Author Topic: Modern Classics: Mazda Miata, 1990-1998 (Read 12038 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** June 17, 2010, 04:03:39 am »

"Unlike the older two-seat roadsters of the 60's and 70's (such as the MGB and Triumph TR4), the (first generation) Mazda Miata combined the conveniences of a modern roadster with the reliability of a Japanese automaker," says Jeff Burry.

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Bruce · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2010, 05:38:54 am »

I bought mine new in August 1990 and have driven it every spring, summer and fall since. It has never broken down and I've replaced one turn signal, struts and shocks. 100% reliable and always fun to drive. Way better than my Triumph TR4A.

Delta_T · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2010, 06:48:41 am »

I've owned a 1990 Silverstone metallic for over 10 years and I loved every minute of it. Still miss my little Miata. Not as bulletproof as one might think, but definitely one of those cars I've should have kept.

D70 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2010, 08:03:33 am »

Quote from: Bruce on June 17, 2010, 05:38:54 am

I bought mine new in August 1990 and have driven it every spring, summer and fall since. It has never broken down and I've replaced one turn signal, struts and shocks. 100% reliable and always fun to drive. Way better than my Triumph TR4A.

I'm on my third. The first, a used 1990, was sold after a hip replacement made entry just too painful. It had been 6 years of pleasurable driving. The next was a loaded 96 model, imported from the USA to flip, I should have kept it. The 3rd was a back to a 1990 model which became a Project Car. I knew it needed paint, the body was sound.

Over the 4 years I have owned it I replaced and up graded the tires, replaced the engine with a used Japanese import, had the car painted, replaced shocks and springs. Had the engine resealed including timing belt replacement and water pump, replaced the fuel pump and master cylinder. All of these items are routine maintenance items, the car had 208, 000 kms. so I knew what I was likely to encounter.

The result is I now have a car that looks almost like new, and was able to take me from Vancouver to San Antonio Texas and back with only a scheduled oil change, an over 8,000 km trip in 18 days.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d70w7/4622114259/in/set-72157624086884670/

davidm · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2010, 01:43:01 pm »

Ed note: the NA had 116 hp, not 120 hp as the article states. Most cars saw around 89 rwhp on a dyno.

In particular the SE should have the Mazda anniversary decals on the front quarter panel by the doors on it for Canadian cars if you were planning on collecting (most SE's don't have these anymore due to accidents and repaints).

Loved my 91 LE and 93 SE's. Super reliable (anything post mid-91) without the short-nose crank is great. BBS wheels on the 93 were incredibly light. Fabulous cars to mod as well - 12psi turbos put you around 190-200 rwhp in a 2150 lbs car. Ah, those were the days ...

bikenut · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2010, 02:23:34 pm »

took an early 90's miata for a test drive , loved the nimbleness , real fun to drive
but during my down town stint i was behind a bus and its exhaust fumes shot straight at me putting me off the car , and i'm also used to seeing the traffic ahead to see whats happening which you can't do in a miata , i realized low slung sports cars weren't for me but its sure great in the corners on a curving road

TopGun · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2010, 02:29:14 pm »

Great gear-box. My '95 had manual steering, which I really liked the feel of. The exhaust note was very fitting for the car. Had mine for 8 years.

Pretty good in the snow too...as long as it wasn't too deep!

normancw · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2010, 03:03:17 pm »

Quote from: TopGun on June 17, 2010, 02:29:14 pm

Great gear-box. My '95 had manual steering, which I really liked the feel of. The exhaust note was very fitting for the car. Had mine for 8 years.

Thats a great colour!

Quote

Pretty good in the snow too...as long as it wasn't too deep!

I had my 92 until 2004 - drove it all year round in Ottawa with Bridgestone Blizzaks - it was great in the snow.

T · « **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2010, 03:06:03 pm »

The first year Miata in Canada could not be had with power windows, locks etc as the article suggests. Secondly the 1994 model had a 128hsp engine, not 140. The 140 engine came in 1999 when the car was redesigned after the 1997 year..(there was no 1998 model year....just a 1997 "speedster" model to fill the gap halfway through 97)

TopGun · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2010, 03:58:10 pm »

Quote from: normancw on June 17, 2010, 03:03:17 pm

Thats a great colour!

Ya, I really liked it...and it was quite rare - Laguna Blue...not the flat blue that you saw on many of them.

There were only 440 them in 1995...just over 2200 of them total production.

Yellow was another fav of mine...I also really liked the Black/Red/BBS wheel combo.

Power2Weight · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2010, 04:27:11 pm »

I'm not a big Miata fan but I think comparing it to any 30 year old sports car is an insult to the Miata. If it can't beat a 30 year old car in convenience and reliability it would be in trouble, even GM and Chrysler have managed some improvements over the last 30 years.

TopGun · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2010, 04:55:02 pm »

The Miata is an awesome design.

I'm reading a book on design...and how design is much, much more than what we use to describe the aesthetics of a product or service. A great design does more than just improve on the current state of the art...it offers a product/service that would never show up in customer consciousness.

Like the Mini that broke the mentality that you couldn't sell a premium small car, the Miata reintroduced the roadster...and IIRC, the convertible after they disappeared due to safety issues.

safristi · « **Reply #12 on:** June 17, 2010, 06:53:55 pm »

..take a BOW ELAN..................

Wii so sorry we copied yer arse off..............

Power2Weight · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2010, 09:04:03 am »

Quote from: safristi on June 17, 2010, 06:53:55 pm

..take a BOW ELAN.................. Wii so sorry we copied yer arse off..............

Ah yes, the beautiful, nimble Elan.

tpl · « **Reply #14 on:** June 18, 2010, 09:39:52 am »

Ah yes, the beautiful, nimble, FRAGILE Elan.

Although not as fragile as the Elite.

If you got t-boned in an Elan your pelvis was part of the crash structure of the car... for a few milliseconds anyway.

Arthur Dent · « **Reply #15 on:** June 18, 2010, 10:37:42 am »

I will own an early Miata one day. Not as keen on the later ones but the early ones are delightfully well balanced.

5 Wheel Drive · « **Reply #16 on:** June 18, 2010, 10:40:17 am »

I had a 1990 that I bought used in 1995. Kept it for 7 years, the longest I've ever kept a car. Every now and then I kick myself for selling it.

The car responded beatifully to new shocks, springs, and a strut tower brace. What a lot of people don't know, was that the suspension was very adjustable. It had cam bolts for the camber settings. If you found the right alignment shop, and a technician willing to spend the time with you, the camber, caster, and toe could all be set on the alignment rack. Although the aligment might have been "in spec" from the factory, it was probably all over the place. If I remember correctly, mine had negative camber on one front wheel, and positive on the other. But it was still "in spec". A good alignment is probably one of the best things you could do for that car

davidm · « **Reply #17 on:** June 18, 2010, 12:26:50 pm »

Managed to dig up a photo of my '91 and '93 ...

Great cars, and so true about getting a good alignment. Put Koni's on the lowest perch with stock springs with RB sway-bars and front brace with FM Cannon rear brace for the '91. '93 was stock suspension (the special editions had Bilsteins and full bracing).

Rollbar really increased the stiffness of the car, was one of the best additions I made.