Re: My daily driver... MazdaSpeed3
 

I've been a big fan of the 3 since it was introduced. I even managed to sell my in-laws on one, for their first foreign car (ever!). The Mazdaspeed 3 and 6 are both very impressive cars, if I was in the market for a new one I would give both a serious look.

Matt,
Yep, I love this car! I just took it to the local Mazda dealer to get the 2nd oil change (4888 miles) and I brought in my own AMSOIL 5W30 and I had them put my AMSOIL 75/90 gearbox lubricant in the tranny. I replaced the rubber shifter bushings with metal bushings and the car shifts much more precise now. This is by far the best new car I've ever purchased!

Art - what was the verdict on torque steer? Is it fairly minimal? That engine pumps out more horsepower to the front wheels than a 3.6. :eek:

dd74,
The torque steer is absolutely manageable as I've only noticed it twice in 4888 miles. Of course, I may have been exceeding the legally posted speeds and I may have been executing a tricky manuver! I replaced the shifter bushings to get a snappier shift, but besides that, the car is perfect and I enjoy driving it every bit as much as driving the 911. I really like the "stealthy" nature of the car and it goes like a rocket! My V1 detector has saved my butt a few times!

Art - I read an article where they use a computer to mitigate the torque steer by turning off the power to the steering when the accelerator is mashed. Very smart, IMO.

Here's mine:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1180731859.jpg

Miatas are great small cars.

You guys have me sold, now if I could just find one. There's quite a few in the $3k range, just not anywhere near KS.:(

In the meantime, I stumbled upon a really nice '87 325e.http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/...s/beerchug.gif

Matt,
Have I told you lately how much I love my MazdaSpeed3 and how fast it is?!!!

Yeah, but it's still a FWD econobox, granted, a fast, good handling econobox, but still that. It lacks the character of the miata.

Are they already selling for $3k or so? Because that's what I'd like to spend. Somehow I think I already know the answer to that one.;)

I've owned my 1990 for about 10 years now.
0 problems
0 maintenance
an absolute kick in the pants fun-wise
last year I acquired and sold a 1991 miata. perfect mechanical shape, slight wrinkle in the left front fender, some scratches in the paint, went for 5000, and that was more than I was expecting
look to spend 4.5k not 3k, it can make quite a difference in the bang for your buck

thats something I came across too...
perhaps in an effort to make it seem more british, this is the one quirk i've been able to find in the car. it turns out that water condenses on the circut board of the radio, and will not let it turn on until it has evaporated. basically the radio just wont start for the first 10 minutes of every drive, and then it clears up. my solution is just not to turn it off [turn the volume all the way down instead] but you can also pull the radio [takes 10 minutes, did it on the other car] and short between 2 connections, if you google it, you can find out which 2.

I say go for it, the only downsides ive found are 1:
baaaad in snow
and 2:
a little wearisome on the highway


"the most fun you can have with your pants on"
how true..

It's pretty ironic that you mention the Mk1 and Mk2 VW as a second choice. I owned my 1987 VW Golf for nearly 15 years before selling it to buy a Miata. As much as I loved my VW, the Miata is alot more fun to drive. Not nearly as 'quirky' either. Here she is in her current state:

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...a/DSC02457.jpg

Ive always thought the Miata to be the spiritual successor to the great tradition of small, light Brit roadsters. MG, Healey, Lotus. Except its a Mazda, so you can drive it in the rain and it starts every morning.

IMHO, there is not better chassis around in an inexpensive car. And its a drivers car because you can can never give up monentum and rely on power....I reckon if people think a Miata needs more power, they dont get it. Although, there is/was a guy sticking the Lexus 4.0 quad cam alloy V8s in them- with a supercharging option. eh gad.

And I just happen to have an extra Lexus 4.2 with a host of TRD bits if anyone wants to build something fun :D

Is anyone familiar with the Miata R Package? It seems to command a fairly high price over other Miatas. I know the "R" comes with LSD, but is the LSD even worth it with such little power going to the rear wheels.

After all, several Porsche mechanics and racers have told me LSD is more a hindrance on 911s in most cases, so I'm thinking it's the same scenario with Miatas.

The R package was basically a base model with an LSD, Bilsteins, spoilers F&R (can see the R front spoiler on my '92 B&T above), etc. I would definitely take an R model. In fact, my B&T is way over optioned for what I wanted, but I *really* love the lightweight 14" BBS wheels that came on it. If I'm not mistaken, they only weigh 8.6 lbs/ea.

The Miata aftermarket is HUGE. There are the 'hairdresser' mods, and then there are 'driver' mods. Check out www.miata.net and check their sponsors. You'll see pretty quickly who caters to who. Flyin' Miata is well known for their turbos, and the owner (Bill Cordell) was an independent Porsche shop owner before a client brought in a new '90 Miata and the rest is history.

For the money, it's a GREAT car. The a/c works great, the transmission is great, very reliable, cheap to maintain, etc....

Don't forget that the R package as a manual steering rack as well. If you parallel park a fair amount an A package car might be better. That's what I've got, same thing really save the bilsteins. mine came with those as well though, they were put on afterwards. LSD, manual windows, AC etc.

Here's mine from last weekend's autocross school

http://www.hungoverracing.com/tpwalsh/IMG_0064.jpg

About 8 years ago I had one as a daily driver. It was modded to the max as well, supercharger, headers, exhaust, springs, shocks, sway bars, Roll bar.... I loved it. Fun car, great on gas, had just enough trunk space etc. I beat the crap out of it and all it needed was gas and oil.

I even drove it in the snow (with snow tires)

Sold it in 99 to a fellow who still ownes it!

Cheers

If you find a manual steering car around you, go test drive it. The steering feel is TOTALLY different. Both my Miatas (a base '90 and an R '94) had manual steering. I hated the feel of the power steering in those cars. They felt totally uncommunicative to me.

I would think to get that manual feel, all a person has to do is disconnect the power steering mechanism. Or is it much more complicated than that?