MR-S for a 16 year old girl a bad idea in Wyoming?

[Supracentral]

Whatcha think, Poo, should I issue him an infraction for thinking we're Nazis?

If I were half the monster these people pretend I am, the forum would be empty...

On topic:

As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time driving the aforementioned MR-S, I'll give you my take on it:

The car is an incredible blast to drive on dry pavement. It handles like a kart. It's very difficult to get it to slide, but if you do, you're in SERIOUS trouble if you aren't an exceptional driver. The mid-engine RWD platform combo makes it an insane handful once it gets sideways. All the mass in that ass makes a slide a very dangerous ride.

The car is seriously impractical. It has no room, it is far too low to the ground, it gets high centered on some speed bumps. The car is also unnecessarily fragile. I drive a MKIV. If I drove this MR-S the way I drive my MKIV, it would fall apart. This car doesn't "scrape" curbs if you pull too far into a spot, it crashes into them. It can't soak up bumps.

In the rain, the car holds its own until it starts to slide, once it does, it's game over. Forget snow and ice, you aren't even going to get out of the driveway. If you do, you are, once again, in serious trouble. This car is a joke in bad weather. It also can get swamped in puddles that other cars can just drive through.

In a collision, it's a VERY dangerous car. Most other cars bumpers are head height with the MR-S driver. Pulling up behind my MKIV for example, you are staring at the license plate. The eye level stop light is above your head, and the MKIV wing towers above you. My Ford Expedition would drive over this car easily.

Giving this car to a teenager is a very, very, very bad idea.

 

[te72]

Thanks for the input SC and DT, really appreciate the experience with it. Still... I kinda want one myself, but even I would probably relegate it to a 3 season car, and I have driven in snow on drag radials before and lived to tell the tale... Granted that was in a MUCH heavier car (Mk3) but still. Thanks again.

 

[Poodles]

I'd say get her a miata if you want that kind of car. The miata is very fun when the ass starts to slide :naughty:

 

[DreamerTheresa]

This IS a 16 year old we're talking about, Poodles.

 

[Supracentral]

I'd say get her a miata if you want that kind of car. The miata is very fun when the ass starts to slide :naughty:

I've got to agree there, a Miata is a good way for a kid to learn to drive a sports car, not fast enough to get in too much trouble but still a blast to drive. An MR-S will just teach you to be afraid of oversteer.

 

[DreamerTheresa]

I'd worry about the Miata's lightness in the ice and snow, though, too.

 

[Poodles]

True, then again, teenager driving in ice and snow is pretty dumb to start with. 4x4 truck or car or FWD car is only real option for that kind of driving...

 

[RazoE]

I love miatas, I'm going to buy my step daughter one once she turns 16 in 2 years, they're relatively easy to work on, easy to find, rwd, 2 seater, available in auto (although she wants it to be stick as much as I do), and they were made for what, 10 years on the same basic chassis? Win-win in my opinion...

She also wanted a MK3 after seeing mine and her mothers, but I told her they're too unreliable for a teen...

 

[Poodles]

My mom was rear ended in her miata, they suffer the same issues as any other tiny car, being seen... it's why crazy airhorns are an extremely common upgrade on them.

 

[te72]

I'd worry about the Miata's lightness in the ice and snow, though, too.

You know, they're surprisingly not all that bad. Even without an LSD, the 94 I had for a few months was able to get me around without any excessive drama. Did spin it around in the rain, on concrete once. Guess I deserved that for showing off haha...

True, then again, teenager driving in ice and snow is pretty dumb to start with. 4x4 truck or car or FWD car is only real option for that kind of driving...

Unfortunately, teenagers driving around here is just a reality as much as anywhere else... we just have shitty weather for 4-8 months to deal with. I actually disagree with the 4x4 truck idea, only because of the truck part. Sure, 4wd does get you *going* better than 2wd, but it doesn't do a damn thing to help you stop on snow and ice. I'm actually grateful for having worked nighttime hours for the last couple years and somewhat dreading going back to the old 8-5 simply because of all the traffic...

I love miatas, I'm going to buy my step daughter one once she turns 16 in 2 years, they're relatively easy to work on, easy to find, rwd, 2 seater, available in auto (although she wants it to be stick as much as I do), and they were made for what, 10 years on the same basic chassis? Win-win in my opinion...

She also wanted a MK3 after seeing mine and her mothers, but I told her they're too unreliable for a teen...

The NA Miatas were from 89-97 (VERY few 89's btw), and the NB's were from 99-2005. There was no 98 model, as Mazda has a tendency of skipping a year when working on a new version of a sports car. The NA and NB chassis is remarkably similar, as are about 98% of the cars components. 2006 they changed to the new style, the NC.

That said, I loved my Miata, at least the 2000 I had. Poor seat support is all I disliked about the car, and they fixed that in 2001. I have my Supra for all out power, highway cruising, and the occasional fast paced mountain pass, but I wouldn't mind another Miata for messing around with either, they're a lot of fun and dirt cheap. Well dirt cheap as long as you don't ever visit Flyin Miata.

I agree though, if you're gonna buy a sports convertible for a girl, a Miata would be a better choice than MR-S, at least for this climate.

 

[whitemike]

Get her a FWD Honda like a normal first car.

 

[FullNelson]

My first car was the supra and it lasted through the winter. I would generally have to keep it parked and hitch a ride when it got above 6-8" snow. All was well. The GTO however managed to fuck itself up in 1/4 snow with new tires and all. If I could do it right I would have my K5 first as a DD