Miata Styles

[black roadster]

While each person's vision of their roadster is unique, I think most of them can be classified under styling genres.


So far this is what I've come up with with a brief overall description. Feel free to add to it.

All Original - Owners perform no modifications to their car. This encapsulates most Miatas as most folks just drive their cars. The enthiusiasts in this group usually have garage queens and take pride in how original their cars are and often feel they will hold their value better as collector items. The cars also often have low miles on them.

Classic Roadster - Owners modify their cars with bits of chrome, wood, leather and/or bodykits inspired by roadsters of the 50s and 60s. Also referred to as Vintage.

Autocrossers - Owners only perform mods based on SCCA rules and typically only if they offer performance benefits.

Spec Miata - Owners with dedicated track Miatas modified for Spec Miata racing.

Tuners - Owners who only modify their vehicles performance and see cosmetic mods as unnecessary or added weight. Often these cars are boosted and include full coil-over suspensions, big brakes, programable ECUs, etc... These cars are street driven and also track driven. Since they don't autocross they are not restricted by rules and since they are street driven they are more comfortable than Spec Miatas.

Roadster on a Diet - Owners of these cars are obcessed with shedding as much weight as possible. Gutted interiors, no A/C or radio. Often no top at all. Body panels may be swapped for carbon fiber duplicates. They go to more extremes than the Spec Miatas in saving weight.

JDM Lovers - Owners modify their cars with rare and hard to get Japanese home market products.

Full Show Cars - Over the top cars with plenty of bling. They have body kits, large rims, custom paint, killer sound systems, and lots of shiney bits. At the extreme level these are not street driven but trailered to shows.

Club Roadster So-Cal Style - Seems to be a very specific style. Standard requirements include a hardtop, slammed suspension, wide zero-offset rims with narrow tyres stretched over the rims and fender flares.

Naturally Miatas can also fall into non-specific vehicle genres like low-riders, rat rod, etc but I was trying to break down the Miata specific genres. I might be missing out on some so feel free to add to this.

What genre(s) do you fall into or have in mind as your style direction?

I personally consider my car to fall into Classic and JDM but aspire for some of the added performance of the Tuners and maybe some of the engine bling of the Show Cars someday.

[Treibenschnell]

Where's the category for non-running Miatas?

[Titus]

Where's the category for non-running Miatas?

Here's your sign!

[Sharpie]

Then there is the Survivor category. Any miata with 200k+ miles still being driven on a regular basis. Although some may see mine as a Tuner, I'm not a tuner, I just like to keep my car nice and well maintained, upgrading as I go.

[aalvarez04]

I'm in the autocrossers but i do add some nice things that look good...

[trickyrix]

I think I'm venturing into the quasi-Vintage area... although I'm still undecided on that wood steering wheel.

[Mouglie]

Where's the category for non-running Miatas?

Project Car or
Salvage Queen

mine fits both right now...

[johnwag]

I definitely own a Tuner. Though, if I can get a Daily Driver soon, my miata will be a Roadster On A Diet. (with a cage)

[icepenguin66]

Then there is the Survivor category. Any miata with 200k+ miles still being driven on a regular basis. Although some may see mine as a Tuner, I'm not a tuner, I just like to keep my car nice and well maintained, upgrading as I go.

Hell yeah, 244k and still daily driven!

Definitely a tuner as well!

[MadMonkey]

Hmmm... I don't seem to fit into any of those categories. I'm trying to have a clean, quick and classy (not classic) car... not sure what category that would fall under since I'm kind of going my own route. How about a Freelancer?

[Tim the Teacher]

Tuner describes the car.........suave and sophisticated describes the driver

[Titus]

describes the driver

[Ted the Red]

I like to think of mine as an eclectic mix of the show car and Autocrosser. I like to add unique items to the vehichle that help improve the looks and function of the car. I like to add to the comfort level of the vehicle as well as making performance mods that are within my SCCA class rules.

[Monkey of Death]

Classic Roadster for me!
I've always loved the way the old, classic roadsters looked and have a serious thing for the XKE specifically. I'm striving for the clean, classic look with my Miata. And I throw in a little Tuner when the budget allows!

[Miatamoto]

95% Autocrosser

I still want the car to look decent or I wouldn't have paid the extra money for the nickel finish on the wheels or painted the hardtop (hard to pass up at $125).

[black roadster]

I still want the car to look decent or I wouldn't have paid the extra money for the nickel finish on the wheels.

I think that finish adds 5 hp and you get bonus points for "Bling" factor.