Today, there are a host of turbocharger kits for your Miata. Some 1200 BBR turbo models were built, each with a middling 150 hp. 1990 – The Miata would prove to be particularly popular in rain-soaked Britain (go figure), and even had a dealer-fitted turbocharger option.This can eventually lead to engine failure, so do be a little wary of early cars with very low miles. 1989 – Some early 19 models suffer from the so-called short-nose crankshaft issue.The modification possibilities here are endless. Want a turbocharged track missile? Miata does that. You can turn a Miata into nearly anything. is one such repository of wisdom, but do members a favor and search first before asking a question that's been answered hundreds of times before. Being one of the most popular enthusiast machines of all time means that there's a huge wealth of knowledge to draw on. If you're refreshing a tired car, most of the stuff you need can be picked up at your local Mazda dealership. You can't get a full stock of new parts for your Miata, but thanks to Mazda's Japan-only (for now) NA restoration program, a host of Miata parts have gone back into production. Most high-spec Miatas have them, so if you find a car with leather seats, A/C, cruise control, and other goodies, it probably has an LSD. Check to make sure it has either a viscous (1.6-liter) or Torsen-style limited slip differential. Because you're reading Road & Track and not Horse and Hound or whatever, you're probably interested in flinging your Miata around a corner or two. Over the years, there were many special edition Miatas, and they command a price bump over more basic models. Also starting in 1994, the Miata M Edition had a host of cosmetic add-ons like a wooden shift knob and parking brake handle. Special Edition variants are worth more. Note that putting a lightweight flywheel in the later 1.8-liter model will give it some of the revvy character of the earlier cars, with a bit more power. Both variants of NA Miata are pretty slow, despite the car's low weight (around 2200 lbs). Early Miatas came with a zingy 1.6-liter four-cylinder making 116 hp starting in 1994, the engine was a 1.8-liter with 128 hp. Drive it in all weather, modify it, take it autocrossing and lapping, and put your dog in the passenger seat. Having said that, part of the joy and delight about a Miata is that you don't have to be precious about it. Finding a clean first-generation Miata, especially an unmodified example, can take a bit of hunting. ![]() It's not like it's a secret that Miatas are great fun on the cheap, which means that they're often snapped up as a second car and flogged to death. That makes the NA the most popular of all four generations of MX-5, and the one that remains the cheapest on the used market.īut not forever. From the outset, it was an unqualified sales smash, with some 400,000 of them sold between 1989 (as a 1990 model year) and 1998. This is the car that brought back the essence of the lightweight British sports car, with some much-needed reliability baked in. Everyone needs that.” - Sam Smith, R&T 2017 “ Miatas foster goofy they take the air out of serious moments. ![]() It might not be as well-coordinated and grown-up as the rest of the bunch, but it's absolutely the most fun to fling around on a backroad. Later MX-5s became progressively more athletic, but the first-generation car is a bit like a puppy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |