Reply With QuoteNC with power hard top. You'll aready have plenty of other consession to make the wife like the car, so the weight of the hard top will just be one on a long list of reasons you can't win.
STR?
Looking at a vert for the wife. NC or S2000? She likes the power top on the S2000. It would be cool to have a car I could AX when not W2W racing. Thoughts?
M3 is always the answer.
NC with power hard top. You'll aready have plenty of other consession to make the wife like the car, so the weight of the hard top will just be one on a long list of reasons you can't win.
'06+ S2000. The MX-5 probably has a very slight edge on a lot of courses due to the better tire/weight ratio, but anywhere that the S2000 can use it's top-end power, it will dominate. See Blytheville.
You know after a couple months in the summer heat she'll get bored and you'll end up with the car anyway, so why compormise?
Iain
"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
The S2000 to have is a CR delete, but I don't know how your wife would feel about that. On courses that make the s2000 dig from under 6000 rpm the miata is faster.
For instance on this weekends BMW course/div day 2 course all of the straights were preceded by corners slow enough to put me at around 4000 rpms. This essentially removes the power advantage of the s2k and both the cars have similar speeds at the end of the straights.
With tuning (mine is not) the s2000 gets around 15% more torque in this exact spot and in my opinion brings the power advantage back to the car in most situations. The NCs will still corner better, and are probably more stable.
The best s2000 courses will have lots of fast transitions or fast sweepers. It is weird but the s2000 is kind of the momentum car compared to the mx5. In places where the speed gets shut down the NC has the torque to make the s2000s top end not matter.This is of course my opinion, but I know many of the other STR s2k drivers have a similar viewpoint.
S2000, better all around car and much more fun on the street (decent power)
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Cory
2006 Mazda MX-5 GT (SOLD)
1999 Mazda Miata (FOR SALE)
2004 Chevrolet Z06/Z16
2013 Kawasaki Ninja 650
If you're exiting a corner at 4k rpm in an S2000, you need to downshift to 1st. You will never be able to get 100% out of that car until you learn how to heel/toe downshift.Originally Posted by 762
Iain
"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
Yeah I know it. Just want to get better at the 3-2 before I start working on the 2-1. Driving on the street and doing it just isn't the same environment. I can now do the gear changes ok but I have a tendency to brake more then I need to when I also have to do the downshift.
I should try and get one of those cars that drive themselves with the flappy paddles.... I'll love that haha
Last edited by 762; 06-20-2011 at 04:02 PM.
Ken - the PRHT NC isn't much of a compromise unless you're building a National-level STR car. The power top adds only about 80lbs to the car, and is MUCH quieter on the highway and the A/C works better too. No worries about splitting seams, cut tops, etc.
Cons: Fewer roll bar options, slightly more $$. If I was going to buy another NC and DD it, I'd seriously consider the PRHT and try to shed the extra weight from my ass.
As for the stook, I think they are damn fine cars, but I've only been to one event in the last 2 seasons where they had a significant edge over the NC's. Blytheville was a huge margin for the stooks (Andy Hollis would've been going ape-shit over that course), but I doubt its representative of what you'll see on 9 out of 10 (or more) autox courses. If you're gonna track the car, different story. Everyone knows Miatas suck on the track.
I can't see Ken-O buying a car that is out of production...
Polished Turd Racing
Mick wrote: "I think Jerrett is the best autocrosser I have ever seen naked."
Will he fit in either of them??
Probably. Chris Robbins fits in his NC.
Polished Turd Racing
Mick wrote: "I think Jerrett is the best autocrosser I have ever seen naked."
Chris only weighs 83 pounds now....
stop bragging!My Willy weighs 83 pounds now....
Polished Turd Racing
Mick wrote: "I think Jerrett is the best autocrosser I have ever seen naked."
Doubtful. I only weigh 175 and quite frankly cannot stand to drive Sharon's 2009 PRHT GT. Most uncomfortable Miata/MX5 I have ever owned though she just loves the thing. For an STR car with different seats and a 5 speed maybe. Great motor but the interior and layout leaves much to be desired. Still can't get used to the '09 six gear and I know it is supposed to be better. I'd take the '90, '95 or '99 which I've owned/own for layout and general comfort. One thing that is consistent is the crap stereo. There I said it.
Looking for another unmolested LSD 99.
Steve E
Either car is a solid choice for STR performance. The S2k will probably feel more gutsy and refined for everyday use, which could swing your choice that way.
You should let your wife try both and decide.
spoken like a wise man!
It's a slow and painful process, but I am learning.spoken like a wise man!
How did that work-out with the pool boy applicants?
Polished Turd Racing
Mick wrote: "I think Jerrett is the best autocrosser I have ever seen naked."
It was for him not her.
M3 is always the answer.
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