Four or five years ago

[solo1]

I had my friend drive my first Miata. He and his wife rode on a GW and , due to physical problems, he had to give it up.   I told him that a roadster was the next best thing to riding.  He agreed and found a used BMW Z3.  Since then he has bought a newer one that is in as good a shape as my present Miata.

I was at his home last week and we rode in the Miata and I got to drive his Z3.   It is an extremely nice roadster.  Comparing the two, the Beemer has more power, smoother edges, but doesn't corner as good as the Miata.  Amazingly, despite its much higher cost, it has a plastic rear window, unlike the Miata's glass one. Both have weird accessories, IMO..  The Z3 has heated seats while the Miata has a rear window defroster. I would think that both of these cars would be a real drag (literally) in winter driving with about 4 inches of road clearance.

Sorry, not MC related, just commenting.

[Patrick]

One of the wife's best friends is on her second Miata. Apparently she likes them. She drives them year round [ upstate NY] and just changes wheels/tires.  But, it is winter challenged. She is stuck constantly, but, a cute gal in a red convertible always seems to have an abundance of pushers.

[solo1]

Yeah, I don't have that kind of appeal so I'd be stuck............figuratively and literally.

No Miata winter driving for me.

[John Schmidt]

Wayne, just get one of those jacked up pick up trucks with some big knobby tires on it. Then go around looking for ladies in distress. One of my grandsons couldn't believe how many names and phone numbers he picked up during winter up north. Said there was enough to last him until snow flew again the following winter. Enterprising young cuss! 

Oh to be in my 20's......

[cookiedough]

2 words:  snow tires. 

I bet even with only 4-5" of ground clearance unless an 8" or more snowfall,  snow tires will do the trick 99% of the time in WI/MN winters. 

I found a slightly used set for my FWD SUV near new for 1/2 price of new on craigslist and mounted them on new, cheap black steel rims

The other car I bought new snow tires from tiresplus with wife's 20% discount thru her work while the rims  I bought used but were like new for 20 bucks each also on craigslist. 

Bridgestone Blizzaks are awesome in snow I can go quicker off the line and much better cornering and braking in our FWD vehicles than my OEM so-so Bridgestone duelers in my newer 4wd pickup. 

[Rams]

Miatas?   No doubt about it, that rag top does make them special.   If that is what turns your crank, then I'm happy for ya.    They do corner well and handle decently.   I used to auto cross with/against them a lot.   Engines need to be upgraded to be competitive though.    But, if you're staying in your class (stock), they are fun little rides.    Most that I've seen that are driven in winter end up rusted out.   I'd recommend getting yours inspected, cleaned and undercoated if you plan on keeping it.   But then, that's true of just about anything these days.

[solo1]

I can see that this Miata has never been driven in the winter, no signs of rust anywhere and I'll keep it like that.  It will be stored.  No sense in exposing it to Indiana winters.

I have a perfectly good Mazda Six with an extra set of wheels equipped with Blizzaks.

Yeah, most people think that the Miata is underpowered but the engine is the most willing revver I've ever seen and that's good enough for me.  Besides, it's harder to get tickets with it.

[Patrick]

There is a local foreign car shop that has been after me to stick a different engine in one for them. I'm trying to put them off but it looks as though a thin wall Ford [302] would be the best fit.

[solo1]

Iffn' I had the dough, I would put my money into a 6 t0 8 pound boost supercharger, a gain of about 60 hp, brings it up to 200 hp and just about the limit for the standard drive train. About 15 pounds more on the front and still affects very little the 50/50 weight that makes it handle. Maybe add a low restriction Cat.  No other mods.

 A V8 makes it go but adds 200 pounds to the front and screws up what the Miata does best, handling. Then stiffer springs, bigger anti sways, better shocks, and mods to the drivetrain.  Doesn't make sense to me.

It seems to me that we think lots more horsepower is always better.  NOT in this case, IMHO!


BTW, the new 2016 Miata , the ND, has LESS horsepower that the NC. I gotta give Mazda credit, horsepower sells but handling and weight reduction is more important to the MX5 engineers.  The ND weighs less and it claims 0-60 in 5.9 seconds.  Sounds impossible for only about 152 horses but lots of reduction in weight might do it.

[HurstRob]

We were in the roadster market some years back 06 and chose the Honda S2000. A 2004 model silver with red and black int. Its the wifes everyday auto and it still only has 92K. I think she likes that car more than me. It is a whole lot of fun to drive especially through the twisties like the Ozarks.

[cookiedough]

I have a perfectly good Mazda Six with an extra set of wheels equipped with Blizzaks.

Yeah, most people think that the Miata is underpowered but the engine is the most willing revver I've ever seen and that's good enough for me.  Besides, it's harder to get tickets with it.

O.K., I see now making sense,  save that miata and let the bigger mazda with blizzaks do the trick in the winter - good choice.

As far as keeping stock miata,  good choice as well.  I've always said if ain't broke, don't fix (or mess with it.)    I agree 110% as well,  harder to get tickets in since my wife as well told me if I EVER get a speeding ticket on my 249cc scooter, it will be gone.  So far, I've been lucky doing near 70 mph in a 55 zone, but it is so much fun passing HD's putzing along doing 55 and they see a near 300lb.er on a mid-sized scooter pass them.     

[Rams]

Iffn' I had the dough, I would put my money into a 6 t0 8 pound boost supercharger, a gain of about 60 hp, brings it up to 200 hp and just about the limit for the standard drive train. About 15 pounds more on the front and still affects very little the 50/50 weight that makes it handle. Maybe add a low restriction Cat.  No other mods.

 A V8 makes it go but adds 200 pounds to the front and screws up what the Miata does best, handling. Then stiffer springs, bigger anti sways, better shocks, and mods to the drivetrain.  Doesn't make sense to me.

It seems to me that we think lots more horsepower is always better.  NOT in this case, IMHO!


BTW, the new 2016 Miata , the ND, has LESS horsepower that the NC. I gotta give Mazda credit, horsepower sells but handling and weight reduction is more important to the MX5 engineers.  The ND weighs less and it claims 0-60 in 5.9 seconds.  Sounds impossible for only about 152 horses but lots of reduction in weight might do it.

Solo,
You are absolutely correct.   It all depends on what you want to do with your "hot rod" speedster.    Many of my Miata friends have spent thousands of dollars to make their rides more competitive on the track.    Do one thing which makes an improvement here but means you need to do something else to take advantage of what you already did.   Nothing wrong with enjoying it in it's stock form.   As I was told long ago, it takes lots of dollars to go fast, how fast can you afford to go?    Be safe and drive defensively,  it doesn't take much to overlook and run over a small car or motorcycle.  

[solo1]

Thanks for that, Rams. Yeah, drastic changes lead to drastic mods.(and drastic money).

I had a Toyota T100 and installed a super charger on the V6.  Only eight pounds boost, made a difference but then found out that the AT needed major mods to the valve body to keep it from 'hunting' the gears. I already had gone to a high flow cat but one thing led to another.

I'm keeping the MX5 stock until I need to change the radiator (the plastic tanks are still black) to all aluminum and the shocks will be changed to Konis.  No mods.

[Patrick]

Iffn' I had the dough, I would put my money into a 6 t0 8 pound boost supercharger, a gain of about 60 hp, brings it up to 200 hp and just about the limit for the standard drive train. About 15 pounds more on the front and still affects very little the 50/50 weight that makes it handle. Maybe add a low restriction Cat.  No other mods.

 A V8 makes it go but adds 200 pounds to the front and screws up what the Miata does best, handling. Then stiffer springs, bigger anti sways, better shocks, and mods to the drivetrain.  Doesn't make sense to me.

It seems to me that we think lots more horsepower is always better.  NOT in this case, IMHO!


BTW, the new 2016 Miata , the ND, has LESS horsepower that the NC. I gotta give Mazda credit, horsepower sells but handling and weight reduction is more important to the MX5 engineers.  The ND weighs less and it claims 0-60 in 5.9 seconds.  Sounds impossible for only about 152 horses but lots of reduction in weight might do it.

I agree. Thats part of why I'm dragging my feet on the change. The small Ford is about the lightest engine, but, it does still add weight as you said. And the Miata is all about its handling characteristics isn't it.
I agree with the supercharger.

[Jess Tolbirt]

just bought a roadster for my S.O.... she is now the proud owner of a 2007 saturn sky red line,,when that thing hits 17 pounds of boost you better be hanging onto the steering wheel real good..

[solo1]

My son briefly tried to talk me into a Solstice. The Solstice looks great but it's a collection of assorted GM parts, like the engine is from a GM truck.

I give the Solstice an A for looks, a C for engineering, and an F for the trunk. Reliability is not too great.

I'll stick to my Miata.  Having owned a Valkyrie for 17 years, I don't need acceleration any more. The Miata gets a B for looks, an A for engineering, and an A + for the trunk.  Reliability is good.

[Rams]

just bought a roadster for my S.O.... she is now the proud owner of a 2007 saturn sky red line,,when that thing hits 17 pounds of boost you better be hanging onto the steering wheel real good..

I know a guy that will drop an LS2 or LS3 into that Saturn for you.    You think it's quick now, you ain't seen nutt'n yet.