This does not bode well

"mcseanerson" (mcseanerson)
09/05/2014 at 14:48 • Filed to: None

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And it's a roll bar . Who actually allows roll hoops on track?

DISCUSSION (18)

mr_gofast > mcseanerson
09/05/2014 at 14:52

i saw that too....am i incorrect for feeling just a little concerned?

Camry-Into-Canyon > mr_gofast
09/05/2014 at 14:54

no, feel concerned.

mcseanerson > mr_gofast
09/05/2014 at 14:54

no, not at all. I could understand not being that concerned when designing the original not knowing if people might want to race it or not but not being concerned with roll bar mounting on the most raced sports car...... in the world. That makes me worry.

mr_gofast > mcseanerson
09/05/2014 at 14:59

you heard it here folks - the new miata is the new beetle - the new chick car...paris hilton will have one inside of a week wrapped in pink suede and chiahaua skin interior

GhostZ > mcseanerson
09/05/2014 at 14:59

All of his responses seem totally canned and fake. Torch suggests a shooting brake and he says:

I think the potential to do mods on this car are the first thing that comes to mind. I think it's cool, I like it!

It's like he ran down a script going "Okay, talking about changing the car, got it, comment came from a Jalopnik staff, got it. Okay, what does my script say? "Talk about car's potential, support the comment" Completely ignoring the fact that a shooking brake is not a 'modification' that mortal people can do.

But when someone else asks about roll bars and track mods like fender flares?

"Talk about the looks and 'spirit' of design, using canned phrases, and then give a non-answer. Evade if possible."

mcseanerson > GhostZ
09/05/2014 at 15:02

He's got all his responses mapped to hotkeys. Every time he says aspirational a part of me dies inside.

GhostZ > mcseanerson
09/05/2014 at 15:11

I have a theory that Mazda's entire approach to enthusiasts is centered around a few pencil-pusher studies that say that Enthusiasts are not a significant market share, but heavily affect word of mouth advertisement, therefore all they need is to be thrown a bone occasionally and used for bringing the real money to the Miata: late-20s women who just got promoted from being a secretary's secretary.

I truly think that their marketing team is just leveraging the large number of miata enthusiasts to generate hype and buzz for the car, but we are in no way a market they are catering toward. Watch the advertisements change from "The return of the sports car" to "A cheap car that looks like a $60,000 coupe!"

mcseanerson > GhostZ
09/05/2014 at 15:13

I feel now would be a good time to start restoring my NA as I expect values to increase.

GhostZ > mcseanerson
09/05/2014 at 15:15

I mean, look at the Z3 and Z4. Z4's are still dropping like a rock, yet good condition Clownshoe Z3s remain conspicuously high.

f86sabre > GhostZ
09/05/2014 at 15:15

you do know that enthusiasts are only a small part of the market. Really small. Most people think cars are appliances. Sorry

mr_gofast > GhostZ
09/05/2014 at 15:15

as i quoted to mcseanorson

you heard it here folks - the new miata is the new beetle - the new chick car...paris hilton will have one inside of a week wrapped in pink suede and Chihuahua skin interior

GhostZ > f86sabre
09/05/2014 at 15:18

Oh, I know. It's more than that though, it's that Mazda is trying to convert us to their target demographic. The car's mechanical components are totally removed from the way it is being advertised. They want to take the normal enthusiast, who cares about power to weight, suspension type, driving position, ease of track usage, and reliability under heavy load and turn them into an 'aspirational' enthusiast who goes "Well, it's not very fast or able to be used at a track day, but it just looks so nice that I suppose I can afford it."

It's the textbook, boring way of going about it and reeks of a marketing department that thinks its so clever for generating hype, but doesn't communicate one bit with the engineers who actually built the damn car.

GhostZ > mr_gofast
09/05/2014 at 15:21

I don't think it's that extreme, but I think they want to take those of us who really like the Miata, and convince us to move a little closer to that 'poser chick' demographic enough to shell out for it.

It's not as bad as the Beetle, because it does have some actual performance backing (no FWD yet) but is ONLY performing so that it can claim it is a sports car, not because it actually wants to create fun experiences.

If Mazda was smart, they would be encouraging as many test drives as possible and design a suspension that brings smiles to the even the most serious, grumpy drivers.

mr_gofast > GhostZ
09/05/2014 at 15:25

but mazda isnt...so Paris hilton will have to do.

Victorious Secret > GhostZ
09/05/2014 at 15:27

Mazda is pandering to the panderers in the 'enthusiast' crowd to drum up internet creed, when they fail to realize that most of these enthusiasts don't buy their hallowed cars till they are 10 years old and TRACK DAY BREH

GhostZ > Victorious Secret
09/05/2014 at 15:37

I think they do realize it, which is why they aren't giving us technical specifics and seemingly putting far more money into the looks than anything else.

Victorious Secret > GhostZ
09/05/2014 at 15:40

The Miata will be as much a drivers car as the BRZ.

It now has sat nav, a better interior, lane departure and pretty much everything that NORMAL people want in cars. This isn't a Miata for enthusiasts, its a Miata for everyone.

Mazda realized that enthusiasts don't make any sense to cater to exclusively. The Miata is no longer that exception. Its the 4C with 50% off, and TBH I'd rather spend that 50% on the 4C entirely.

GhostZ > Victorious Secret
09/05/2014 at 15:45

I strongly contest that it will be even close to the BRZ as a driver's car. I don't think it will be more fun than a Fiat 500 abarth. I think it's going to be a pain to drive, track, and own in a way that makes the BRZ look downright utilitarian. I think they're trying to use marketing to compromise what doesn't exist.

It all depends on how it feels while driving. If it really does bring smiles, we could be good. If it handles like a Beetle though, it's going to ruin their marketing scheme.