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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Car Audio / June 20042004 Miata MP3 Player Option - Cautionary Tale
I recently bought a 2004 MazdaSpeed MX-5 Miata, and was very happy with the included sound system with in-dash 6-disc CD changer. I was even more delighted to hear they had an MP3 player option. I was concerned, however, that if I got the MP3 player option, it might *replace*, rather then *augment*, the CD changer. I tried to find out online, but there is *no* significant information about the part I could find. So when I ordered it from my dealer, I questioned the sales dept. about this. They had no idea. So I asked the sales dept., and they said 'no, its just an add-on, your changer stays in'. Awesome. I immediately ordered the part and started ripping my 400-CD collection. Today I went to pick up the car, and had the foresight to examine the car in the lot before paying. Sure enough, my CD changer was sitting on the front seat (with all of my CDs locked in the changer and sitting in 90 degree heat with the top down!!!). Also, I discovered that the MP3 player was a single-disc CD player with MP3 capability. That bastard. So, right now they are ripping it out, putting the changer back in, and refunding my money, while the service manager rips the sales guy a new you-know-what for wasting my time, his time, the parts depts time, and and 2 hours of service time. It really is annoying (I mean *really* annoying), in this time when there are so many great options for in-car stereos (and telematics in general), that so many car manufacturers have opted to ban the DIN slot in order to peddle their overpriced and poorly designed factory options. GGRRR. I just want a 6-disc changer with MP3 and Satellite radio that looks like it belongs in my dash - is that so hard? Seth, I'm considering the 2004 MazdaSpeed MX-5 Miata, would you mind letting the group know how you like it, and what you paid for it? Thanks! > I recently bought a 2004 MazdaSpeed MX-5 Miata, and was very happy > with the included sound system with in-dash 6-disc CD changer. [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > I just want a 6-disc changer with MP3 and Satellite radio that looks > like it belongs in my dash - is that so hard? Ive posted before, but will reiterate... I paid $26k with Mazda 3.9% financing. I bought the car because I wanted a second car which was a convertible. Test drove 350z, regular Miata, and S2000, considered the Z3/4 but didnt have enough interest in either (although my primary car is a 2000 540i). The 350z was a POS, the regular Miata was underpowered but great in every other aspect, the S2000 was awesome - I never liked them until I drove one. But I wasnt looking to spend $33k on a second car when I could get the Miata MazdaSpeed for $26k - it was just too good a deal to pass up. So within an hour of the first two arriving at my dealer I test drove one and bought it before service could even inspect it for sale. The silver color and default package with cool wheels, great stereo, was icing on the cake. I love the car but I have to admit it is a bit frustrating driving a car you need to wind up to 4500 RPM to play with. I can own the road at any speed with the 300HP V8 540i, but only certain circumstances with the Miata - not enough room to wind it up around town, and not comfortable at high speed California freeway driving at 80+ because you are low and the suspension is very stiff. Otherwise its awesome. Bottom line is that it is a very fun convertible at an unbeatable price, and I dont regret the purchase at all - it delivers what it promises. > Seth, > [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > > I just want a 6-disc changer with MP3 and Satellite radio that looks > > like it belongs in my dash - is that so hard? <snip> > I love the car but I have to admit it is a bit frustrating driving a > car you need to wind up to 4500 RPM to play with. I can own the road > at any speed with the 300HP V8 540i, but only certain circumstances > with the Miata - not enough room to wind it up around town, '04 MS Miata: 0-60: 6.64 seconds Peak torque: 4500 RPMs Peak HP: 6000 RPMs '00 BMW 540i 0-60: 5.5 seconds Peak torque: 3600 RPMs Peak HP: 5400 RPMs I'll admit to not understanding the statement "wind up to 4500 RPMs" like it's some ridiculous number. I have a stock '95 Miata, and unless they've seriously changed the 1.8 engine since then, it's no problem getting to peak torque/HP and they don't happen in my car until 5000/6500 RPMs. Heck, that's half the fun, right there. If you don't bounce off the rev limiter a few times a week, you're probably doing something wrong. You simply cannot compare the Miata to a 540i and keep a straight face. They're both passenger cars with sporting aspirations, but that's like comparing a minivan and a 3/4-ton Dodge Dually because they can both haul stuff. The Miata isn't about "owning the road at any speed", it's about feeling *connected* to the road at any speed. The Miata isn't an intimidation car like a 540--it's a very personal car designed to evoke a more intimate feeling. Anyway, long story short, you must be seriously tearing up the town if a Mazdaspeed Miata doesn't have enough performance to satisfy you on a trip to the supermarket. OTOH, if you were talking about the Interstate, you'd have a point.  Signaturetooloud Remove nothing to reply... > You simply cannot compare the Miata to a 540i and keep a straight face. > They're both passenger cars with sporting aspirations, but that's like [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > intimidation car like a 540--it's a very personal car designed to evoke a > more intimate feeling. I like the way people consider *their* level of performance 'intimate', but once you leave their price range it becomes an 'intimidation car'. LOL! BMW drivers reputations for being intimidating is well-deserved, but its not their personality its the car's. We are actually very embarrased at the way we drive, but its the way the car wants to be driven, I assure you. Im sure MazdaSpeed owners would need to make the same apologies to Geo owners. The 8-cylinder BMWs like the 540i especially are autobahn cruisers, and feel as safe at 100 then most production cars feel at 65. As a result, 65 feels like driving 35 on the freeway in a Miata. > Anyway, long story short, you must be seriously tearing up the town if a > Mazdaspeed Miata doesn't have enough performance to satisfy you on a trip to > the supermarket. OTOH, if you were talking about the Interstate, you'd have > a point. Absolutely on the interstate. I love my little Miata, but not only is it less fun to drive on the Interstate then my 540i, its less fun to drive on the Interstate then most cars in general, unless you have an exceptionally well paved freeway. Sitting that low on suspension that stiff is like reading the asphault in braille. > BMW drivers reputations for being intimidating is well-deserved, but > its not their personality its the car's. We are actually very > embarrased at the way we drive, but its the way the car wants to be > driven, I assure you. What *are* you talking about, Seth? Dana >> You simply cannot compare the Miata to a 540i and keep a straight >> face. They're both passenger cars with sporting aspirations, but [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > I like the way people consider *their* level of performance > 'intimate', No, I simply consider a small two-seat roadster that weighs slightly more than 2k lbs. to be infinitely more intimate than a 5-passenger sedan. > but once you leave their price range it becomes an > 'intimidation car'. > > LOL! Whoa, there, Sethy-boy; grab your ego and step down from the pedestal. It has nothing to do with price and all to do with size. Neither I nor my SO care to drive vehicles the size of a 5-series. The "intimidation car" comment comes from the 540i being an Autobahn/Interstate cruiser, i.e. they're good in the left lane for clearing traffic. You seem to agree with this. That's not at all what the Miata is designed to do. That said, an '00 540i goes for mid-$20s these days. More than a handful of us could be driving one tomorrow if we cared to; most of us don't. If you want to look as high-fallutin' as you're acting, it's time for a new ride. > BMW drivers reputations for being intimidating is well-deserved, I think the "BMW driver reputation" is something mostly made up by, well, BMW owners so they can act special. That said, we've been looking for a new family car for my SO to drive. We're considering the 3-series and absolutely *nothing* larger than that, but it's proving next to impossible to find one with AWD, a stick, the 3-liter, and navigation. We don't want to order one, so we'll keep looking. If we find an Infiniti G35 with the same conditions first, we'll probably get that and even save some money. > but > its not their personality its the car's. We are actually very > embarrased at the way we drive, but its the way the car wants to be > driven, I assure you. Uh...sure, OK, if that's what puts you to sleep at night. Seth, I think you're somewhat confused--I have no doubt the BMW 5-series is about as good as sports sedans get, but that's not the point. There's a guy I work with that had a 540i and a Honda S2000 at the same time at some point last year. He'd see the point in a second. > Im sure MazdaSpeed owners would need to make the same apologies to Geo > owners. Nah, I've never found that Miata owners find a need to make apologies to anyone. Like most people here, I grin and wave like an idiot just as much when I see a worn-out '90 A-package as when I see the newest Mazdaspeed model. I think this is why I've never bothered to buy a new Miata--I like the old one just fine. > The 8-cylinder BMWs like the 540i especially are autobahn cruisers, > and feel as safe at 100 then most production cars feel at 65. As a > result, 65 feels like driving 35 on the freeway in a Miata. See, Seth, the Miata isn't made for the freeway. >> Anyway, long story short, you must be seriously tearing up the town >> if a Mazdaspeed Miata doesn't have enough performance to satisfy you [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > freeway. Sitting that low on suspension that stiff is like reading the > asphault in braille. Say, Seth, why'd you buy a Miata again? You sure haven't embraced the overall Miata philosophy very well, and instead seem to be treating the ownership of a fun little roadster entirely too much like you'd treat the family wagon. Signaturetooloud Remove nothing to reply... > Nah, I've never found that Miata owners find a need to make apologies to > anyone. Like most people here, I grin and wave like an idiot just as much > when I see a worn-out '90 A-package as when I see the newest Mazdaspeed > model. I think this is why I've never bothered to buy a new Miata--I like > the old one just fine. Have you test-driven a Mazdaspeed Miata? I recently removed the JRSC from my '02 SE, putting it back to stock temporarily. It's proven to be a sharp reminder to *me* of the difference... [Also, I'm quite happy with my initial impressions of the new set of AVS ES100s added recently; did you buy a set of them, too?] > Say, Seth, why'd you buy a Miata again? You sure haven't embraced the > overall Miata philosophy very well, and instead seem to be treating the > ownership of a fun little roadster entirely too much like you'd treat the > family wagon. It sounds like Seth's expectations are not well-aligned with what a Miata offers. However, these are cars, not religions. I'd hate for us to start looking like we have a "Miata Attitude" similar to the "BMW Attitude". Cheers, Dana >> Nah, I've never found that Miata owners find a need to make >> apologies to anyone. Like most people here, I grin and wave like an [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Have you test-driven a Mazdaspeed Miata? No, I have not. I'd probably be more apt to go the JRSC route. It's also time for new shocks--looking at KYB AGX. > I recently removed > the JRSC from my '02 SE, putting it back to stock temporarily. > It's proven to be a sharp reminder to *me* of the difference... > > [Also, I'm quite happy with my initial impressions of the > new set of AVS ES100s added recently; did you buy a set of them, too?] Unfortunately I ran into an emergency situation and had to have a set of cheap Falkens installed locally. I needed the Miata for three 500+ mile road trips in about a week's time and couldn't schedule the installation of anything better. I'm not impressed with the tires I'm currently running, but I've promised myself that I'd save judgment until the new shocks are on. Guess I coulda asked to borrow your SUV, huh? ;) >> Say, Seth, why'd you buy a Miata again? You sure haven't embraced the >> overall Miata philosophy very well, and instead seem to be treating [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I'd hate for us to start looking like we have a "Miata Attitude" > similar to the "BMW Attitude". My opinion is that there *is* a Miata attitude, except that it's largely about having a good time and meeting people and less about making people think you're Important. > Cheers, > Dana Signaturetooloud Remove nothing to reply... >>Have you test-driven a Mazdaspeed Miata? > No, I have not. I'd probably be more apt to go the JRSC route. It's also > time for new shocks--looking at KYB AGX. Next time you're in California, stop by and you can take my JRSC '02 for a spin (assuming, of course, I've had a chance to re-install it). You'll be stuck in a loop of rationalizing why you don't really need a JRSC afterwards ;-) I've got 20k miles on the stock shocks, I'll probably have to wait another 5-10k before I can replace the shocks with the KYB AGX I've been considering without incurring too much hassle from my (more practical) wife. [...] > I needed the Miata for three 500+ mile road > trips in about a week's time and couldn't schedule the installation of > anything better. [...] > Guess I coulda asked to borrow your SUV, huh? ;) Sure; or, to save a little gas, you could have borrowed the '98 Monte Carlo ;-). [...] >>It sounds like Seth's expectations are not well-aligned with >>what a Miata offers. However, these are cars, not religions. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > about having a good time and meeting people and less about making people > think you're Important. Sure, I'm really thinking about the part of The Attitude where one projects an air of superiority because of their choice of car. I don't want that to creep in from the BMW Attitude. Dana > I love the car but I have to admit it is a bit frustrating driving a > car you need to wind up to 4500 RPM to play with. I can own the road > at any speed with the 300HP V8 540i, but only certain circumstances > with the Miata - not enough room to wind it up around town, and not > comfortable at high speed California freeway driving at 80+ because > you are low and the suspension is very stiff. Otherwise its awesome. Wait a minute, I thought you said the S2000 was awesome? (with which I would agree) Nothing with four wheels has as peaky an engine as an S2000. Perhaps a more torquey but less sporting (and arguably ugly) Z3/4 would suit you better. As the saying goes, if the music's too loud, er, uh, the suspension's too stiff... David |
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