Miata Mini Rant

"Milky" (jordanmielke) 10/08/2015 at 15:09 • Filed to: Miata, ND, Mazda, MX5, Fiat, 124, Fiata

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Why the hell can’t you get an LSD and heated seats? Those are 2 of my favorite things.

I want a convertible and live where is snows. LSD is a must and dammit I want a hot butt. Heres to hoping the the Fiata sounds like a 500 abarth, has an LSD and can keep ya butt hot.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:17

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The lack of an LSD in the base model ND really bugs me.

DasWauto > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:21

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Nevermind the heated seats, is that a factory colour? If so and on the off-chance I fit in the car, I might have to look seriously at buying a Miata.

Milky > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 10/08/2015 at 15:21

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Ehh base model is one thing. But, as far as I know, you can't get the LSD on the GT and can't option up a club. WHY MAZDA?!

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:24

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BRZ has an LSD and heated seats

Milky > DasWauto 10/08/2015 at 15:25

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Sadly no. Red is the flashiest color you can get.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:29

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Yeah their configuration and options for the car is dumb.

jjhats > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:31

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that fiata is so ugly! why did they give it such a long lean lifted look? it should be tidy, compact and squat like a 500 but this thing looks awkward as hell

Nonster > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:31

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The reasoning I remember reading was that if you want the GT then you’re adding weight and comfort features so they don’t think you’ll be the type to be gunning for tenths at an autocross. The GT is for those that simply want a fun convertible who don’t intend to really race or track the thing.

The Club gets the fun bits like the better suspension goodies and the LSD for those who really want to drive it hard

Milky > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua 10/08/2015 at 15:31

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But no convertible :( and that reminded of this trolly post I made last year.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:33

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Problem solved! - http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-1…

Just kidding, sort of.

Milky > jjhats 10/08/2015 at 15:38

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Im really hoping it’ll look better once some pictures with more than 2 pixels come out.

Milky > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 10/08/2015 at 15:38

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Haha that would look so sad in a new car.

jjhats > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:39

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the proportions are terrible. I wanted to love this car but the ND looks so much better

BREADwagon > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:41

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It’s probably to keep manufacturing costs down. They probably figured most people wanting the LSD would want a more spartan interior (less luxury options), and those wanting more luxury options wouldn’t mind not having an LSD.

I want the Club but with the factory Recaros that Canada gets! I think they’re heated too.

Milky > Nonster 10/08/2015 at 15:42

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Not the worst reasoning because I want the GT and don’t autocross …. but snow and open diff with RWD? No thanks.

If I end going Miata I’ll be giving Mazda less money for the Club compared the GT. I can't be the only one.

Textured Soy Protein > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:44

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On this topic, you and I agree completely . I want a GT with the LSD, sport suspension, etc. Or at least heated leather seats on the Club.

Back when Jalopnik hosted a question-n-answer session with Dave Coleman from Mazda USA, I asked him this question and his answer was along the lines of,

“We view sport and luxury as two competing goals. Some people want a weekend racer, other people want a mini GT. Things that make a better weekend racer make a worse mini GT, and vice versa.”

He went on to say in other comments that too many dealers were ordering cars that had the “mini GT” type options combined with the sport suspension which made for a rougher ride for the old farts who wanted a mini GT, and less of those old farts were buying these sport-suspended cars, so Mazda USA made it impossible for the dealers to order GTs with sport suspensions so as not to scare off the old farts.

Sure I get how the sport suspension factors into this line of reasoning, but the LSD doesn’t. A GT with the standard suspension and an LSD wouldn’t ride any worse, but it would handle better. I figure Mazda doesn’t feel like separating out the LSD and sport suspension into separate options, and also figures the old-fart/mini-GT customers won’t notice the lack of LSD. Why make the LSD standard on the GT when it’s more expensive than the open differential, and the old-fart/mini-GT customers won’t push their cars hard enough to notice the lack of LSD?

So...hopefully Fiat gives us the option combo we want, throws in some more power to sweeten the deal, and doesn’t add too much weight in the process.

Milky > BREADwagon 10/08/2015 at 15:44

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Fucking Canada! First Bieber and now this?!

Milky > jjhats 10/08/2015 at 15:47

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Terrible?! The nose looks a bit higher but I wouldn’t say terrible. Im trying to be positive here!

BREADwagon > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:55

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LOL. I wonder if the wiring harness will be the same between cars for an easy (but expensive) swap...probably not :(

RallyWrench > Milky 10/08/2015 at 15:58

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Because LSD means you’re a serious sports car driver , and heated seats mean you’re not. They cancel each other out. Probably.

Milky > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2015 at 16:07

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+100

Hoping Fiat doesnt do anything screw it up. I heard the 124 was supposed to be released this “fall” so hopefully we find out soon.

Milky > RallyWrench 10/08/2015 at 16:12

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But I want both. I exist, I promise! Hello? HELLO?

Nonster > Milky 10/08/2015 at 16:15

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I agree things like the LSD should at least be an option, but I’m sure someone at mazda did the math and decided that it wasn’t worth it.

That said I drive a 2wd 94 Ranger (so relatively lightweight, RWD, and open diff) in the snow and ice and the open diff isn’t the end of the world. It makes it on-throttle oversteer less likely since it likes to only spin one wheel. Steep hills can be problematic though.

Textured Soy Protein > Milky 10/08/2015 at 16:36

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I will say, the schnoz on the spy photos of the Fiat looks like a weird mix of Dodge Dart headlights and Ford Fusion grille, which has me a little worried. But the files are such crappy quality it’s hard to get a good idea of what it really looks like.

Milky > Nonster 10/08/2015 at 16:37

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Accountants, forgot to blame them.

Yes an open diff isn’t terrible, but I refer to winter as “drift season”. That probably speaks for itself.

Wurrwulf > Milky 10/08/2015 at 16:38

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All manufacturers do this type of shit, and it’s infuriating. I understand that having every car built customized to the buyer is a pain in the ass, but for certain cars (car guy-centric), the option list should be individual options. If I want a GTI with plaid seats and a sunroof or you want a Miata with LSD and butt warmers, by God we should be able to have it. They are such a small part of the overall inventory, throw us a bone.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Milky 10/08/2015 at 16:48

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Sucks.

Which is harder to do in the aftermarket? Re-build the rear diff with a Quaiffe or Torsen diff, or re-do the seat covers over seat heaters, and wire them into the interior...

And frankly, there should be a sport package for the GT spec Miata.

Probably something that Mazda will introduce for the second year, when enough people complain.

Oh, gee... a limited slip diff is also a TRACTION AID in the snow... and it is cold when it snows, so heated seats, mirrors, good defrosters, and maybe even a block heater might be good cold-weather equipment... and that all makes sense for a snow-belt car.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Milky 10/08/2015 at 16:58

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Just depends on how bad you want that LSD. Drugs, man.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Nonster 10/08/2015 at 16:59

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Those damn accountants and their math...

yitznewton > Milky 10/08/2015 at 17:41

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Talk to Dave Coleman. No, seriously: in interviews, he’s stated they are open to tweaking the config, but they want to avoid offering a combo nobody will buy. If people will buy leather in the Club (that was his hypothetical example), I bet they would offer that.

S2Konstantin > Nonster 10/08/2015 at 18:07

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But why does your butt have to freeze when driving it hard?

Its not like everyone who buys this car will only use it for one specific purpose.

marshknute > Milky 10/08/2015 at 19:38

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For me, it’s the fact that I have to get a shitty, ugly, dreary, awful black cloth interior if I want an LSD. Upgrade to tan leather (like a British roadster should have), and, “sorry, no LSD, cuz it’s a grand tourer, not a canyon carver!”

Same if you want the blue paint: must upgrade to the Grand Touring model, and no LSD for you.

Here’s hoping the Fiata rectifies this travesty.

Milky > Textured Soy Protein 10/08/2015 at 19:55

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Im worried too, but still hopeful. It can't be that bad.

Milky > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 10/08/2015 at 19:59

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I no rite?! I mean its not what you think of when you hear “winter car” but yea it seems like some things you might want together.

Milky > marshknute 10/08/2015 at 20:01

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Thank you! I dislike the straight black, club interior. Hell I hate my black and gray interior.

“You want a LSD? Stare at this black dash everytime you’re in the car.”

Milky > yitznewton 10/08/2015 at 20:03

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Thats way too progressive. I’d rather just complain about it on the internet and see what Fiat has to offer :)

SaveTheClassics > Milky 10/16/2015 at 10:59

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But then you actually have to be seen driving a *shivers* Chrysler Crossfire.

Milky > SaveTheClassics 10/16/2015 at 11:07

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… and you know you lost a conversation when.

Don’t worry I’ll wave as I pass on the right.

SaveTheClassics > Milky 10/16/2015 at 11:14

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Huh?

edit: AH! I see, you are the same guy defending a-hole drivers. Now I get it. Interesting that you actually drive a Crossfire, I thought your avatar was a joke.

Milky > SaveTheClassics 10/16/2015 at 11:38

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edit: AH! I see, you are the same guy defending a-hole drivers.

Yea and you just happened to find this article from 10/08 on a different blog minutes later. Lol, k dude.

Also holy shit you must be stupid because for the 4th damn time: “Granted theres no excuse for driving like that CX5”.

SaveTheClassics > Milky 10/16/2015 at 11:44

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I had you confused with someone else (which is why I edited the first time), I had to go back and look. I didn’t purposely respond to you. I opened your profile, looked at some past articles and found this one interesting (because I too hate it that you can’t get options “a la carte”) and missed it when it was originally posted. I really didn’t even realize I was responding to you until you commented that weird comment back.

I only regularly visit Jalopnik’s main site, so I often miss these kinds of stories on the sub-sites. So browsing through post history is a good way to find them. You can think it was some kind of e-stalking if it makes you feel better though.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Milky 11/01/2015 at 18:10

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Just go buy a E36 M3

Milky > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 11/01/2015 at 18:14

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2 too many seats 4 me :/