The MX-5 Miata of the Month from

March 2000

Keith Dailey

England, Arkansas

kdailey@aristotle.net

Congratulations to Keith on the selection of his Miata, as our March
Miata of the Month!

What is it that creates such enthusiasm and involvement with an automobile, as with the Miata?

I am 41 years young and live in England Arkansas , a small farming community just outside of Little Rock. I am not sure if it was because there were not many Miatas in this area, or I just didn't notice , but before March '98 , I didn't know anything about them. While at work, I picked up a March '98 issue of 'Car and Driver', and that's where it began. You must understand that I had never owned a convertible, and certainly not a sports car. So being a little puzzled about this new interest, the next step was to try and sell my wife on the idea. She was very supportive, so the biggest hurdle was cleared. Before we begin looking , I hit the Internet and found Miata.net. The information that we received was very valuable. Miata.net is now my home page and would not do without it.

With some Miata education, it was time to shop. We drove a new '99, and many used M1. In May '98 we found a beautiful '94 M-edition with 6600 miles on it, and it was spotless. But while driving it home that afternoon, I remember asking myself, just what the purpose of this car was going to be. It did not take long to find the answer to that question. My wife and I have been married for 9 years, and have a wonderful marriage, but like a lot of men, allow work to become so important that you don't spend valuable time with the one you love the most. Well, the Miata helped to change that. In the past nine months, we have probably traveled more than in the past nine years. We have spent a lot of time in the Ozarks (if you can, drive Arkansas hwy 16 & 7) and surrounding states. Before we return home, my wife begins planning our next trip. We are now planning every thing around our time together, instead of the other way around. We  also  attended Miata World '99 in Dallas. What is it that creates such enthusiasm and involvement with an automobile such as with the Miata ? It is because the Miata is a very special, very beautiful, and well built, but most of all very fun automobile.

Previous Miata of the Month Winners

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