Chris Harris on the MX5
 

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Maybe Chris is an acquired taste? And, no, I didn't subscribe.

So basically, this isn't as good as an Elise, despite the fact that it costs 1/10th the price, therefore it is shit.

Well put, Chris Harris.

its not a proper sports car because it doesnt have a v12, cant corner, and thinks for you.

i mean everyone knows this.

So it's a great car, he just doesn't like it.

Oh come on. Fanboy much?!

I think he makes some valid points.
He compares it to a more expensive car because he's under the impression that people view the MX-5 as a benchmark driver's car, >regardless of cost<. A couple of mags in the UK do just that. So he compares it to another benchmark driver's car. Does the Elise have a V12, pull masses of lateral G, or think for you?

Im talking of the ferrari. I watched the video...

What a doucher. Take a properly built mx5 vs a stock lotus if you want to make that comparison. The miata still will come out cheaper and faster (accell wise), and will at least come close to matching the lotus in cornering.

A stock suspended miata is nothing great by todays standard.

Edit: and the whole drivers car argument I can see. However a "drivers car" has NEVER been about performance, lateral cornering G's, acceleration, etc.

Totally agreed re. a properly modded MX-5 vs Elise, but Chris is intentionally only looking at the standard car.

Yeah, in that aspect I'd almost agree with Chris in that case. Stock miatae don't feel very good compared to a lot of cars. Properly modified on the other hand..

I heard the miatas that are right hand drive are really bad at handling as compared to the left hand drive ones.

I heard that everything not made in America sucks and is inferior

'MURICA

FFF YEAH

He is evaluating the car without concern for value. He even states that for the money it would be hard if not impossible to match. I think most of what he said was fair although I do not agree with all of it.

Wait a minute...

Who the fuck is chris harris?

some dude that likes cars with more than 50 hp.

what an asshole.....50hp cars are teh kewlest

Idk, i like this guy. He won me over when he said "the gear ratios are to long" and "it's really hard to un-stick it in the dry". Words of a wise man right here.

^^Xactly.

Couldn't tell WTF he was saying. Just a bunch of totally subjective, disorganized gibberish delivered in that incredibly annoying British mumbling style.

British? I thought that video was from Australia?

^
You're obviously not good with accents then.

One thing to bear in mind with the Poms is that they rarely mod their cars as extremely as is done elsewhere due to harsher restrictions so when they compare cars it makes sense to compare factory-only versions.

I thought he was a little harsh and completely disregarded the "bang-for-buck" factor (though the latest price of the NC vs the FT86 clearly has the FT86 way out in front).

Seriously? you can't distinguish between an Englishman and an Aussie? Regarding the comments about the British whine - you mean he's not shouting at you like an American would? lol.

What restrictions? IIRC the world's fastest street legal (1/4 mile) car is in England. Redvictor3?

Sarcasm...I saw the sheep in the background and I knew it wasn't in Aussie land.

Bit off topic but I'd also say a lot of people do modify their cars in the UK and we're probably one of the biggest load of petrol heads in the world. For a tiny country it produces some of the worlds best cars like Mclaren, Caterham, Lotus, Ariel, TVR, Noble, Bentley, Aston Martin, Ascari, Caparo, Radical, Morgan, Rolls Royce. Its also home to almost all of the worlds Formula 1 teams.

Petrol runs through a lot of Brirish guys blood but modifying cars is limited a huge amount by the money in people's pockets. Fuel is over $10 a gallon and property and living costs are expensive. The truth is that modifying cars is a luxury a person on an average wage can't afford.

I wonder how many people in the USA would still be modifying their cars if gas was $10.50 a gallon right now? Also 20% sales tax on everything, and 30% taken off your salary. Britain is so expensive almost everyone I know is struggling by from month to month right now.

Oh wow, another rich dude complaining about Miatas? No way.

Look at how "not sporty" this car is:

Graham, assuming you're a Scot, I expect more from you. After all, the USA is much more a product of the Ulster-Scots than it is of England. We're chock-full of HillBillies and RedNecks. That's why were always fighting everywhere based upon principle and never colonizing anything for profit.

The English drive me nuts. And, of course, I work for an English company.

TVR is out of business. Bentley is owned by Volkswagen, Rolls Royce by BMW.
Edit. Aston was partly owned by Ford until 07

He said the NA he drove in that video was better than the NB, and that the NA's steering wasn't very talkative. Funny that I find the NB steering better than the NA.

Also, I wonder how much of his complaints were due just to shock valving or 70k mile shocks - he said the car gets "a bit messy" when you start to push it. Anyone know what suspension package was on the "VR" (?) package car?

This is what I'm wondering.

Totally subjective mumblings? Gee, he should have put the car on a skid pan then conducted such ingenius tests as the 0-60mph, the 0-150m, the 60-100mph, the 1/8th mile, the 1/4 mile and that crazy new one, the 0-1000yards.



(...giggle)

*popcorn*

Driving a stock NA and my NB back to back is like a floppy dildo vs 5 blade razor. I've no idea what he's talking about.

seriously. I have the same NB flexes as y8s, same spring rates and all--his car is SOLID, while my is flaccid.

Dammit. I want another Miata. Someone buy this stupid Focus.

Even if you dont like chris harris, subscribe to drive. its well produced entertaing shows. I cant decide if I like TUNED (where matt faraough from smoking tire drives highly modded cars), or trackside the best. And if your a race fan shakedown is good too.

I think I'd have a golf diesel....and a slower miata?

You do. saw a decent one in BR on craigs list.
1991 Mazda miata
even comes with a body kit yo.

but sensuously this one may be ok depending on what he wants for it
93 miata and 01 honda 250cr 2 stroke for trade

Blah rebuilt title. I've got a truck but it's not full size and I'm not trading it.

I had a line on a good one in Ellisville MS...1994, clean, A/C, unmodded except for some 15x7 Panasports for $2300. The guy answered 2 emails, then didn't respond for a week when I was trying to arrange a time to see it. Finally responded to say the car sold.