Man, I hadn't realized how my plastic window slowly deteriorated and how blind I was backing up. It's great to have glass. Huge improvement.
The top itself is nice, it's a Robbins. A lot quieter than my old leaky top. Very tight fit, in fact I may even have to adjust it because it's hard to latch it right now.
$799 installed by PBC, but I paid an extra $58 to replace a cable on the driver's side that had snapped. I think it helps the seals stay tight, I'd seen a loose cable but didn't know what it was, and yes it had been letting a couple of drops of water in after it rained.
So *that* is the color tan. The old one was brown. Previous owner kept the car in good condition but the top was stained and it baked in, even a tooth brush and elbow grease could not clean it.
She looks great. In fact it looks almost new. The crystal white paint was already in pretty good condition, not the top looks even better.
I'm very pleased. I'm definitely keeping her a couple more years at least. :-)
I have a 2001 with abuot 44K on it that I bought last fall (with about 44K on it). I plan to give it a good going over mechanically this month, and need some advice.
I'm not sure what (if anything) was done by the dealer I bought it from, but I imagine not much more than an oil change. Given that, what do the experts (that's you) recommend I do for routine/preventive maintenance?
I will do the coolant, and probably the trans/rear end fluid, unless it really is pointless now? Are the plugs likely to need replacing by now? Anything else notable?
I like to change all fluids when I buy a used car without all service records. That resets the counter, so to speak, on all fluid maintenance. If the car idles well and does not hesitate on acceleration, you can defer plugs and wires, but they don't cost that much to replace anyway.
As our Host commented, I would check belts and hoses, but at only three years old, they are probably still OK.
Before you flush your brake fluid, check your pads for wear. No use changing fluid now only to have to remove some if you find later that the pads need replacing.
Once all of this is done, you will be pretty maintenance-free for a couple of years, other than oil changes.
You need a baseline, so I'd change all the consumables so you know exactly how old they are.
For example, I bought my Miata with 26k miles, and they had already done the 30k service, even showed me a receipt.
I changed the gear oil anyway. Well, they had done the tranny oil, it was clean, but the rear diffy oil was nasty. No way had it ever been checked, much less changed.
So, I'd suggest the tranny oil, gear oil, motor oil and filter, fuel filter, PCV valve, spark plugs, spark plug wires (notorious problem area), air filter, O2 sensor, brake fluid, and since I've seen old brake fluid in my clutch, bleed the clutch slave cylinder too. Radiator flush, also.
Inspect belts/hoses and change ones that look old or cracked.
I wonder how long it will take for it to go away with the top down continuously? I would enjoy it myself!
Sad day for me, it appears that Carmax finally sold my Miata. At least it doesn't appear on their web site anymore...oh well, I guess it's time to let go whether I want ot or not.
I replaced it on my 92 Miata today. The repair was relatively easy although it didn't want to bleed out the air at first. It definitely was going bad because I noticed the fluid level dropped down some over a few months. What surprised me is how much better the car drives with the new slave cylinder. The clutch is a lot more solid (it was feeling weak, showed signs of slipping, and shuddered when cold before the repair), it engages quicker and higher up on the pedal, and most importantly, the noise I was hearing is gone. The raising of the idle was still present initially but after driving it around a bit, it seemed to stop. I feel a lot better about selling it to my friend now. The new cylinder cost $30 which was definitely worth it based on the improvements. It should be noted this was the ONLY actual repair needed on this car in 2 years of ownership, despite the high 145k miles.
Yes, your pics came in handy. Much nicer then the measly 1 pic Haynes provided. Thanks! The $30 was pretty cheap. I figured it was well worth not having to mess with rebuilding the part. I spent all day Saturday doing car work. I put new rear pads on my RX7 and a new power window regulator. It's so nice to have super fast power windows, compared to the extremely slow Miata windows. I found a neat online website that specializes in rebuilding electronic parts for the RX7 at a cheap price. Instead of paying $424 for a new wiper switch, they will rebuild my old one for $40!!! I could have kissed the guy that gave me the link! They also offer a neat driver's side power window switch that adds one touch up and down for both windows, just like an Audi!! I so want that gizmo I wonder if they could do something similar for the Miata? If anyone is interested, I could perhaps ask them.
It shouldn't be too hard to devise a one-touch up-down power window switch. Nothing that fancy -- it's only a timer that keeps the appropriate circuit closed for a few seconds. The latest Miatas have a one-touch-down for the driver's window. (One-touch-up is a bit tricky; there's always the possibility of someone pinching one's fingers.) I don't understand why Mazda doesn't have it for the passenger's window. It's like, why do they offer intermittent wipers, but don't let you to adjust the interval? Oh, well, that's not why we buy a sports car, right?
Yep, I'd expect that stuff in, say, the Mazda6, but not the Miata.
To be honest I don't even need power locks, I don't even bother to lock the doors. Especially now with the new top. The locks only keep honest people out.
Power windows are OK, I guess, for tolls and for swiping your tag at the garage.
Really, though, I could delete 5-6 items from my Miata and not miss them one bit.
OK, brakes are a-squeelin', looks like the front pads are spent. It would be my first time doing a brake job but I'm pretty handy (did the clutch slave and all the fluid including gear oil already). Advice?
Will a C-clamp work to push the piston back in? Any other special tools required beyond my basic well equipped tool box?
Finally, anyone know of a web site with pictures for doing this job? Could not find brakes in the Miata.net garage.
Not a lot to changing the front pads. Watch where all of the little parts (springs, anti-squeel plates) go and you will be OK. You need to remove the cap on the brake fluid reservoir prior to pushing the brake pistons back in.
If you have topped up your brake fluid lately, you are likely to overflow the reservoir when you use the c-clamps to push the pistons back, so keep an eye on it and remove some fluid if necessary (a turkey baster works well for this).
You probably know this already, but brake fluid can eat through paint. Clean up any spills very quickly and wash the effected area.
What kind of pads are you going to use? Stock mazda or other? Generally, only mazda pads come with new hardware, but you can reuse the old on aftermarket pads.
Glad to help out. I did my brakes last fall. I put Axxis Ultimate pads on. I also have BBS wheels from the 92-93 models. What a pain to keep clean with all of the small openings in the wheels. I either need to go back to stock pads or go to wheels that are easier to clean.
Hey, what do you mean you can't find the brake page on miata.net? It's still there - I wrote it!!! (years ago but it's in the "Handling" section and still valid)
Anyone tried the Akebono ProAct ceramic pads yet? They're new since I last changed a Miata pad. I just put them on our Honda Odyssey becuase of the poor life I was getting out of the stock pads. I'm just curious as to how well they will work. The van seems happy with them!
Well my miata.net one is still under /garage/brakepad.html but I like that one on cardomain a lot more. Either way both will get the job done.
Unless your current pads are chipped or scoring I'd not worry about replacing them just yet. Unfortunately squeaking brakes are really annoying and sometimes worth the effort of replacement if just for sanity's sake! I put a cheapo pad set on my daily commuter Toyota once and they squeaked exactly one week before I took them off and put on a set of nice quiet Axxis pads.
Cad & Driver as well as Road & Track gave the new MAZDASPEED Miata a great write up. I dig the idea of a factory turbo as well as the 17" wheels, LSD, and slightly more aggressive bodywork. It is really a sexy package and a great upgrade to an already great looking car. I hope they sell well and continue to make Mazdaspeed Miatas so I can snatch one up in a few years when the time comes to part ways with my beloved 2001 Prelude. When will the Turbo Miata actually be hitting the dealer lots? How many of them are going to be produced?
I did a search on the Mazda website and found dozens of 2003 Miatas still on dealers' lots. MAzda is offering incentives on 2003 & 2004 Miatas. I guess now's the time to buy.
Does anybody on the board own an '03 or an '04 Miata? How is it cruising with the top up on the highway? How about with the top up in the rain? I know it is a sports car and isn't supposed to be an LS430, but for me there is such a thing as too much.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
The last I heard, the Mazdaspeed Miata was slated to be released in April.
As for the driving experience, it will be difficult for anyone to tell you if it is "too much" for you. I am 6'1" and while the turbulence that hit the top of my head made me wish I were a couple of inches shorter, I still loved driving my 02 Miata.
With the top up on the highway, I thought the ride was fine in the rain...I didn't drive with the top up in the shine. Edmunds referred to it as being claustrophobic in a review once and I didn't think it was that bad, but YMMV. I'd suggest test driving one yourself.
BTW, the differences between the 01-04's are cosmetic, not mechanical. Although I think for 03, the LS's and the sports got a different LSD (non-Torsen) if that matters to you.
As for this being the time to buy, I'd agree on 03's...if you find one you like. The 04's currently have $1500 cash back in my area which will only increase as summer wanes and the NC debut draws near. I'm thinking of waiting ad trying to pick up a Mazdaspeed for about $18-19K in late 04...we'll see, I'm not sure I can wait that long.
We had a couple guys just get back from MiataSpeed school in Texas. They are very excited about the car!! They had the opportunity to drive with a professional race car driver first and then themselves. They had the chance to push the car to the limits and see how it was compared to the others (bmw,mr2,s2000). The huge smiles on their faces as they got off the airplane told the story. Both guys have been raving ever since they got back.
Remember, not all mazda dealers are mazdaSpeed certified...so find a speed dealer and keep your eyes peeled. They expect to ship in the next few weeks..
I agree with Thel; I, too, am 6-foot-plus and find driving top-up in my wife's 2002 Miata an endurable experience marred only by the nagging thought: "Every mile with the top up is a mile wasted."
I've noticed our good hosts here at Edmunds now have a separate category for the MazdaSpeed Miata wherein they list the invoice price of the car at $23,258 and the GT package at $601. (Destination charge remains $520.) My OTM was stolen at the beginning of the year and the T-Miata tops my list as a replacement. I just hope I can hold out long enough to avoid getting soaked with the "first kid on the block" surcharge.
Automobile magazine, in their April "SUV Special" edition, has a half-page intro to the car on page 119. Don't bother buying the mag just for that; you can read it in just a few seconds right at the newsstand and there's no real critique of the car -- just warmed over press releases. BTW, Automobile has always loved the little Miata. Not only was it their very first car of the year a decade-and-a-half ago, but it was the one that inspired them to start a car-of-the-year program in the first place.
MazdaUSA now has a separate listing for the MazdaSpeed Miata; it's no longer listed under "upcoming vehicles." I clicked on the "search inventory" button and found 40 T-MX5s within 150 miles of San Francisco.
already have tons of them listed on their inventories. Since the closest one is almost 2 hours away, I'm not sure if they are available for purchse yet.
Yes I know it is currently offered in only velocity red and titanium grey.
The original mazdaspeed Protege's were only offered in Spicy Orange and black mica. Later in 2003, Mazda introduced a 2003.5 version in other colors (including vivid yellow:) ). I was simply wondering if Mazda would do something similar with the MSM since grey and red don't really do it for me much.
I wonder if I'll be able to "hold out" that long. A local used car dealer has a 99 Sport package that he doesn't seem to know is a sport package. He's asking just under $9,000. The mileage is kind of high (over 70k) and the color (twilight blue) doesn't appeal to me much but if the price is right I might be able to work out a deal....
It needs new tires, and a lot of detailing (the wheels look really bad). The dealer seemed like a nice man but he would not budge on the price. I just didn't want to pay $9000 for a car that has that many miles, in a color that is my second to least favorite and then turn around and spend about $1k to "fix it up" (tires, new boot, detailing, etc.)
A fellow Miata.netter has one with only 15,000 miles. He says that it has been meticulously maintained (I would expect no less from a fellow enthusiast) and would take $12,000 for it. It sounds VERY appealling...I'd have to sell my 04 Matrix however and that could pose a financial issue....we'll see.
Comments
Since I sold my Miata, I drive a LOT less these days....:(
Man, I hadn't realized how my plastic window slowly deteriorated and how blind I was backing up. It's great to have glass. Huge improvement.
The top itself is nice, it's a Robbins. A lot quieter than my old leaky top. Very tight fit, in fact I may even have to adjust it because it's hard to latch it right now.
$799 installed by PBC, but I paid an extra $58 to replace a cable on the driver's side that had snapped. I think it helps the seals stay tight, I'd seen a loose cable but didn't know what it was, and yes it had been letting a couple of drops of water in after it rained.
So *that* is the color tan. The old one was brown. Previous owner kept the car in good condition but the top was stained and it baked in, even a tooth brush and elbow grease could not clean it.
She looks great. In fact it looks almost new. The crystal white paint was already in pretty good condition, not the top looks even better.
I'm very pleased. I'm definitely keeping her a couple more years at least. :-)
-juice
I'm not sure what (if anything) was done by the dealer I bought it from, but I imagine not much more than an oil change. Given that, what do the experts (that's you) recommend I do for routine/preventive maintenance?
I will do the coolant, and probably the trans/rear end fluid, unless it really is pointless now? Are the plugs likely to need replacing by now? Anything else notable?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
You might check your belts and hoses carefully, rotate the tires, lubricate all hinges and locks.
As our Host commented, I would check belts and hoses, but at only three years old, they are probably still OK.
Before you flush your brake fluid, check your pads for wear. No use changing fluid now only to have to remove some if you find later that the pads need replacing.
Once all of this is done, you will be pretty maintenance-free for a couple of years, other than oil changes.
For example, I bought my Miata with 26k miles, and they had already done the 30k service, even showed me a receipt.
I changed the gear oil anyway. Well, they had done the tranny oil, it was clean, but the rear diffy oil was nasty. No way had it ever been checked, much less changed.
So, I'd suggest the tranny oil, gear oil, motor oil and filter, fuel filter, PCV valve, spark plugs, spark plug wires (notorious problem area), air filter, O2 sensor, brake fluid, and since I've seen old brake fluid in my clutch, bleed the clutch slave cylinder too. Radiator flush, also.
Inspect belts/hoses and change ones that look old or cracked.
-juice
Funny thing is it has that "new car smell".
Most people like it but I find it nauseating. No problem - put the top down!
-juice
Sad day for me, it appears that Carmax finally sold my Miata. At least it doesn't appear on their web site anymore...oh well, I guess it's time to let go whether I want ot or not.
Were you able to see my pics? Did they help out at all? $30 seems cheap for a new one.
-juice
Liven up your evening and join your fellow enthusiasts every Tuesday from 6-7pm PT/9-10pm ET for our Mazda Mania Chat!
We'll be testing your knowledge with some automotive trivia questions as well, so be prepared! Hope to see YOU there on Tuesday!
Mazda Mania Chat Room
PF Flyer
Host
Pickups & News & Views Message Boards
The Haynes only helped me once, to find the fuel filter. For everything else I had to go online, especially to advance the timing.
Sure, ask about the Miata window switches, why not? You never know who you might end up helping.
-juice
It shouldn't be too hard to devise a one-touch up-down power window switch. Nothing that fancy -- it's only a timer that keeps the appropriate circuit closed for a few seconds. The latest Miatas have a one-touch-down for the driver's window. (One-touch-up is a bit tricky; there's always the possibility of someone pinching one's fingers.) I don't understand why Mazda doesn't have it for the passenger's window. It's like, why do they offer intermittent wipers, but don't let you to adjust the interval? Oh, well, that's not why we buy a sports car, right?
Poor Richard
To be honest I don't even need power locks, I don't even bother to lock the doors. Especially now with the new top. The locks only keep honest people out.
Power windows are OK, I guess, for tolls and for swiping your tag at the garage.
Really, though, I could delete 5-6 items from my Miata and not miss them one bit.
-juice
Will a C-clamp work to push the piston back in? Any other special tools required beyond my basic well equipped tool box?
Finally, anyone know of a web site with pictures for doing this job? Could not find brakes in the Miata.net garage.
TIA
-juice
If you have topped up your brake fluid lately, you are likely to overflow the reservoir when you use the c-clamps to push the pistons back, so keep an eye on it and remove some fluid if necessary (a turkey baster works well for this).
You probably know this already, but brake fluid can eat through paint. Clean up any spills very quickly and wash the effected area.
What kind of pads are you going to use? Stock mazda or other? Generally, only mazda pads come with new hardware, but you can reuse the old on aftermarket pads.
http://miata.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=2026- 01&page=2
SCORE on that link, awesome, thanks. Should be a piece of cake with those pics helping me out.
Major thanks! Sending good karma your way...
-juice
-juice
Anyone tried the Akebono ProAct ceramic pads yet? They're new since I last changed a Miata pad. I just put them on our Honda Odyssey becuase of the poor life I was getting out of the stock pads. I'm just curious as to how well they will work. The van seems happy with them!
Keith R.
Any how, this is rather funny, I assumed I'd reached the squeelers but nope, the pads appear to have about half their life remaining.
So question, should I change them now? How do you measure the remaining brake lining to determine if they need to be swapped out?
Now I'm worried about the rear brakes, but the squeek was intermittent so maybe it was nothing at all.
-juice
Unless your current pads are chipped or scoring I'd not worry about replacing them just yet. Unfortunately squeaking brakes are really annoying and sometimes worth the effort of replacement if just for sanity's sake! I put a cheapo pad set on my daily commuter Toyota once and they squeaked exactly one week before I took them off and put on a set of nice quiet Axxis pads.
Keith R.
I did a search on the Mazda website and found dozens of 2003 Miatas still on dealers' lots. MAzda is offering incentives on 2003 & 2004 Miatas. I guess now's the time to buy.
Does anybody on the board own an '03 or an '04 Miata? How is it cruising with the top up on the highway? How about with the top up in the rain? I know it is a sports car and isn't supposed to be an LS430, but for me there is such a thing as too much.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
does Mazda have serious problems making cars pass 50 state emissions or what?
~colin
As for the driving experience, it will be difficult for anyone to tell you if it is "too much" for you. I am 6'1" and while the turbulence that hit the top of my head made me wish I were a couple of inches shorter, I still loved driving my 02 Miata.
With the top up on the highway, I thought the ride was fine in the rain...I didn't drive with the top up in the shine.
BTW, the differences between the 01-04's are cosmetic, not mechanical. Although I think for 03, the LS's and the sports got a different LSD (non-Torsen) if that matters to you.
As for this being the time to buy, I'd agree on 03's...if you find one you like. The 04's currently have $1500 cash back in my area which will only increase as summer wanes and the NC debut draws near. I'm thinking of waiting ad trying to pick up a Mazdaspeed for about $18-19K in late 04...we'll see, I'm not sure I can wait that long.
The huge smiles on their faces as they got off the airplane told the story. Both guys have been raving ever since they got back.
Remember, not all mazda dealers are mazdaSpeed certified...so find a speed dealer and keep your eyes peeled. They expect to ship in the next few weeks..
I've noticed our good hosts here at Edmunds now have a separate category for the MazdaSpeed Miata wherein they list the invoice price of the car at $23,258 and the GT package at $601. (Destination charge remains $520.) My OTM was stolen at the beginning of the year and the T-Miata tops my list as a replacement. I just hope I can hold out long enough to avoid getting soaked with the "first kid on the block" surcharge.
Automobile magazine, in their April "SUV Special" edition, has a half-page intro to the car on page 119. Don't bother buying the mag just for that; you can read it in just a few seconds right at the newsstand and there's no real critique of the car -- just warmed over press releases. BTW, Automobile has always loved the little Miata. Not only was it their very first car of the year a decade-and-a-half ago, but it was the one that inspired them to start a car-of-the-year program in the first place.
Poor Richard
There's even a brochure that you can download.
Poor Richard
Mazda Mania
Liven up your evening and join your fellow enthusiasts every Tuesday from 6-7pm PT/9-10pm ET for our Mazda Mania Chat!
We have another set of Mazda-related trivia questions this week, so be prepared! Hope to see YOU there on Tuesday!
Mazda Mania Chat Room
PF Flyer
Host
Pickups & News & Views Message Boards
The original mazdaspeed Protege's were only offered in Spicy Orange and black mica. Later in 2003, Mazda introduced a 2003.5 version in other colors (including vivid yellow:) ). I was simply wondering if Mazda would do something similar with the MSM since grey and red don't really do it for me much.
Of course now that I have a new top I won't be shopping for at least 2-3 more years.
-juice
-juice