Topic: NA Miata MX-5

[initial_D]

Another very nice Miata ... almost like a Twin to MD's Power Puff Blue ... 

[initial_D]

^ thanks. the interior did seem a little bland to me when I acquired the car, these bits spice it up considerably. and the Momo steering wheel is smaller in diameter than stock so it gives a racier, more direct feel than stock.

I'm on the hunt for a new wheel/shifter for the interior.  Momo makes some very nice wheels that really spices up the interior.  May also go with the carbon fibre dash kit to keep things looking fresh inside.  How does the chrome ball do in the summer when you park the car out in the sun?  I had a shift knob like that years ago, and it was a heat magnet.  Seats may also want either a set of covers or a new seat completely.  Can't believe you have the original tape deck....

I like that RACE steering wheel on Paul's car.

Momo makes some few very nice carbon fibre stuff, very good by themselves, but the color of the carbon fibre don't match with one another.  The steering wheel, shift knob, hand brake cover ... are all of a different shade. Why they do that is beyond me.

[paulie_d]

I managed to score a sweet deal on my MOMO Race steering wheel since it was slightly used but sourcing the appropriate adapter hub to mount the steering wheel to was a bit of a pain. The polished shift knob and hand brake handle are from Team Voodoo.

[Giant Dwarf]

Geez Paulie, as others have said, that's a gorgeous example of an NA in superb condition.    good on ya!

Welcome aboard here too.  The Miata-folk have got to be catching up with the Subaru-guys for numbers here on the forum. 

[Seafoam]

Another very nice Miata ... almost like a Twin to MD's Power Puff Blue ... 

Out here on the east coast fellow miata owners also call it "Smurf Blue".
And a nice car it is.

[99 Silver]

A friend if mine had a "smurf blue" NA.  I always wore amber sunglasses when I rode in it because I preferred British Racing Green. 

[AVToller]

A friend if mine had a "smurf blue" NA.  I always wore amber sunglasses when I rode in it because I preferred British Racing Green. 

  I love creative solutions! 

[84im]

Paulie_d, my monster's gone into storage for the winter    I'm upgrading the suspension with Ground Control coilovers and Koni racing shocks (front) and regular Konis in the rear..  I already have aftermarket sway bars.  Here's a picture of the engine bay....looks a bit different, doesn't it?

[paulie_d]

^ Very nice. It seems like the Ford 5.0L conversion is becoming more and more popular. Is it tru that you don't even have to fabricate a new front subframe? I have heard that it is a relatively easy conversion that does not add too much weight to the front end.

Have you noticed that the car's handling isn't as "point-and-flick" as it used to be due to the much more torquier engine?

[speed12sil]

Thanks for the compliments everyone.

I'm not the original owner but the previous owner took good care of her.

The engine is stock for now (except for a Racing Beat intake) but I would like to add a Greddy bolt-on turbo kit. The NA6CE 1.6 litre engine was made for a turbo. In fact, the very same engine was used in the turbocharged 323 GTX from the late 80's.

Nice car. I love those wheels. I seem to remember an OE version that look similar to that. Hmm.

I'd assume the 92 1.6 is still the same engine? Is there any need to use stronger internals for the turbo'd engine to keep the same durability?
I'm contemplating slapping turbo onto my 92 miata too..

[mdxtasy]

Keep the boost at modest pressure and you're fine.  A juiced up NA is quite a bit of affordable fun.

[Brigitte]

Okay, I have a trivia question, because I'm curious.

Why are they called "Mini-lite" wheels?  When I think mini-lites, I think Christmas lights.  And these don't look like anything I'd hang in my window in December.   

[mdxtasy]

Okay, I have a trivia question, because I'm curious.

Why are they called "Mini-lite" wheels?  When I think mini-lites, I think Christmas lights.  And these don't look like anything I'd hang in my window in December.   

Small, light, and looks like the old Mini wheels.

[84im]

Paulie, I have lost some of that point and flick.  On tight transitions I can feel the extra weight, but with my wider tires and heavy duty suspension I can easily keep up with my two Miata buddies (one drives a 92 supercharged and the other drives a 91 turbo) on anything but really tight corners.  The supercharged Miata has Konis (we're adding coilovers to his car this winter), and the turbo charged Miata has a full/lowered suspension....and when we hit a straight-away, look out

[84im]

MdX5, nice Mini photo, and nice wheels.

[Brigitte]

Okay, I have a trivia question, because I'm curious.

Why are they called "Mini-lite" wheels?  When I think mini-lites, I think Christmas lights.  And these don't look like anything I'd hang in my window in December.   

Small, light, and looks like the old Mini wheels.

Ahhh, now I get it.  Thanks, MD. 

[1TSX]

Very nice Miata!

The Miata is the best buy for the money. 

When compared brand new, I'd purchase the Miata over the Soltice/Sky hands down.

[paulie_d]

Out of all the 3 generations of the Miata (NA, NB and NC), the NA is my favourite as it is the Miata in it's purest form. My particular example has a curb weight of only 2080 lbs! I have absolutely no luxury options in my car at all and that's exactly the way I like it. Just a basic, well-balanced, light-weight front-engined, rear-wheel-drive roadster.

[The Mighty Duck]

The NB I drove failed to thrill me, but it wasn't exactly a test drive that would really do justice to the Miata.  I'm dying to get my hands on one for a real test drive sometime...  preferably a forced induction NA. 

[Benhaze]

Very, very nice Miata. It seems to be in top shape. There is one in the parking lot at work that is just so beat up hopefully because it has lots of miles on it. But I want to    every time I see it. Yours could be an inspiration to the owner and show him how good looking it could be.