Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

locke2c · July 2003

My ex's Miata with torsen rear end and real winter tires is a beast in the snow. All-seasons are lame all year round. Summers and winters!

-Colin

ateixeira · July 2003

My winter tires are that Subaru I mentioned earlier.

My philosophy: the right tool for the job.

-juice

redkey1 · July 2003

I think they did increase.

logic1 · July 2003

I have never been in a Subie with a 5 speed. I will have to look for the opportunity.

I have the Torsen Slip as well. Chicago gets its share of snow. Usually the first accumulation or two I will scare the heck out myself by over accelerating at launch and really losing the back end. Once I remind myself it is in fact Winter, I can keep things somewhat under control.

Generally the best rule of thumb though is to commandeer the Wife's Escape. I may not like the look of things from a Ute, but it sure does work the snow better.

ateixeira · July 2003

Mine is the viscous LSD, it still slips easily in snow. Some times in rain, even. Tires are to blame in part.

A bigger concern, for me, with winter driving is that around here people have about zero snow driving experience and skill, so it's like bumper cars at times. I don't want to be a small target.

-juice

erics6 · July 2003

It really will be interesting to see what Mazda comes up with for the NC version. I really do think they are going to have to raise the bar. The Miata just isn't selling all that well these days.

Look, I love my 99 and am happy with the power. It's definitely not as refined as my Subie, but it's a heck of a lot more fun to drive (in dry weather at least).

If I were looking for new sports car, the Miata just wouldn't be on my list. (As a used car it would be.) If I were looking for a roadster- yes, but I think most people are looking at other sports cars, eg. the new Z and WRX. The overall performance you get at those price points is amazing. There are people who want the roadster experience, but I think a lot of other folks are looking for the total sports car package.

-Eric

ateixeira · July 2003

Our Miata is the perfect 3rd car. But then we bought it used, and it didn't cost much.

I'm not sure Mazda could do enough to get me to buy a new one, it's hard to justify an expensive toy.

I'd be interested in a de-contented, lightened Miata for maybe $18k new. I doubt they even want that type of buyer. Maybe if the new ones come out and they fire-sale the current models, who knows.

-juice

thel · July 2003

because good used one are VERY hard to find in my area unless you want red, white, red or black. Good sedans that are cheap (sub-$5k) are a dime a dozen.

fredmcmurray · July 2003

I think the early ones only came in red, white, blue and black, didn't they?

smars · July 2003

"I think the early ones only came in red, white, blue and black, didn't they?"

Nope. Silver was available the first couple of years, British Racing Green in '91, and Sunburst Yellow(my favorite cause thats what mine is)in '92.

fredmcmurray · July 2003

I forgot about silver. Are you sure BRG was offered? I never saw one or heard of that. Was it some special edition? And I thought the Yellow was some near mythical one off car.
Regardless, when I was looking, (and I saw hundreds) I never saw anything but red, white blue, black and silver in the '91-93 models. and I imagine you'd have to search far, wide and long to find something else.

fredmcmurray · July 2003

I stand corrected:
http://www.miata.net/faq/miatachanges.html
Turns out the BRG and Sunburst Yellow were available but I bet it would hard to find one.

ateixeira · July 2003

Corky Romano drove a Sunburst Yellow one in that movie. The actor was a SNL alumnus.

-juice

thel · July 2003

for a 92 Sunburst in great shape. I'd have to forget the Corky Ramano thing though...

lngtonge18 · July 2003

I see one of these down the street from my friend's house in Orlando, Florida. The paint is still in good shape. Not a bad color although yellow isn't really my thing.

Even though classic red is so common, I still enjoy mine. Maybe it has to do with how giddy I was to sit in my rich friend mom's sparkling new 91 red Miata that was never driven. The darn thing still had like 6k miles after 3 years (she preferred driving her ratty old 85 Toyota Van and later her 96 Previa over the Miata even though she lived in a million dollar house and only had 1 kid!!)! I would sit in it for like 30 minutes and play with the pop-up headlights and the top. My friends would get so annoyed and bored. I hated to get out of the car and hated to see it sit there and rot. I was 13 at the time and to me that little red sportscar was just as cool as a Porsche....Little did I know I would own that exact same car, except mine is a 92 and has a 5 speed (hers was a first year automatic).

thel · July 2003

bought a 50th anniversary Corvette roadster last winter and hasn't even put 1,000 miles on it. I put about 9,000 on my Miata during that span. I think that I've actually put about 20-30% of the miles on that car when I "steal" it during our visits to their home. Fair trade, granddaughter for vette joyride lol.

ateixeira · July 2003

It's cool to be a kid and have an attainable dream car like that.

For me, it was a Fiat Spyder this one guy down the street was restoring. I watched him every step of the way, stripped down to the frame, priming, painting, etc. Took him more than a year and I moved before he even finished.

I wonder if he ever even drove it. Hope he did, he'd earned it.

-juice

ateixeira · August 2003

Let's wake up this thread! It's been napping for a month.

The slave cylinder rebuild I did is holding up well, no problems with the clutch. I should go check the fluid level again to be sure.

Any suggestions on products to use for a deep cleaning on the lighter (tan) portions of the dash?

-juice

erics6 · August 2003

How about 409 Cleaner. I'd be curious if there are other products out there too.

Any ideas how to get a scratch in the dash out. Fine sand paper?

Mr_Shiftright · August 2003

You have to be careful with 409 cleaner. I've seen it stain metal surfaces. Too harsh I think for interior fabric or leatherette work.

ateixeira · August 2003

It also removes the white lettering on the horn buttons on the steering wheel. That happened to me a while ago, though. It did clean well, FWIW, probably too well, LOL.

I used some of those pre-wetted wipes for now, worked OK.

Good news - the fluid level for the clutch has not fallen, so I'll consider that project a success.

-juice

poorrichard01 · August 2003

Mazda has announced prices for the '04 Miatas and they're cheaper by about $500. (Prices for options have stayed about the same.) Check 'em out at mazdausa.com

gtshome · August 2003

Ok, now I have new shocks, springs and shock headers (suspension is still somewhat noisy though) and I've got a new project - sorting out my CD player that skips like mad. Yes, it is a silver radio on a 1993 car!

I was wondering if anyone has ever tried Eric Fawcett's method for getting rid of that problem (see miata.net) and most importantly if anyone has pictures from the "operation."

Otherwise car is fine - I am putting too many miles in it and due to the very bad pavement have been getting some annoying dash noise. Anyone ever had problem with noise in the top left hand corner of the windshield?

Any tips on chassis strengthening on the 1993s? The car seems somewhat wobbly without the hardtop.

Thanks for any help and my best to all.
gts

ateixeira · August 2003

You can fit a brace from a 1994 model, the lower front one. You can even custom make one from C-channel steel. I did, it wasn't hard at all. Cut to size, then bolt it down.

Check out Miata.net, I found all kinds of tips there.

I also have a strut tower brace in the engine bay.

-juice

My CD still skips, though, I have the same one (MSS)

gtshome · August 2003

Thanks mate. Not sure what c-channel steel is, but I'll check. Can you feel the chassis is now stiffer or did this setup just give you more peace of mind?

The impression that I get is that I have too much torsion between the front and rear wheels. Do you know if it is possible to fit that u-shaped brace from the 1994 (or is it the 1995) model to the car?

It seems to me that the 1994 model has 4 braces that our car does not have. I was wondering if I could fit them all... On your radio. Did you do the fix and you still have the skipping or have you never tried the fix?

ateixeira · August 2003

The '93 does have a rear brace, it's shaped like a "V" and dips just under the muffler pipe.

But no front brace, first year for that was a '94.

C Channel steel looks more or less like this:

\____/

Mine is 1.5" wide, they sell it in several lengths. I used a hack saw to get the right length, then a drill to makes holes for the bolts. Then I bolted it down to where the brace for the '94 goes, it's on the bottom side just behind the wheels.

The two braces I have seem to have made a small difference, the front end seems more stable at 65-70mph.

You might want to look at your tire pressure. You really only want about 26-28 psi or so. Experiment with that. At 32 psi my CD skipped every 5 seconds. It still skips, but only every so often.

I have not removed the radio like the Miata.net garage suggests. If I went that far I think I'd get a 6CD changer from a Tribute, which supposedly plugs right in to our harness.

-juice

ateixeira · August 2003

Bingo, I found some photos I took, e-mail me and I'll send them to you.

-juice

logic1 · August 2003

Last tank full my '01 Miata with 5k miles got only ~17 mpgs. This is mainly city and high speed interstate driving and I do tend to approach red line a lot.

I did not have a passenger this entire tank full.

Does anyone else have similar low mileage?

boggse · August 2003

I haven't had one below 22. Do you run the A/C a lot? High speed (80+) interstate driving will kill fuel economy on the Miata. Red lining it will too. I only go above 5000 RPMs when I feel it is completely necessary (about 2-3 times a day on average). ;-)

logic1 · August 2003

Normally I do not run the AC with the top down, but Chicago has had a real humid summer. If you are near the ocean in NC, you may think we are being over dramatic. But when we get the high dew points up here, everyone seems to break down.

boggse · August 2003

I have heard about the brutal summers in Chicago. This summer has been pretty mild by NC standards, although I would kill for the kind of 70 degree summer days I grew up with in the Adirondacks now that I have the Miata. I am really looking forward to fall.

thel · August 2003

No matter how hard I drive. Mine's a 6-speed and I usually shift at no less than 5k RPM unless I'm in town.

It could be that your gas tank is not filling properly. Sometimes the pump shuts off too soon so it looks like I get 30+mpg. The next tank then fills up normally but then it appears I get more like 21 mpg. I got used to it eventually. Just make sure your tank is properly filled.

thel · August 2003

At 18,000 miles on my 2002 LS, I finally replaced the factory tires with a set of Yokohama ES100's last night. If it ever rains again here in Missouri, I'll let you know how they handle the wet stuff. My factory tires were flat-out useless if the road was a little damp.

ateixeira · August 2003

I have a '93, and tend to get 25-28mpg no matter how I drive. Top is down almost all the time, which is probably why I can't break 30.

-juice

logic1 · August 2003

I have the 6 speed as well and almost always leave the top down. We should have respite from the humid heat here soon, so I will leave the top down. If I do not notice better mileage, then it is back to more status checking.

poorrichard01 · August 2003

Does anyone know how many Shinsen Version Miatas were made? Why do I see so many still on the dealers' lots? I love the titanium color.

boggse · August 2003

I have #442. There were also 1500 2003 Special Editions made. When you consider that Mazda only sold ~35,000 Miatas in 1999, its best year, 1500 or 3000 isn't really that limted a number, but it is nice to think so.

dsun1 · August 2003

Hi: I had my Miata for 3 yrs and love every moment of it. But I am having a baby now, I am so relunctatnt to sell the Miata.. (we do have a 2nd car in the family)
Has anyone ever put their baby in the Miata? I am thinking just disable the passenger airbag..
Please advice, thanks all.

ateixeira · August 2003

I have a '93, there is no passenger side air bag in mine.

I have taken my 4 year old for a spin, in her booster seat, but you get a lot of dirty looks. I wouldn't take a baby. There's not enough protection in case of a side impact.

I was debating this with a friend who has a Boxster. She was saying it's not even legal in MD, under a certain age, 12 IIRC. I disagreed. What about pickups and other 2 seaters? I thought that as long as you disabled the air bag, is was legal.

Any experts want to chime in? Does it vary by state?

-juice

locke2c · August 2003

My friend's 2000 Miata has a switch in the dash, key operated, to disable the passenger airbag.

If you have an older one without, you can legally disable the airbag. In our wonderfully litigous country however, I'd be mildly concerned about reselling a vehicle with a disabled airbag.

-Colin

dsun1 · August 2003

Yes, My 2000 Miata is equipped w/ the airbag disable switch.
I think if it is illegal to take a kid in the front, then what is that disable switch designed for?
But Miata also turned out in another TownHall discussion to be the worst car for baby on the way..I plan to use the 2nd car for most of the time but just in case that 2nd car is in the shop and let's say we need to take the baby to the doctor's, then I w'll have to put him in the front seat.
Or is this such a bad idea that I 'd better give up my freedom feeling and trade Miata for a Minivan???:(

lngtonge18 · August 2003

I say that if you have another family car and don't see the need in getting a larger car, than there is no reason you can't keep the Miata and enjoy your before-parenthood life. The passenger airbag diable switch is there so you can install a baby seat. Obviously the Miata will be more of a backup car or weekend getaway car, but at least you will still have fun unlike those who are stuck driving their huge minivans and SUVs.

ateixeira · August 2003

She was saying it was illegal in MD, not all states have the same laws. I don't agree with her, mind you.

Miata makes a perfect 3rd car, in my case. 2nd car if it meets your needs and car #1 is reliable and available.

If you have 2 kids and they go to different places at the same time, you could have logistical issues.

-juice

poorrichard01 · August 2003

IMHO, keep your Miata, if you can. You're about to begin a chapter in your life where "lifestyle" is an oxymoron. Your significant other can look after the new baby while you take your four-wheel baby for some well-deserved R&R.

gtshome · September 2003

I spent some time this weekend to look into Penelope's (my 1993) needs and found some very disconcerting points. Need help now.

Some time ago I ordered new shocks, springs and boots for her from the official supplier in Rio (as indicated by their website).

It took almost three months for the parts to get to me and I only received the shocks at home - stupdly when the springs and boots came in I sent the car to the shop for instalation.

Looking at the car during the weekend I found out that the front springs that arrived in Brazil are for an automatic (Penelope is manual), and that the springs were installed errouneously - the front (AT) springs were installed in the back and the rear springs were installed in the front!!! Needless to say the car is too low in the front and too high int he back (that is actually why I was investigating to start with).

My question is: has anyone used AT springs on an MT car? is it bad for the car or will it just make it a bit higher? I'll probably push the "dealer" to swap the springs anyway but just in case...

Cheers,
gts

ps: Does it seem like I am the only one with very weird problems here?

ateixeira · September 2003

Well, not too many people lift Miatas!

)

I have a different problem, the re-paint from that accident I had last year (Saab hit me) is starting to peel. Yikes. I wonder if they have a life time warranty, looks like bad surface prep.

-juice

gtshome · September 2003

I am actually thinking about buying a car lift (though that should probably make me a certified lunatic...). For general reference, in case anyone is curious, this is how the spring story continues.

According to the dealer, the European parts list for 1993 Miatas specifies the NA03-34-011 spring which the US manuals specify as the spring for automatic cars.

Funny enough from 1994 onwards this spring started to be used in the US on the manual cars... When did the Miata go 1.8l? Was it in 1998?

I am for now stuck with my "odd" springs, waiting for the shop to swap my front springs with my rear springs - I still can't believe they did htat.

Just out of curiosity, is there anyone in this channel that knows about the euro-spec cars? I was wondering if the dealer's argument was true or just some way to prevent me from complaining.

Cheers,
gts

ateixeira · September 2003

The 1994 model year was the first with the 1.8l. It was also the 1st year with dual air bags, plus the brakes were bigger and some bracing was added.

I didn't know the springs were any different, definitely don't know about the euro-spec springs.

-juice

gtshome · September 2003

Was it 1.8l for all the cars, or just some? Sorry for the question, it is just that the parts list only has one spring for all MT cars. If there were two engines the spring works fine with the 1.6, if not... Well, then I am not sure if the spring will be just too much for my car. I just wish ford had not cut mazda from brazil...

ateixeira · September 2003

In the US, yes. 1990-1993 were all 1.6l. 1994-1997 were all 1.8l.

There was no 1998 model, the 1999 came out with the fixed headlights. They had a revised 1.8l. I think they added VVT the next year.

-juice

Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

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