Official Mazda Miata thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter Boz Mon
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Boz Mon

Boz Mon

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Let me start from the beginning. I've been kart racing for about 7 or 8 years now. Sprint karts on a road course. I have always told the guys that I race with that we should buy miatas and race them in SCCA or something like that. Little did I know how comparable the cost of karting and spec miata was. Jump forward to a couple weeks ago. The annual kart expo here in Illinois. One of the exhibitors was a Spec Miata racer he had his car there. We talked for like a half hour, and now I want a miata. Yesterday, me and gramma were eating lunch at the local Mr. Submarine (excellent gyros BTW) and across the street was a miata for sale. Today I went and test drove it, and I like it. Almost more than the Prelude, almost. I just cant get over the fact that it doesnt have as much balls as the Lude. Granted, it wouldnt be a daily driver, but I almost want it to be. The other thing is the price, holy jesus a 99 miata with 71k miles on it for $8999. I will probably end up with a 90 or 91 with the 1.6. Thats fine by me though. I just thought that we could get some discussion going about miatas, anything really. But now I want one, BAD.
 
Should this be in the Mazda Forums?
I think the Prelude would be slower than the MX-5 around a track wouldn't it?
 
Around a track the Prelude would most likely lose. I put it here because I didnt think that the mazda forum got very much traffic
 
If I could find a cheap Miata within the next week or two I'd likely get one over the M3iT, but that seems unlikely.

*sigh*

...Maybe next-time?

===============

And yes, I generally prefer the NA model as well...
 
So, has anyone driven, or does anyone currently drive a 1.6 car? What should I expect from it? Is it that much slower than the 1.8?
 
Lemme dig up an old P.M.

194GVAN
http://www.miata.net/garage/garagebuying.html

That should get you started on what to look for when shopping.

http://www.miata.net/faq/

Here's a nice rundown on all the differences between the model years.


I own a 1993, and have to say its a fantastic car to drive, probably the best handling car I myself have actually been in. What it lacks in straight line acceleration it makes up for in the curves. Many turns that you would have to brake for in a normal sedan you can just go through them without even touching the brakes. Its that fun. With a proper alignment the car is very predictable and communicative.

Its a simple car, very easy to work on yourself. Its not really a quiet car, there are rattles and squeaks, but thats generally considered normal. It is a sports car after all. Later models (99+) are more refined. Many enthusiasts say the NB (99-05) is a better car, the NA (90-97) is a better miata.

Note: Miatas suck in the snow, even on all season tires. If you throw a set of snow tires on you should be fine...something to consider if its going to be the only car you have.

Its a small car, which is good and bad. If you have a second car to transport larger objects then its no problem. Despite their small size they are much safer in crashes than I would have imagined. I see pics of wrecks alot on the forums, most of which the passengers were fortunate enough to just walk away from. The car absorbs the impact. A friend of mine...his brother borrowed his turbo 95 while he was out of the country, slid into a curb and flipped the car. He had a roll bar installed, and he walked away from the crash with just cuts and bruises. If I could find the pic of the car you would be amazed, the thing was really messed up.

I think best of all Miata's are still under the radar so to speak. Ricers dont usually want them because they think only gay hairdressers or girls drive them. In mostly stock form they are pretty slow so you'd have to try pretty hard to really get into trouble with it.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=31213

haha sorry for such a long PM, as you can tell Im really passionate about cars and modifying them. At the very least even if you decide its not a practical car for you, go test drive one. I dont think many people understand that it really is a great, cheap sports car.
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It's about a year old, but It's still worth it.
 
YSSMAN
If I could find a cheap Miata within the next week or two I'd likely get one over the M3iT, but that seems unlikely.

*sigh*

...Maybe next-time?

===============

And yes, I generally prefer the NA model as well...
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You should make that trip out to SF soon!

Take a look at these:

36,000 mile 1996 m-Edition NA Miata $7900 That's a low-mileage bargain right there!

115,000 mile 1995 NA Miata $3550 Higher miles, but looks like a stunning example and well cared for.

Have a browse through here too.

It's well worth a visit to CA to pick up a nice example as the bodywork tends to stay in great shape due to the dry air. It'd also make for a great roadtrip to drive it home again from here! I can testify that the NA is a relatively comfortable car to drive for a prolonged period, having done 3200 miles in 17 days back in September 2006 for our roadtrip, in our 1995 NA Miata, which is shown at Monument Valley below! :D

pic4gtp2ye8.jpg


The original 1.6L has a closer range gearbox which made a difference to the acceleration, which they lengthened for the early 1.8L models making them smoother for cruising, but not as quick off the line. Later 1.8L models went back to a slightly shorter range but I'm not sure of the exact model dates, so you'd have to do some research.
 
Dad already said he'd stab me in the face if I bought one, but the thing is, its my money, right?

I do love the M3iT, but the thing is, having to deal with the snow puts the Miata on the back burner (unfortunately). I dunno. I gotta poke around a bit more, but it seems like I'm about 96% certain that I'll have the 3 by the end of the month.

====

*sigh*

At least I have my aunt's '96 M-Edition, right?
 
Miatas are great fun, indeed. I've had the priveledge of driving one occasionally. They've got enough power to keep up with themselves, but not enough to get you into any big trouble.
I'm consistently amazed at the times an essentially stock Miata with a set of slicks turns at the autocrosses I'm at.
I'd still consider getting one if I could figure out how to fit a set of skis in it.
 
Shopping is done. Doooooo it!
Little Devil Brand
1994 Mazda Miata M-Edition. Montego Blue Mica on black/tan leather interior.

Car is located in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA (15131) and can be seen any time. Also, the title is free and clear in my name, and to my knowledge the car has never had any body work done. All panels have the OEM VIN tags on them.

Chassis has 180k, entire swap has ~43k on it. The car has only been driven a little over 1k miles since the swap.

Interior/electronics
-------------
OEM LS1 Hurst shifter, uses the OEM Miata shift knob
Hard Dog rollbar
Cyberdyne digital speedometer mounted in the OEM location
All OEM gauges work otherwise
Will come with a radio/6 disk changer in the trunk
DEI alarm

Exterior
-------------
front lip
The OEM muffler hangs out of the rear (although it isn't connected to anything)
Chrome luggage trunk rack that I put on and take off at random (it doesn't bolt on, so when I take it off, there aren't any holes or anything.)
Bone stock otherwise
The car has the rear tonneau cover in tan, but it needs cut to use with the roll bar, so I never cut it.

Wheels/tires
-------------
OEM M-Edition 14' wheels wrapped in Kumho 195/60/14 front and 205/55/14 Nitto NT555R drag radial rears. Have two more 195/60/14's that can go with it.

Suspension
-------------
Racing Concepts chassis rails

Engine bay
-------------
2002 Chevy LS1 - LS6 block
3.5' intake
Racing Concepts tubular subframe
Dual 2.5' exhaust, dumped before rear end
Aeromotive AFPR
Toyota Supra TT fuel pump
Griffin 26x19 radiator in a custom-built mount
OEM Miata fan mounted as a pusher with reversed polarity
"Custom" radiator, heater core, fuel hoses (just OEM pieces from various cars)
Racing Concepts motor mounts
Racing Concepts shorty headers

Drivetrain
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T56 6-speed transmission
Racing Concepts transmission brace/bar
Racing Concepts transmission mount
Ford 8.8' IRS rear differential, POSI
3.73 gears
Racing Concepts differential mounts
Racing Concepts axles rated to 550 ft/lb of torque
Racing Concepts driveshaft


Car is extremely reliable, and is inspected until I think 06/08.

Problems -

Leather seats are a bit worn
Exterior shows the age of a 13 year car. It's not awful, but it's not a show car. (Chassis has zero rust.)
Exhaust is a little loud for some.
The Ford rear has some whine. Swap gears to fix it, I never bothered. Only noticeable at low RPM in high gear. Highway speeds in top gear, can't hear it.
CEL is on, car has no rear O2 sensors, and some misc. emissions equipment was removed.
No AC
No PS (car literally is very easy to drive without because of the weight.)
I can, however, include everything I have for it, minus custom lines.




Asking 16k, although car is OBO. Will consider trades, or trades plus cash. Have a DD, so I'd be looking for another sports car. No FWD vehicles. Cannot afford to put any money towards a trade, however.

M-Edition is #558 of 3,003 ever made. Weighs 2540 on a full tank of gas. Serious head-turner and show stopper, it's a shame I'm selling, but certain circumstances are requiring me to do so.

Nitrous was never hooked up, as I never finished piecing together the kit.

Serious interest only.

TONS more pics available upon request.

http://s52.photobucket.com/albums/g32/60dash1/
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Boz Mon
So, has anyone driven, or does anyone currently drive a 1.6 car? What should I expect from it? Is it that much slower than the 1.8?
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An older 1.6 Miata should feel almost exactly the same. You will save a lot of money buying an older one, and you can do a 1.8 conversion if you really need that extra 20hp or so. The 1.8 liter ones got bigger brakes too, but the stock ones are more than enough if you upgrade the rotors and pads.

There was a few special features on some of them though, the 94 and up gto a small underbrace in the rear, and some came with an LSD, although another friend of mine has a 92 miata that has an underbrace, so I'm not sure how that is. His also has powersteering, so that might have been an extra option or something. It's not really something you should look for. It helps with daily driving, but it's not nearly as precise and responsive as the non-ps.

I've driven 3 different Miatas, although all 1.6 liter, one was stock, another had 17 inch wheels (too big) then later got project mu pads, a lightweight flywheel, and a momo steering wheel. Then another one with 15 inch low offset wheels, the same momo wheel, stainless steel brake lines, an even lighter flywheel, and an agressive alignment. I drove all the cars in between all of these modifications, so I've had experience with a variety of setups.

Basically, the direction for tuning I'd go with a 1.6 miata is to replace the wheels with a low-ish offset, it helps a bit with the "go kart" feeling of the miata, an after market steering wheel (the stock one is a bit "square" feeling where you normally hold it, which makes it a bit uncomfortable, and the way the horn buttons are placed, you sometimes hit them with your palm while turning in tight places. The brakes might need a bit of work, and an alignment. The stock suspension can take a pretty aggressive alignment, I think my friend is running almost 2 degrees of negative camber in the front of his car on the stock suspension.


Since you're going to be in the scca races, you will probably need some safety equipment, and I'm not sure if any of those parts I've listed will even be legal, but I'm just listing some of the variations of Miatas I've driven and their effect.
 
I've found that when your name is Thor you can say just about whatever you want.

He's worried about me looking gay in it too. I had to ROFL at that...
 
You guys are awesome. I wish I could get out to the bay area there are pretty much no 1.6 cars here, they are all 9k+ 1.8's and I just dont have the coin for that plus I may want to DD the car for awhile to cut back on gas. filling the Prelude lately has been getting pricey. Keep the discussion alive!

I'm looking to spend no more than $3k on this, and from what I see, it can be done. Not too worried about mileage as long as its 160k +/- I dont really want a car with like 250k on it. And as far as I'm concerned, it can be the most basic Miata ever, no a/c, power steering etc. it does not matter to me.

I got this bad, I kinda wish I never saw that spec miata that started this, LOL. After I tested the '99, I got back in my Lude, and the whole thing felt weird. The clutch is so much lighter in the Lude, and the transmission is waaaaayyyyy smoother than the Miata, but holy crap, the miata interior just seems so right, everything is in the right place and its compact.
 
I like Miatas and want one too.

But... If you're lookin to get one for Spec-Miata. I'd go Join a Spec-Miata Forum and get the skinny on just which model/engine/year combo is the hot setup. It may seem cheaper on the surface to buy a streeter, but I'd strongly consider a car that's already been prepped an has a logbook. It'll save money and agravation in the longer term.

Can I buy your stock seats?💡

Slicks
Miatas are great fun, indeed. They've got enough power to keep up with themselves, but not enough to get you into any big trouble.
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I'm sure I could find BIG Trouble easily even with the smallest stock motor.
 
Absolutely. I called the MX-5 a "Miata" more that once at the dealer and I don't think it made any of the sales-folk too happy. Like it or not, its going to be a Miata, no matter how much they tell us that its an MX-5.

Small, two-seat roadster + Mazda badge = Miata. FOREVER.
 
YSSMAN
Like it or not, its going to be a Miata, no matter how much they tell us that its an MX-5.
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That's the thing though: No matter what Mazda North America says, its like the dealer network didn't get the memo. Every single television ad I have ever seen for the car has either called it the "MX-5 Miata" or simply "Miata." Its so silly.
 
It's always been officially called the Miata MX5 but the shorter name stuck with the car. They tried to truncate it to just MX5 but the name will never stick (as you guys already stated).
 
Derrict
It's always been officially called the Miata MX5 but the shorter name stuck with the car. They tried to truncate it to just MX5 but the name will never stick (as you guys already stated).
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Called the MX-5 here. Always has, always will be. The JDM model is called Eunos Roadster. Sometimes I call it Miata; it's a cool name 👍
Wonder why Mazda NA won't call it by it's old name anymore. Anyone knows?
 
So from what I understand, the car that I drove was a 140hp model, not the 133hp 1.8's. Another question I have is the interior, is it pretty much the same for all years? I liked the 99' that I drove, a lot will a 90 and up NA have pretty much the same interior, just in case I do DD it for awhile?
 
Oh yea, I remembered the 1.8 Miata's had wider trannys, so even though they had more power, the wider gear ration made them about the same in terms of acceleration. I'm guessing the 1.8 models are just a bit more responsive to upgrades.
 
I havent seen anything about timing belts. Are there any, or is it a chain? If it is a belt, when should it be changed, and is the motor an interference engine?
 
Boz Mon
I havent seen anything about timing belts. Are there any, or is it a chain? If it is a belt, when should it be changed, and is the motor an interference engine?
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It's a belt, and it probably should be changed every 90k miles or so. Shouldn't be difficult, there's not much things running in front of the engine.


And iirc, it's not an interference engine, but I'm not 100% sure.
 

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