the CB which is due for an oil change? On the main drag of course there are several car dealers. As I'm driving past one of them I look over and there dispayed in the corner by the road was a silver S-2000 with the top down. I ALMOST turned around to see what they were asking for it lol

[PowerDubs_imp]

physics-teacher Wrote:If the _____ was such hot stuff, why is it the ____ is unquestionably the world's best selling ___? if it was the world's greatest ___, why did its contemporary ___ outlast it? You can't just say people don't appreciate true greatness. (then contradiction-) But in the real world it's selling a good value that keeps your business rolling a long time. Give people a product they like and can afford and you're on the way to the bank.


Troll indeed. You know the answer. Affordability and 'good enough'.

I'll back that up with an example- the VW Phaeton, by several metrics is the best car ever made. In many ways it is indeed better than the Bentley Continental it spawned other than outright power from the turbos.

The CGT made numerous compromises in the name of style and 'sportiness'... yet they sold like hotcakes. The Phaeton sold very few- and yes part because it looked like a big Passat, but the Passat sold well, with nowhere near the same capability or build quality- it came down to cost 100%. The person paying the amount the car cost wanted perception of prestige and flashiness. It didn't matter that the car was superior- massive sales failure.

[LongRanger_imp]

I think you nailed it. The Phaeton was visually too similar to the Passat to discriminate it as something different or superior. That said, I had a '99 Passat V6 and you're right, the build quality wasn't that impressive, despite the fact it was simply a rebadged Audi A6 2.8L (for whatever that's worth). It took a bunch of money to coax it to 195k miles before I gave up on it.

[physics-teacher_imp]

I never said or even implied that'll the Miata is the best sports car. There is no such thing since there is no commonly accepted metric. The results are totally arbitrary, just like a beauty contest.
What is provable is that the Miata is the best selling sports car of all time. By THIS metric, it is the most successful sports car ever.
Now you are free to pick your own metric, and I can't criticize. Snob appeal? Top speed? 0-60?
Maybe rarity or short production run? That's as good a measure as any, since all are arbitrary. I always wanted a Morgan Plus-4!
Peter Egan has owned a couple of Miatas and never seems to have a bad word for them. Maybe he's not an "enthusiast!" Come to think of it, he's owned several Harleys, including a brand-new Sportster. To my knowledge, Peter hasn't fallen for an S2000 yet, though I would'nt be shocked if he did.

[the Ferret]

LOl if you use Egan as a benchmark the best bike must be some British twin that usually leaves him stranded (big Egan fan btw). His newest motorcycle love is also British, a T120. he has always been a car enthusiast and usually loves something a less mainstream. I'm surprised he is a Miata fan. They are so 'common".

[redbirds_imp]

I think I'll start a bird watching thread and mention it's most entertaining when done from a motorcycle.

[Inhouse Bob]

Late to this discussion and maybe too late. I have a 1992 Miata (MX-5 down here in Australia) and it has been a joy from the first day. It is showing it's age now, though. I'll likely get a new one "for my wife" soon. Maybe a red one for valentines Day?

[Cormanus]

I think I'll start a bird watching thread and mention it's most entertaining when done from a motorcycle.

Good plan redbirds. I'd had my first motorcycle for about 24 hours when I got engrossed in watching a bird and rode straight into the back of the car in front of me.