twotone's Miata Thread

[twotone_ra64]

So, why a Miata thread in here? It's kind of hit and miss with the Miata.net forum these days... most questions have been answered if you search hard enough, but some threads just never come to a conclusion. Then some people just never reply to your thread.

Plus, I prefer interacting with you all!

So here's my first love, Mia, a 1991 Mazda Miata MX-5. I've had her for almost 5 years and have put 40k+ miles on her.



She can be super practical too!



And here's the comprehensive mod list (a lot of which was already on the car when I got her):

Engine:

• NB Miata 1.8L engine swap w/ EGR delete and catless header
• Flyin' Miata lower radiator hose
• Jackson Racing spark plug wires
• Goodwin Racing RoadsterSport 3 catback exhaust

Chassis:

• KYB AGX shocks
• Flyin' Miata springs
• Flyin' Miata sway bars
• Superpro steering rack bushings
• MPCA budget big brake upgrade kit
• 949Racing steel braided brake lines
• MossMiata steel braided clutch line
• Hard Dog Deuce roll bar
• Rota Circuit 8 15x6.5" +38mm
• 195/50R15 Yokohama S Drive

Body:

• R package front lip
• R package rear lip spoiler
• Robbins canvas top with glass rear window
• JDM Roadster running lights mod
• Hella E-code H4 headlights conversion
• GarageStar Delrin door bushings

Interior:

• NB dashboard and Nardi steering wheel swap
• 5XRacing passenger airbag delete
• NB HVAC controls
• Mazdaspeed Miata silver trim, center console, handbrake handle, shift boot
• AUDM airbag control cubby
• Roadster aluminum pedals
• Flyin' Miata gas pedal extension
• Flyin' Miata neutral safety switch bypass
• Custom LED footwell lights
• Electric trunk release

The NB dash swap was a big one, it really transformed the look of the interior. Amazing how everything fit right in with minimal wiring changes, gotta love how Mazda didn't change much between 1990-2005.

I'll be posting updates, issues, and new mods here so stay tuned!

[swan song]

Hey, I’ve really been eyeballing the Miata lately. So much so, that I was actually looking to sell or trade my Celica for one. How do you compare it to the Celica?

[twotone_ra64]

I can't really make a just comparison because they're completely different. It's apples and oranges. Plus, it would be unfair to compare the handling right now since my Celica doesn't have the new suspension in yet.

The first-gen NA Miata is a compact, lightweight, double A-arm suspension car. It's not the most powerful car, with hp ratings anywhere between 115 to 133 (unless you get the turbo Mazdaspeed Miata with 180), but it corners like nothing else. With a perfect 50/50 weight distribution, it's the perfect driver's car. It's got a peppy dual cam engine, revs to 7200rpm, close ratio 5-speed gearbox and short rear end ratios (4.3 to 4.1 depending on year). The aftermarket support is HUGE, there are guides and writeups everywhere, and it's cheap to fix. Parts interchangeability between model years is good too. There are some things that are not the easiest to get to due to just how compact the engine bay is. Fuel efficiency is decent for a car that was designed in the 80's (design started in 1983, released July 1989). Having a convertible is so nice, especially in California.

The Celica is definitely a GT car in comparison. It's quieter, heavier, has more luxuries, more torque, but definitely maintains a much more "vintage" feel. It's a much more practical car (especially the hatch) because of the fold-down rear seats. I feel many things are much easier to get to in a Celica's engine bay simply because there's more real estate. And that's really all I can say for now.

[swan song]

I’ll be watching here closely. Really wanna hear the differences in handling. I know for a fact the miata is better, but how much better? Also, I know the power output is anemic, but it’s also lighter than really anything else out there. I’ve been hoping to land a 1994, or a 2001. The nb roadster is a cuddly place to carve backroads and solves a lot of the downsides to the original Na. From what I hear anyways.
Also, how tall and wide are you? I’m 5’9", 200lbs.

[twotone_ra64]

Definitely keep an eye out! I'll make sure to make a good handling comparison once the Celica is all dialed in.

I see, you're looking in the 1.8L engine range (before the 2002-2005 VVT motors). The NB has much better chassis rigidity, better NVH isolation and a slightly better front suspension geometry. The NB subframe control arm mounting points were repositioned to increase caster (uppers moved back 3mm and lowers moved forward 2.1mm), the lower control arm mounts were also lowered 5.7mm for a lower roll center, and the steering rack mount was raised 7mm to mitigate bump steer. You could probably emulate the NB chassis feel in an NA with a Flyin' Miata butterfly brace, an NB front subframe swap and NB suspension with the much improved NB tophats. To do the subframe swap, you'll need the NB subframe, steering rack and mounts, intermediate steering shaft, and power steering lines. If you also use the NB spindles (for the geometry), you'll also want the NB upper control arms with the correct balljoints. It's a good upgrade but the differences are only really observed if you're tracking the car. If you get a stock NA then you could easily throw in new NB shocks, springs and the improved tophats. Flyin' Miata sells all of that too!

I'm 5'9", 150lbs, 32" waist. I fit perfectly in my NA and I don't have to put the stock seat all the way back either. Heel and toe is a little tricky because my thigh hits the bottom of the steering wheel. This can be solved with a smaller steering wheel and hub spacer. NBs also have thicker door cards so it feels like you have less room and the seats are less comfortable. If you have a tall torso and you sit too high, then a seat "foamectomy" and sun visor delete are the common tall guy mods.

[swan song]

Man, at that point it sounds better to just buy a Nb, lol. The next car I buy will be a convertible, full creature feature road trip car. The Miata checks all the boxes. I also happen to have an “in” with Keith Tanner of a flying Miata.

[twotone_ra64]

The NB is a definitely better car, but I feel an NA is a better Miata. Get what I mean? Sorta? Well, I had the opportunity to drive my buddy's 2004 NB LS 6-speed not too long ago, and that was really nice. Electric power everything, cruise control, BOSE stereo, and it was super quiet and comfortable. My only gripe was the 6-speed, as it didn't really have much advantage in acceleration over a 5-speed. It was just more shifting. And the VVT motor really runs out of steam towards the top of the rev range... I would recommend a 1999-2001 5-speed with as many bells and whistles as you can find on it! I've driven another buddy's '99 5-speed and that was not all too different than my '91 apart from the previously mentioned differences.

An "in" with Keith, eh? Sounds like you'll get a steady stream of parts your way if you do get a 'yata.

[Sigma Projects]

Get one before everyone buys them for wrecking on jumps

Nice, I like this thread. I feel the same way about many other forums. The people here are just easier to relate to for me.

[twotone_ra64]

LOL hey!! The other issue is that so many cheap and tattered Miatas eventually get parted out because no one wants to take up the project. Soon enough, wrecked Miatas in the PnP will be as rare as Celicas are now.

Exactly!

[Sigma Projects]

yea, it's sad that interesting cars sometimes don't become interesting to people until they're gone

[twotone_ra64]

Yeah, I just hope people stop seeing them as throwaway cars or just try to do a part out so they can make more money off the parts and scrap.

[Sigma Projects]

At least a lot of Miatas were sold, I mean in the first year Mazda sold something like over 20K in the US. I'm surprised how many first gen Insights go to the Junk Yard each month and there are only about 14K total made for the US and roughly 17K world wide. Toyota makes more Camrys in a month than how many 1G Insight exist in the world

[twotone_ra64]

This is true! I think at least 300k+ NAs were sold from '89-'97, so while plentiful, it just hurts to see them get abused. It must a different story with the Insights since people tend to just get a new lease on a Hybrid or EV after 3 years, or when the batteries die. My dad got an '07 Civic Hybrid in 2012 that was perfectly fine except for the batteries going after 5 years. Now he has a Nissan Versa 1.6L. They are at least super cheap and get decent gas mileage.

[Sigma Projects]

Yea, I mean I understand the second gen Insight since it's just a normal car, the first gen Insight was the successor to the CRX. So at its core it's a really interesting vehicle.

Got rid of his Civic Hybrid just because of the battery??? Why didn't you just fix it for him in exchange for some cash? Like in my situation, cost me about $300 to fix it myself and most of that was because I wanted to install a charging system anyways. Hybrid batteries usually can go for a really long time, it's usually a few cells get out of spec and eventually trigger an error code for the pack being out of balance. Sometimes just draining the pack completely dead and then recharging it will make them act almost as good as new. Otherwise most of the time it's just 2~4 dead battery sticks in the pack that need to be changed out.

[twotone_ra64]

Isn't it considered the enthusiast's hybrid?

Well, I would have done it for him since the fix is generally straightforward, but he lives in Vegas. Plus he gave the whole "I don't have time to fix it" grumble grumble dad things. He also replaced my stepmom's Honda Odyssey with a new 2017 CR-V just because the A/C stopped working. I don't get his deal nowadays, when I was a kid he used to be Mr. Fix-it. I think my stepmom might actually be a succubus...