Starting my hunt for a used Miata. I think I'm gonna go for a 1.8liter as I'm not Schumi's frame....
06-22-2003, 11:36 AM
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Starting my hunt for a used Miata. I think I'm gonna go for a 1.8liter as I'm not Schumi's frame....
;-)
I do believe they made the 1.8 liter from '94 on right?
What do I need to look out for specifically? So, far, I'm finding cars with over 100K miles on it for relatively cheap (read $3000 or so). There's a Torsen diff on those cars? Or are they later years.
I know a lot of money can be saved by stripping the car yourself. Is this very involved? I can't imagine a small car like that would have too much junk.
I do believe they made the 1.8 liter from '94 on right?
What do I need to look out for specifically? So, far, I'm finding cars with over 100K miles on it for relatively cheap (read $3000 or so). There's a Torsen diff on those cars? Or are they later years.
I know a lot of money can be saved by stripping the car yourself. Is this very involved? I can't imagine a small car like that would have too much junk.
06-22-2003, 02:34 PM
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miata....
the 94 on had a 1.8 motor. that year was also the beginning of the torsen, although it was an option and there is no way to tell visually if it has one. you have to know what packages the car was bought with or you have to take it apart and look. if you do decide to get a 1.6(90-93), you can later upgrade to a torsen.
if it's a spec racer i've heard that unless your above 200 a 1.6 will be more competitive. i dunno the reasoning for this, but thats just what the spec forum seemed to think. someone said mainly 1.6 models win, but i don't know how accurate that is.
if it's a spec racer i've heard that unless your above 200 a 1.6 will be more competitive. i dunno the reasoning for this, but thats just what the spec forum seemed to think. someone said mainly 1.6 models win, but i don't know how accurate that is.
06-23-2003, 05:44 AM
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Miata = yum
You can get all the info you need from the miata.net forums - theyd be more knowledgeable than these AW freaks.<ul><li><a href="http://www.miata.net">http://www.miata.net</a</li></ul>
06-23-2003, 06:09 AM
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Yes, 94 - 97 almost the same...LSD an option on later cars
Lots of Spec Miatas for sale...check Sports Car Magazine...the wheel..and the NASA newsletter. Stripping? Some of it is easy...some not so easy. I did about 2/5 of the stripping on my car...Bryon helped with the engine stuff when he installed my engine...Tony helped with the dash and doors when he did my roll cage.
06-23-2003, 06:16 AM
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Sameer is selling his modded one for around $6800 IIRC.
He bought it for $6ish about a year or so ago, and put $3K into it.
It's got 3 sets of rims and tires, a Hard Dog roll bar, suspension, racing beat exhaust, stereo, and some other stuff.
108K miles, white. Compression test OK, engine good, paint decent.
It's got 3 sets of rims and tires, a Hard Dog roll bar, suspension, racing beat exhaust, stereo, and some other stuff.
108K miles, white. Compression test OK, engine good, paint decent.
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06-23-2003, 10:08 AM
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Straight Frame, and on drugs (LSD)
Check the main body rails, looks for Mazda stickers. If there, the car probably wasn't in a crash and repaired.
I'm not sure if you can add legally an LSD to the later cars (1.6s you can) and that's an expense, so look for the LSD.
Front hubs can be a weak spot, check them, but not too hard to replace.
And definitely check out specmiata.com.
I'm not sure if you can add legally an LSD to the later cars (1.6s you can) and that's an expense, so look for the LSD.
Front hubs can be a weak spot, check them, but not too hard to replace.
And definitely check out specmiata.com.
06-23-2003, 11:30 AM
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LSD's
On the 1.8's, you can only run the factory open diff, or the factory Torsen (preferred) that were an option on 94 to 97 cars.
On the 1.6's, you can run the factory open diff, the factory viscous limited slip, or the Mazda Comp LSD (preferred).
On the 1.6's, you can run the factory open diff, the factory viscous limited slip, or the Mazda Comp LSD (preferred).
