Quote:
Originally Posted by ZCanadian
Having seen Miatas pass Caymans on track, I completely agree with your comments.
Driving a slow car fast is an accomplishment. Learning to do that is an education. Skills that you can transfer to more powerful vehicles as your career progresses
Driving a fast car fast is inevitable, and proves nothing about the capability of the driver. In fact, horsepower can do a lot to hide driver mistakes (it can also do a lot to cause small mistakes to become big crashes as countless YouTube videos will attest).
If you can wring everything out of Miata first, then you're going to be both safe and blisteringly fast in something with greater power (even despite its extra weight). Yeah, the Corvette, or Camaro, or GTR will blast down the straight way quicker, but "straights are for fast cars, corners are for fast drivers", and a (good, like the MX5) lightweight sports car with someone capable behind the wheel, can typically make up tons of time in the corners. So, it all depends on the track. If you spend time on the Nurburgring, forget it. My home track, OTOH, is a perfect example of one where low horsepower cars well driven can equal some much more powerful metal.
It's also more fun to go through all of the gears on the street (typical of a "slow car"), than to be limited to third or lower by speeds and traffic even on the highway. I have friends with 458's and MacLarens who cannot legally ever get above 3rd gear!
The fact that Rob Williams has used a Vauxall Astra for years to teach more than half of the drivers on the Formula 1 grid how to go faster, is all the proof that I need to confirm this thesis!
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Real drivers can make anything turn a corner hard and fast. Most people dont like the camaro cuz though it has high g's, its limited view and ultra wide body hamper your confidence.
In my case, when I felt I was dealing with a superior platform. I decided to overcome my own perceived limitations and master its size. Driving my little Z had no real effort for me to drive it hard. I fixed that with the suspension setup and my skills took over.
My camaro, it took two flat tires replacing my right front rim and cracking my underbody shield to confidently hit corners and realize where my right front end was in really tight angles where a car that size shouldnt be.
But since I can feel that suspension is so great I can make that car do little car acrobatics. I learned my cars geometry with hard lessons on a complex track n dead roads But I'm rewarded for it.
The game, is the game. Pick the tool thats best FOR YOU you need to play it. Being the best is just pushing yourself to be that and making the adjustments you have to take to make yourself a better driver! If miata's make you feel like you will be a better driver? Do it!!
But theres more than one way to skin a cat.
Ricky Bobby did it with a cougar in his backseat.
