Les Jones: "The Mazda Miata: it hugs the road like men hug men."

February 26, 2005

Misc > "The Mazda Miata: it hugs the road like men hug men."

Philip Greenspun asked for help in recommending a car for a friend of his in LA, and mentioned that a convertible would be nice in the warm California sun. A couple of people recommended Miatas, which prompted me to write this:

I think of the Miata as a chick car or gay man's car. The two men I know who drive Miatas are gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that! but your friend is apparently straight. The Honda S2000 is a better roadster, with enough punch to push you back into your seat.

I half expected to be called a homophobe, but the next commentor agreed.

"The Mazda Miata: it hugs the road like men hug men." Don't remember where I heard that quote, but it is incredibly apropos. It is the quintessential gay man's car. Especially yellow ones. Of course, the young man that Philip is referring to may very well be of that pursuasion, so the Miata could be perfect: he could go out cruising in it and folks would know what he's after.

Posted by lesjones

Comments

My wife wants one. Her gay cousin had one and she fell in love with it.

Enough said!

Posted by: countertop at February 28, 2005

Well.. I am getting a miata for my 1st car. I am a girl by the way. I don't particularly want it.. but it was either the Miata or nothing..so. I hate that it's associated with gay men.. at least my hair will flow in the breeze??

Posted by: MOI at March 14, 2005

Thousands of club-level race car drivers can't be wrong. But you are.

http://www.specmiata.com/
http://motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0407_race_miata/
http://www.autoblog.com/entry/9254041172761463/

And many Spec Miata racers (mostly hetero men) have street-legal Miatas as their daily drivers, as do many straight men who don't race them.

http://www.carlover.com/mazda_club.htm

Posted by: Tom at May 09, 2005

yeah actually i read somewhere that theres approximately the same number of gay jeep drivers and more gay honda civic drivers. Think about that. P.S. the miata could beat any car in it's price range on a road course where skill DOES matter unlike drag racing which is solely meant for people who don't know how to turn left or right. At least NASCAR racers can turn left!

Posted by: idk at April 22, 2006

Wow! The "Miata is gay" thing had to be started by some redneck with nothing to do. I just purchased one . . . it is a blast to drive. I think I am about as far from gay as you can get, but if people think the car is gay . . . more power to them. I have been in Law Enforcement for 15 years and if I listed all the cars that I have stopped that have been driven by "gays" . . . there might be some pissed off monster truck drivers out there.

Posted by: jessey at August 07, 2006

I could care less about whether people think it's a chicks car or a gay man's car. When it comes down to it, its a lightweight, RWD roadster with amazing handling and hardly costs anything at all (but don't confuse that with poor quality! They are built well and last forever).

Plus, mine's turbocharged, and while its far from the fastest thing on the road (low 14's in the 1/4 mile with a 100mph trap speed), it has plenty enough power to be a helluva lot of fun. Although even the stock older Miatas with only 130HP are a blast as well!

Posted by: Justin at November 13, 2006

I drive an El Camino. No one will ever doubt my tendencies...

Posted by: Fred at November 29, 2006

TOO FUNNY! The Miata is just a car, lol, but it sure LOOKS gay!

Oh, and price v. performance wise:

2007 Touring RWD Convertible L4
$23,835 - a sad 166hp 2.0 engine, rwd lol

2007 WRX TR AWD Sedan H4
$23,995 - a respectable 244hp 2.5 engine 4wd

Seriously, the ONLY reason you'd buy this car is for the looks, and it looks gay, so fess up closet Miata club members, just because you can fit your Miata in the closet with you, doesn't mean you should.

Disclaimer: I have many gay friends and am not a "homophobe" by any measure, but sure as my gay friends will admit rainbows and cut-offs are gay, so too will they about the Miata.

Posted by: aknatn at March 01, 2007

"theres approximately the same number of gay jeep drivers"

When we were out in Southern California visiting friends two of our gay friends mentioned that they were looking for a convertible to enjoy the great weather out there. They had a Chrysler Sebring and I said, well, since you like Chrysler products how about a Jeep?

Their response was that, no, that was too much of a stereotypical queenmobile for them. So apparently lots of gay folks drive Jeeps, too.

Posted by: Les Jones at June 10, 2007

You guys dont understand at all. The miata is not a chic car or a gay car. A higher percentage of mustang owners are women than miata owners, in fact. And i bet that if any one of you who say the miata is gay ever drive one, you will immediately retract your stupid statement.

Posted by: mike c at September 01, 2008

Im 17 and the only car thats available for me to drive right now is a Miata. I will admit that i dress alot better than most guys and i use products in my hair but im not gay, will this car make me a target for humiliation?

Posted by: at September 20, 2008