Just bought my first Miata a few weeks ago. I saw someone here mention his car
had been "hit again." Is there a more than usual problem with other drivers
not seeing such a small car? And no, I’m not doing research for the insurance
industry! :-)
Steve
Stevekg95 wrote:
> Just bought my first Miata a few weeks ago. I saw someone here mention his car
> had been "hit again." Is there a more than usual problem with other drivers
> not seeing such a small car? And no, I’m not doing research for the insurance
> industry! :-)
I was most amazed driving my first week in the Miata. People cut me
off… challenge to race… tailgate to no end. Either they don’t see
it, or it is some sort of challenge to their car authority. I drive real
defensively.
No one bothered me in my other car… perhaps because it was an 83
Blazer with such a case of rust that they were afraid that parts would
fly off if they got too close.
Terrie
97 Classic Red
On Sat, 04 Apr 1998 07:48:19 -1000, tre <mauig…@nospam.maui.net> spake
thusly:
>Stevekg95 wrote:
>> Just bought my first Miata a few weeks ago. I saw someone here mention his car
>> had been "hit again." Is there a more than usual problem with other drivers
>> not seeing such a small car? And no, I’m not doing research for the insurance
>> industry! :-)
>I was most amazed driving my first week in the Miata. People cut me
>off… challenge to race… tailgate to no end. Either they don’t see
>it, or it is some sort of challenge to their car authority. I drive real
>defensively.
>No one bothered me in my other car… perhaps because it was an 83
>Blazer with such a case of rust that they were afraid that parts would
>fly off if they got too close.
It must be a matter of locale. I’ve never noticed a difference in the
way other drivers treat me just because I’m in the Miata. Except of
course, other Miata drivers!
Rance
>I was most amazed driving my first week in the Miata. People cut me
>off… challenge to race… tailgate to no end. Either they don’t see
>it, or it is some sort of challenge to their car authority. I drive real
>defensively.
I noticed same thing, esp. since I’ve got a Montego Blue (almost black).
I added air horns and driving lights. I imagine the lights have helped,
I’m _sure_ the horns have!
>No one bothered me in my other car… perhaps because it was an 83
>Blazer with such a case of rust that they were afraid that parts would
>fly off if they got too close.
Actually, some punk in a Blazer t-boned me at an intersection. When he
jumped out of the truck, his first words were, "Your car is so small, I
could hardly see you." (Then he lied to his insurance company about what
happened, but don’t get me started… :> )
Doug
—
"A ship in a harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for."
- Anon.
On Sat, 04 Apr 1998 17:19:10 -0500, DERoe…@aol.com (Douglas Roesch)
has been reported to have said:
|| could hardly see you." (Then he lied to his insurance company about what
|| happened, but don’t get me started… :> )
Did they end up blaming you or him?
Osman Ullah
|=——————————————=|
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte213f
In article <DERoesch-0404981719100…@pool-207-205-219-57.pitb.grid.net>,
DERoe…@aol.com (Douglas Roesch) wrote:
>Actually, some punk in a Blazer t-boned me at an intersection. When he
>jumped out of the truck, his first words were, "Your car is so small, I
>could hardly see you."
Oh. I suppose he also "hardly" hit you, too. :-)
The subject line says it all: YES, drive defensively. In any car or truck,
but especially in your Miata. It’s almost as invisible to the brain-dead
SUV driver as a motorcycle, and if you assume others will see you, you
WILL get hit. Forget about fault, just stay out of their way. Take a
defensive driving course if possible–they do offer good advice that may
not have occurred to you already. Driver Ed in high school is not enough
(duh!), and performance driving is a completely different set of skills.
Most folks pick up the essentials eventually–that’s why insurance gets
cheaper as you get older–but you can get a head start with a good course.
I had to take DD courses twice as a condition to drive a government car
(once in the service, once working for the VA), and as a snotty kid in his
20s, I thought I knew everything about driving already. I realized
immediately that I was wrong. Those classes still help me every day I
drive–not to go fast, but to stay out of accidents caused by others.
Anyone who has more than one accident every 5 or 10 years–no matter who
was at fault–is not a defensive driver (omitting cab drivers and others
who are on the road in traffic all day long, which shortens up the time
between unavoidables). He’s "accident prone"–amother term for not paying
attention, and/or not knowing how to avoid trouble.
–
—
Lanny Chambers (la…@derived.com) St. Louis, USA
Visit the Hummingbird Page: <http://www.derived.com/hummers/>
In article <35267259.4…@nospam.maui.net>, tre
<mauig…@nospam.maui.net> writes
>I was most amazed driving my first week in the Miata. People cut me
>off… challenge to race… tailgate to no end. Either they don’t see
>it, or it is some sort of challenge to their car authority. I drive real
>defensively.
>No one bothered me in my other car… perhaps because it was an 83
>Blazer with such a case of rust that they were afraid that parts would
>fly off if they got too close.
If you’re new to the Miata remember that what might appear as tailgating
to you might not appear so to the driver following. Because there are
no rear seats and a smaller trunk a following driver leaving the same
gap in front of him would appear to be closer to the driver of the
Miata. Also, when driving at night, because you are lower on the road
it can seem that following drivers are too close and have their lights
on full beam when in fact they are dipped and driving at a normal
distance. I am sure you still encounter tailgaters, but probably not as
many as might appear at first. After a while you’ll get used to feeling
closer to other vehicles on the road – the problem then is switching
back to plain vehicles where you sit higher up : there is a tendency to
drive them faster than you normally would just to get the same feel of
speed as in the Miata.
—
Kennedy
Yes, Socrates himself is particularly missed;
A lovely little thinker, but a bugger when he’s pissed.
Python Philosophers (replace ‘nospam’ with ‘kennedym’ when replying)
Dot wrote:
> If you’re new to the Miata remember that what might appear as tailgating
> to you might not appear so to the driver following. Because there are
> no rear seats and a smaller trunk a following driver leaving the same
> gap in front of him would appear to be closer to the driver of the
> Miata.
<snip>
Although I hate to admit it, I drove a 1991 Capri for 5 years. The ride
was not comparable to the Miata, but the perspective was. And no one
ever challenged me to race in the Capri. I believe the phenomenon is the
Miata…
Terrie
97 Classic Red
My previous vehicle was a 96 Suburban (yup, Sub-urban to Sub-compact), I was
regularly cut off, tailgated, had people try to cut in front of me when
lanes merge, and was actually TBoned by a Saturn on the passenger side. I
think that a Suburban is pretty close to the largest thing you can drive
without a special license, so let’s forget about size=safety/courtesy.
I’ve had my 95 Blk/Blk for 2 months and actually feel safer in the respect
that I can see more of what’s going on around me, and can act/react
accordingly.
People driving too fast, lack of attention, and the occasional absence of
courtesy, all contribute to the need to pay attention no matter what you are
driving.
Stevekg95 wrote in message
<1998040416134701.LAA24…@ladder01.news.aol.com>…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>Just bought my first Miata a few weeks ago. I saw someone here mention his
car
>had been "hit again." Is there a more than usual problem with other
drivers
>not seeing such a small car? And no, I’m not doing research for the
insurance
>industry! :-)
>Steve
When I had a 91′ Capri in high school I used to race all the time. My top
speed running 93 octane was 107. I could have gone faster, but there was a
curve. 107MPH for 100HP!! I don’t know many cars that go faster MPH than
their HP. The miata is nicer, though. Cost more, I got the 91′ Capri brand
new for $12,000.
Derek Hendrickson
97′ STO 328/1500
And no one
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>ever challenged me to race in the Capri. I believe the phenomenon is the
>Miata…
>Terrie
>97 Classic Red
There are a few more cars that have top speeds higher than their hp
rating.
Lotus Elise 118hp/126
MGF 1.8i 118hp/123
Saturn SC2 124hp/127
Toyota Corolla DX 105hp/105
VW Cabrio 115hp/116
etc…
Jason
–
’92 Classic Red – "Phoenix"
Team Everglades Miata Club
Team r.a.m.m.m.
Team Miata World (1-800-832-3292)
Team You paid how much for yours?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://members.tripod.com/~JasonZero
Jason 00 wrote:
> There are a few more cars that have top speeds higher than their hp
> rating.
> Lotus Elise 118hp/126
> MGF 1.8i 118hp/123
> Saturn SC2 124hp/127
> Toyota Corolla DX 105hp/105
> VW Cabrio 115hp/116
> etc…
Interesting info, where’d you get it from?
PS, I believe that the Cabrio was the slowest 0-60 car (of ’97) as
tested by R&T. Something ridiculous like 12.6 seconds or so. Also,
doesn’t the SC2 have 127 hp? My mom’s SL2 does, they use the same DOHC
engine. I do have trouble believing that it can crack 110 mph, though.
–
reply to taa at superlink dot net
The figures provided are in fact courtesy of R&T. IIRC, R&T tests the
cars themselves, rather than relying on manufacturers’ data.
The SC2 is shown with a 124hp, 127 mph top speed. The VW Cabrio was
hardly the slowest of the bunch, turning out a 10.1 second 0-60 sprint.
Several other makes had slower times, including Corolla and Escort. I
doubt we need to bring the Metro into this.
Jason
–
’92 Classic Red – "Phoenix"
Team Everglades Miata Club
Team r.a.m.m.m.
Team Miata World (1-800-832-3292)
Team You paid how much for yours?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://members.tripod.com/~JasonZero
Jason 00 wrote:
> The figures provided are in fact courtesy of R&T. IIRC, R&T tests the
> cars themselves, rather than relying on manufacturers’ data.
Perhaps it was from C&D, I could be wrong.
> The SC2 is shown with a 124hp, 127 mph top speed. The VW Cabrio was
> hardly the slowest of the bunch, turning out a 10.1 second 0-60
> sprint.
> Several other makes had slower times, including Corolla and Escort. I
> doubt we need to bring the Metro into this.
I could’ve sworn it had 127hp, but I’ll take your word for it. I
definately remember "Road & Track" testing the Cabrio in 1997 and saying
that it was the slowest car they drove that year. It was also second in
the (forget the magazine) "Slowest Car" contest. Beaten out by a (then
"AMC") Hummer. :)
I don’t remember if you mentioned the Miata in that list. I’ve heard
stories (ahem) of people taking the 1.6l up to ~120mph. 116hp/120mph, I
would think that it qualifies?
–
Reply to: taa at superlink dot net
In article <6gb9ds$f1…@news.campus.mci.net>, "Derek Hendrickson"
<dhendrick…@ecu.campus.mci.net> wrote:
>I don’t know many cars that go faster MPH than their HP.
It’s a fairly meaningless relationship. My ’60 MGA allegedly had 79.5 bhp
(old method of measuring, would be more like 65 bhp today), and it topped
out at 105 mph.
–
—
Lanny Chambers (la…@derived.com) St. Louis, USA
Visit the Hummingbird Page: <http://www.derived.com/hummers/>
Lanny Chambers wrote:
> It’s a fairly meaningless relationship. My ’60 MGA allegedly had 79.5
> bhp
> (old method of measuring, would be more like 65 bhp today), and it
> topped
> out at 105 mph.
Lanny,
I always wondered what the "b" in "bhp" referred to. I know it must be
very obvious, but humor me..
–
Reply to: taa at superlink dot net
BHP = Base HorsePower
Jason
–
’92 Classic Red – "Phoenix"
Team Everglades Miata Club
Team r.a.m.m.m.
Team Miata World (1-800-832-3292)
Team You paid how much for yours?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://members.tripod.com/~JasonZero
I think 120 mph is possible in a bone-stock 1.6l given the right
conditions. Meaning a strong tailwind, cold weather, a light load,
lights off, windows up, top up, etc..
Hmm… the SC2 R&T tested on 12/96 (and in 1997 Road Test annual) shows
124 hp. Perhaps another magazine using a different dyno got the 127 hp
reading. It is not uncommon for two dynos to give two very different
readings.
Btw, the RAV4 does the 0-60 in 13 flat.
Jason
–
’92 Classic Red – "Phoenix"
Team Everglades Miata Club
Team r.a.m.m.m.
Team Miata World (1-800-832-3292)
Team You paid how much for yours?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://members.tripod.com/~JasonZero
Jason 00 wrote:
> BHP = Base HorsePower
Doh. See, the problem with questions of the "just wondering" variety is
that I am usually left feeling stupid afterwards. Beats ignorance,
though..
Come to think of it, why "base"? An hp is an hp is an hp. Is a "bhp"
somehow different?
—
Reply to: taa at superlink dot net
Jason 00 wrote:
> I think 120 mph is possible in a bone-stock 1.6l given the right
> conditions. Meaning a strong tailwind, cold weather, a light load,
> lights off, windows up, top up, etc..
Oh, it’s possible. :)
At least going by the stock speedometer, I gather that it might be off
~7mph or so.
> Hmm… the SC2 R&T tested on 12/96 (and in 1997 Road Test annual)
> shows
> 124 hp. Perhaps another magazine using a different dyno got the 127 hp
> reading. It is not uncommon for two dynos to give two very different
> readings.
That’s rather odd because 127hp is official mfr. data from GM. Does GM
actually measure horsepower at the wheels? I doubt it..
> Btw, the RAV4 does the 0-60 in 13 flat.
There is a K&N filter out for it. I also saw an ad for RAV4 sway bars in
SCC. Why, I don’t know..
–
Reply to: taa at superlink dot net
Good point… I forgot that the figures are at the flywheel, not at the
wheels. Perhaps GM’s 127 figures are correct. I was just reporting what
the magazine said.
As to why the K&N and sways exist for the RAV4… simple: there are
indeed RAV4 enthusiasts just like there are Miata enthusiasts. And they,
just like us, like to improve on their vehicles. Hmm… I guess sway
bars are a bit odd though. <g>
Jason
–
’92 Classic Red – "Phoenix"
Team Everglades Miata Club
Team r.a.m.m.m.
Team Miata World (1-800-832-3292)
Team You paid how much for yours?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://members.tripod.com/~JasonZero
Eli Troychansky wrote:
> Jason 00 wrote:
> > BHP = Base HorsePower
> bhp is BRAKE horsepower (as measured by a flywheel brake dynamometer)…. I don’t have
my book here, but this abstract of an SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Standard
should show the correct usage:
SAE Standards
Document Number: J-690
Date Published: 1992
Title: Certificates of Maximum Net Horsepower for Motor
Trucks and Truck Tractors
Scope:
In the report of the SAE Motor Truck Rating Committee on
Ability Rating published in the January 1940 issue of the SAE
Journal, it was recommended that pounds per certified net
brake horsepower delivered to the clutch or its equivalent be
used as the index of the potential ability of a motor truck or
combination. This report defined the term ‘certified net brake
horsepower’ in detail and recommended that certain data be
provided to support the certification. The accompanying forms
provide a method for the presentation of the data specified.
For $15 you can order the standard and read the detailed definition of "certified net
brake horsepower" from htttp://sae.org
The difference between brake, net, gross, flywheel, drive-wheel horsepower, etc can turn
into a lengthy (but interesting to some people) discussion! Hope this helped
Alan
92 Mariner Blue "m&m"
(Team mechanical engineer BSME NC STATE University ’88)
In article <6gbms4$12…@earth.superlink.net>, Eli Troychansky
<taa****SPAMBLOCK**…@superlink.net> writes
>I don’t remember if you mentioned the Miata in that list. I’ve heard
>stories (ahem) of people taking the 1.6l up to ~120mph. 116hp/120mph, I
>would think that it qualifies?
I’ve had my 1.6 up to 125, but although the speedo seemed accurate
around 60-70 as measured over a few miles, I doubt it was a real 125mph.
That would make the 116/120 ratio a bit questionable.
—
Kennedy
Yes, Socrates himself is particularly missed;
A lovely little thinker, but a bugger when he’s pissed.
Python Philosophers (replace ‘nospam’ with ‘kennedym’ when replying)
Alan K. Young wrote:
> > bhp is BRAKE horsepower (as measured by a flywheel brake dynamometer)…. <snip>
sorry about the crappy formatting on that last post – and I blew the SAE address:
http://www.sae.org/
Even non-engineer Miataphiles can (seriously) find some interesting stuff on their site.
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> Alan
> 92 Mariner Blue "m&m"
> (Team mechanical engineer BSME NC STATE University ’88)
That is quite odd indeed! I was told by quite a few folks on IRC that it
stood for *Base* horsepower! It was part of a trivia session, and after
several folks responded to it with *base* as the answer, the channel
moderator said that they were correct! Can you imagine? Sheesh!
Well, thanks for correcting me! I suppose your source is more valid.
Jason
–
’92 Classic Red – "Phoenix"
Team Everglades Miata Club
Team r.a.m.m.m.
Team Miata World (1-800-832-3292)
Team You paid how much for yours?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://members.tripod.com/~JasonZero