Boz Mon's Miata thread. Small update, rants and raves

  • Thread starter Thread starter Boz Mon
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Nice one! Looking forward to seeing pics đź‘Ť

Radracing
I thought the blue ones were the Aniversary edition with the 6 speed. It was even supose to come with a die cast model of the car. I'll wait until you post some pic then.
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The car Boz has bought is a later model, I'm assuming. The 10th Anniversary edition came out in 1999 and it was the first NB with a six speed and you're right, it came with a model of the car as far as I know. It also had blingy polished wheels. Certainly isn't the only blue NB that Mazda made though...
 
This should be what the car looks like.

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Boz's car is a 2003 Miata Special Edition (that's the actual name) in Strato Blue - which is the deep navy blue R1600Turbo posted, and called "Indigo Blue Mica" outside of the US. And yes, I know this just from the number he posted.

The Anniversary is actually a "10th Anniversary Edition" and was a limited run of 7,500, all in 1999. They came in a much brighter blue - Innocent Blue (Sapphire Blue in the US) - with polished chrome wheels.
 
R1600Turbo
This should be what the car looks like.

1462809452_854faa0c8b.jpg
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This is pretty much the exact same car. I am going to try and take some pics tomorrow. Funny enough, I bought the car and now we are supposed to get 6 inches of snow tomorrow. Anyone know how this car will do in the snow?
 
Depending on the tires, Miata's are known for being very good in the snow. I went a full winter here in my 1990 on Hankook RS2 tires (sticky summer tires) and didn't have any issues. :D
 
The last major storm we had blow through here (12" plus), on my way to work, I was shocked to see a MX-5 with the hardtop blasting through the snow. I'd say we were evenly matched going from a stop at a light that was on a slight grade, but I assume he had snow tires (versus my all-seasons).
 
R1600Turbo
Depending on the tires, Miata's are known for being very good in the snow. I went a full winter here in my 1990 on Hankook RS2 tires (sticky summer tires) and didn't have any issues. :D
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I had some decent snow tires on the MR-S and it dominated. Not to mention was a complete blast to drive and way more fun that chronic understeer FF cars that people assume are better.
 
Heres some really quick shots I snapped in my driveway a bit ago. I must say I really like this car. I thought the Prelude had snappy handling, but this is like a new world. The car seems to make use of the torque better than the prelude also. Its easier to start out in 2nd gear, I'm sure this is due to the weight, and it seems like lighter flywheel than the Prelude Not to mention I'm pretty sure that I'm getting way better mileage in the miata. I've been driving it so its a little dirty, so let me know what you think.

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Looks fantastic đź‘Ť Interior and engine bay look immaculate, and I'm sure that were it not for road dirt the outside would be the same. The engines are nice in them though, I think that even light weight aside they have good torque characteristics, they're as happy driven at low revs as they are towards the red line.
 
homeforsummer
Looks fantastic đź‘Ť Interior and engine bay look immaculate, and I'm sure that were it not for road dirt the outside would be the same. The engines are nice in them though, I think that even light weight aside they have good torque characteristics, they're as happy driven at low revs as they are towards the red line.
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Yea, its weird about the torque thing. In the prelude I would use 4th gear for crusing in town like 50mph or below. This miata will pull 6th gear going 40, and feel happy at that RPM.
 
Yeah it seems Mazda is good at making power from idle all the way to redline...

Or at least the engines of their own design are. The Duratec in the 6 isn't quite so good about it, but the KL V6s do it well as I know firsthand.
 
Rotary Junkie
Yeah it seems Mazda is good at making power from idle all the way to redline...

Or at least the engines of their own design are. The Duratec in the 6 isn't quite so good about it, but the KL V6s do it well as I know firsthand.
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The K-series V6s all have VRIS - a variable intake length system which provides nigh-on peak torque from 2.5krpm right through to a couple clicks below redline.
 
Famine
The K-series V6s all have VRIS - a variable intake length system which provides nigh-on peak torque from 2.5krpm right through to a couple clicks below redline.
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Ah yeah that's true...

But they also manage to make a Probe roll on flat ground in 4th if you're careful with the clutchwork. With no throttle. :lol:
 
Big snowstorm rolling in tonight. Wish me luck tomorrow on the 1st time out in the snow.

EDIT: Does anyone know if the Miata engine is prone to using oil between changes? I'm used to adding oil because of the Prelude, just not sure if it is something to be aware of for the miata.
 
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Shouldn't, but doesn't hurt to check.

RE: Mazds and torque... I used to drive with my 626 stuck in 5th gear all the time. Never really needed to downshift. On my cousin's old van (which uses a carbureted 1.8 liter), you could start her in 5th from a stop if you were gentle with the clutch and gas. :lol:

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Nice, nice car. Looks absolutely immaculate!
 
Wonderful car! I'll admit a shade of jealousy. Hoonage must be done as soon as the weather provides. "Just because."


Good luck in the snow. She should do okay, just don't "overdo it." I have no idea how best to explain it. When I took my brother's Firebird out in the snow a while back, it really wasn't radically different than driving my Celica. I just had to be careful. Second gear starts are your best friend - remember that.
 
Yeah, definitely go have some fun in the snow, just use a bit of common sense. Mine was good fun this winter, the only trouble I had was at walking pace because wide-ish summer orientated tyres don't like finding traction at low speeds. Once you're doing 5mph+ it was fantastic and slow-motion drifts were there for the taking. It's a very natural, very easy car to control once it starts going sideways.
 
Boz Mon
EDIT: Does anyone know if the Miata engine is prone to using oil between changes? I'm used to adding oil because of the Prelude, just not sure if it is something to be aware of for the miata.
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I bought a 1.8 NB last September, done around 2,500 miles since, and the oil level hasn't moved on the dipstick.
Best to check regularly though, particularly when the car is new to you đź‘Ť
 
Rotary Junkie
Ah yeah that's true...

But they also manage to make a Probe roll on flat ground in 4th if you're careful with the clutchwork. With no throttle. :lol:
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niky
RE: Mazds and torque... I used to drive with my 626 stuck in 5th gear all the time. Never really needed to downshift. On my cousin's old van (which uses a carbureted 1.8 liter), you could start her in 5th from a stop if you were gentle with the clutch and gas. :lol:
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Red, my functioning MX-3, will set off in 4th (0-105mph in one gear) and quite happily accelerate from 7mph in 5th. Seven.

VRIS is win. Which is why Porsche bought the tech from them and implemented it as VarioRam.

Duke of Pendle
I bought a 1.8 NB last September, done around 2,500 miles since, and the oil level hasn't moved on the dipstick.
Best to check regularly though, particularly when the car is new to you đź‘Ť
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MX-5s shouldn't use any oil. The engine's an uncomplicated 1.8 litre 4-pot with no bells or whistles.
 
Famine
MX-5s shouldn't use any oil. The engine's an uncomplicated 1.8 litre 4-pot with no bells or whistles.
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Agreed, but I don't think the degree of complication necessarily dictates the amount of oil usage, rather engine design and condition.

Example:
BMW 1100cc boxer twin, aircooled 2 valve - 500ml oil every 100 miles is fairly normal.
Ducati 900cc L twin, aircooled 2 valve - no discernable oil usage between services.
The Ducati is the higher stressed engine.
 
Duke of Pendle
Agreed, but I don't think the degree of complication necessarily dictates the amount of oil usage, rather engine design and condition.
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Design is complication.

Duke of Pendle
BMW 1100cc boxer twin, aircooled 2 valve - 500ml oil every 100 miles is fairly normal.
Ducati 900cc L twin, aircooled 2 valve - no discernable oil usage between services.
The Ducati is the higher stressed engine.
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And the less complicated - V-twin compared to flat-twin. Also, bikes. Bike engines are a law unto themselves.

Straight-4s are just about the least complicated engine design in the history of ever (well, insofar as modern engines are concerned. Any straight 4 except the Ford Kent using more than a trace amount of oil would concern me.
 
Well, you missed my point really.
I'm just saying that simple engines can use oil, and complicated engines don't necessarily use oil just because they're complicated.
 
Duke of Pendle
Well, you missed my point really.
I'm just saying that simple engines can use oil, and complicated engines don't necessarily use oil just because they're complicated.
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You made a point which was unnecessary, using a boxer-twin bike engine as an example of a "simple engine" in a topic where a guy has bought a Miata.

Here's what I said:

Famine
The engine's an uncomplicated 1.8 litre 4-pot with no bells or whistles.
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If you want to leap in and say complexity is irrelevant, it's design and condition that are relevant, that's your choice, but you miss the point. Engine design is engine complexity - a V4 is more complex than an i4 and a Boxer4 more complex still. And condition was the point - any oil use above trace is concerning because it indicates the engine is in a poor condition.

The engine design is simple. One crank, one intake cam, one exhaust cam and four cylinders lined up in a row. Nothing to do with stress (your Ducati/BMW example), just uncomplicated design. His uncomplicated engine should use almost no oil, directly answering the question he asked with a reason for that answer.
 

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