Stats for the Mazdaspeed Miata
Thread Starter
Former Moderator
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,821
Likes: 5
From: Jacksonville, FL
I noticed that the stats for the MS Miata are now on the Mazda website.
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/flash/upco...dMiataSpecs.pdf
Wheel size doesn't look to great for r-compound fitment. Looks like only the v700 Ecsta will fit properly. Everything else is too wide or too tall.
Certainly it will be destined for BS. Any thoughts as to how it will fair against the 350Z once all the S2ks are together in AS next year?
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/flash/upco...dMiataSpecs.pdf
Wheel size doesn't look to great for r-compound fitment. Looks like only the v700 Ecsta will fit properly. Everything else is too wide or too tall.
Certainly it will be destined for BS. Any thoughts as to how it will fair against the 350Z once all the S2ks are together in AS next year?
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,014
Likes: 1
From: Seattle, WA
The major car mags also have articles on the Mazdaspeed Miata this month -- Car and Driver has a full-fledged review.
The car's got two issues which could make it a pain to autocross: funky tire size and funky gearing.
The car comes with 205/40R17 tires -- that's pretty skinny, and very low profile. I couldn't find any autocross-suitable tires that looked appropriate; you can get R3S03s and R3S04s in that size, but given that 300 lb. lighter C Stock Miatas run on 225/50R15 A3S03s, that doesn't strike me as enough tire.
Also, the gearing is rather strange -- second ends at 47 mph, and third runs out 65 mph. You're going to spend a lot of time either lugging the engine in third or going back and forth between second and third on a typical national-level course, and on a fast course you could conceivably even have to row between second, third, and fourth (!). Sounds annoying, although the car's apparently ample low-end torque might make downshifting unnecessary.
Adding insult to injury, the Mazdaspeed is a lot heavier than the '99 Miatas that do well in C Stock, yet it's still rather underpowered by B Stock standards.
All of the aforementioned factors make me skeptical about its ability to succeed in B Stock. Maybe it will, but unless a better tire size becomes available, I'm not going to spend the money to find out.
As an aside, consensus seems to be that the 350Z won't be the car to have in B Stock even if the S2000 and Boxster go away. Personally, I'd like to drive one and see for myself; it would have a huge power advantage over anything else in BS if the S2000 left.
Steve
The car's got two issues which could make it a pain to autocross: funky tire size and funky gearing.
The car comes with 205/40R17 tires -- that's pretty skinny, and very low profile. I couldn't find any autocross-suitable tires that looked appropriate; you can get R3S03s and R3S04s in that size, but given that 300 lb. lighter C Stock Miatas run on 225/50R15 A3S03s, that doesn't strike me as enough tire.
Also, the gearing is rather strange -- second ends at 47 mph, and third runs out 65 mph. You're going to spend a lot of time either lugging the engine in third or going back and forth between second and third on a typical national-level course, and on a fast course you could conceivably even have to row between second, third, and fourth (!). Sounds annoying, although the car's apparently ample low-end torque might make downshifting unnecessary.
Adding insult to injury, the Mazdaspeed is a lot heavier than the '99 Miatas that do well in C Stock, yet it's still rather underpowered by B Stock standards.
All of the aforementioned factors make me skeptical about its ability to succeed in B Stock. Maybe it will, but unless a better tire size becomes available, I'm not going to spend the money to find out.
As an aside, consensus seems to be that the 350Z won't be the car to have in B Stock even if the S2000 and Boxster go away. Personally, I'd like to drive one and see for myself; it would have a huge power advantage over anything else in BS if the S2000 left.
Steve
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area
Interesting that the top speeds in 2nd and 3rd on this car are almost identical to the 2.0l S2000's top speeds in 1st and 2nd 
I wonder if a 225/45 would rub. I mean it's going to make the gearing taller but who cares? I guess it would raise the ride height too...
I think it would be an interesting match in a class with lighter, speed maintenance type cars and heavier, higher powered type cars. The Z has power and you can stick 275s all over that thing, but history tells us to never underestimate the lightweight cars.
Peter
I wonder if a 225/45 would rub. I mean it's going to make the gearing taller but who cares? I guess it would raise the ride height too...
I think it would be an interesting match in a class with lighter, speed maintenance type cars and heavier, higher powered type cars. The Z has power and you can stick 275s all over that thing, but history tells us to never underestimate the lightweight cars.
Peter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,014
Likes: 1
From: Seattle, WA
Originally posted by jguerdat
How about torque/lb?
How about torque/lb?
- 350Z Performance - 11.7 lbs. / lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm
- 2000 Boxster S - 12.7 lbs. / lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm
- Z4 - 14.0 lbs. / lb.-ft. @ 3500 rpm (BMW knows how to build torquey engines)
- 2000 Boxster (base) - 14.5 lbs. / lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm
- Mazdaspeed Miata - 15.2 lbs. / lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm
- MR2 Spyder - 17.6 lbs. / lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm
- 1999 Miata - 18.4 lbs. / lb.-ft. @ 4200 rpm
- 2000 S2000 - 18.4 lbs. / lb.-ft. @ 7500 rpm (doh!)
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,014
Likes: 1
From: Seattle, WA
An autocrosser in Calgary managed to get his hands on a Mazdaspeed Miata for a test drive; he consequently posted his impressions to Miata.net.
His thoughts (quoted with permission):
Disappointing, although a straight pipe would help the turbo lag...
Steve
His thoughts (quoted with permission):
The suspension IMHO is better than the sport pkg. by my seat-of-the-pants dyno/g-meter. However what I noticed is that Turbo lag will be a problem on an autocross course. The throttle reponse is not nearly as good as an FM turbo nor, of course, a naturally aspirated Miata.
My thoughts while driving it were that a regular sport pkg. Miata would beat the MS on an autocross due to the throttle response issue. Of course my final opinion would have to wait for some actual runs on an autocross course.
I have an old '90 Miata now and was kind of hoping to get the new MS. Unfortunately this throttle response issue has somewhat dampened my enthusiasm.....throttled it back. :^( However I think it would be a wonderful street car!....or for solo 1....just not for solo 2.
My thoughts while driving it were that a regular sport pkg. Miata would beat the MS on an autocross due to the throttle response issue. Of course my final opinion would have to wait for some actual runs on an autocross course.
I have an old '90 Miata now and was kind of hoping to get the new MS. Unfortunately this throttle response issue has somewhat dampened my enthusiasm.....throttled it back. :^( However I think it would be a wonderful street car!....or for solo 1....just not for solo 2.
Steve
