Got a new car, 04 Mazdaspeed Miata (turbo)
 

Yep, so some of you may remember a couple of my threads asking/talking about used cars and the used car purchasing experience.

I'd been thinking that for $$ sake, I'd get an older miata that was in good shape to replace my existing miata that's in moderate shape and sell the old one. I was wanting to spend $4k-6k. There were a few options out there. My wife however was thinking that it would be better to spend $10k-12k and get a much nicer car that would last longer. I looked at both options. I found a car that I was ready to purchase for $4500, but there was a hokey story about why the title was in the guy's neighbor's name instead of his so I passed. I then drove a brand new miata just to get a feel for them (no intention of buying a brand new anything). Frankly, I didn't like the 2010 Miata that I drove. It was fully loaded, 6spd, leather interior, canvas top, nice stereo, LSD, traction control, etc...

I then went to the local Carmax to see what they had. They had an '06 miata that was built the same as the new one, but even with 26k miles, it was in bad shape, lots of paint issues and a weird discoloration on the top. I then checked out an '06 Miata "Sport" with 3k miles which is basically the same car without the leather seats and canvas top. I really liked the engine and tranny and even preferred the seats in the Sport to the brand new car. They also had an 04 Mazdaspeed miata in metal-flake red. My initial thought was "hell no, the way I drive, I don't need a bright red turbo anything," but I was curious, so I test drove it anyway. Wow, I really liked that car. The '04 is the previous body style (same as my wife,s car) while the '06 and up is the new body style. I like both. The tranny in the turbo was REALLY nice, silky smooth. The power was nice too. They aren't super fast when stock, having only 178hp (in a 2500lb car), but they are fast enough. Actually, the new cars with the NA 2.0L engine have nearly as much power and are only .2s slower to 60 than the turbo.

I pretty much fell in love with the turbo right away despite my better judgment. They wanted $16.6 for the car, it had only 11k miles and was pristine. I did a little searching online and found that a dealer that we'd used before also had an '04 Mazdaspeed miata with 43k miles for $12.5. THat one had/has black leather seats and a canvas top and also came with a rollbar (that I'm going to remove and sell). I ended up with the 43k mile car, and I love it.

They have firmer motor and diff mounts, stiffer springs, thicker swaybars and specially valved Bilstein shocks. They also come with some heavy 17" wheels. I'm going to replace the 17" wheels with 15" wheels and better rubber. I'm also going to do a few necessary mods and possibly a couple of less necessary mods. Apparently, for about $1600-1800 I can bump the car up to around 240-250hp. The wifey says that whatever I get for the old miata can go to upgrades for the new miata.

I'm actually not that happy about spending the extra money, but I'm lovin' the car too much to beat myself up about it.

This isn't my car, but it's exactly what it looks like (sans stickers and people).

http://racingready.com/wp-content/up.../p6282458e.jpg

Cool,

I had a 97 R model that was modded a fair bit (by me, I bought it new) and it was an blast to drive, one of the most fun cars I ever owned!!

Cheers

I'm replacing a slightly modded '97. I love it as well, but as good as it was, this one is even better. Many of the mods that I'd want (suspension) are already done for me, and it's got more power than the non-turbo models.

That is a great little car, how big are the brakes, will 15's fit?

Chassis is there. Now it needs more motor.


Crank that boost up and have some real fun.

My dad was very close to owning one of those.... Seem like fun little cars... I like that color too... I would go with it on the 924 but I know that car won't get treated nicely and thats not cheap paint....

Nice buy.

But that money is getting into 911 territory! You'll never get back at this rate!

I really like Miatas - wouldn't daily drive one but am very impressed by the straight forward engineering.

George

The '04 turbo model really did perk my interest. I suspect (being forced induction) that it'd be relatively simple to modify and get some pretty big performance out of. I didn't go for it at the time because I was looking for a DD and not another bottomless pit of eternal upgrades/mods (I already had a 951 for that). Damn nice car though and surprisingly didn't make me feel claustrophobic. Or ghey. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Seemed nicely set up all around. I'd consider one again if given the opportunity (I see them come up for sale every once in a while for $15k or so).

My cousin has a 94 Supercharged Miata. Fun car. Congrats, and good luck with your turbo miata!

You need to visit Flyin' Miata and look at the "Whole Enchilada" kit. My friend's MS Miata has that package, and it is exceptional. Lots of power, always.

The brakes on all miata were upsized in 2003, but they are still small enough for many 15" wheels to fit.
[QUOTE=aigel;5453367]Nice buy.

But that money is getting into 911 territory! You'll never get back at this rate![quote]Yes and no, For this money, I got a very clean, low miles daily driver, a $12.5 911 would be an old SC that at this point would likely have had more miles, fewer ammenities, crappy AC, and would be much more expensive to maintain. Both Miatas and 911s are very reliable and durable and require relatively low maintenance (well, miatas don't need yearly valve adjustments), but when you need to do maintenance on the miata, it's 1/2 to 1/4 the cost of the same maintenance on the 911.

Also, there's that saying that every 911 is a $20k car.

I daily drove my last miata for about 6 years, and DD my '88 targa for 4 years before that. I enjoy DD these things. It'll be even better with a little more power
Yes, I've been to the FM site and to the Begi site. I'm probably going to go the "Little Enchilada" route, or with the same upgrades from Begi.

Right, stock 178hp, for $1600-1800 with a few intake mods and some exhaust mods, you're looking at 240-250hp at mostly stock boost levels.

If you want to go much over that, you need to replace the ECU and fuel injectors. Once you've done that, I think you can get into 300+hp territory fairly easily.

Fortunately, the miata engine was originally based on a block from another turbocharged car, so the foundation for more than the stock NA power levels is already there.

I have the first gen Miata motor (B6T) in my old daily driver Mazda 323 and it is turbocharged running 14psi and it goes down the road really well. I am contemplating pulling the engine and either doing an extensive rebuild or look for a 1.8 and turbocharge it...my goal is 250whp with working A\C and 100% reliability.

Congrats, awesome cars!
Yasin

Oh and that body style (Gen II) is the best. I really do not like the styling of the new Gen III body. The functionality of the fender flares I can understand but it looks really awkward and ungainly - and those headlights! Good heavens what were they thinking!

You did well - nice pickup!

Steve-

That's a beautiful car, can't wait to see pictures of yours. Good choice!

hey we bought similar cars! I just bought an 05 Mazda6!

Very nice!

But, tell me more about the '97... :D

Yikes!
 

Good for you you are so open about your sexuality!!!!!!!
I'm so sorry but my wife and my girlfriend both think its to gay for even them to be seen in!!!!!

LOL Its realy all about driving what you want dude! congrats on the new ride, have fun!

Congrats! Now go do a few mods and embarrass some people in your "chick car".:)

Great buy. Congratulations.

Nice. A friend of mine autocrosses his MSM and regularly get FTD. He's done a lot to the car and is pushing 280 whp, I think. Also, he opens his trunk and can stack four race tires in there. Not bad.

My head sticks over the windshield in a Miata. Looks like a circus bear on a tricycle. That's why I wouldn't drive one ...

George

*cough*Flyin' Miata : :*cough*

Nice choice! I drove one(04 MSM in red) about a month back at a local autocross and it felt really really good. It didn't help that it had a flyin' miata kit, coilovers and the new hankook RS-3s on it though :D

Thanks, I've been so busy since I got the darn thing, I haven't had a chance to do anything on/with it.

Sweet, That one will have a bit more room than mine, but I suspect it'll be a ton of fun. Most folks seem to agree that Mazdaspeed anything is fun.



Hahah, yeah, I'm not sure what the big stigma is from, but whatever. I live in big truck land, and don't give a damn. I had a 911, I loved the performance. When I got rid of the 911 looking to get something cheaper, I needed something with similar performance and reliability that was cheaper. That's exactly what the miata is, it's like a Porsche Jr.


Yeah, that shouldn't be too hard to do!

OK, what do you want to know, it's got some new parts, runs well, show's it's age and miles in some areas, and has upgraded suspension (Bilstein shocks with Ground Control sleeves) and 15x6.5" wheels. It handles well, runs well and is fun. I've been topping off the AC for over a year, but recently a seal blew and it won't hold a charge.

This is it.
http://home.swbell.net/smasraum/miat...s/IMG_0891.jpg

Yeah, I'm 6'2" and have had a couple of 6'3" buddies ride shotgun. That's why I did a deep foamectomy on the driver's seat of my old one. I got about 3" of headroom out of it.

Frankly, he would have to do a lot of mods to do that.

Yeah, I'm hoping to get enough money out of the sale of my old miata and the roll bar in the new one to fund the FM "Little Enchilada" and some new wheels and tires.

So, how much? I've been keeping an eye out for one that I can afford, and hasn't been beat. PM if you'd rather.

$12.5 for the one that I bought.

There's a dealer here with a 2005 with lower miles for 15, and another at a dealer for 16.5 with 11k miles (carmax). THere's also one that was for sale from a private owner for 13.5.

Many of them seem to have VERY low miles. Mine at 43k miles actually had higher miles than most of the others that were local.

In 2004 they made 4000.

In 2005 they were going to make 4000, but the factory burned down after 1428, so they stopped there.

I was asking about the '97. I'm in the snow belt, and everything here has been rusted, or over priced. It's tough to find a reasonably priced NA that doesn't have a ton of issues. I've started to look at the NB's, but they are still over budget.

oops

Not on the track he wouldn't. MSMs are some of my favorite cars. But it isn't all so much about what they do as it is about the way they do it...

Some people would say they have no right to be as good as they are. I think they are like Japanese Swiss watches. ;)

Miatas make a habit of embarrassing higher HP cars on the track. Considering that this Miata has a turbo and better suspension, it shouldn't be too difficult.

My dad picked up a 2000 Miata with the sport package (ltd slip diff etc) recently. I am really impressed with it...much quicker than I would have guessed and telepathic handling. Now I understand the hype. Can only imagine how great the mazdaspeed version must be!

I tricked out a miata few years back and pushed the limits of 300HP. Scary fast and light car that could run a 12.88 in the qtr mile on 17" wheels and pump gas. Going to the races and humiliating Vette and Mustangs was great.

The cons were that I burned thru 3 clutchs, 1 tranny and 2 diff's in 1 year.

Many types of turbo kits out there but I built mine from a Pettit racing kit in Miami.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1279607904.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1279607929.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1279607948.jpg

Nice car Todd!!!

To the OP did you consider the S2K?

I do really like the S2k, but they are more money than the miata.

I can't remember from where I read it, but it seems to me there's a Miata model year that some in the fold encourage others to avoid. 1991 perhaps? It seems to me that it was engine related, though I can't remember what it was about.

Anyway, I'd love to get my hands on a Miata R.

Really, there are only two cars that I can see as being nearly as fun as my Porsche: the Miata and the Mini Cooper S.

A favorable third place goes to the new Mustang 5.0, though it's a bit of a load weight and dimension wise to the 911, Miata and MCS.