Sachin’s Posterous

My life: London, LA, Stanford, Phi Psi, Apple, New York City, Posterous, San Francisco, Kate. 
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November 19, 2009

The Mazda Miata turned 20 years old. A game changer. Even now, it's one of the best cars on the road

The Miata started life as a concept born in Mazda's California design center by North Americans Bob Hall (formerly of Motor Trend magazine) and Mark Jordan. It was largely a ground-up design with few components shared with other Mazda models. The target design specifications were clear and simple: make it as compact and light as possible with room for two adults to sit comfortably, make it handle as tightly as possible, and have a responsive and reasonably stout powerplant. I guess the whole "reliable and functional" thing was just assumed. Several options were tried out, including a mid-engine design, but a fairly straightforward front-engine rear-drive design won out, and thus the Miata MX-5 was born.

via carlustblog.com

I love my Mazda Miata. It cost me less than $3000 but it's one of the best cars I have ever driven. It was built with a simple purpose: to be a great sports car. Front engine, rear wheel drive, light, no frills. It brings a smile to my face every time I drive it.

Yes, it's a "cute" car. But it's also totally raw. Amazing transmission. Perfect steering. You feel EVERYTHING on the road.

It's yet another example of how building a simple, focused product can lead to success.

Check out this hilarious commercial for the original mode:

Any other Miata owners out there?

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Filed under  //   cars   Miata  

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April 3, 2009

Coco500 in soma

Really great dinner. Duck liver terrine was amazing. Good cocktails. My lamb was tough, but they didn't charge me for it so that was nice. Afterwards I got the chance to drive my Miata for the first time in months. Spun that car around SOMA like you wouldn't believe. That car is sick. I miss it so much. You can slide it around any roads anywhere, so amazing.

                 
Click here to download:
Coco500_in_soma.zip (3121 KB)

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Filed under  //   cocktails   food   Miata   San Francisco   SOMA  

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December 17, 2008

The 'post-mobile' breathes again

After three years in storage (seriously, was driven maybe 2 times around the block, that's it), my BMW was brought back to life yesterday. Other than a dead battery (which recharged itself without trouble), the car is running flawlessly. It feels great to drive it again. The Miata is an amazing car, but this is automotive perfection right here. I am so glad I decided to keep it when I moved to New York.


I was thinking about calling it the "Batmobile" but that's been used a million times. Maybe i'll call it the "post-mobile". Any other ideas?


Kate and I have moved into our apartment, I got my cars, my toys, all my old stuff that was stored in my dad's house. Now we're truly settled in San Francisco. It feels great to be here.

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Filed under  //   BMW   cars   Miata  

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August 18, 2008

My rear wheel drive beast

And it passed smog!

Sent from my iPhone

Update: I just took Eric for a spin and then let him drive Bruce. "Holy crap." "You just made a u-turn going 20." "What kind of tires do you have on here!@?"

It's a 17 year old car with the original suspension and $40 all season tires that are 4 years old. That's what great automotive engineering can do.

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Filed under  //   Bruce   Miata  

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June 12, 2008

Fwd: Bruce!

Jason borrowed Bruce in San Francisco. That car is amazing. so much fun. It can't be beat. Note that this car is 17 years old and has over 160,000 miles on it. Yet it more fun to drive than 90% of the cars on the road today.


Begin forwarded message:

From: Jason Ahmad
Date: June 12, 2008 12:32:08 PM EDT
To: Sachin Agarwal
Subject: Bruce!

In review, I have to think that miatas may provide the most fun/$ this side of a motorcycle. Some points of brilliance:

* Making 80 feel like 140
* Teeth
* Comic arrivals
* 8 gallons of gas total in 4 days (not being driven lightly)
* Unparalleled turning radius
* Personal responsibility (as enforced by the anti-roll protection of 'don't')

Overall quite the inventory. And overall the car's in quite good shape, honestly. Tires actually have enough tread - well beyond the wear bars. Clutch feels perfect. Motor didn't sound to be low on oil or have any such obvious issues. Brakes are totally fine, the only possible issue being low-grade pads. But regardless of their initial bite (or lack thereof), they showed very little fade, and the rear calipers appeared to work correctly (as evidenced by both the hand brake and visible rotor wear). It sounds very much like there's a leak somewhere in the exhaust, but that's way minor all things considered.

Anyway, thanks so much for the ride!!

Shall I mail you the key?

   

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Filed under  //   Bruce   cars   Miata  

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