Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

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Comments

  • nativetex44nativetex44 Member Posts: 15
    Has anyone read the discussions in "Coupes Convertibles Sports" under the "Definition of a Chick Car"? I never realized I owned a chick car or so they tell me. I am a woman, but is it still a chick car when my 230 pound husband drives it sometimes? Does anyone agree with the Miata being a chick car?

    Even if it is considered a chick car, I love driving this car.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    I've heard the same thing or the one about sexual preference.

    Perhaps if it was based solely on aesthetics this may be the case, but anyone who DRIVES cars know otherwise.
  • hirobynhirobyn Member Posts: 10
    Well, I am a chick, so I guess my Miata is a "Chick Car." But I've noticed that I am out numbered by all the men driving Miata's in my town. (Hey, maybe they've all stolen their wife's car for the day?)
  • mainsail2mainsail2 Member Posts: 77
    I think the confusion about the Miata's being a chick car is just that. Every female that I zoom past in my red flyer knows that I'm a hottie...and I believe me...I ain't no chick!
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    ...chick magnet?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Totally bogus - most Miata owners are middle aged men. It's actually not even close, far more men than women drive Miatas. Look how often they are autocrossed.

    I'll admit, mine gets lots of attention from females. So let me get this straight: these so-called men have a problem with that? I think they're the ones that ought to question their sexuality.

    -juice
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    I think the Miata's perception as being a girl's car comes from its "cute" styling. People see the car as more feminine looking (I tend to agree) and don't take into account that it's a true sports car and feels masculine to drive. Most people I have seen driving them are middle aged men, but I get a lot of attention from teenaged girls. I drove by a 15 year old and she gleefully pointed at my car to her friend and yelled, "I want a car just like that!" Not to hurt anyone's ego in here, but my bright red Miata has been characterized by my early 20s friends as looking "gay". So, if you are concerned about how your sexuality is presented and are a guy, you might want to consider getting a different color. This gay perception might also come from the fact that a gold 99 Miata was used in Showtime's Queer as Folk as a showy car that grabbed people's attention.
  • dgraves1dgraves1 Member Posts: 414
    These are the same guys who read "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche" and thought it was a scholarly study of what constitutes manhood.
  • davidb72davidb72 Member Posts: 174
    Put in a Hard Dog Hard Core roll bar and those comments will stop. Put in a Flying Miata Turbo or a Steve Jackson Supercharger and those comments will stop even faster....
  • j2kbarlowj2kbarlow Member Posts: 89
    Most people who think the Miata is a chick car also think it's front wheel drive. They're clueless. The rest think that anything that doesn't have V-8 engine is chick car. They're ignorant. I just smirk to myself as I enjoy one of the best pure sports cars around. You don't race chick cars and win races - just point that out to any aquaintance who isn't enlightened!
  • WarpDriveWarpDrive Member Posts: 506
    Yeah, I can identify with the way the car gets attention from 15 year olds. One morning I parked my freshly waxed/clean car (away from other cars) at the mall with the top down while I went into the nearby Second Cup (Canadian equivalent of Starbucks) to sip some gut expanding Mocha coffee with way too much whipped cream. Then two cute looking sorority (or maybe senior highschool) girls starting walking toward my car. Since my car was parked way out of the way, they could only be heading toward my car so I started watching them to see what they were up to (as paranoid as ever). They arrived at my car and walked around the car. Then one of them pulls out a video camera and procedes to starting filming the car. They went ahead and filmed the front, sides and even kneeled down a bit to get a better shot!

    As far as chick car, most of the population is just plain ignorant about Miatas in general. Once I pulled up to the stoplight with a Harley riding scruffy looking guy already stopped there. Even this guy said "nice car man!" as I pulled up, so there are *some* people that understand.
    As for the rest, screw 'em, let them think whatever they want to think. Just like my WRX (who some people think looks like a toy), I'm enjoying my ride SO much that I don't really car how people stereotype or think about my choice of cars.
  • mainsail2mainsail2 Member Posts: 77
    I want to replace my front brake pads on my 1992. Everything is running smoothly, so I've decided to just resurface the rotors, replace pads, and oil the caliper pins. Now, the question is should I stick with the original Mazda pads or would the semi-metallics at NAPA be all right? They are very similar in price. (This car is for weekend beach cruising so I don't need to overkill here; I'm just looking for something that will work OK and last 30-40k).
  • freddy_kfreddy_k Member Posts: 376
    j2kbarlow- I've also found quite a few people mistaking the Miata for a fwd Del Sol kind of car.

    Warpdrive - I think the Imprezza is a pretty funny looking car, a design that came from a head full of glue. while looking for a car (for the woman, the Miata's still mine) I drove it very reluctantly, and with a pretty closed mind, but it didn't take long to get me sold on it, what a great ride, even with the RS model.
  • j2kbarlowj2kbarlow Member Posts: 89
    I've only used the Mazda replacements since I've never had any problems with them under normal use. It's hard to justify saving a few bucks if the pads start squealing after a few thousand miles. I can't say that the NAPA parts will do that, but I know the Mazdas won't.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Oscar Jackson, I believe. :-) Steve Millen does Nissans.

    The Impreza has enough character that the looks don't really matter. It's a playful toy with a wicked edge.

    Per Auto Pacific, 63% of Miata owners are male. Median age is 47, 68% are married and 68% finished college. Median income is $82,400. Like I said, middle-aged men. Affluent ones to boot.

    VW Cabrio has 69% female owners. Not that it matters.

    -juice
  • davidb72davidb72 Member Posts: 174
    Good catch, you're right... Oscar Jackson.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I have a catalog with his S/C kit, very nice stuff. Top notch engineering, and fully reversible (i.e. you can remove it if you sell the car).

    -juice
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    I thought I'd heard something about Rod Millen in conjunction with Miatas way back when...? No? Maybe the beers did kill too many brain cells.

    /j
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    You're right, he even had a catalog for my '91 Escort GT (Mazda 1.8l DOHC engine).

    But Rod focuses more on Toyotas now, Celicas and even Tacomas. Brother Steve does Nissan, and son Rhys does Mitsubishi. Cool family, eh?

    -juice
  • nativetex44nativetex44 Member Posts: 15
    When I am in my Miata without a passenger (which is most of the time) and I go over some rough spots in the road, the passenger seat rattles at the top of the seat - the side closest to the door. When there are two people in the car, it doesn't rattle. Has anyone had this problem? Can I tighten something on it so it will not rattle or should I take it in to have the dealership fix it?

    By the way, I want to thank all of you for posting such informative stuff. I just bought my first Miata in November '01 and am still learning.
  • maynardf1maynardf1 Member Posts: 127
    Can you tell if the rattle is from the seat itself or perhaps the seatbelt banging against the side of the car?
    There's a nifty little slot for the belt when it's not being used.
  • ace10ace10 Member Posts: 137
    check out www.miata.net for a simple fix, involving a safety pin

    ace
  • ffisherncffishernc Member Posts: 3
    Heck, I just recline the seat some then push it back so that the seat back is against the rear of the cockpit. Works fine
  • eddiesvr4eddiesvr4 Member Posts: 41
    Wut up guys, sorry to bring up an old topic, but I was trying to dig up some info that was posted awhile ago (which is now lost in the thousands of postings) regarding the replacement of the timing belt.

    I just took my 92 in for it's annual inspection. No problems passing.

    But the mechanic recommended I change the timing belt. I remember you guys mentioning how important changing the timing belt at 80K miles.

    My car is at 75K miles already. Am I jumping the gun by replacing the belt? Can I last another 10-15K miles?

    I don't have $800-1000 for the repair. I'm gonna keep the car for one more season and then let it go. Hopefully, I can withhold any major repairs ...

    Any thoughts?

    Thanx...

    Eddie
  • dgraves1dgraves1 Member Posts: 414
    Well, your primary risk is the car dying on you at an inopportune moment. If you can live with that, you can take your chances. BTW $800-1000 for a timing belt change sounds way too high. I admit I'm no Miata expert but I can't see why the Miata would be 2 to 3 times as expensive as most other cars.
  • kstephankstephan Member Posts: 41
    The conventional wisdom on the timing belt replacement is 60K, not 80K. I'd say that beyond 75K, you're pushing your luck.


    A timing belt replacement shouldn't cost $800-1000. Shop around--I think you can get it for less than $400. However, there are some things to be aware of that a non-Mazda mechanic might miss when doing the timing belt, so choose carefully. You might want to check out Miata.net for more info:


    http://www.miata.net/garage/timingbelt.html

  • j2kbarlowj2kbarlow Member Posts: 89
    A local shop is advertising the ENTIRE 60K mile service for $500 (replace all fluids, timing belt, spark plugs, wires, air filter, etc.). So the timing belt alone should be between $200-300.

    Perhaps your mechanic thinks the Miata is front-wheel drive? :O) And if that's the case, no way would he be servicing mine.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    We also did the timing belt and several other things for under $500 at a Mazda dealer, this on our 626 V6. I would imagine that if anything the Miata would be cheaper.

    -juice
  • eddiesvr4eddiesvr4 Member Posts: 41
    Thanx for the input guys. $800 does seem abit high. I'll shop around.

    You're right, I don't want this to turn into a serious issue or breakdown in the middle of no-where. This repair can easily turn into a MAJOR repair.

    I have a small concert I plan to attend in Toronto in April. I'm in NYC. The trip isn't terribly long, but I can just imagine breaking down in the middle of nowhere...

    Again, muchas gracias. This board is a great source of information.

    Eddie
  • eddiesvr4eddiesvr4 Member Posts: 41
    Thanx again guys ... I just called around for the Timing Belt repair. I can get the timing belt, water pump, and some valve replaced for $440. That's a whole lot better than I originally had figured.

    Thanx for everyone's input. I may have wound up going to the other guy and getting ripped off.

    I still need to change the rear window, but that's gonna have to wait for now. But hey, who needs a rear window on a beautiful sunny day, with the top down.

    Oh yeah...

    Best to everyone...

    Eddie
  • dgraves1dgraves1 Member Posts: 414
    That's sounds better. Even the Toyota dealers only charge $600 for doing the belt on my mid-engine turbo. The Miata should be a piece of cake compared to that.
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    I'm hearing a high pitched shrill whistle which lasts for about 10 seconds every few minutes whenever I'm using the AC. Does anyone know what could cause this? It seems to happen when the AC cycles on. Is the AC system vaccuum operated on the 92 models?

    Also, does anyone else have a high pitched whine from the tranny when travelling in 5th gear at 60-75? When I changed the fluid, the whine seemed to lessen, but now its back again. It doesn't appear to be leaking so I'm sure the fluid level is fine. Is this just a case of worn out snychros or is the noise common to older Miatas?

    Lastly, I'm experiencing quite a bit of heat coming through the center floor console on long distance trips. The bottom of the cupholder gets hot and warms up drinks quickly. Has anyone added any insulation that solved this annoyance?
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    Sounds like a slipping belt. Check the tension or check for glazing, it may need to be replaced.
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    The whistle I'm hearing is not a slipping belt sound. It's similar to the sound a very small wind leak or vaccuum leak would make, only I'm not going fast enough for the wind to make the noise and it seems to be related to the AC turning on. It also appears to be coming from somewhere deep in the center of the dash. Any other ideas? I read on Miata.net there is some AC valve inside the dash that will make high pitched beeping sounds, but my noise is not a beep.
  • dgraves1dgraves1 Member Posts: 414
    A vacuum leak will generaly change pitch with engine speed. Does it do that?
  • nativetex44nativetex44 Member Posts: 15
    I feel really dumb!!! My seat was not the rattle problem, it was the seat belt. I knew about the slot for the seat belt, but forget to use it. Since I started using it, no rattle. Thank you Maynardf1, Ace10 and ffishernc for your help.
  • mainsail2mainsail2 Member Posts: 77
    The Miata I purchased underwent the complete 60,000 servicing at 56,000 just before I bought it. I have receipts from the Mazda dealer for just about everything since new, but I cannot find any record of the front brake pads ever having been replaced. The rear brakes were done at 42,000 miles, rotors resurfaced, and calipers replaced. Since the rear brakes customarily wear out more slowly than the front, what's the story here? Mazda did all sorts of stuff as part of this 56,000 mile servicing (the bill was over $1000.00), but there is no mention of the front brakes needing replacement. It shows in the manual that inspecting the brakes is part of the 60,000 inspection, but can I safely assume that this was done? I'm bringing all this up because the front brakes feel a little weak to me, but I'd feel foolish replacing the pads again if it was just done.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    If it's not on the receipt, the pads probably just lasted a long time. I'd bleed the system, for sure, repace the pads, and have the rotors turned.

    -juice
  • dgraves1dgraves1 Member Posts: 414
    Not sure what you mean by the brakes feeling weak. You really shouldn't notice any difference in feel or braking ability when the pads are wearing down. The first indication of worn pads is usually the scraping sound of the wear indicators. If weak means a soft pedal, then you probably need to bleed the brakes as atexeirra recommended. If continued pressure on the pedal results in the pedal contiuning to move toward the floor, it is generally a master cylinder problem.
  • mainsail2mainsail2 Member Posts: 77
    There has been no noise from the wear indicators. There is also no mushiness in the brake pedal and it does not gradually move toward the floor when applying. I guess by weak I'm meaning that I have to step on them harder to feel like I'm going to safely make my stop then I usually have had to with other cars. I guess I'll go ahead and replace them as suggested and see what happens...Thanks to all....
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    sounds like a typical miata brake pedal to me. there's not a great deal of vacuum assist so this results in relatively high pedal effort... for a modern car.

    -Colin
  • dgraves1dgraves1 Member Posts: 414
    Colin,
    Long time no see. Where have you been? Have you traded up to a WRX yet?
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    wow, some old timers here in Sportscars do remember me. I'm shocked!

    let's see here... basically what happened as I remember it was that after the Subaru club was formed (right after the Cougar club-- anyone remember the Mercury Cougar now? lol) I pretty much stayed in there because of the civility and overall lack of ...um, difficult forum participants. after webX debuted and subscriptions arrived, I subscribed to all the Subaru stuff and pretty much never searched any new topics. the other day I poked around here in Sportscars a bit and subscribed to a few things.

    whew that was boring. :-D anyway, I still have my '99 Impreza 2.5RS. I have stopped spending money on it because of a rediscovered love of motorcycles, plus an overall distaste for heavily modifying a perfectly good new car. The things I've done to it and friends' Subarus defies logic at times, but it's cheaper than paying someone else to do it.

    If I bought new, I'd probably get a WRX even though the looks still do nothing for me. OK, that's enough of a Miata topic hijack... Still have the Miata too, but of course that's my wife's car.

    -Colin
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    Our Yellow Special Edition arrived today...The color is great. It's not the same yellow as on the P5. It's metallic.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Is that the bronze-looking color? Saw one of those last year, but thought it looked too much like rust. Definitely unique, though.

    -juice
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    rust? the Special Edition for 2000 and 2001 was one color. sort of a reddish purple in 2000, can't remember last year's offhand...

    this year they get two colors and one of them is a bright yellow.

    if you're thinking of a rust color was that evolution orange? that was an LS color.

    -Colin
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Maybe this wasn't an SE. Evo Orange sounds familiar.

    -juice
  • brekkebrekke Member Posts: 304
    I saw a pink Miata in Florida! Mary Kay kinda pink.
  • kstephankstephan Member Posts: 41
    That isn't going to help those of us who take offense at the Miata being mentioned in the "Chick Car" discussions!
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    that it may belong to somebody who participated in this survey:

    http://cartalk.cars.com/About/Gay-Lesbian/gay-chick1.html
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