Marlene wrote: Tue May 05, 2020 2:13 pm
Unlike the Ghia, the Thing has a fiberglass body to reduce the weight. Also, even more stylish.
Pretty sure they're steel. Type 181s were also never officially imported into the US, so parts for them are harder to find than even other low-volume cars like the KG. I do think they're stylish, though.
58Hawken wrote: Tue May 05, 2020 3:26 pm
Miatas look like what they are. Midlife crisis on a budget. KGs at least look like an attempt to be classics while having your mid-life crisis on a budget. IMVUIO.
You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but it's wrong.
The first generation Miata is one of the sweetest little cars ever produced. This is with my personal experience driving the likes of MGB, Triumph TR6, Alfa Spider, BMW M Roadster, new gen Camaro SS, and having done a bit of racing that included Formula Ford and FIA 2-liter cars. My step father compared it favorably to his original Lotus Elan (from which it obviously borrows a lot of styling). It shifts better than anything this side of a Hewland Mk 8, and is exceptionally well balanced. The engine is adequately powerful, has a fun top-end rush, and is robust having been originally designed for a turbo car. I haven't driven the newer generations, but I suspect they have gotten a bit heavier and less pure, although probably a bit more capable.
I spent the most contemporary time in the TR6 and the M Roadster (a Z3 with the M3 engine). The TR6 was just not as good in any way, but I did really like it. The BMW was much faster and had much higher limits, but was much more of a blunt instrument, and really didn't give anywhere near the joy of driving that the Miata did. I put a couple thousand miles on a Camaro convertible and it was blunt to the point of dullness. It was awful.
If I had $50k to spend on a sports car just for the joy of driving, I would probably go and find a nice 1st gen Miata and put the other $45k in the bank. No joke.
I think a Karmann Ghia would be most comparable to a TR6 out of my personal experience. Rough, loud, slow for what it is, but never failing to put a smile on your face.