Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

lngtonge18 · December 2002

The regular battery was actually pretty light for a wet cell. I don't remember much of a weight difference between them. So, what benefit exactly does the $30 extra bucks buy you with westco, other than the novelty of not having any water in it? To me, it's just like wasting money on oe parts from the dealer when you can buy them cheaper elsewhere. The wet cell should last 4-5 years no problem, maybe longer.

mellis · December 2002

I've yet to see a wet cell last 5 years. The OEM gel batteries have been known to last 10. See www.miata.net

The factory put in gel. I'm putting in gel. Don't want to worry about leakage and gas.

Mark

maxmx5 · December 2002

Anyone know performance numbers for the 2001 Miata with auto transmission?

ateixeira · December 2002

I guess the $30 buys you a custom plug-and-play fit, plus you don't have to vent your trunk.

But I'm cheap so I'd probably get the wet cell.

-juice

maltb · December 2002

I was under the impression that both the Panasonic and the Mazda/Interstate are sealed lead/acid batteries. I guess I need to do some checking.

kymike · December 2002

Here's more than you probably want to know about the Miata battery -

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

maltb · December 2002

good reading.

ace10 · December 2002

BLIZZAKS RULE!!!!

ace

ateixeira · December 2002

Poor Blanca is sitting covered in a blanket of snow. It was time to bring out the Subie.

It's not even my own traction that I worry about, it's other people running into me!

-juice

mainsail2 · December 2002

Any suggestions for a type or brand of cool sounding air horn? I've seen electric and compressed air; also dual, triple, etc. I'm confused.

lngtonge18 · December 2002

You guys missed out on the Christmas parade in Tallahassee, Florida. The local Miata club dressed up their Miatas real nice! There was about 10 Miatas all with their emergency flashers on, honking their horns, and strings of lights all over them. One even had a windup apparatus on the trunk. It was so neat! I was jealous that I wasn't in it. The crowd seemed to really enjoy it. I love how being a Miata owner makes you feel like you are part of a special club. Very few cars invoke this feeling.

ateixeira · December 2002

Any pics? That would be fun to see.

-juice

lngtonge18 · December 2002

No pics unfortunately. I was too busy keeping myself warm to even think about taking pics. At least the Miata drivers had portable heaters.....

ateixeira · December 2002

You should see my poor baby. She looked like a Suzuki X80 last week, covered with 10" of snow. Finally cleaned her off, and now we get freezing rain. She's been parked for more than a week.

But I've always said, a Subaru is the perfect complement to a Miata. My Forester is getting around very nicely.

Should I start her up and let the engine run for a while? Now she's barricaded in by the snow from the plow.

-juice

maltb · December 2002

just make sure the radiator duct is clear so it doesn't overheat.

ateixeira · December 2002

It probably is, it hasn't moved since we got show and the front of the car wasn't covered with snow from the plows.

The thing has about 2" of clearance though, and nice wall of ice around it. She's stranded!

I may drive the Forester over the snow bank to break it down a bit, get her out of there. No more parking on the street when I know it's going to snow!

-juice

justin · December 2002

So, what is the deal with the 2001 Special Edition. i have seen one with 10k miles for 18k. ABS too. good price? what does the SE have that an LS doesn't have? thanks.

locke2c · December 2002

Unique paint and top colors, some cabin cosmetics, standard torsen LSD, six speed manual transmission. (LS & base can have torsen LSD with "sport" suspension package)

-Colin

justin · December 2002

heading to the dealer after work. one left over 2002 LS with ABS, six speed, cassette, and small spoiler. out the door price of $22356. that INCLUDES taxes, tags, processing fee.

can i do any better? price is $21353 before taxes, tags, etc. it is midnight blue/tan leather. no chrome gas cover

thanks for any advice.

thel · December 2002

Plus, you can get a chrome fuel door for about $70-80 if you want to. Try to get the dealer to throw one in or try Mazdasouth.com (or the Miata.net marketplace).

Mazda probably gave the dealer a $2000 cash incentive to help move it off the lot. If you really want to be mean, you may be able to get them to knock off another $1,000 or so for a total of about $3000-$3500 under invoice.

At least, that's a deal I had on a leftover 2001 this summer. I didn't bite though, I went with a 2002 Crystal Blue LS. A car like a Miata should be just the way you want it.

MarkinAtlanta · January 2003

Wife's '92 just turned 63,000 miles on the clock and I just scheduled the 60,000 mile service for next next Wed (incl. timing belt and new water pump). I asked them to inspect and possibly change every fluid the car has. Since the car is nearly 11 years old, and I want to do a full blown preventative maintenance. I'm not looking for top performance, just maximum car life and long term reliablity. What do y'all think of changing spark plug wires at this time, is that overkill? Anything else I should ask them to inspect/change that is not normally included in this service?

Thanks is advance.

Mr_Shiftright · January 2003

Abolutely, those are all good things to do. Miatas like to eat spark plug wires, and changing all the fluids is money well spent at that mileage.

justin · January 2003

how can you tell if a USED 2002 5 speed has the Limited Slip option? i don't trust the paperwork. how can i PROVE that is has it?

thanks!

justin · January 2003

got the VIN and called Mazda.

mainsail2 · January 2003

Just developed the problem on my 1992. I already have new radiator, belts, hoses, heater hoses, thermostat,etc. I am afraid that it may be a head gasket, heater core, or water pump, but I'm not sure of what symptoms to look for. When I open the hood with the engine running I see very small coolant droplets in the sunlight. They have caused a coolent "wet spot" on the inside of the hood, and I see coolant down in the catch pan (and other lower places), between the underside of the engine and the ground. I have exactly 60,000 miles and had the timing belt replace at 57,000, but not the water pump. The car is still driveable; this is not a lot of coolant I'm losing (yet). Any ideas?

rotarykid · January 2003

The waterpump is a likely source but it could be just a hose seeping at the clamp. The radiator shouldnt be ruled out either. they like to seperate between the plastic tanks and the aluminum core. take it to any garage and have them pressure test it.

sjett · January 2003

Hi All....I'm finding it hard to locate a '99-'01 Miata without ground effects. How hard is it to remove them? If removed, are there holes left? Should I just keep looking for one without ground effects?

Thanks
Steve

justin · January 2003

great question - i want the answer too!

WarpDrive · January 2003

The plastic skirt pieces are held on by screws and adhesive tape. You will be left with holes if you remove the pieces. A body shop could fill them at some expense though.

arancibia · January 2003

Did you buy the 2002 LS?

Where are you located?

I saw a new 2002 LS for w/o ABS or 6sp, reduced to $21K, the sticker said $25,550 so $21K (before taxes, etc) which I thought was good. So I think your pricing was even better.

I'm still thinking about it? Curious about what you did.

justin · January 2003

the dealer was practicing some unprofessional business practices. if it doesn't snow this weekend (here in DC area), i am looking around at a couple used models.

arancibia · January 2003

What models are you looking at??

I'm also looking at 2000 SEs, around $17-18 here in California.

justin · January 2003

i am only looking at used 2001 and 2002 models. i am too concerned about the 99-2000 engine problems on the miatas that i hear about.

lngtonge18 · January 2003

Check the seal between the two halves of the thermostat housing. My 92 developed a leak there after the seal deteriorated in a few spots. The coolant dripped down slowly to the undercarriage and only occurred when the engine was running. Since you just had the thermostat replaced, they may not have replaced the seal or they installed the two halves improperly. Hope this helps.

mainsail2 · January 2003

Thanks for your help. As it turns out it was simply the small formed hose that comes out of the thermostat and runs into the engine block. I had to remove the plastic air intake to see it.

knhill · January 2003

The 99-2000 engine problems you speak of - do you mean the improperly machined #4 main cap? If so, I thought this problem was supposed to reveal itself, fatally, by 10k miles or so. I have a 99 with 36k miles and no trouble. I hope it stays that way.

miatame · January 2003

I own a 95 M Edition. I recently lost one of the cover caps from my BBS wheels. Any ideas where I might be able to find a replacement? I have searched extensively online, but have not found the right place as of yet.

mellis · January 2003

I also have a 95M and had the same problem last summer. Go to http://www.trussvillemazda.com/parts/parts.html and talk to Marshall. He will ship one to you at a good discount.

Mark

miatame · January 2003

Mark,

Thanks for your help. I live in Illinois, and I couldn't pass up a 60 degree day in January earlier this week for a ride with the top down. As I was putting the car cover back on, I noticed the missing cap. Must have lost it on a pothole somewhere.

mellis · January 2003

I wish I could do that. There is 3+ feet of snow outside my door right now. My 95M is safely tucked in the garage until April.

Mark

sammyc · January 2003

My 96 has 24-27 mpg (most highway and top up). I saw some people said that 90-97 Miata can get 30+ mpg. Is that true statement?

kymike · January 2003

The best I've done in two years with my '91 is 29.6. I get about 24 in town and 27-29 on the highway (top down).

A lot depends on your driving speed, quality of gasoline (I always use Chevron 87), terrain and state of tune.

ateixeira · January 2003

I have yet to break 30mpg on my 1993, but I don't pamper it either. She sees redline once per tankful at the very least.

To test your rear LSD, jack her up at the rear diffy, then rotate one wheel manually. The other should turn in the same direction, with only a very slight delay. Works with the viscous LSD on the gen I models, any how.

Or call the 800 # with the VIN, which is easier.

-juice

knhill · January 2003

My 99 can break 30 on the highway at ~60 mph. Top must be up. Highest was 32. Lowest was 23 at Deal's Gap in NC mountains.

ateixeira · January 2003

Maybe that's it - I almost never have the top up.

-juice

locke2c · January 2003

juice I don't believe your test will work with a torsen LSD.

could be mistaken but that's what I'm thinking right now...

-Colin

cuteeric17 · January 2003

Just curious, what's the 0-60 time on this little girl?

ateixeira · January 2003

Probably not, Colin, don't you have to have some resistance?

For mine (viscous), it did work.

-juice

thel · January 2003

If you're interested in 0-60 times, the Miata isn't for you. The Miata is about top-down, tight-handling, smooth-shifting, high-revving, unadulterated fun. If you want to blow people away at the stop light, look elswhere.

cuteeric17 · January 2003

Thanks for the tip - lol. Actually, I was just wondering.

Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

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