I put the key to our Miata back on the big board yesterday. My two-week stint is over. In hindsight, it was (as well as fir any other editor who drives it) a pretty sweet deal.
I got to blast around in a modified Miata that I didn't have to do anything for. No scouring ads and wasting time looking for a used Miata (OK, I've actually done that before; I owned a '97 Miata M Edition just like ours for a few years). No late nights, bleary eyed, reading stale Miata forum posts on the Internet. No wrenching on my own accord trying to install aftermarket parts that just don't quite fit, or fix things that are breaking/not working on a 15-year-old car.
Basically, it was like renting it for two weeks. Then I got to give it back with a list of a few nettlesome things that need attention.
So a tip of my hat to fellow editor Kavanagh, who's been the Miata's handler since inception. He's done a great job with this car.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor
doss1 says:
04:03 PM, 01/26/12
Nice write up. Now who's next on the list for 2 weeks?
teampenske3 says:
04:52 PM, 01/26/12
@ doss
I believe only Brent takes out cars for two weeks at a time because he lives far away from the office and often works from home...IIRC he lives in Fresno or somewhere like that.
esoterica says:
06:38 PM, 01/26/12
OK come on, at least get a Dremel tool and etch the name in.
s197gt says:
06:42 PM, 01/26/12
"No late nights, bleary eyed, reading stale ----- forum posts on the Internet. No wrenching on my own accord trying to install aftermarket parts that just don't quite fit..."
been there done that...
i'm not sure the satisfaction of doing something myself is worth the frustration of doing something myself.
lowmilelude says:
04:49 AM, 01/27/12
I'd like to be on that 2-week list. Hell, I'd like to be on the title. Ahem. Hint.
ed124c says:
08:22 AM, 01/27/12
If only Miatas were more of a touring car. I might be lured by a real Miata coupe that would compete with the Toyobarus.* Then, of course, with a full, totally fixed roof, they could put at least 200 hp in it. And a standard six speed manual, not just a 5 speed base and 6 speed for higher trims. In fact, why do they even have trim levels. Did MG, Triumph, etc, etc. have trim levels? Just sell THE CAR.
*Confession: Even though I am probably buying a new car with a sunroof, I almost never opened the roof on my sunroof equipped cars. It was always the women that wanted it open. Gotta please them right?
But I do like to open the sunshad to get more light into the car. Which means, I could probably live with a Mustang with the non-opening panoramic roof. If there wasn't a woman involved.