Traction Inc.

From the Mailbag: How do you like your NB Miata vs. your old NA?

The Mazda MX-5 fanbois will argue this all day, but the NA and NB are essentially the same car. The later NB has slightly more modern interior & exterior styling, a smidge more power and some chassis stiffening bits – but where it counts the two cars are pretty much identical. I prefer the interior and exterior of my NB to my old NA, but I’ve seen awesome examples of each in race and tuner trim.

On the other hand, the current NC MX-5 is a whole different car. Not a bad car, but a car that’s more sophisticated and not nearly as cheap or easy to maintain and modify. As long as there are used S2000’s on the market, I can’t see myself buying an NC.

Moving up market a bit, which roadster is your favorite - a Boxster S, M Coupe or S2000?

Scratch one more off the bucket list
Mixing it up in the Rotary Racing RX-7 at this weekend’s ChumpCar World Series double-header at Road Atlanta.

Successful Chumpcar debut at Road Atlanta

“I need more practice strapping into a race car.”

That was one of a hundred nagging doubts going through my mind yeserday morning. Not only was I climbing behind the wheel of a car that I was completely unfamiliar with, but I was preparing drive it in my first ChumpCar race. I was about race side-by-side with more than 60 other cars, on one of the most intimidating road courses in America.

Luckily I found that I was able to get comfortable quickly and was soon turning competitive lap times. When the checkered flag waved after ten hours of racing on Saturday, we had placed a solid 26th of 63 cars — not bad considering that of the five drivers on the team, I was the only one who had previously driven this track and three of us had no prior seat time in the car.

Sunday’s race ended in a DNF when the RX-7’s motor siezed, but by then each of us had driven two stints. We were more than happy with our weekend. Unlike many of our competitors, there were no tire rings worn into our doors or crushed fenders from hitting other cars or running off track. We had raced hard and raced clean. Now it’s time for a beer.

Thanks to Rick Halston at MotorSportMedia for taking such great photos this weekend.

From the mailbag: Why a Miata?

• Fun to drive
• Manual transmission
• Rear wheel drive
• Limited slip differential
• Double wishbone suspension with factory coilovers
• Light weight
• Inexpensive to purchase
• Inexpensive to prep for motorsports
• Easy on consumables like brakes and tires
• Easy to work on
• Very reliable, even when raced
• Great DIY support network
• Huge aftermarket
• Excellent platform for driver instruction
• Lots of opportunities to take racing
• Bonus: When turbocharged, more fun than a Porsche

(photo via roadsterlife)

I’m 22 years old and have owned 10 cars and a handful of motorcycles… and I still don’t feel like I have owned a car that I would never want to give up.

I am on the quest for the car that speaks to me on the lowest, most primal levels… but 10 cars later and I’m still not there.

Is this a disease that I must learn to live with? Does one eventually find “that car?” Am I going to have a series of failed marriages? Why are 240zs so hard to find for a reasonable price? What is the meaning of life?

Of the 12 cars I’ve owned, only one has hit me in that mushy spot which leaves me unable to let it go. I’ve owned five BMW’s and a first generation Mazda Miata—and I’ve enjoyed them all—but none of them moves me the way my turbocharged second generation Miata does. It’s a keeper.

Cars that keep me skimming the classifieds:
Mazda MX-5 ‘Spec Miata’, from $7,500

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is an excellent, affordable platform for driving schools or time trials.  One of the most-raced cars in America, Miata’s can be found posting enviable times at almost any autocross or track day.  In Spec Miata trim, a modest investment gives you access to some of the largest, most competitive fields in club racing.  If you want get your foot in the door to serious road racing, this is your ride… in fact, I often wonder why I don’t have one already.  (Laguna Seca photo via Mazda USA)

December is here in force, bringing freezing tempertures with it.  My turbo Miata went into the garage a few weeks ago - my winter beater is an old BMW M3.

Every time I start daydreaming too much about a new car, my wife reminds me that I’ve got it pretty good already… then I remind her that both of my cars together cost us 2/3 of what hers did ;)

I like hot rods, I love Mazda Miata’s… but I can’t quite wrap my mind around this MX-5 Miata / t-bucket rat rod.  What’s your vote - offbeat goodness or abomination?

Edmunds.com’s latest project car: a beater 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata

“Today, a first-gen Miata is just another P.O.S. for sale on Craigslist. Yet time has only magnified the car’s fundamental strengths, which creates something of a perfect storm for an enthusiast seeking to create his own personal interpretation of fun.

“Envision a used Miata as something more like a Porsche Boxster Spyder with $59,000 on the hood.

“This ratty roadster’s getting a new lease on life. Extensive modifications will be fully embraced, function takes precedence over polish. It will be built with an eye toward track durability while remaining a street car at heart. If it can cut a respectable lap in our local Miata time-trial series, then that’s fine, too.”

- Jason Kavanagh

My turbocharged Mazda MX-5 Miata

“It doesn’t have a lot of horsepower, but luckily they are Japanese horses - so they’re in better shape and more motivated.”