Mazda MX5 Miata, the enthusiast’s Ace in the hole
Posted: March 21, 2013 Filed under: AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHTS, Secondhand Saints, SHOWCASE | Tags: 1993 Mazda MX5 Miata, Cruising, Enthusiast car, Mind over motor, Roadster 3 Comments »
My 1993 Mazda MX5 Miata
Today was the first day of Spring, and the weather, while still a bit chilly by most standards, was nice enough to take my MX5 Miata out for some roofless fun. I met up with my friend Dan, whose photos have been featured on this site many times, and we went for a nice long drive, two Miatas tearing hard through the woods. This was one of those days where you just forget everything else in your life, and enjoy cruising along. For me, such cruising is like a form of meditation, very in the moment, and focused on enjoying the little things in life. An MX5 allows you to enjoy the world even more, because with the top down you are truly outside, connected with your surroundings. Toward the end of the drive I had a huge grin on my face, and I got to thinking about exactly what it is that makes this car so great, for so many people. Read the rest of this entry »
Hopewell Cruise Night: Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster
Posted: December 26, 2012 Filed under: EVENTS / PLACES | Tags: 300SL, Classic, Cruise Night, Hopewell, Mercedes-Benz, Mind over motor, NJ, Roadster Leave a comment »
This gorgeous, and freshly restored, 300SL Roadster showed up at the Cruise Night in Hopewell, NJ last spring. The 300SL is an icon of its era, and the gullwing version was even the fastest car in the world for a time. Today the car looks as classy as ever with its long hood and beautiful swooping lines. Enjoy the photos.
You either get it or you don’t
Posted: November 24, 2012 Filed under: AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHTS | Tags: Mazda, Miata, Mind over motor, Roadster, Winter Leave a comment »
-Nick
Lamborghini Aventador Roadster released… all that waiting for a predictable result
Posted: November 12, 2012 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: Aventador, Lamborghini, Mind, motor, Over, Roadster 9 Comments »
Yea this is an incredible car, yea I can’t wait to see one on the road, and yea I really can’t wait to drive one. It is awesome, as is any drop top Lambo. But after all the hype and build up after the last few years of spy shots, and Lamborghini test drivers chasing paparazzi, I look at this and find my self saying, “Okay, next”. Everything about it is just so predictable, the car looks fantastic but it also looks exactly how everyone knew it would look. I am thrilled this car is finally out, but for me it is hardly a showstopper when other cars, like the Mclaren P1, have come out and really dropped people’s jaws. They should’ve made the Jota instead of this, then I would really be excited.
-Nick
The Jaguar F-Type–Keeping Calm and Carrying On.
Posted: October 19, 2012 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK, AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHTS | Tags: 2014, Automotive Insights, Classy, curves, F-Type, Flash, Future Vehicles, Industry Talk, Jaguar, Mind over motor, modern, Roadster, sexy, Supercharged, V6, V8 1 Comment »
Jaguar’s been one of the few companies in the past couple of years that hasn’t made a huge mistake with the models they sell. Yes, their product line isn’t as diverse as the competition, but what they have invested in is paying dividends, and the new F-Type is proof that their current focus is one I’m going to keep a close eye on in the near future. From the styling to the engine options revealed recently, I’m unashamed to say that I love this car even before I’ve seen it in the flesh.
Reacquainting myself with my Miata
Posted: September 17, 2012 Filed under: AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHTS | Tags: beautiful, Chris Harris, Cruise, Love, Miata, Mind, motor, Over, Roadster, Weather 2 Comments »
The weather in the Northeastern US was incredible this weekend, so I took a nice long cruise in my Miata. This was the first cruise of this sort I have taken in it since I got back from my summer in Michigan a few weeks ago, and in a lot of ways there was some reacquainting that needed to be done. Before I left for the summer I uncovered a few issues with the car that needed, or still need, dealing with. I subsequently found myself second guessing the financial aspects of it all the whole summer, even thinking it may be easier just to part it out. This cruise gave me some much needed quality time with the car, with the perfect weather and on perfect roads I was reminded why I bought the Miata in the first place.
The timing of all this was interesting because Chris Harris had just released a video on the Miata where he second guessed his now infamous stance against the MX5. His conclusion was that the Miata is a great roadster but a mediocre sports car, and one of the most fun ways you can spend a few thousand dollars (or pounds). I have to agree, there are better driver’s cars out there, and it took a few modifications to my car to get it where I wanted it to be dynamically.
The roadster experience though, is second to none, and every time I drive my car I cannot help but thinking the newer, more expensive Miatas could not possibly offer anything more. Sure if you line mine up against the current NC Miata I would lose in a drag race, but neither car is fast by anyone’s standards, and neither car is meant to be.
So what do you really get by spending more than just a few grand on a Miata? Maybe a warranty if it is new enough, but as far as the experience goes you get nothing more for your money. What I’m saying here is that there is really two ways to buy a Miata, brand new, or as cheap as possible. Any other way and you are just wasting money. All of those NB Miatas around $10k are worthless, because a $2800 NA Miata like mine will give you the exact same experience.
I do love my car, and it reminded me why during our cruise on Saturday. A Miata is an experiential machine, and despite my car’s flaws it still puts a huge grin on my face.
-Nick Walker
Some say a car can’t be a good investment, and I say to them: BMW Z8
Posted: August 29, 2012 Filed under: AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHTS, INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: 394hp, Alpina, BMW Z8 prices, M5, Mind over motor, Price, Roadster, V8, value Leave a comment »
I remember the first time I saw a Z8 in person. It was right around the time I was really starting to get obsessed with cars, and I had become familiar with it through the latest James Bond Playstation game. My mom and I had just parked to go run some errands when I saw a sleek, low, silver car approaching. At first glance, I thought it was a Porsche, but then I realized this was 007’s car. In the decade or so since then, many things have changed in the world, but the Z8’s price has remained the same. Many people are surprised this car has held its value so well, especially since it received a rather mixed reception from many journalists. I have been thinking on this myself, and I have a few ideas as to why it has remained so expensive. Read the rest of this entry »
Spotted! Gennadi Ford GTX1, Woodward Ave, MI
Posted: August 17, 2012 Filed under: Exotics, SPOTTED! | Tags: Ave, Convertible, Cruise, design, Dream, Ford, Gennadi, GT, GTX1, Mind, motor, Over, public, Rare, Roadster, roof, Spider, spotted, Spyder, Street, Supercharge, V8, Woodward 1 Comment »
The GTX1 is a roadster conversion of a Ford GT by Gennadi Design. 600 GTX1s were planned but only around 100 or so wer completed by the time production ended in 2008, making this quite a rare car. In addition to the roof modification GTX1s were also upgraded to around 700hp, given better suspension, new interior parts, and given a few visual bits to set them apart from a standard GT. It is easy to mistake one for a standard GT though, and I had to do a double take on this one to notice the lack of a roof; at which point I took off after it to get these pics. This is the first GTX1 I have seen on the street. Enjoy.
Car & Driver: Lotus Elan vs. Mazda MX5
Posted: August 10, 2012 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE | Tags: &, 20, and, Car, Comparison, Driver, driving, Elan, fun, History, Laguna, Lotus, Mazda, Miata, Mind, motor, MX5, Over, pleasure, Raceway, Roadster, Seca, Super, vs Leave a comment »This is a great video showcasing two of the best roadsters in history. The Elan was the inspiration for the MX5 in a different era, and both cars have lessons to teach other carmakers today. This is pure driving and pure fun, the hell with 0-60 times and 1/4 mile runs. I can only hope that one day I get to drive a Lotus Elan like this, it is pretty high up there on my list. Enjoy the vid.
-Nick
Obscure Auto: 1939 BMW 328 Buegelfalte Roadster
Posted: July 27, 2012 Filed under: Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE | Tags: 1939, 5.84, Auction, Auto, BMW, Buegelfalte, Germany, History, Le, Lemans, Mans, Miglia, Mille, million, Mind, MM, Monaco, motor, Munich, Museum, Obscure, Over, Pre, replica, Roadster, Soviet, Story, Tourist, Trophy, Union, War 1 Comment »
BMW 328 Buegelfalte Roadster
The 328 Buegelfalte Roadster is one of those legendary cars that is so coveted by modern collectors, that in 2010 it sold for $5.84 million at RM auctions in Monaco. Those who are unfamiliar with the car may believe it to be some highly successful vintage racecar, but actually it’s racing history was fairly mediocre. It is likely the car’s beauty and rarity, being the only one of its kind, that make it such a sought after machine. The Buegelfalte also has a rich story behind it as well, one that parallels that of 20th century Europe. I will tell you now that the car you see in these photos is actually a perfect replica of the Buegelfalte Roadster commissioned by BMW for use at corporate events. I took these photos during my recent visit to the factory museum. Even though the car is a replica it still has the same beautiful form as the original, which now resides in a private collection.
Spotted! 1965 Corvette Stingray Convertible, Rockaway, NJ
Posted: January 4, 2012 Filed under: Muscle, SPOTTED! | Tags: 1965, 1966, Chevrolet, Convertible, Corvette, Mind over motor, Muscle, NJ, Roadster, Spotted!, Sting Ray, Stingray, USA, Winter Leave a comment »
On New Year’s Eve, while shopping for clothes, I saw this Corvette roadster out for a drive. What a strange thing to see this late in the year, and it seems to be in decent shape as well.
Spotted by: Al
Road Review: Nick’s 1993 Mazda MX5 Miata
Posted: December 15, 2011 Filed under: Photography by Dan Valanzola, Road Review, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 1.6, 1992, 1993, 4, 92, 93, Beat, Car, Cat, catback, Convertible, Cruising, driving, exhaust, Flyin, four, full, fun, girly, great, handling, HFC, Inline, joy, magnaflow, Mazda, Miata, Mind, mine, motor, my, N1, NA, Over, own, photos, racing, review, Roadster, Sport, Sports, stage 2, Suspension, Test, Thoughts 1 Comment »
My ’93 Mazda Miata
The Mazda Miata is, in many ways, a controversial car among auto enthusiasts. On one hand it has a huge enthusiast following and is one of the best selling sports cars of all time, and on the other hand there are many people who wouldn’t call it a sports car at all. The later often likes to stigmatize the Miata as a “girls car” that is more of a fashion accessory than a driving machine. For a while I was one of those people, I thought the Miata was too slow to offer any excitement. However, a few years ago, I got my hands on EVO Magazine’s piece on the 100 greatest driver’s cars of all time and I was shocked to see the Miata in the top ten. I read their reasoning on their choice, and their general thoughts on the car. They said it was like many faster sports cars, but the whole experience is in slow motion, and that it really allows you to both savor the experience of driving and work on your technique. My mind was forever changed about the Miata, so much so that I decided to buy one a few months later to have as a fun second car. I have now owned it for around a year and a half, and have tried to sum the car up for you below. Read the rest of this entry »
