Not another "I got a miata" thread!

[anti_flag_army]

Yes, it seems that everyone on Nico is getting Miatas! I have already owned one after I blew my first 240 up, but that one wasnt in the best mechanical condition, and being my only car i couldnt rely on it and sold it all too soon. Now 5 cars later I have come back to the Miata!

I got the bug the other day to randomly put up my Talon for sale or trade and see what i got. Not too much interest, but 2 days after putting it up i had a guy come out, he liked it and payed me cash for it. So with 2 grand in hand i went to craigslist in search of either a 240 hatch, Miata, or FC rx7.

Found a promising Miata that same night and got in touch with the owner, asked a few questions and was off the next afternoon on a small 90 mile trip. Everything was nice on it, has 150k miles and the engine was super clean. The bad is the crappy soft top that has a large slice, and the window is unusable (will be replacing soon!), payed him and drove it all the way home with the top down(getting awesome gas mileage along the way!)

It also came with a few nice extras, like an aftermarket steering wheel, brand new catback exhaust, eibach springs (not installed). It is a base model with no PS or AC. Surprisingly you can hardly tell it doesnt have PS.

Enough chat, some pics!

Look at that face!



The cleanest engine bay i have ever had

no ps or ac makes for a ton of room in here!


Well enough

[MellowZ32]

Miatas and Subarus are taking over NICO!!!
now I want one!
what are your plans for it?

[anti_flag_army]

Miatas and Subarus are taking over NICO!!!
now I want one!
what are your plans for it?

Pretty much this i hope! I always loved fender flares on these. Also i wanna turbo it also. Maybe i will actually get to take it to a track.

[HashiriyaS14]

What year is it?

[MellowZ32]

I like this N2 flares






and you'll also need a hardtop.

[anti_flag_army]

its a 91 so no short nose crank problems.

My first one had a hard top, id love to get one for this one but when the going rate is 700-1200 on my local CL i can think of better parts to spend the cash on.

Here is my first one, dont let the clean pic fool you, the paint was so-so, it leaked like a quart of oil a day, and the diff made the worst noise when driving ever!

[MellowZ32]

I'd like to own one! maybe soon!
have fun with it!

[flohtingPoint]

Maybe i will actually get to take it to a track.

Start there. Get the necessary safety equipment and start tracking, this way you can get direction on how to build rather than just blindly bolting stuff on with no rhyme or reason.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Maybe i will actually get to take it to a track.

Start there. Get the necessary safety equipment and start tracking, this way you can get direction on how to build rather than just blindly bolting stuff on with no rhyme or reason.

And the issue with that is...?

[tm1218]

who cares if he adds parts to the car that please him visually. you can still go to the track. not everyone cares about having the fastest times in a parking lot full of cones. lol
it is about having fun and having a car that you like. fender flares are a must anyways if you want to fit any aftermarket wheels on a Miata without rubbing issues.

[skydragoness]

<---totally test-drove a 99' Miata today. It was the bee's knee's... trans wasn't too great though (popped out of 1st at standstill ). Very surprised by throttle response and nimbleness in just stock trim with 111k and old shocks.

2001+ is where it's at though..

Very nice NA! Get a proper roll bar .. none of that style-bar s***.

[flohtingPoint]

Start there. Get the necessary safety equipment and start tracking, this way you can get direction on how to build rather than just blindly bolting stuff on with no rhyme or reason.

And the issue with that is...?

I dont know, maybe so he can use performance parts for, uh, performance? So many people just slap cars together for no reason and wind up making them worse and destroying their resale value.

Saying, "yea, I'm going to toss a turbo and some other junk on the car and then later on I might go to the track" is like saying "I'm going to write a few songs and then maybe learn how to play the instrument". You'd have to be an insane, foolish, chronic schizophrenic to want to write Rock And Roll McDonalds. On that same note, you'd have to be just as foolish to not want to claim BWV65 as your own. What makes it even worse is that with music, it didn't cost you anything to write the crappy song and then throw it away later, where as with a car you're pretty much stuck driving around Rock And Roll McDonalds.

who cares if he adds parts to the car that please him visually. you can still go to the track. not everyone cares about having the fastest times in a parking lot full of cones. lol
it is about having fun and having a car that you like. fender flares are a must anyways if you want to fit any aftermarket wheels on a Miata without rubbing issues.

Go back to reading Super Street. People have been putting 255 width tires on Miata's with the most minor of fender rolling for years. There is no problem with fitting wheels/tires on the car.

[Bubba1]

who cares if he adds parts to the car that please him visually. you can still go to the track. not everyone cares about having the fastest times in a parking lot full of cones. lol
it is about having fun and having a car that you like. fender flares are a must anyways if you want to fit any aftermarket wheels on a Miata without rubbing issues.

There is no right or wrong answer here. But If OP's idea of fun will eventually include his enjoying his sports car on a race track, and his budget is limited, he might consider doing fewer/different mods to his car than if he were keeping it solely on the street.

For example, as a convertible, he'd be required to install a rollbar/harnesses to run on track. But if he has no intention of taking it to the track for a few years and can only afford to do so much now, then it really doesn't matter to do something cosmetic like fenderflares. It's entirely his choice.

As info, not everyone goes to a race track just to get the quickest times. Most do it to sharpen their driving skills, and the quicker times are a nice byproduct.

Saying, "yea, I'm going to toss a turbo and some other junk on the car and then later on I might go to the track" is like saying "I'm going to write a few songs and then maybe learn how to play the instrument"..

Well said. If you're looking to become a better driver, seat time is waaay more valuable than any modification(s) you can possibly do. The experience also helps you determine what mods should be done first. As info, flohtingPoint is an instructor.

[tm1218]

obviously he showed interest in wanting to make the car look to his tastes. he didn't say he was going to be a die-hard track driver. you can take any car out to the track on the weekend. you blew his "maybe I will actually get to take it to the track" statement out of proportion.

[Bubba1]

obviously he showed interest in wanting to make the car look to his tastes. he didn't say he was going to be a die-hard track driver. you can take any car out to the track on the weekend. you blew his "maybe I will go to the track" statement out of proportion.

Yes and no. Yes, it sounds like he might be more interested now in cosmetics than doing track events, and that's fine. But no, you can't just take any car to a track on a weekend.

Miata's are great cars for the track, but as a convertible, most tracks/clubs require them to have aftermarket rollbars with harnesses. The point is if he wanted to take it to the track even once, other mods won't help him. I hope that makes sense.

[tm1218]

I wasn't talking about having a roll cage. SHEESH! I was talking about in depth function>form mods in general. A roll cage/bar in a Miata is cheap and simple. I was referring to the opinion of the person telling him not to add aftermarket parts just because he liked them.

[skydragoness]

Saying, "yea, I'm going to toss a turbo and some other junk on the car and then later on I might go to the track" is like saying "I'm going to write a few songs and then maybe learn how to play the instrument".

Seriously though, if I bought a Miata.. the FIRST thing I would do (besides good tires) would be a proper roll bar. Then just wheel around and learn the car.
I really like them..I'm seriously considering a NB as a daily.. because I'm slightly insane.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Nice pickup! And that is indeed a VERY clean engine bay for the age of the car.

[Bubba1]

I wasn't talking about having a roll cage. SHEESH! I was talking about in depth function>form mods in general. A roll cage/bar in a Miata is cheap and simple. I was referring to the opinion of the person telling him not to add aftermarket parts just because he liked them.

I think we're on different pages here. I also don't believe that was flohtingPoint's point. The key word here is "IF".

He was not being told not to add anything to his car. He was being advised that ...IF....he has intentions to track his car even once (which he did mention), it might be wiser to invest in learning to drive it more skillfully before doing performance mods.

To clarify what I added:....IF...OP's funds are limited, and.....IF... he wants to someday take his car to the track, he might consider spending those funds on mods/upgrades that would be required to make Miata useable for track use (instead of cosmetic), which INCLUDE, but are not limited to, rollbars/harnesses. Most organizations will not permit Miata's on track without those mods. Besides, IMHO a roll bar is cooler on a Miata than fender flares anyway. But what OP does with that advice or to his car is entirely up to him.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

I dont know, maybe so he can use performance parts for, uh, performance? So many people just slap cars together for no reason and wind up making them worse and destroying their resale value.


Go back to reading Super Street. People have been putting 255 width tires on Miata's with the most minor of fender rolling for years. There is no problem with fitting wheels/tires on the car.

We aren't being condescending at all are we? It's obvious you have an issue with people modifying cars willy-nilly, or, without track-use in mind...you could try getting over that.

[Jesda]

Miata looks so happy to see you!

Me, I wouldn't do anything but freshen the rubber bits and fluids, upgrade the tires, then find some beautiful winding roads in the mountains to play around in.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

It's weird seeing those little hooks on miatas now. Looks a lot cleaner if you remove them. They aren't tow hooks but rather shipping tie-down points. Easily removed.

[anti_flag_army]

Thanks for the replies guys, and about the huge arguement that came out of the track comment, Im not going to be hardcore tracking it, maybe ill only do it once who knows. I know about getting a roll bar (and like its been stated, its cheap and easy) and harness. But i also want my car to look ilke i want it to, and if I want low offset wheels and flares then its not harming anyone! But I understand where everyone is comming from with each viewpoint.

I have been to a track near me called Thunder Hill (only to spectate and ride along) that has drift days (they also have a group that can just drive it) And its just to get to drive on it and have fun, I would likely plan on doing this.

Jesda: My girl and I just did that last night for a little bit, warm summer night with the top down on some nice back country roads!

[Mr1der]

you have a Miata, this thread is s*** and pisses me off!

<--- too big to drive them

[Axel Grungy]

If i had the money id pick one up. They're just insanely fun to drive in stock trim.