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      08-29-2015, 09:38 PM   #1
caycep
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Miata - stick?

Looking at the ND miata...getting into the age old debate re: manual vs. auto. It's not really an issue of which is "better" to drive - I'm well aware of the pro's and cons that ppl have debated forever....

The thought is - if using this for scenic convertible drives, would the manual take away too much attention from the surroundings and act as a distraction?

i.e. if you were to take one up highway 1 in california or through a scenic canyon twisty, which one would you rather have - manual for road engagement, or auto to free up the mental "task load"?
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      08-29-2015, 09:49 PM   #2
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From all the manuals I've owned, none of them have ever distracted me from the scenery. Driving with an auto makes me think about how much more fun the drive would have been with a stick. Seems like the auto causes more of a distraction.

Last edited by USC2000; 08-30-2015 at 11:50 PM..
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      08-29-2015, 09:53 PM   #3
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You never watch the stick when rowing gears, so I don't exactly undestand what you mean by "distracting from the scenery". If you are driving at a relaxed, scenery enjoyment pace, you will be set in 4/5th gear and stay there anyway.
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      08-29-2015, 10:36 PM   #4
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If you're buying a Miata, it's pointless to get it with an auto tranny, IMO.
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      08-29-2015, 11:39 PM   #5
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Driving stick takes up no mental "task load" .. Unless you are just learning.
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      08-30-2015, 12:00 AM   #6
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Getting a miata in auto would be like taking a limb off a perfectly able body. If distraction is your question then I'm willing to bet that you haven't even driven stick or driven it long enough.
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      08-30-2015, 12:15 AM   #7
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The other thing maybe to think about is a car with a ton of torque, like a Camaro or Mustang, where the engine is perfectly happy buzzing along at 6th 1200rpm (around 1000 in my experience) and you can pull all day long from those RPMs when you have to accelerate. Shifting becomes less necessary, but it's there if you want it.
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      08-30-2015, 06:36 AM   #8
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....what they all said.
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      08-30-2015, 11:45 AM   #9
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The better question is why would you get a Miata at all?

Unless it is a dedicated track car running in the Spec Miata series, don't bother. If you need a roadster, why not get (used/new depending on budget):
S2K
Boxster
Z3
Z4
Sky Redline
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      08-30-2015, 12:20 PM   #10
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if hours of bumper to bumper traffic are not an issue then stick all day everyday.

not sure how else to explain it but it's more bonding. a road trip is like bonding with your car. if you really want to drive your car and bond with it, shift together.

besides, shifting shouldn't make you look away from the road. it it does you're doing it wrong.
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      08-30-2015, 07:04 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nitrousbird
The better question is why would you get a Miata at all?

Unless it is a dedicated track car running in the Spec Miata series, don't bother. If you need a roadster, why not get (used/new depending on budget):
S2K
Boxster
Z3
Z4
Sky Redline
Haven't driven any of those have you?

But manual, always manual.
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      08-30-2015, 08:15 PM   #12
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A automatic Miata is like a bowl of your favorite cereal without the milk. You can still eat it, but you're missing half of the experience and a lot of the flavor.

Just say no to slush boxes and flappy paddles in a sports car.
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      08-30-2015, 08:29 PM   #13
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Didn't know they came in auto?
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      08-30-2015, 11:11 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw1racer View Post
If you're buying a Miata, it's pointless to get it with an auto tranny, IMO.
+1
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      08-31-2015, 12:24 AM   #15
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Driving an auto Miata would be like banging your girl with a condom.
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      08-31-2015, 05:02 AM   #16
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I've had both. An NA manual and an NC auto. Got the auto because the wife has had a couple of knee ops and it became painful for her to drive a manual. My advice...... dont buy an auto MX5 (that's what they're called in this part of the world). They just aren't as much fun to drive as the manual.
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      09-03-2015, 04:36 PM   #17
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Ok. Just mulling about the car, not buying....yet lol. But I'm in the "just learning" phase and still have to think about what the clutch foot and how many RPM's the engine is going, is doing to engage it smoothly....

As to the other cars...I suppose I would have to test drive things more, but my impression is that the Miata is less than half the price and equally as good, if not better, and at least 1000 lbs less, that every other car on that list except the S2k which isn't made anymore...I guess its more of a philosophy thing, not looking for the most powerful or luxurious, but simplicity.
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      09-03-2015, 05:48 PM   #18
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Manual should add to your enjoyment just have to figure it out and will be second nature
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      09-03-2015, 07:53 PM   #19
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If driving manual distracts you, you need more practice driving stick. Miatas were made to be MT, the auto is there purely to have more market presence.
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      09-03-2015, 08:01 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by caycep View Post
Ok. Just mulling about the car, not buying....yet lol. But I'm in the "just learning" phase and still have to think about what the clutch foot and how many RPM's the engine is going, is doing to engage it smoothly....

As to the other cars...I suppose I would have to test drive things more, but my impression is that the Miata is less than half the price and equally as good, if not better, and at least 1000 lbs less, that every other car on that list except the S2k which isn't made anymore...I guess its more of a philosophy thing, not looking for the most powerful or luxurious, but simplicity.
It will be like riding a bike in a month and you won't have to think about anything. I drive in Metro DC all week and still embrace the stick. And for your stated goals the Miata is a great choice. And they run forever. You've got this figured out.
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      09-03-2015, 08:27 PM   #21
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Its natural for me, maybe if you have never driven a manual before it can be desecrating for the first couple thousand miles. It will make the car 100 time more enjoyable. Dont buy a miata though, I would by a used Z4 or an old E30 convertible like me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by caycep View Post
Looking at the ND miata...getting into the age old debate re: manual vs. auto. It's not really an issue of which is "better" to drive - I'm well aware of the pro's and cons that ppl have debated forever....

The thought is - if using this for scenic convertible drives, would the manual take away too much attention from the surroundings and act as a distraction?

i.e. if you were to take one up highway 1 in california or through a scenic canyon twisty, which one would you rather have - manual for road engagement, or auto to free up the mental "task load"?
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      09-05-2015, 04:02 PM   #22
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I took an AT out for a short drive around mt. Fuji last weekend. I must honestly say that I preferred the auto. The flappy pedals provided more than enough fun/control through the twisty bits and the auto handled all the hassle during the inner-Tokyo bits. Best of both worlds IMO.

I've always preferred flappy pedals to gear sticks anyway so YMMV. If anything, I found the 1500cc engine lacking compared to the Z4. It's a nice, nippy car to drive. The low weight made handling round the bends nice and quick and it does accelerate rather fast despite the little engine.

But it's no Z4.
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