By Chris Tropea
Apr 3, 2023
What was “the answer” before the Miata existed? Try the MGB.
Like the Miata, it’s a lightweight, two-seat roadster that didn’t break the bank.
How do the two compare? We drove both back-to-back to find out.
Presented by CRC Industries.
5/7/22 9:02 p.m.
Good vid.
We have a lot of retirees where I live and the Miata ownership really does span generations. I love to see the drift kids out a ratty NA and then a few days later spot a guy in his 70's/80's (original owner?) in a pristine example headed out to brunch.
5/8/22 10:05 a.m.
HAVING OWNED BOTH, I COULD NOT AGREE MORE....
However, if you just 'tweak' the MGB a bit......
5/8/22 10:24 a.m.
British tech in the 60s and 70s, 3 MGBs and a MGB GT as daily drivers. An NA for 10 years and a NB for the last 8 years. They are both great at what they were designed to do and very comparable.
5/9/22 1:50 p.m.
Good comparison and review between the Miata and MG. While in college, my car was a Datsun 510. After college, 1988, my first car was a Honda CRX-Si, a Triumph TR-6, then an e30 325is and got all the 3-series generations until 2015. Recently, bought an NC-Miata and made some bolt-on mods. Every time I drive it, I smile! It's simple, reliable, cheap, easy to modify and fun to drive.
4/3/23 11:44 a.m.
I seem to recall that Mazda talked about the Lotus Elan as the spiritual inspiration for the Miata. A bit more obscure than the MGB or various Spitfires and Spridgets that were built in far larger numbers.
4/3/23 12:01 p.m.
That's a good video
4/3/23 12:02 p.m.
In reply to msterbeau :
The inspiration was basically "small convertible sports car". The fact that Bob Hall got Mazda to buy him an Elan for reference purposes was because Bob Hall liked the Elan, I think :)
4/3/23 5:38 p.m.
personally, some of the fiddly bits of the Miata always reminded me of the Alfa Spider. The door handles, soft top, and even the gas cap flap all scream Alfa. Even the dashboard more reminds me of Alfa than MG. The Alfa also had the chain driven twin cam. The MG engine is agricultural at best.
4/3/23 6:57 p.m.
MGB: You can rebuild the suspension with a hammer and a drift, you can retune the engine with a screwdriver and some small wrenches
Miata: You don't have to
Disclaimer: I would love to have an MGB, preferably with a 4 speed + overdrive. But I carry no pretenses as to what I'd be getting into
4/3/23 10:54 p.m.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
But you can adjust the points on the side of the road with a matchbook! ;)
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