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No offense to you guys who are into classic British roadsters, but what's the point?
No offense taken. You had to be there. Some of us grew up with these things and they were the only cars that really handled that were affordable. Also, don't forget that there was a long period of time in this country, from the 70's into the late 80s when there were no open sports cars. It wasn't until the mid 90's that there was any alternative to a new Miata. These old British and other european roadsters are the forbears of the Miata, the Z3 and the S2000. But until those cars cam along, there was nothing else. They aren't as bad as most people think on the reliability angle. They were usually abused and maintenance was ignored resulting in numerous failures. I know you didn't want a response, but the question was a good one and deserves an answer. After all, despite my love for the old cars, I just bought anS2000!
OK, thanks. Both those answers did make some sense to me and were things I hadn't taken into consideration, being that I'm just young enough to have missed that period in automotive history.
you guys have all taken me back a ways............I am so fortunate to have experienced those early roadsters, and will always consider the 65 Healy 3000 that I had as one of my alltime favorite cars........and as such to now be able to appreciate a current, state of the art 2 seat roadster...........my automotive life has been good to me.........
There is very little that I can add to the fine comments of Legal Bill, dlq04 and greybeard except to say that to those of us who grew up with the English roadsters of the 50's, 60's and 70's there is a devotion that defies reason. I feel about my MG's the same way that I feel about my S. They were very special cars.
I just got back a few minutes ago from a 80 mile romp through the back woods and country-side in the S2000. There's still a little color left on the trees and the sun was shining brightly. Since I still drive the MGA regularly as well, including at least one national event every year -- the differences in the cars are very dramatic to me. In the MGA on such a drive I would be taking in the color, smelling the fall freshness, and even picking up the sounds of nature, sort of one with nature. In the S2000 I just want to blow by nature. I find myself constently downshifting to lower gears and reving the sweet engine out of the turns. My gearbox pretty much shifts like butter now, the engine's nicely broken in, and the rear tires are down to the wear bars. As for brakes, I just swapped the racing pads for the street pads, since snows not far off and I'm left with dreaming of the next track day. I did see one deer, does that count? But new or old, one thing I know is the car's may bring us together but it's the people that make us stay together.
Originally posted by boston Most beautiful car ever made - mid-60's XKE roadster
While nothing could surpass the D-Jag (not counting the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe or the Ferrari GTO), I too love the E-type. I was at the Paris Auto Show when it was introduced and I stood by the revolving stage for hours! I still old B&W photos from that show of the car, and others of the car when some Brits showed up at the LeMans 24 hour race later in the year driving 'em.
Since we're going down memory lane here, here's my first set of training wheels:
I managed to roll it on loose gravel in a turn one late night while in college with two-friends aboard. They both (thank you God) walked away and I just had a broken finger and dent in my head. I can also thank my lucky stars I didn't have a car as powerful as an S2000 to learn on. However, my next one was a '63 Vette....
BTW, Legal Bill, welcome aboard and enjoy the break-in cause you'll never go that slow again.
11-04-2002, 07:17 AM
to have missed that period in automotive history.
