At a time when the overwhelming majority of vehicles are far too boring or far too severe, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is among the few new vehicles you should purchase that is truly enjoyable. That does not imply there are no downsides to purchasing a Miata, although. Tall drivers might not match, and in case you’re on the lookout for one thing distinctive, the ND Miata has been on sale for a full decade. So why not spend comparable cash on a rear-wheel drive roadster with a guide transmission that noticed a manufacturing run of lower than 200? Even higher, it is an American roadster from an American firm. Sure, I am speaking in regards to the 1998 Panoz AIV Roadster that is presently on the market on Vehicles & Bids.
Not like the Miata, the Panoz sends its energy to the rear wheels by way of a V8 borrowed from the Ford Mustang SVT Cobra. When new, the 4.6-liter V8 made a wholesome 305 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. That was loads for the time, however this explicit AIV Roadster sports activities a Kenne Bell supercharger that the vendor claims pushes it to “effectively over 400 horsepower.” And whereas the styling could also be retro Allard, the automotive was truly constructed on a sophisticated extruded aluminum chassis. Consequently, you get a surprisingly trendy automotive with a curb weight of about 2,500 kilos. Chances are you’ll solely get a five-speed guide, however with greater than 400 hp on faucet, that must be mild sufficient to have an absolute blast behind the wheel.
Solely 176 Panoz AIV Roadsters ever constructed
Whereas your folks are busy driving gradual, four-cylinder Miatas that everybody has already seen 1,000,000 instances, you possibly can present up in one among solely 176 Panoz AIV roadsters ever constructed. Even fewer have a supercharger, too, making this explicit automotive much more uncommon. What number of different instances are you going to have the chance to purchase one thing so uncommon for lower than $50,000? And yeah, Mazda has a historical past of constructing vehicles with a few of the greatest driving dynamics cash should purchase, whereas this automotive was inbuilt Georgia by an organization maybe greatest identified for its affiliation with the failed DeltaWing race automotive, do not forget this Panoz comes with a limited-slip differential. Oh, and take a look at that screenless inside, too. Checkmate, Miata.
On the time, Automobile And Driver might have known as it “…a darty, disagreeable automotive that appears to leap all around the highway, with a power-to-weight ratio near that of the brand new Porsche 911 Turbo, and dialed-in oversteer at all times lurking within the little trunk,” however within the very subsequent sentence, it mentioned, “But within the palms of a talented driver accustomed to throttle steer and super-precise wheel inputs, the AIV could be made to sing — significantly on a easy floor.” That very same overview additionally identified that whereas early Panoz Roadsters “had been a bit agricultural in high quality… this most up-to-date instance is a solidly constructed piece.” That is what we name progress.
Just one option to really feel alive
Possibly another folks should not purchase this arguably overpowered little roadster, however you? You are undoubtedly a talented driver who might completely deal with the oversteer on this even-more-powerful-than-stock AIV Roadster. You’ve got completely acquired this. Simply, , perhaps be sure to replace your will and end-of-life directive earlier than you are taking supply. Not that you’ve something to fret about, since you undoubtedly do not.
You are not a kind of lesser drivers who cannot deal with steering with the throttle and a whole lack of contemporary security options. Identical to this AIV Roadster and its additional 33% (or extra!) energy, you are constructed totally different. And it isn’t like anybody buys an analog roadster when consolation is their high precedence. Get behind the wheel of this factor, and I assure you will have by no means felt extra alive.
Alternatively, anybody wanna purchase a Georgia-built roadster on your favourite (or let’s be sincere, least-favorite) Jalopnik staffer who occurs to additionally stay in Georgia? In any case, I can not weblog about Woke if I’ve died in a fiery crash I am too busy tearing up again roads and having the time of my life.
