Corvette vs. Miata: Which is faster?

A loaded question with too many variables, right? What if the Miata has a V8? What if the Corvette is up on blocks?

So let’s be a bit more specific.

I see 63 entries for the C Street class at the upcoming Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals.

Miatas have dominated that class going back decad…

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the c4 is a crazy capable with the ability to put quite a bit of tire on it.  They are also 30 years old and may/may not be super well maintained.  Equal drivers, assuming healthy LT1 makes 300hp and weighs 3200 pounds for a pw/wt ratio of 10.6 pounds per hp.  They also have 255/285 factory tire widths for an estimated average contact patch of 10.6" per corner.  

with 225 tires, weight of 2300 pounds and 181hp puts it with less contact patch (roughly 8.8" per corner) less HP per pound (12.88 pounds per hp) but better technology (ABS tech), a good chance of no deferred maintenance and given the number of them a good likelihood that you'll find the best drivers in them.  

All things being equal, I think the corvette is probably capable of being faster, but since the Miata is the goto car in that class I suspect the fastest drivers will be in Miatas.  

As always it depends on course, but one thing to keep in mind is that the miata is physically smaller and due to that has to displace less on course and can actually travel a shorter distance to finish. Depending on gate widths it can allow them to take a different line, etc. Distance wins autocrosses.

Something I found interesting.

ND Miata width: 68.1 inches.

C4 Corvette width: 71.0 inches. 

In reply to ClearWaterMS :

The oldest C4 is now 40 years old. Oof.

In reply to Appleseed :

Crazy, huh? 

Too bad they're not C3s. Then it would look like a bunch of kids playing tag with grandpa.

Huh, i took this picture in 2015, before the RF came out. I never realized that the RF possibly looks even more like the Corvette with the vertical rear window and flying buttresses.

I think the Miatas will run away and hide from the Corvettes. It's the default car in the class for a reason.

Appleseed said:

In reply to ClearWaterMS :

The oldest C4 is now 40 years old. Oof.

early c5 corvettes and the oldest water cooled 911's qualify for antique plates here in Illinois...  

In reply to ClearWaterMS :

My Miata wears an antique plate. Not sure how I feel about that....

C4s have really grown on me, never hated them but always preferred the C3 (my highschool car) and C5 on either side so they were overshadowed. Nowadays I'm on the lookout for a non-rednecked 6 speed

In reply to ClearWaterMS :

I just printed out the application earlier today! No more smog tests.

As much as I dislike C4 era Corvettes, I hope they seriously kick some Miata butt, basically getting  extremely tired of seeing, reading, and hearing about them. There are a LOT of other cars out there......I know, you're all going to jump on the Miata bandwagon, saying  they're the best for all  around....etc.,  etc., etc.  But, come  on, let's hear about other cars  of interest.  End of rant.

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to ClearWaterMS :

My Miata wears an antique plate. Not sure how I feel about that....

I saw an ~04 Corolla (9th!) with classic plates on it here in CT the other day.. .Kinda blew my mind.    It's 19 years+ to get classic plates here.

Last couple years of eligibility so why not give it a go, if the sunset rule wasn't there I'd give it a thought in my Crx in H-Street. 

theruleslawyer said:

In reply to ClearWaterMS :

I just printed out the application earlier today! No more smog tests.

and lower annual plate costs too right?

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to ClearWaterMS :

My Miata wears an antique plate. Not sure how I feel about that....

at a track event talking to a group of people that tell me they are too young to remember the movie "Days of thunder" is a clear indication that i'm old.  

300zxfreak said:

As much as I dislike C4 era Corvettes, I hope they seriously kick some Miata butt, basically getting  extremely tired of seeing, reading, and hearing about them. There are a LOT of other cars out there......I know, you're all going to jump on the Miata bandwagon, saying  they're the best for all  around....etc.,  etc., etc.  But, come  on, let's hear about other cars  of interest.  End of rant.

This is a competition. Interesting cars don't win, the fastest ones do. And as much as you might be tired of it, the fastest cars in CS are Miatas. 

Keith Tanner said:I never realized that the RF possibly looks even more like the Corvette with the vertical rear window and flying buttresses.

Every time I see an RF I think it looks like an Opal GT more that a Corvette.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

The Prelude I bought new off the boat (the dealer had it for 48 hours) is eligible for antique plates.  

ClearWaterMS said:

theruleslawyer said:

In reply to ClearWaterMS :

I just printed out the application earlier today! No more smog tests.

and lower annual plate costs too right?

Not in good ol Illinois.

triumph7 said:

Keith Tanner said:I never realized that the RF possibly looks even more like the Corvette with the vertical rear window and flying buttresses.

Every time I see an RF I think it looks like an Opal GT more that a Corvette.

Given how much the GT looks like a shrunken C3 (or the other way around, given that the GT came first), that's very likely :) 

Appleseed said:

ClearWaterMS said:

theruleslawyer said:

In reply to ClearWaterMS :

I just printed out the application earlier today! No more smog tests.

and lower annual plate costs too right?

Not in good ol Illinois.

Antique and EA plates are cheaper than regular plates. Antiques are like $6 a year.EA plates are $45.

In reply to theruleslawyer :

Yup.

Just paid my $45 renewal on the DodgyVan last week.