Did I just get a YouTube ad in the middle of a video? Dang it... I knew it was coming, but dang it....

I drove my Miata for several months without a passenger seat. I had three seats between two cars.

I know a woman who argued this exact point recently. She got stopped late at night for speeding in a residential area.

I mean, it can’t fail if it never comes out.

With you there. If someone just wants to get wheels and coilovers because they think they look cool, do it! Just don’t try to convince me that you’re doing it “for the track” if you aren’t going to take it to the track.

I’ve had employers with the same perspective. “You get a letter grade at the end of the year - nobody’s perfect, so it’s impossible to get an A rating.” Well, then maybe a letter grade isn’t the best system of review.

My point about my friend is that in general, the car wasn’t holding him back when he bought it. It couldn’t be, if he wasn’t even taking it to the track.

PSA: If you ever have a problem at a dealership, make sure you answer the survey phone call!

My BBK has literally saved me once from rear-ending an idiot who pulled out in front of me without looking.

About your last paragraph -

This is true even for the small-time, small-budget enthusiasts, though.

So, uh, when can I stop by for a test drive? :)

Count me in that group, I love to haggle. When I bought my BRZ, I would have paid more for the upgrades you get over the FR-S (HIDs, nav, interior, etc) ... But I didn’t have to. I found a good deal, negotiated it into a better one, and paid less for the BRZ. It was painless.

I’m torn. Logic says if you can’t enter or exit the vehicle (reasonably) then it isn’t a door.

Needs more Edd China!

According to R&T, upgrading the BRZ/FR-S tires makes a pretty significant difference in performance. Here’s a forum post that summarizes.

Given the price difference between the Miata and the BRZ, it would be interesting to see what adding a set of quality tires would do to this comparison.

I do! I drive two vehicles that offer me almost zero protection from others (motorcycle, Mini). It’s the only way to survive. I use the word survive literally.

The car doesn’t make me nervous, the drivers do.

The problem is that people already hear warnings not to text and drive, but they still do it.

I agree. Like I said, I used to think they were elegant in their simplicity. Unfortunately, as they’ve aged, simplicity has become boring. That’s not great news when they have a very similarly-styled model coming out!