When something really bad is about to happen, there are often clues it’s about to happen. Because it is already happening. An obvious example being the water rushing into Titanic’s hold. Everything seemed fine up on deck. Of course, it wasn’t.
As Mr. Andrews knew.
Here is a similar clue: The Mazda Miata is not selling well all-of-a-sudden. This year so far, only 5,780 have been sold, a near-25 percent drop vs. last year. This is the first time since the Miata’s 1989 debut that Mazda has had any trouble selling its two-seater sports car.
Why?
Two reasons that serve to compound the problem. The first is that the Miata is no longer inexpensive fun, as it was originally – and has been for most of its production life. The least expensive version of the 2024 Miata stickers for $28,985. Back in ’89, a brand-new Miata stickered for just under $14k.
Granted, that was 1989 – which was 35 years ago.
But it’s also not just-shy of $30k, either.
Put another way, when the Miata was new back in ’89 – and for many years thereafter – it was among the least expensive new vehicles you could buy and by far one of the most fun.
Those are pretty compelling reasons to buy a Miata – and many people did. The fact that the Miata was also reliable – even when subjected to the kind of fun you can have at a race track – and got great gas mileage only added to the little sports car’s appeal.
It was also elemental – and not just because it was a convertible with a mechanical top you could literally drop while the car was moving by unlatching it and throwing it backward over your head, easy peasy Japanesey. It had a set of analog gauges, a five speed shifter in between the front seats and no touchscreen. It could be worked on by its owner, too.
Assuming it ever needed to be worked on.
Fast-forward 35 years. The current Miata is still a lot of fun – if you can afford it. Many cannot, apparently. Because not many of us can afford to buy what amounts to two Miatas today vs. just one, back in the day. Just shy of $30k is a lot to pay for a car that is inherently a second car – assuming you need a car that can carry more than just one passenger and very little else. When the Miata was priced just under $14k, it was feasible to buy it just for the fun of it – because most people could afford to buy a Miata and another car for when they needed something that could carry more than just one passenger and not much else.
How many people can afford a $30k Miata just for the fun of it – plus another $30k something else for when they need a practical car? The answer is reflected by the Miata’s declining sales stats.
But why are they declining all-of-a-sudden?
The Miata did not become suddenly more expensive this year. It has been getting relentlessly more expensive for years.
Though still elemental relative to other new cars it has gradually become less and less so. Which accounts for it becoming ever-more-expensive.
The current model has drive-by-wire throttle and a direct-injected (rather than just fuel-injected) engine, like all new vehicles. Plus keyless/push-button ignition. It comes standard with a six-speed transmission and other cost-adding equipment such as power windows and locks and four air bags (the 1989 Miata had one air bag) and – of course – an LCD touchscreen.
Still, it sold well – until this year.
What changed?
How about the cost of everything else? This is the compounding factor and it’s affecting car-buying generally. It is doable to buy a $30k fun car when two small plastic bags of basic staples at the grocery store doesn’t cost $100. Now they do.
And it’s not just groceries that are becoming unaffordable. So is the insurance we’re effectively forced to buy – which many people are suddenly having to spend 20-30 percent more for all-of-a-sudden. On top of what they’re having to spend for two plastic bags of staples at the grocery store.
On top of everything else.
The bottom line is it’s hard to spend money on fun when essentials cost almost everything you’ve got – and it’s even harder when fun costs three times as much as it used to.
The Miata is still a fantastic car. But it has become a less accessible car, almost entirely on account of the machinations of the government.
Which takes the fun out of pretty much everything.
. . .
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In 2021 I got a 2010 Miata NC with 80k miles for $8000 from a woman who kept it garaged.
I put $12k into a Full OE Restoration, Mazda parts and all.
Suspension is custom.
Paint was excellent but I am restoring that now so its all original end-to-end.
I couldnt find a car new or used without auto-trans or electric goo, and this Miata is fully Analog other than electric windows.
Want a cheap, analog sports coupe?….Try the Fiat Coupe 20V….
Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo…217 HP…6 speed 2800 lb….
Never sold in the U.S.
It has an optional 5 cylinder engine which makes it unique…only about three manufacturers made 5 cylinder gas engines……Fiat only made one for a couple of years…..Audi 5 cylinders are legendary….
5 cylinder gas engines are great….they don’t need a balance shaft like a 4 cylinder and have a great sound….Italian cars sell emotion…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4_Sz59G7Oc
With pretty much stock internals you can get about 700 HP from this engine….
Modded Miata….
From a small garage in Latina their battered MX5 was destined to be the opener of a once-in-a-lifetime event: the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest single-model meeting.
They couldn’t let her participate without a due JDM-style vitamin treatment!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vLw9GKeZuc
Guinness World Record for the world’s largest single-model meeting…..900 Miata’s on a race track….one slow lap…..
Miata…the biggest selling roofless car in history…
Pretty much a copy/clone of the Lotus Elan…..but Lotus only sold 12,224 Elan’s…Mazda sold over one million Miata’s……
Collin Chapman’s son said they should have kept making the Elan…..
Same thing happened with the Lotus Super 7….160 companies made copies of the Super 7….the 2nd most copied car in history…the Cobra is number one….Caterham bought/owned the rights to the Seven….and sued everybody…..
Caterham is gone from Britain too….sold off to the Japanese…..
Now Lotus is gone…sold off to the Chinese…..
Morgan is gone too…sold to the Italians…
McLaren is gone too….sold off to Bahrain….
“The current model has drive-by-wire throttle and a direct-injected (rather than just fuel-injected) engine,”
They ruined all the ice car’s engines…then they will be banned…replaced by defective, expensive, dangerous, dead EV’s….
Direct injection is bad news…these engines will have a shorter lifespan…
3 Big Problems With Direct Injection Engines (Gasoline)
Fuel dilution…chain wear…and low speed pre ignition….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVd-ZS5bnyY
don’t buy Direct Injection Engines……. (Gasoline)
No wonder there is all these engine failures now….
1989 1st generation Miata….2070 lb
3rd generation…2438 lb….got heavier…3rd generation the least popular…
4th generation…..2024 Miata…….. 2368 lb…it got lighter….
biggest year for production worldwide…..1990…. 95,000
1989 msrp…… $13,800………$35,033 in 2024 dollars….
2024 msrp…. $28,985….got cheaper….kept prices down to maintain sales?…built by robots at lower cost?…cheaper content?….yes…electric steering is cheaper then hydraulic steering…cheaper electronic throttle…etc….
1989 average wage…$21,000 year…$53,312….in 2024 dollars……$53,312…according to government numbers….
that $21,000 per year is probably worth a lot more in 2024…in other words wages haven’t really kept up with real inflation….
2024 average wage…$59,394….
but…wages have not kept up with real inflation…
Shadow stats shows a lot higher inflation….
http://www.shadowstats.com/alternate_data/inflation-charts
This year so far, in U.S…..only 5,780 have been sold…….in 1990 35,000 were sold in the U.S….
Car and Driver….A new Miata is due by the middle of the decade….2025… We expect the basic MX-5 formula to remain the same, with one exception: electrification. Yes, the next-generation Miata will go hybrid….so heavier, more complicated and more expensive…go buy a 1st gen…..
Slaves were better off in 1989…in many ways….
Got heavier…all the safety crap….
1989 1st generation Miata….2070 lb
3rd generation…2438 lb….got heavier…3rd generation the least popular…
4th generation…..2024 Miata…….. 2368 lb…it got lighter again….
The Elan…which it copied….. was 1500 lb….lightness matters….
“Uncle Tony” of UTG a few years back did a fun project where he stuffed a Mopar 170 CID Slant Six, bone stock (still had the Carter BBS one-barrel carb) into a Miata; he had to build an expansive engine housing to accomadate that lengthy (for the Miata) Six. With a “throaty” exhaust, that Miata what actually quick with the engine that was the standard mill for “A” body cars (Dodge Lancer/Dart, Plymouth Valiant/Barracuda) from 1960 to 1969. I believe UT used a New Process 4 speed manual behind the Slanty.
With age comes wisdom… no wait, weight. Lots of weight – Per the clarkson. I’d be interested in a graph tracking it’s curb weight by model year (base), bhp by model year (base), GDP or some measure of the economy, sales figures for base and a higher common trim, and it would probabbly confirm what we can all guess based on what we see.
Base power to weight decreasing, weight increasing, sales slumping, and sales of high trims almost gone because everyone around and included is broke and nobody wants a compliance heavy roadster for more than they can afford when we’re all broke.
Never let a good car not be turned into a spying, heavy, washing machine on wheels.
At least it’s held on this long but who want’s one at this point. Even if people had the cash it’s nothing compared to what it once was. And unfortunatly (at this point for Mazda) their old models reliability means there are enough examples still around having fun to deter new buyers of such obviously heavier crates.
Amen, Steve –
The current Miata is still a fun car, but it’s not the same – for all the reasons you mention. There’s no good reason a basic sports car ought to cost more than $20,000 in my opinion. After all, what is a basic sports car? Something small, light and simple. Something that is fundamentally similar to an economy car. A peppy four cylinder engine, a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, with a good suspension and wrapped up in an attractive package. None of that is inherently expensive.
The Miata, being a two-seater convertible, is hardly a “practical” ride. Which is FINE…for those that have the money to spend on what’s essentially a fairly expensive “toy”, useful for commutes, dates, and other excursions where one drives solo or has but one passenger. Most of us in the REAL world can’t afford to spend the purchase price, maintenance, insurance, and garaging expenses for this “toy”.
It’s also indicative of a small sector of the economy is which more or less the “kept” young female. E.G., the Miata is the car for the cute blonde SECRETARY that the Big Boss is BANGING. When business is “off”, the Big Boss has to trim expenses SOMEWHERE, especially if the “Old Battleaxe” at home is being “axed” to cut back also! At least the “Secretary” is asked to make do for another year with her current “toy” ride, if she’s not shown the door altogether.
‘a graph tracking it’s curb weight by model year (base)’ — Steve
Just draw a near-flat line from 2,293 lbs in 1995 to 2,341 lbs in 2024. Miata is the ONLY vehicle that hasn’t porked out with each of its five generations. If there were an automotive beauty contest for petite cars, Miata would be the only contestant, and would win by default.
But as riders of mountain bikes know, low weight ain’t cheap. Each extra thousand dollars you spend might shave a pound or two, as one advances through more exotic alloys to carbon fiber.
Mazda has faced the same issue of rising material cost to hold the line on weight. Weight management plus fedgov technical dictates explain why the Miata’s price has increased in real terms.
Mazda management regards the Miata as a ‘brand champion’ — key to Mazda’s corporate image, even if most Mazda customers don’t buy a two-seater. Low volume alone won’t kill it. The US fedgov is a more likely murder conspirator.
Praise to the MX-5, the Miata, the Queen of creation!
O my soul, praise her, for she is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to her cockpit draw near,
join me in glad adoration.
— Trad., Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Off Topic
8:30 PM. Hurricane supposedly 180mph per NHC.
Strangely,,, Best I can get on Ventusky is 80-90mph.
Wondering why the almost 100mph difference….. They are scaring the crap out of people.
More people scared means money for Publix, Home Depot, etc.
Does Ventusky go over 90mph? To your point it does seem that it slows considerably just outside of the eye.
Yes,,,, of course they go over 90….
Ventusky and Earth both read the same this AM. Highest wind Ventusky = 110
Earth = 81.
The highest winds are always closer to the eye.
It appears they are simply trying to scare. IF,,, (heavy on if),,,180 mph,,, that is near tornado
speed,,, It would be total destruction.
These people are Psychos do what psychos do best…. frighten people,,, then kill them.
As compared to wind speeds, which they exaggerate, central pressure don’t lie. Yesterday afternoon Milton’s central pressure had dropped to 911 millibars — B-B-B-BAD!!
This morning it has weakened to 929 millibars, after a nighttime brush with the Yucatan coast sucked away some of Milton’s mojo.
For reference, Hurricane Camille — at landfall in Pass Christian, Mississippi in August 1969 — had an estimated central pressure of 900 millibars, perhaps the lowest ever recorded on planet Earth. It ripped part of U.S. Highway 90 out of the ground.
This is funny.
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/general-motors/2024/10/02/fortune-general-motors-mary-barra-powerful-woman-business/75483092007/
It still pains me we can buy tiny little cars like the Miata but we can’t get tiny trucks like the new Toyota Hilux Champ, or trucks like 70s. 80s and 90s compact trucks.
Humble though it is, my sickly-green compact pickup will only be forcibly taken from my cold dead hands.
Molon labe, effers.
You want an open top sports car with the ultimate driving experience… of any sports car?….and a great track car?….
Buy a Lotus Super 7, Caterham or Super 7 clone….clones can be bought for around $15,000 or less…..a lot cheaper then buying a Cobra….
less practical…a sunny day car…but far more fun then any car…..fully analog…weigh about 1200 lb…with even 150 hp…they are quick….great track car…1200 lb…so doesn’t eat tires and brakes…
Are they quick?…a Super 7 clone…a Donkervoort…had the quickest lap time for any street legal car, in 2003 and 2004 at the Nürburgring…..
Chris Harris reviews the Caterham Supersport R
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAwNfgvF_Ww
Super 7 clone the HKT RS Clubsport,
1500 lb. only $80,000……. quicker to 125 mph then a Porsche 911 GT2 RS, which is one of the world’s quickest street legal cars.
HKT RS Clubsport powered by a 400 hp Audi 1.8 20vt engine.
0 to 200 kmh…124 mph…. in seconds
Porsche 911 GT2 RS 8.3
Caterham 620r 313 hp 10.1
Donkervoort gto Audi 5cyl 400 hp 7.8
(Super 7 clone)
HKT Super 7 Audi 1.8 20vt 400 hp 7.5 …quicker then an F3 car….
(Super 7 clone)
Ford 427 Cobra 11.2
tesla plaid 6.3
Bugatti Chiron 6.3
Mclaren senna 6.8
C8 Corvette 12
F40 Ferrari 10.4
Porsche 919 hybrid EVO 4.5
F1 4.1
F2 6.6
F3 7.8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBrzpayx-zw
0 to 200 kmh…124 mph…. in seconds
F1 car 4.1 seconds….1000 hp and 1800 lb….
Man even kit cars are getting so expensive. In fact the story of these is quite interesting – they were sold as kits to avoid car taxes in Britain. Now if they included instructions to assemble, they would be classed as cars and and taxed accordingly, so they included a “disassembly” manual which would have to be done backwards to assemble the car 🤣🤣🤣!! I hope we see some of that spirt to get around all these new car taxes and regs coming up…
Give the Chinese a chance to bounce back from their recession and I expect to see a roadster produced and sold near the ’89 price of the Miata. Too bad we won’t be able to buy one because the scum in D.C. are still breathing.
The government has become unsustainable (a word badly abused by the left). We have run out of “other peoples money”. It’s well over due for people to say enough!
The government could be wound down to ease the pain, but the elite of course will not allow that, so it will end in a bad way unfortunately
We’re in the middle of a downturn. Many people that I know are cutting back because they’re losing jobs or being forced to part time. The “news” that the economy is doing better than ever is nonsense, and the stock market hitting all time highs is where the inflation collects first. I suspect that’s the main cause for completely frivolous “toy” sales falling. Toys sell well when times are good and optimism reigns.
Housing, which complements autos as a cyclical sector, is cratering:
‘Across much of Florida and especially along the western coast, a surplus of inventory and dwindling buyer interest are slowing sales and keeping homes on the market longer. That is cooling off what had been one of America’s biggest housing booms this decade.’ — WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/florida-home-sales-slowing-355616a2
Florida’s Roaring Twenties real estate boom crested in 1925, preceding Wall Street’s crash in 1929. Ninety-nine years on, looks like it just happened again.
Going back a little farther, the San Francisco earthquake of April 1906 preceded a bank panic in 1907 — the one which prompted the bright idea of, ‘Hey, why don’t we start a Federal Reserve Bank? What could possibly go wrong?’
Hurricane Milton looks set to rival the 1906 quake as one of the costliest US natural disasters. Florida’s Hurricane Catastrophe Fund is undercapitalized and faces ruin. At least ‘Mayorkas’ will spot hard-hit Floridians a 20-dollah bill to buy themselves a hot cup of coffee. 🙂
Hi OL and Jim,
I am in the midst of helping my nephew purchase his first home…what a freaking mess. With the recent changes in real estate – buyer’s agents are now required to have their “client” sign an agency agreement before you are able to see a home. We actually have found a half way decent home in his budget, but the online buyer’s agent never showed at the appointment and the seller’s agent won’t deal with us.
How do they expect to sell a house this way? I feel like walking up to the homeowner’s door and saying, “We are interested in your house, but apparently nobody wants us to see it.” It is pretty bad. Fortunately, I have a few clients who are RE agents and I contacted them, but I am still waiting on referrals. No wonder more than 50% of homes are sitting on the market for over 60 days….no one wants to show up.
The RE market is in trouble. Home prices are high due to limited inventory and it looks like Milton is going to trample Tampa so I would expect a wave of Florida residences to pick up and call someplace else home. I think some markets are probably going to tank, Florida, being one, especially with the reassessing of condo dues for homes near the water in the southern half of the state. The rest of the country…seriously, I don’t know if prices remain high or start stabilizing. When (not if) the bubbles burst it is going to be a mess.
‘Buyer’s agents are now required to have their “client” sign an agency agreement before you are able to see a home’ — RG
Likewise, Medicare recipients now have to sign an appointment agreement and wait 24 hours before they can talk their agent. Otherwise no
soupbennies for you.And the non-profit on whose board I serve just received this notice from the fedgov’s SAM (System for Award Management), warning of backlogs because of ‘mandatory entity name and address verifications, so you can expect delays.’ Image of scary notice:
https://ibb.co/5KMmMbL
Last year, the US fedgov massively screwed the pooch with a messed-up FAFSA student aid portal, which actually bankrupted some small colleges.
Imagine what dealing with FEMA is going to be like in coming days. Kafka’s The Trial — times ten — comes to mind.
The ‘crat-infested US fedgov is an engine of economic destruction. And its depredations are just getting started. How can we ruin your day?
‘especially with the reassessing of condo dues for homes near the water in the southern half of the state’ — RG
Not familiar with the condo issue. But it’s likely that all insured homeowners in Florida are going to face a special assessment to recapitalize its near-bankrupt Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. In three words: monster raving ugly.
Best advice: just get on I-95, point your vehicle north, and keep driving till the last palm/palmetto disappears in the rearview mirror.
Hi Jim,
One of the few boons left is that if one hasn’t got a mortgage, one can skip home insurance “coverage.” I expect the cost of everyone’s to go up to “cover” the costs of the floods. Only a few will be able to say No, I’m not paying that.
My home insurance went up 37% this year; that was on top of a 21% increase last year! I raised the deductible, which reduced the increase to 17%, but still. I’ve never made a claim or even hinted at making one, so I was taken aback by the increases.
I asked my agent what’s up with the increaseoat s when I haven’t made any claims. He said that, because our home values have increased, that the replacement costs had gone up. He also said that costs also went up with the increased prices of building supplies. He also said that, because of the dearth of tradesman, their labor rates are higher-supply and demand and all that.
I’m curious if the increasing proliferation of EVs have something to do with increasing home insurance premiums? Are insurance premiums increasing to cover EVs? If so, WTF are WE paying for them if we don’t keep EVs?
I don’t know if I feel comfortable “going bare” though. Not only are you covered for fire and other types of damage; liability coverage is part of your homeowners policy. If someone gets hurt on your property, then they can sue you. If you’re bare, then that’ll come out of your pocket. Just something to think about…
Hi Mark,
Assuming you don’t live in an area subject to predictable and regular natural disasters, such as flooding, I regard home insurance as another money-bleed. If you spent $2k annually to “cover” your house, after 30 years, you will have spent $60k. If you put aside that money instead, you will still have the $60k and probably a lot more (if you used the money to make money). What are the odds of a total loss? Very slim. What are the odds of $60k in damages? Also really slim. You could put a new slate roof on your house for half that sum.
Now add what people spend to “cover” their cars. Pus what they spend to “cover” their health.
No wonder everyone’s broke!
Hi OL – the “real” economy is f’ed more than they let us know…. out of work myself at the moment so spending a lot of time meeting people and looking for something outside the corporate world – but nothing that requires that “discretionary” spending from the middle classes is doing too well (even the upper middle class is very stressed). Yes on paper the economy is doing better because the extremely rich (particularly asset rich) are doing quite well with the constant money printing and whatever financial fuckery gov is up to…. so when the average is taken it may seem better than before (and thats what the financial press talks about).
An interesting business which shows this is the gym market in the UK. The Mrs works with one of the largest healthcare companies here, they also run a chain of gyms. These are mostly middle market with v good facilities, though nothing too luxurious but at a reasonable price. They are loosing money like crazy. There are however a bunch of new v cheap no frills gyms popping up everywhere – and they are booming. On the other hand – over the past few years the UK has seen a lot of new v high end luxury gyms (charging on average 3 times what my wifes company charges for similar facilities) also popping up around the posh parts of London and Surrey, and are apparently very profitable. I guess that shows whats happening in society at large, and definitely in the car market….
The way things are going, Nasir, gyms will be the joke of our times. People will find out that hard, manual labor just to survive will be their “no cost” gym.
A lot of people don’t know or don’t want to do “manual labor”. They feel itz beneath their station in life. Ive done some concrete work, roofing, electrical, plumbing, car repair etc, even though I worked in IT mainframe applications programing for most of my life. Manual labor just feels good.
Using inflation calculators, an ’89 Miata costs about the same as a current Miata. Amazing Mazda has managed to keep prices consistent over three decades. There was just more disposable income in the late 80s/ early 90s and onward until now. Hard to find $30K for a fun, otherwise useless, runabout.
Yup looks like the eleaf is the new “look at my neeeeeew runabout”
I can’t speak for the general, but I imagine there are others like me that if they’re looking for a cheap sports car, they also want room for friends or family. Now figure you could get a used Mustang GT convertible for example for the price of a new Miata, get double the power and seats, and while it might not be as agile, considering how things are, still get a lot of bang for the buck along with not being viewed as questionable.
Hell someone saves a bit of money and gets a used Ecoboost or V6, same image, uses $$$ as an excuse and still has room for the wife & kids to take out on the weekends
The last Miata I had was an ’06, which I had to give up because it took both hands to put it in reverse due to my advancing arthritis. In fact I don’t even drive any more.
You don’t actually drive a Miata, you wear it. It truly becomes an extension of yourself. It does exactly what you tell it to do, right or wrong. Even if what you tell it to do is wrong, it’s very forgiving. Small, yes, but big enough for me to use as my daily driver. Which I did for 20 years. God blessed me. Miata and my 97 4WD Tacoma were all the vehicles I needed.
The Miata does seem like a fun car. I’ve never driven one. I imagine the Miata to be a bit like an MG, which I have driven, loads of fun & your kewl description, “You don’t actually drive a Miata, you wear it.” fits the MB, too. Imho.
Someday, I hope to drive a Miata. …Someday.
While reading the article & your comment I was reminded of a phrase I use now & then, ‘Fun Suckers’.
…The Fun Suckers have been multiplying like Tribbles, everywhere. They often have titles of nobility, like: Administrator, Principal, Legislator, Director and Chief. Or, just plain ‘ole Karen & the regular crew of willfully blind obeyer’s.
See also: ‘How to Steer Hurricanes, Flood Homes, and Steal Lithium’
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2024/10/no_author/how-to-steer-hurricanes-flood-homes-and-steal-lithium/
helot,
I’ve watched the video and seen articles claiming Helene is being used to get at the lithium deposits in North Carolina. I realize there are people in GovCo that likely have such a motivation. However, they are failing at their intended task if that’s the case.
The lithium deposits are concentrated in a vein running from southeast of Cherryville, NC down to the southeast side of Kings Mountain, NC. The vein runs under my house. This is about 90 miles southeast from Asheville.
For some years now the main pit mine has been idle but, the processing plant (about a half mile from my house) has been bringing in ore from around the world. The mine closed due to a massive find in Bolivia. However, with the artificial demand for EV’s mining companies have been buying property hoping to extract what lithium is here. In fact they bought land on which a newly built drive-in theater sits and closed it down. It’s adjacent to one of Martin Marietta’s oldest pit mines which still operates.
Although our area got hit by Helene, we are on the fringes. Power was out for some for a week and some had trees fall on homes and buildings but, nothing like the devastation 20+ miles to our west.
If the Dr. Strangeloves are trying to devastate the area where lithium is, they failed miserably…which, given GovCo’s ineptitude, might just mean they tried and failed.
Now, about Milton taking dead aim on McDill Air Force Base…
‘You don’t actually drive a Miata, you wear it.’ — JK
A friend let me drive his third-gen Miata with some suspension tuning down the curvy Panoramic Highway to Stinson Beach in Marin County.
He kept urging me, ‘Push it harder, push it harder.’ 🙂
Thats exactly why decent road bicycles are now $14k. Same ginchy risk factor different millenia.
Pretty soon we’ll all be millionaires if inflation/devaluation of the dollar continues. Well most of us. Just like in Italy in the 1970’s when a roasted chicken would cost 20,000 Lira. The Italians chopped off a few zeros and it looks like The USSofA will need to do the same thing soon.
A $25,000 first time home buyer credit will make paper millionares from current homeowners in a lot of major metro areas.
Be happy and have fun used to be common until the last few decades. Our “superiors” in government and academia have set out to destroy that and have succeeded. Affordable energy, affordable housing, affordable healthcare, affordable groceries and affordable autos with money left over to save, invest or go on vacation made many happy. The grifters, bureaucrats, politicians and activists couldn’t have that because it wasn’t fair to the miserable miscreants who complained about things being unequal. So they muck up the economy, strain the working productive people to the point where we are all miserable. So, now everyone is equal….equally miserable. No affordable Miatas for me or you!
Indeed, socialism reduces all to the lowest common denominator. Unless you are in the club.
The 1st generation Miata was a better driver’s car….the newest Miata has gotten heavier and is full of electronic driver assist and spy crap….and too expensive….
Toyota sold 9,643 GR86 in 2024….some people prefer it…the drifter crowd…..it is also a good track car…
The Miata is a good track car….but it has a hair desser image…..the GR86 doesn’t have that problem….
There is $8000 used 944’s and Boxster’s out there…..which are better cars and have a better badge….
There is used 996 911’s out there cheaper then a new Miata…….
For a lot less money buy the original, better Lotus Elan and skip the depreciation and have a simpler more analog car….
There is an economic depression…the slaves are broke…. young slaves don’t buy cars and can’t drive stick shift….
Hi Anon,
I really like the GR86, which is of course a Subaru BRZ. Chiefly because the back seats – which the Miata lacks – make it a much more practical car. I also like that it’s a hardtop.
Hi Eric,
Better with a hardtop….stiffer so a better track car in that way….
GR86…almost an exact copy of a 924/944/968….it is the entry level Porsche now…new Boxster’s or Cayman’s are $70,000 plus now.
Porsche has no cheap entry level car now…the cheapest Porsche now is a used Cayenne…which is not a sports car…..
You are correct about the “cheap” Porsches. The problems comes when any repair is needed, they will eat you wallet like termites eat southern yellow pine.
Exactly.
I’d have to paid 6 figures to want to bother with overpriced German vehicles that are less reliable than Asian vehicles and cost triple to repair and double to insure.
I’m through with German cars after the VW diesel fiasco. And I grew up with VWs.
The 924 is called the better Miata….dead reliable, maybe one of the most reliable sports car ever made, built like a tank, simple technology, cheap parts, transaxle so best handling car, has a back seat, lots of after market mods available….cheap insurance….a very rewarding driver’s car….
944…more expensive parts…but dead reliable, totally analog, built like a tank, perfect balance, one of the best sports cars ever made, cheap insurance….same quality as a 911,….it it had a 356 or 911 badge it would cost $60,000 plus….if it had a Ferrari badge it would cost $200,000 plus……a very rewarding driver’s car….
Boxster…low prices….but….almost the same as a 911…but cheaper parts…get one with the IMS bearing replaced….strong, reliable, great engineering, great badge, but had a couple of problem areas…like the 996 911….a very rewarding driver’s car….
996 911….great prices…but….had a couple of problem areas….get one with the IMS bearing replaced…and do a PPI….getting more love now…so appreciation possible….better then the air cooled 911 in some ways…but far cheaper….
Camping Porsche 924 – Overland Rallye Build Tour
Here is an offroad 924 you can sleep in….what other sports car can you sleep in?…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlHk0St7Hi4
If things get rough…rent to high….live out of your 924….go offroad in the wilderness…they won’t find you….
I worked for a guy who would buy old 924s with clapped out paint (from down in Florida) but good engines. Never owned more than two at a time but would daily them for a few years, keep up on the maintenance and then sell ’em on for about what he paid. Put the money saved by not washing them toward the next one.
You want a light, perfectly balanced, quick, fully analog, sports car today?…. You can’t buy one….
Just build one….
Here is one….The owner took a 924 and added a turbo….the result….390 HP at the wheels…. Std n/a engine+,stage 1 cam, diy turbo setup, MaxxECU, E85, 2bar(29psi) boost,
A beast for very little money…..
These 924’s have a very strong 4 cylinder engine….if you boost a Miata engine like this it will break….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JswzUStfehU
Here is a factory built 924 turbo on the Nurburgring….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkqD6gV5FIs
Here is a barn find Porsche 924 Turbo…
Davide Cironi restored/modified it….the result…a 429 HP 2600 lb monster….fully analog….0 to 60 around 3.2 seconds…combined with the best handling car…..a winner….
It is better then any new sports car today…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6jtKgrvEu4
Porsche 924S Review… Better than a BMW M2…?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7MxKzP6QNQ
The Miata was designed closely to the Lotus Elan……
As with all Lotus cars, attention to minimizing weight was a major factor during the Elan’s design and manufacture. curb weight about 1500 lb….
The original Elan 1500 was introduced in 1962 as a roadster….cars were better in the 1960’s….
Performance
The performance of the Elan was derived from the combination of its powerful engine (by contemporary standards) and light weight. The roadholding and agility of the car also meant that high speeds could be maintained on corners, which allowed for high average speeds.
By contemporary standards, the Sprint was an exceptionally rapid car and quite lived up to its name. It embarrassed almost every other supercar at the time in terms of outright acceleration up to about 90 mph. This electrifying performance was accentuated by the brilliant handling and road holding, allied to the small size and weight of the Elan, which meant that a well driven Elan on a dry road could outclass any other non-Lotus road car.
Elan Sprint DHC ….. 126 HP 3.77 diff 0 to 60 6.6 sec top speed 123 mph (198 km/h)
The Elan was widely admired and praised by customers and reviewers, noted for its exceptional handling, roadholding, steering, acceleration, braking and comfort:
Car and Driver: The Elan very simply represents the sports car developed in tune with the state of the art. It comes closer than anything else on the market to providing a Formula car for ordinary street use. And it fits like a Sprite, goes like a Corvette, and handles like a Formula Junior. Driving it is very simply another sort of automotive experience altogether.
Road and Track: The light and tactile steering, combined with supple suspension and a weird, physics-defying sense of zero weight transfer in corners, provides a sensation akin to flying just over the ground. I’m convinced there’s a powerful pleasure center in the brain that remains untapped until you drive an Elan. It’s almost a drug.[20]
Motor Sport: The tremendously responsive steering and handling requires similar qualities from the driver and the speeds achieved round corners and on the straight are deceptively fast. This, therefore, calls for a lot of concentration on the driver’s part.
Once mastered, however, the Elan is the nearest thing to a single-seater racing car one is likely to be able to drive comfortably on the road. To master the car and explore its tremendous handling potential along that delightfully twisty piece of road one knows so well is close on perfection for the sporting motorist.[21]
Influence
While the structure of the Elan followed an entirely traditional approach for sports cars of the time – front engine, rear wheel drive – its design included novel ideas that found their way into the designs of other manufacturers’ vehicles.[22]
Examples include:
The Mazda MX-5 (Mazda Miata in North America). The original Elan is usually credited as being the design inspiration for this sports car in 1989….
Note… Two Elans were intimately evaluated by Mazda in the process of designing the MX-5.
The Toyota 2000GT. This sports car used a chassis that bears a striking resemblance to the Lotus Elan.
The car designer and engineer Gordon Murray said “Series 3 Lotus Elan… it’s still, in my opinion, probably the best-handling sports car that’s ever been made… If anybody wants to know what good steering is, just jump in the 60s Elan.
As of April 2018, the voluntary, and thus inevitably incomplete, Lotus Elan registry lists approximately 1,100 known remaining vehicles (including approximately 330 +2 models) in over 30 countries….buy one…they are rare….
Lotus Elan’s on BAT….some sold for around $15,000 and up….cheaper then a new Miata…
https://bringatrailer.com/lotus/elan/?q=lotus+elan
The Lotus Elan…
If it had a Ferrari badge it would cost $300,000…or a Porsche badge….$200,000…..
Miata is a discretionary purchase, but still so cheap for the fun it provides.
Some of its decline in popularity must be related to the “instant gratification” that American culture has become accustomed to, particularly in the auto sphere.
They’ve been convinced anything short of 500hp, without seating for 9 and the ability to BOTH run the Mint 400 AND tow an 11,000lb trailer just doesn’t cut it.
Unfortunately the Miata has gotten washed out by the overpriced and overdone in an ocean of useless automotive noise.
Maybe there’s hope that with the inevitable decline/lack of demand in EV sales and extinction of the Challenger and Camaro, that the Miata and the ToyoBaru twins can stick around a while.
Hi Flip,
I am betting the cost of “coverage” is another factor. It probably costs twice to “cover” a new Miata as it did back in ’89. And if you’re under 35 and have a few tickets…
I don’t think it is so much a question of unique transportation, but one of “choose any two.” You can only have one vehicle, what do you want? Well, since it has to be a jack of all trades, everything. Or at least the potential for anything. Back in the day a sedan could tow an airstream. Or carry a far bit of firewood. And still clean up nicely and look good at the country club. Oh it might not have been ideal, but the potential was there.
These days the equivalent of the big sedan is the SUV, for the same reasons. I might not carry lumber every day, but when I do I couldn’t do it in a Miata.
I used to work with someone who commuted in his Miata. Had the hard top for winter and everything. Loved it. But he also had an F150 for everything else. His wife had some sort of econobox too. Meanwhile I was driving a Chevy Lumina, a car that wasn’t good for much of anything other than picking up groceries.
“These days the equivalent of the big sedan is the SUV, for the same reasons. I might not carry lumber every day, but when I do I couldn’t do it in a Miata.”
I beg to differ.
Owner a 91’ Miata from 1995 – 2015 and put over 220,000 miles on it as a daily driver, track day, and auto cross car.
Lumber up to 10’ was no problem – just drop the top. Put into passenger footwell, diagonal across behind the driver seat.
Up and down mountain roads to ski resorts – no problem on blizzard. Never had to chain up.
Used to haul my bikes on it with custom bike carrier.
At the end of its life as rust took over I was even carrying a canoe on it about 10 miles back and forth to the lake.
People just invent reasons to justify why they drive boring cars.
Blizzak’s not blizzard – stupid auto correct
But I did drive it on Blizzak’s through a Blizzard to get to Jackson Hole once – LOL.
Man I miss that Miata
Tire technology is completely ignored in 2024, thanks to the “AWD provides all the safety that you need” mantra that’s been beat into everyone’s head.
I run Blizzaks on my 4WD Taco, which nearly negates the need to put it in 4WD in heavy snowfall. You’ve gotta be doing something really stupid to override the capability of those Bridgestones.
Miata can tow a small utility trailer around 1000lbs for the few times you might need to pick up some lumber.
Most consumers should be driving the modern day station wagon – the minivan. With the money they save on fuel over a comparable 9 seat Brodozer-looking-crossover, they could pick up a utility trailer when it’s time to move big stuff or go to Home Depot.
Flip what you say is so true! People now act as if they have to have 400 hp yet 99% of the “performance” cars I’ve ever encountered were being driven as if Grandpa was behind the wheel. Shameful.
More often than not, obstructing the left lane while I blew by them in the right lane.
The other thing is most of these high horsepower vehicles are automatics that won’t let you have all that horsepower and torque in 1st and 2nd gear in order to protect the driveline. Don’t get me started on reliance on ESC and traction control to keep them under control.
Agreed. That or they are completely out of their minds and abilities.
Kind of off topic, but look at what this “influencer” twerp did with his 500+hp supercar.
https://nypost.com/2024/10/06/us-news/youtuber-jack-doherty-totals-200000-mclaren-supercar/
LOL – that is hilarious.
I wish my newer car was a manual transmission. They are a helluva lot more fun to drive and I have better control over the vehicle when the roads are snowy and icy. Who the hell decided that all automatics were such a great idea?
“They’ve been convinced anything short of 500hp, without seating for 9 and the ability to BOTH run the Mint 400 AND tow an 11,000lb trailer just doesn’t cut it.”
but…those 5000 lb whales can’t do this….
Road and Track on the Lotus Elan…
The light and tactile steering, combined with supple suspension and a weird, physics-defying sense of….. zero weight transfer in corners….. provides a sensation akin to flying just over the ground. I’m convinced there’s a powerful pleasure center in the brain that remains untapped until you drive an Elan. It’s almost a drug.
Looks like a few longshoremen might be in a buying mood:
https://www.marinelink.com/news/east-coast-port-strike-ends-517748
But like most union contracts, the headline number isn’t telling the whole story. That “61%” increase is over 6 years, and is probably going to really hit on the back end. And it will likely just barely get them back to parity after the last few years of inflation. If Powell is able to keep interest rates up they’ll do well. If he’s unsuccessful, well, they might be looking at another strike.
The “no automation” language is still in play. Don’t kid yourself, this is all for the union itself, not the rank and file. See the union doesn’t make much more money when they negotiate you a raise. 5% of $5 is a quarter. But start meddling with the number of employees? That’s a whole different story. Each employee is 5% of $100K, $5000! No way do they want to see those jobs go away. Doesn’t matter if the port’s run well or not, or if there are people sleeping in the corner while on the clock. Just keep headcount high.
BTW the same holds true for tax collectors. Better to have a lot of people making a little money than a few people making a lot.
A high headcount of lower productivity workers isn’t good for employees. They need to be productive to be necessary. Any tools they can get that increase their labor will increase their value. Even if it means laying off coworkers. Besides, the laid off former workers will probably get a lifetime unemployment check, at least if the system follows what the steel industry did.
I chose a random video of Ron Paul explaining inflation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCYZ14Ti4vc
I’m guessing most of us in the EP community know & understand what the real definition of inflation is.
The monster from Jekyll Island has sucked the pleasure from American life. Miata be dammed, eh?
As a matter of fact, Mazda did an astounding job keeping the value of the MX5 over several decades. It’s the Fed that has done a horrible job against the value of the dollar.
‘What changed?’ — eric
What are the two most cyclical sectors of the economy? Autos and housing. And within autos, recreational vehicles such as Mazda’s Miata are the ultimate discretionary purchase.
For the past four months, a recession indicator which combines the Sahm rule (based on a rise in the unemployment rate from a 12-month low) and the jobs vacancy rate (based on the JOLTS survey) has triggered. Have you seen the chart?
https://ibb.co/8zZNwSv
‘It is already happening. An obvious example being the water rushing into Titanic’s hold. Everything seemed fine up on deck. Of course, it wasn’t.’ — eric
Couldn’t have said it better myself. We’re goin’ down … bitchez.
Just to add to the burgeoning malaise [hat tip Jimmah Carter], the war situation in Ukraine has developed not necessarily to our advantage. Specifically, the Roooooskies have reached within 4 miles of taking Pokrovsk (pink area on map west of Donetsk):
https://tinyurl.com/mrx7wv4n
WHO COULDA KNOWED that letting dual-loyalty neocons hijack US foreign policy would flush $150 billion down the toilet?? DUH! Our bad! 🙁
Sorry, Jim H, you’re wrong. It’s not $150B squandered by the NeoCons on war, it’s more like $5Trillion. Add in the ~20B for Cootie Relief and you’ve got a really big turn swirling down the drain.
Every time I hit a chuck hole on the road I think of Zelinsky, Netanyahu and Fauci.
That $20B should be Trillion.
Mark,
You are correct, of course, that $150 billion is merely the past two years’ direct supplemental appropriations to the Ukies. The cumulative cost of neoclown wars in this century certainly is in the many trillions.
You might want to check your source on the 1989 price of a Miata. As I recall it was more like $10k. Car & Driver said their 1990 test model came with a hardtop and was $11k. We bought our 2002 LS new for ~24k. The only options it didn’t have were 6-speed, abs and a hard top. I don’t recall the base model pricing.
However, Miatas are cars bought with disposable income, for the most part, and that reserve has dwindled greatly among those who might buy a Miata. For the truly well heeled Porsche 356’s are still bringing well over $100K and those folks aren’t really Miata folk.
Thanks, Mark –
I did some additional checking and found original MSRPs in the $13k range. Made the necessary adjustments!
My ’90 base Miata (with A/C) was $1,000 down and 48 months at $249 on Thanksgiving ’89, iirc.
Lucky to get one with no Dealer add-ons. Promptly drove it from Atlanta to home in Los Angeles (where dealers wanted $5,000 over MSRP.)