Sam Smith, contributing editor at Car and Driver, takes a look at how the sportiness of the classic 1967 Lotus Elan translates to today’s Mazda MX-5 Miata on the latest episode of Car and Driver: Tested. Subscribe! bit.ly CARS: Lotus Elan, Mazda MX-5 Super 20 Concept LOCATION: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca MAG EDITORS: Sam Smith Connect To Car and Driver: Twitter: bit.ly Facebook: on.fb.me Hosted by the editors of Car and Driver magazine, this show puts the audience into the action on new-car reviews, comparison tests, auto-show coverage, and more. Our experts drive and test the latest models, attend automotive events around the world, and check out the latest in-vehicle technology like massaging seats and night-vision systems. Viewers will also have the opportunity to write in and extend the conversation. Each week, the Car and Driver YouTube Channel will launch episodes of The Full Hoon, Car and Driver: Abroad, Car and Driver: Tested, Popular Mechanics Saturday Mechanic and How’d They Do That, and Road & Track Presents.
www.fastrucks.com mylifeatspeed.com Drifting a high horsepower 3000 pound sports car…easy. Try it in a 10000 pound purpose built Semi Truck….not so easy. Racer / Stunt Man Mike Ryan has driven this truck to 12 Pikes Peak Hill Climb Championships and decided it’s time to show his skills and the capabilities of his race truck on the original Gymkhana location at El Toro Marine Base in CA ala Ken Block. Watch as Mike pushes his drift truck to the limits. This film is a BANDITO BROTHERS PRODUCTION www.banditobrothers.com and was directed by Greg Tracy to celebrate the launch of his amazing website My life at Speed. mylifeatspeed.com GO THERE NOW! It’s about all things that go fast and has great videos, photos, blogs and more. mylifeatspeed.com CLICK IT NOW! Special thanks to ContourHD cameras, all POV shots in this film are from one! Hey, if you like this you will love the TripleNickel films channel: www.youtube.com Lots of Pikes Peak footage and other great gear head videos!
Video Rating: 4 / 5
That MX5 would look sweet next to my old ’90.
I love my hummer h1!!
You’ve got that right. Mazda may have seen the Elan as inspiration but they certainly didn’t translate it well. And the “Elan” they use in the video here is really no more an Elan than the Mazda is.
Also… I love the MX5, I really do. But, I’d never own one simply because I see about 20 of them on the way to work. I also see TONS of them at local car meets. It’s THE go-to car for cheap thrills. Also, they’re so easy to drive quick that (puts on flame shield) it don’t really take much effort to look like a driving god in one.
So, yeah, I really do love the hell of them. But they just don’t feel special anymore.
I have a 1987 Honda Civic CRX Si (1st-gen) and I totally have to agree. You don’t need sophisticated suspension or lots of horsepower to have fun. Simply add lightness, and away you go!
The Miata is much closer in personality to a Sunbeam Alpine, not the exclusive little Elan.
This young man seems amazed by what used to be normal for us in the 50′s and 60′s–originality. Boy, am I glad I was young then and drove one of these, instead of today’s sad kids whose biggest thrills seem to be electronic toys.
1967 Lotus Elan car, that’s my friendly car… And the NEW Mazda MX-5 Super 20 Concept car, i like that. Thank YOU.
hmm no wonder they call the miata a gay car …. Everytime i ride my mx5 NA it always brings a smile in my face and makes me giggle like a little girl when it comes to twisties o____O i guess thats gay enough .,. lol !!!
Thank you, thank you. Each and everytime that I reverse out of my driveway, I feel unaccountably happy. I am now on my second MX5, and beginning to brush some paint on the new canvas. I really don’t hanker to own anything else, it’s not easy to explain to strangers, but you have done a remarkable job.
Regards Rob.
You simply nailed it. As others were saying before me: You expressed everything i feel about the Miata and what this car’s all about. Keeping it simple and fun.
Everytime i see mine i have to smile. It’s just a happy car. Turn on the popups and i’m in love over and over again. I’d very much like to get hands on a similarly coloured Elan to just set them beneath and imagine “their talk from grandfather to grandson”.
Additionally: 15″ Tsukubas as on the Elan fit the NA Miata very well
The commentator has the right idea. Very few cars have that magic
CONGRATS! You got the feeling!
“You can’t take that away, no matter how much you change it”. Cut the springs in half and stick a diesel engine in it.
‘I get out of a miata and think the rest of the car industry is broken’
So true…
This guy just explained everything I felt within the first 60 seconds of my first time driving a first generation Mazda Miata. A month later, I bought one. A year later…time to get another car…I’m only satisfied looking at more miatas.
Wow, this guy is the best car “commentator”(for lack of a better word) I’ve ever heard. He gets that same feeling I do when I get behind the wheel of my 1990 Miata. It’s not about the top speed or the crazy horsepower, it’s that feeling that you cannot explain. Only people that have driven a miata can explain it. I cant imagine selling my miata and getting a better car, because I just don’t think it exists.
Big ups to you sir
Nothing will ever be like an NA. If only I had the space to keep it
who let this guy on the track without a helmet?
We can hope, right?
This guy is awesome !
You need to go buy another NA. Nothing is the same as an NA….
“you may be breaking some laws, but you won’t be endangering anybody.”
yeah I’m sure that’ll hold up real well in court.
Very well done. The wording is so perfect that I’m actually getting quite teary eyed. I’m actually proud that I picked up a 1990 Miata so many years ago. I have a 2008 now and it feels different from the 1990, but the emotion is still there.
Thats got to be fun!!!
Awesome!
Where is the “click here to see more about the hot hitchhiker” button??
I wonder if those tires would pass DOT inspection after that.
thats just too bad ass
that would be called one is balled
Melany Delorenza
WHO IS THAT GIRL?
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him – JESUS CHRIST CAN SAVE YOU – Open Your Heart
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him – JESUS CHRIST CAN SAVE YOU – Open Your Heart
hammer down
Lol this is absurd. Love it.
Melany Delorenza
that’s a safety hazard
read the credits…
name girl
lol something gives me the feeling that that thing doesn’t past smog tests
I WANT THIS TRUCK:D
2:44 rear tires dont match
Now only if he used a Cummins…
Ok u rly are my hero! Damn id give almost anything aside from my daughters to get to ride in that beautiful freightshaker!!!
I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS VID
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I love hot chicks that wear cowboy boots.
0:13 mmmmmmmmm