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Car Forum / Mazda / Mazda Miata / January 2008Automatic Miata
These are fairly uncommon, might be of interest to someone? http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/538829920.html The price isn't too bad and might be negotiable.  SignatureXS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org > These are fairly uncommon, might be of interest to someone? > > http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/538829920.html > > The price isn't too bad and might be negotiable. Too bad it's not closer to this end of the USA. One of our club members was hit on New Years and destroyed his automatic. The other car caught him right in front of the driver door and bent the whole front of the car. He had some injuries but his daughter in the passenger seat is okay. Iva & Vixen 2004 Classic Red No more winkin' Miata Why would anyone want an automatic Miata? IMO, part of the reason for owning a litle roadster like the Miata is the joy of driving it, and part of that driving experience is the stick shift :-). > Why would anyone want an automatic Miata? IMO, part of the reason for > owning a litle roadster like the Miata is the joy of driving it, and > part of that driving experience is the stick shift :-). And part of that driving experience is the reason my Miata will be for sale in the not too far distant future. I'm having more and more trouble with the clutch as my legs work less and less, soon I'll not be able to shift and would consider an automatic Miata unless, of course, you feel I shouldn't be allowed to enjoy a roadster? SignatureXS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org > > Why would anyone want an automatic Miata? IMO, part of the reason for > > owning a litle roadster like the Miata is the joy of driving it, and [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups > The Usenet Improvement Project:http://improve-usenet.org Heck, I'm already 58, and it's a good thing that I bought mine nearly eight years ago, since I find it harder and harder to squeeze/get into the blasted thing??LOL LOL :-). But will enjoy it as long as I can also :-). There is an aftermarket mod intended for those who have such problems. Basically, it adds a way of operating the clutch from a pushbutton. This sort of thing has been around for a long time, and was originally developed for those who have missing limbs. > > Why would anyone want an automatic Miata? IMO, part of the reason for > > owning a litle roadster like the Miata is the joy of driving it, and [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > able to shift and would consider an automatic Miata unless, of course, > you feel I shouldn't be allowed to enjoy a roadster? i'll tell you why i got one. when looking for a used miata most were horribly modified (badly) or beat to death, then came along a very nice automatic. i contemplated if i would be happy with it, and on my first drive where i spend and hour in bumper to bumper traffic i was so happy not to have a manual. and as much time as i spend in traffic i am constantly reminded at how lucky i am that i have one. i understand the benefits of a manual, but as an automatic the car is still fun to drive and not a drag when you get stuck in traffic (often for me, perhaps rare in other parts of the country). >> Why would anyone want an automatic Miata? IMO, part of the reason for >> owning a litle roadster like the Miata is the joy of driving it, and [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > able to shift and would consider an automatic Miata unless, of course, > you feel I shouldn't be allowed to enjoy a roadster? > >> Why would anyone want an automatic Miata? IMO, part of the reason for > >> owning a litle roadster like the Miata is the joy of driving it, and > >> part of that driving experience is the stick shift :-). Well in my more experienced years (over 50 now) I have come to realize that there are many different reasons for people doing things than we might think are silly, and we should not be so quick to judge. For example, I enjoy coffee, and I like it with caffeine, so one morning at the coffee maker at work, the regular coffee was gone, and a pot of decaf was brewing. I made a comment to those waiting such as "why would anyone want decaf anyway, what's the point"? One of the higher up mangers commented how he was told by his doctor he needed to lay off the caffeine... so there you have it. Foot in mouth, I apologized for my comment. I think the same is true for an automatic Miata. I have a good friend that suffered a stroke, and can still drive, but unfortunately not an manual shift, in fact he has to use his left foot and had to modify the accelerator pedal to do so. So let's try to steer clear of the automatic vs. manual issue and just let people have fun driving their Miata! On Jan 19, 6:06 am, bipest...@gmail.com wrote: > > >> Why would anyone want an automatic Miata? IMO, part of the reason for > > >> owning a litle roadster like the Miata is the joy of driving it, and [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > let's try to steer clear of the automatic vs. manual issue and just > let people have fun driving their Miata! Alright already, I give in. I'll put my "Foot in Mouth" after my shower, if y'all don't mind. Incidentally, before retiring, and commuting at least an hour, often times longer each way, a manual never would have bothered me. I guess since I learned on a 3 speed on the column at 15 1/2 many moons ago, driving a manual seems automatic to me. Funny, many times when I jump into one of the two automatic vehicles we do have, my Wifes Chevy Monte Carlo, or my Chevy S10 P/U, I will go to push down the clutch out of habit>>LOL. And a couple of times, once at the mailbox, and once in our driveway, I accidentally jumped out of my P/U forgetting to take it out of drive, having to quickly run after it jumping back in to bring it to a stop. The time in our driveway, P/U facing toward the street, if I hadn't been quick enough, the truck would have plowed into our across the street's neighbor truck. And I partially wrenched my arm, reflexively grabbing onto the truck, thinking that I could stop it like Superman>>>LOL LOL. Thank goodness, I have not done that in a long time :-). My Wife only driving automatics has never done that, thank goodness, since she could never catch it :-). >.... Funny, many times when I jump >into one of the two automatic vehicles we do have, my Wifes Chevy [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >to take it out of drive, having to quickly run after it jumping back >in to bring it to a stop.... Maybe you should consider a bicycle... 8;) -- Larry > >.... Funny, many times when I jump > >into one of the two automatic vehicles we do have, my Wifes Chevy [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > -- Larry Already have two ten speeds (Wife and I) and a tandem>LOL. >> Maybe you should consider a bicycle... 8;) > >Already have two ten speeds (Wife and I) and a tandem>LOL. "Ten speeds"? How quaint! Now if your tandem is a Cousin ITT, I retract my harrassment. 8;) -- Larry >>> Maybe you should consider a bicycle... 8;) >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > -- Larry or if one is an autobike by csa... ;) http://www.niknaks.com/autobike.htm > >> Maybe you should consider a bicycle... 8;) > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > -- Larry The Tandem says, "Outfitter 9018," on it. And I can not even recall where we bought it. My ten speed is an OLD Peugot (??SP??), that I bought back in the 70s, and working in downtown Oakland, Calif, for Pacific Hell (I mean Bell>LOL), would ride that puppy back and forth to work all summer and most of fall, till it got too cold, wintry. I think my Wifes ten speed is an old Montgomery Ward bike, both hanging upside down in the garage. The tandem on its' two flat tires, in front of her Monte Carlo. Every time I ask her if she wants to go ride, she doesn't. Old age setting in at only 55>LOL. Actually we ought to go out and buy one of those little tow behind doggie carts for our Jack Russell. Then she probably would want to :-). > Why would anyone want an automatic Miata? IMO, part of the reason for > owning a litle roadster like the Miata is the joy of driving it, and > part of that driving experience is the stick shift :-). Well, I left the fold of the pure faithful. I just purchased an Automatic Miata. A 2006 Galaxy Grey GT AT6. Went to try out a 2004 Silver SE, but decided to try the 2006 since the price was so good. I enjoyed it so much I bought it. It isn't what most automatics are, that is for sure. I would not recommend one for racing, autocross, etc. for the purist, but for general road use and fun driving, it is remarkable. Left to its own devices, it is an extremely smart automatic. Not a learning one, but very smart about shifting based on throttle position. Will hold the low gears longer if throttle is maintained hard, and shift sooner if lite throttle. It will even down shift by itself in a turn to be in the right gear to apply throttle/torque coming out. That may be dangerous in extreme conditions, since the shift will tend to come near the apex of the turn. So for those conditions, use the manumatic mode and the fun paddle shifters on the wheel. You get to control the shifts and can hold a gear right to the redline. Found the manual shifting to be as much fun as a full manual on the twisties, and the left leg can just relax. After purchase, found that the comments in the miata.net forums for the NC Autos were all very favorable, and thought I should have read them sooner. Maybe I am just getting older, but it is the best Auto I have ever driven, and with the paddle shifters just as much fun as a manual. So hold your expectations in reserve and give one a test drive. As a note, I found that when in manual mode, a release of throttle (or backing off) just like you would in a full manual helps the trans perform an upshift quicker. Without backing off, there will be a little lag in the upshift. Signature------- white '93 193k mi. since a baby -- passing to son for its final years Galaxy Grey 2006 14k mi. > In article <3585-478C1692-...@storefull-3138.bay.webtv.net>, S K > [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > since a baby -- passing to son for its final years > Galaxy Grey 2006 14k mi. I have read about these automatics with "Paddle Shifters." Never seen one, and don't have any idea what they are :-). > I have read about these automatics with "Paddle Shifters." Never seen > one, and don't have any idea what they are :-). Your hands never leave the steering wheel, squeeze the left paddle to shift down and right paddle to shift up. Very nifty. From Wikipedia: "A semi-automatic transmission (also known as clutchless manual transmission, dual-clutch transmission, automated manual transmission, e-gear, or paddle shift gearbox) is a system which uses electronic sensors, processors and actuators to do gear shifts on the command of the driver. This removes the need for a clutch pedal which the driver otherwise needs to depress before making a gear change, since the clutch itself is actuated by electronic equipment which can synchronize the timing and torque required to make gear shifts quick and smooth. The system was designed by European automobile manufacturers to provide a better driving experience, especially in cities where congestion frequently causes stop-and-go traffic patterns. In standard mass-production automobiles, the gear lever appears similar to manual shifts, except that the gear stick only moves forward and backward to shift into higher and lower gears, instead of the traditional H-pattern. The Bugatti Veyron uses this approach for its 7-speed transmission. In Formula One, the system is adapted to fit onto the steering wheel in the form of two paddles; depressing the right paddle shifts into a higher gear, while depressing the left paddle shifts into a lower one. Numerous road cars have inherited the same mechanism." Pat > > I have read about these automatics with "Paddle Shifters." Never seen > > one, and don't have any idea what they are :-). [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > 7-speed transmission. > > Pat In short, some used a linear shift pattern (e.g., automatic style) whilest others used the H (a la manuals). Besides this and the one or two ?) others, there was the first, a quasi-"public domain" style that was a semi-automatic transmission/automatic, semi-auto or manual clutch arrangement, usually with four speeds broken into two drives---3-4, 1-2 (or variant, most seemed to have L and H). > Why would anyone want an automatic Miata? IMO, part of the reason for > owning a litle roadster like the Miata is the joy of driving it, and > part of that driving experience is the stick shift :-). We have 4 or 5 auto Miata in our local club - one is owned by a gentleman who was a thalidomide (spelling?) baby - his right arm is not fully developed and he is unable to shift a manual trans. Should he be forbidden to own a Miata? While an auto might not be for you, please don't put down those who choose to purchase one. Iva & Vixen 2004 Classic Red No more winkin' Miata >> Why would anyone want an automatic Miata? IMO, part of the reason >for [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >While an auto might not be for you, please don't put down those who >choose to purchase one. Iva, I don't see any "put down" in the above. It's a simple statement of fact. But life is full of compromises, and of course there are many reasons -- including physical infirmities -- why people might want to or have to compromise on their Miata of choice. As to your local club member, he should only be prohibited from owning a new black one with retractable hardtop. That one's supposed to be mine. -- Larry > >> Why would anyone want an automatic Miata? IMO, part of the reason > >for [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > -- Larry Iva and you brought up some very good points. I asked the question and got some good responses that never crossed my mind. Thanks all :-). > These are fairly uncommon, might be of interest to someone? > > http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/538829920.html > > The price isn't too bad and might be negotiable. They're quite common in Japan, but of course the steering wheel is on the wrong side for the USA. > They're quite common in Japan, but of course the steering wheel is on > the wrong side for the USA. Of the car or the ocean? miker |
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