I know many FIRST teams are support by companies related to the automibile industry, but what do you actually think of american cars, or others.
Personally I like german cars (porsche, BMW), but I might settle for a 350Z or S2000 (both japanese).
Lets hear what you think!
My future collection of Mazda rotary vehicles…
'68 R100
'70 RX-2
'72 RX-3
'78-'84 (any of those years) RX-7 1st generation
'87 RX-7 2nd generation, more specifically what I drive right now
'93 RX-7 3rd generation
'03 RX-8
Man I love these cars…
http://www.mazdausa.com/rx8/heritage/modeltimeline.asp?sniffer=1
Mazda? You’re kidding, right?
Gotta be the ultimate rear wheel drive car, the Dodge Viper RT/10 or the GTS coupe. Few street cars can even come close to matching it, not only in speed but acceleration, power, and quite a few others. Then, this is just for the rear wheel division. I’d have to go Japanese for four wheel drives. That goes to the Mitsubishi GTO Twinturbo. A friend in Philadelphia owns one that has 950 horsepower. 
Zero to sixty in about a second and a half, it’s insane. Front wheel dirve? Forget it. The German cars, though, I’d go with the BMW Z4 over any.
*Originally posted by MarkF *
Mazda? You’re kidding, right?
Some people have one thing they like, I like rotary. I have also liked these cars since the time that I realized that one day I would get to learn to drive. These cars are unique from anything else in the world…
As for your viper and your other ones listed, I’d go with an italian car over any of those in an instant…
And to add to my collection…the only three muscle cars I would really love to own:
'60s Shelby Cobra
'67 Pontiac GTO
'71 Hemi 'cuda (yellow convertable baby)
*Originally posted by MarkF *
Mazda? You’re kidding, right?
What’s wrong with Mazda? They’re perfectly legitimate car manufacturers. I personally think that you’re just a sheep for wanting a Dodge Viper such-and-such model. Yes, they’re good cars, but are you so sure you’ll be able to afford it when you’re 35 or whatever the prompt question asked? Ok. Enough ragging on the sheep.
Hmm. The more I think about it, the more I don’t really like the fact that we need to think we can afford this car by age 35. Screw it. I’ll tell you what cars I like.
I’ve, personally, been very intrigued by British Aston Martin’s and the older Lotus models ('65 Super 7), and by French Renault’s, Peugot’s and Citroen’s. I also like the more recent Audi’s (A6’s, S8’s, etc.), except the TT. I also can’t forget my original favorites from my childhood, Mazda Miata’s and RX-7’s.
Honda Civic Hybrid (with CVT).
/me swoons.
Beware: Controversial Opinion Contained!
Simply pu, I thk Mazda sucks. Eveyone I know who has a mazda had inumerable problem with it. I have yet to come across an owner of a mazda with no complaints about it. Yeah, the Miate looks cool, but it ends there. As far as I’m concerned,its too durn small! A guy cannot possily unfold himself from a Miata and not look like a dork. Again, just my controversial opinion.
*Originally posted by MarkF *
**Beware: Controversial Opinion Contained!
Simply pu, I thk Mazda sucks. Eveyone I know who has a mazda had inumerable problem with it. I have yet to come across an owner of a mazda with no complaints about it. Yeah, the Miate looks cool, but it ends there. As far as I’m concerned,its too durn small! A guy cannot possily unfold himself from a Miata and not look like a dork. Again, just my controversial opinion. **
No need to add that pseudo-disclaimer. It’s not as controversial as you may think.
The way you write shows your inability to differentiate statements of opinion and statements of truth. You also need to take an English course or two to try to correct those pesky spelling and grammar problems. You’re not alone; there are quite a few people on these boards who have those problems. I only mention those problems because it’s incredibly hard to take you people seriously when your arguments are written as if by a twelve year old.
Getting back to the car discussion… Not only do Miatas look cool, they have very respectable power for a little roadster. As for “unfolding” a person when they get out of one, no, this isn’t true. The Miata is comparable to a Porsche Boxter, or a Mercedes SLK230 Kompressor in length/height dimensions (I was going to compare with Viper specs, but those were temporarily unavailable from Dodge’s website). If you’re going to rag on a Miata for being too small, then you’re indirectly ragging on those other cars as well. This isn’t to say that I’d buy a Miata, I just think they’re interesting and cool cars.
Now about problems with Mazda’s… There are problems with all makes of cars. Look back at Chrysler/Dodge. They’ve had tons of problems with transmissions, engines, suspensions, etc. For every instance of failure in a Mazda that you give me, I can give you one about a Dodge, so you can pretty much count this argument against Mazda as a wash. No need to continue here.
Go ahead and like your Dodge Vipers, Ford Mustangs, Chevy Camaros, Acura Integras and NSXs, Mercedes’, BMWs, and your Ferraris. That just makes you like 90% of the rest of America. Take that as you wish. Can anyone say “baaah baaah baaah?”
*Originally posted by Bill Gold *
Hmm. The more I think about it, the more I don’t really like the fact that we need to think we can afford this car by age 35. Screw it. I’ll tell you what cars I like.
I picked the age limit because i thought the thread might get a little boring if we all just talked about what our DREAM cars would be (BMW M3 or Porsche 911 GT-2 personally). Rather I was hoping people would consider the practicality and the price of the car as well. With that in mind i think i might go with a Subaru WRX or Honda Accord V6, if I was feeling a little rich I might splurge on a BMW 330xi.
Of course, what I really want to do is build my own 
.
I drive a Miata, and I have no complaint with it. Not only that, it’s over ten years old now and the only major repair done was a clutch replacement, and then only because 4 people have learned standered on it. Clearly, after over a decade of production, Mazada must be doing something right with the Miata. It’s not fast, its not big, and it’s not noisey, but it is cheap to buy and own. They hold their own on the track against v8’s and are fearless on twisty back roads. Add on the huge ‘fun to drive’ factor every Miata driver will atest to, and you have a cute, fun little car with a fantastic record. Chalk me up as one very happy Mazda customer.
So, don’t nock a car you’ve never had a real chance to drive, espically when everyone you know with a mazada is probably 4 people, hardly a reasonable sample. I’ve heard American cars are big heavy beasts with terrible matinence, but I’ve never driven an American car in earnest, so what do I know?
Opinions are fine, but just take a moment to think about what your basing it on. Mazada, as nearly all Japenese cars are these days, are excellent, affordable cars. If they wern’t, why would there be so many of them on the road?
-Andy
p.s. Im no short fry, and getting out of a Miata has never been a problem. If you’re over 6 feet tall, yes, a Miata will be uncomfey, but then again, so will any sports car.
P.P.S. If I had the choice of another car, I would go with a WRX. The Miatas fun, but not so much in the snow… Anyone driven one of them new Z’s? they look fun…
*Originally posted by Andy A. *
**getting out of a Miata has never been a problem. **
I couldn’t get in it when I tried. My legs don’t bend that way. 
*Originally posted by Andy A. *
If you’re over 6 feet tall, yes, a Miata will be uncomfey, but then again, so will any sports car.
I’m 6’5" and I am quite comfortable in my sports car ('87 Mazda RX-7)…I’ve also never had any trouble getting in or out of any sports car. [edit] the only time i’ve had a problem getting out of a sports car was getting out of the back of a Honda CRX, but there’s not an actual seat there
Ok, let me put it this way. My grammar and spelling mistakes are not really my own fault. English is my strongest subject by far. The problem I have is that my keyboard doesn’t register correctly when I type in a java applet or html texbox when I type through AOL. I need to open Microsoft’s Internet Explorer to get the keyboard to function properly. Anyhow, who’s a perfect typist?
Also, the reason I rag on a certain car (the Miata in this case) is because I have been in one, and to me, it’s too bloody tiny. I’ve been in only a few small cars, and my opinion is restricted to that, but the Miata is the smallest flippin’ thing I’ve ever been inside. I tripped trying to get out. I know someone at school, by the way, who owns a Miata. It’s got the trademark paintjob of a Viper (Royal blue w/ double white racing stripes) and the vanity plate on the rear says, “LIL VPR”. I have an offer. Let’s not tell each other how wrong our opinions are, but instead, how about we just point out how they are different. Agreed? Flame wars are not the intent of this forum, I’m sure.
Miata? bah. I’ll take the S2000 thank you very much.
The car I want? A Subaru Impreza WRX. Not a cheep car at $32K outfitted like I would like it, but I can drive it offroad.
My current car? A 1991 Geo Storm, and it gets me around just fine. Or did, until ice and a downhill turn introduced me to the curb and the joy of replacing just about everything attached to the left front axle. :rolleyes:
Wetzel
I plan to drop the DOHC engine in there.I want a VW of some kind… Jetta or Beetle will do. I just like their shape Hmm I could even go for one of these …
Well, I’ve always wanted one of these:
Hehe…the beetle…I’m not too fond of that car, either. The shape makes me want to drive it to the top of a hill and roll it down…>:-)
It has shocked me to see how many of you prefer foreign cars over good ol American cars. You all must be forgetting your Camaros, Mustangs, Corvettes, and other great classics which are still being manufactured today(other than the camaro which production ended last year.) If it was my choice of any car I would have to go for a 1970 Chevelle SS 454 with the LS-6 option package. If it had to be current I would wait till next summer and try to get myself a SSR. Those look pretty cool I think and I know it would be fast…just is a little bit too pricey for me at the current moment.
Thanks four pointin out me inpropar gramar Katie! And yes…those are purposely wrong!
My favorite car is an eclipse spyder just because they look cool. 
