Building the Perfect Miata
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 42,315
Likes: 45
From: Central Massachusetts
Mike, good luck with your Miata project. I owned a 1990 model for 11 years. it served me faithfully. It is a much softer car than the S and it is slow by comparison. It's also much looser than the S (the X-bone frame is perhaps the best thing in the S).
I think a 2nd gen car would be a little better, but definitely some engine and suspension mods would be great. There's so much aftermarket out there that you can't go wrong. Best of luck.
I think a 2nd gen car would be a little better, but definitely some engine and suspension mods would be great. There's so much aftermarket out there that you can't go wrong. Best of luck.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,493
Likes: 2,669
From: Long Beach, MS
Yeah, the S is definitely much more ridged than the Miata. Just ordered some high density door stops that, believe it or not, are said to reduce flex a bit. I may end up installing aftermarket braces that tie the door hinge bolt points with the front upper frame rails like these.
As to power, the S definitely has a good bit more but low end torque seems on par or better in the Miata. Combined with more than 300 lbs weight difference, this makes round-town driving and very tight technical roads more fun. I think this may partly be due to gearing choices as the S has a clear advantage at the crank over most of the rev range.
And of course it is almost impossible to overdrive a Miata while swapping ends in an S2000 is easy as pie. The S2000 is more rewarding to drive near its limits but the Miata is just a grin machine.
Would I rather have an S2000? Yeah, maybe. But a) I am very happy to add the Miata driving experience to my life's motoring resume and b) I couldn't find a decent low mileage S2000 for well under $10K.
As to power, the S definitely has a good bit more but low end torque seems on par or better in the Miata. Combined with more than 300 lbs weight difference, this makes round-town driving and very tight technical roads more fun. I think this may partly be due to gearing choices as the S has a clear advantage at the crank over most of the rev range.
And of course it is almost impossible to overdrive a Miata while swapping ends in an S2000 is easy as pie. The S2000 is more rewarding to drive near its limits but the Miata is just a grin machine.
Would I rather have an S2000? Yeah, maybe. But a) I am very happy to add the Miata driving experience to my life's motoring resume and b) I couldn't find a decent low mileage S2000 for well under $10K.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 46,033
Likes: 8,501
From: Mish-she-gan
Yeah, the S is definitely much more ridged than the Miata. Just ordered some high density door stops that, believe it or not, are said to reduce flex a bit. I may end up installing aftermarket braces that tie the door hinge bolt points with the front upper frame rails like these.
As to power, the S definitely has a good bit more but low end torque seems on par or better in the Miata. Combined with more than 300 lbs weight difference, this makes round-town driving and very tight technical roads more fun. I think this may partly be due to gearing choices as the S has a clear advantage at the crank over most of the rev range.
And of course it is almost impossible to overdrive a Miata while swapping ends in an S2000 is easy as pie. The S2000 is more rewarding to drive near its limits but the Miata is just a grin machine.
Would I rather have an S2000? Yeah, maybe. But a) I am very happy to add the Miata driving experience to my life's motoring resume and b) I couldn't find a decent low mileage S2000 for well under $10K.
As to power, the S definitely has a good bit more but low end torque seems on par or better in the Miata. Combined with more than 300 lbs weight difference, this makes round-town driving and very tight technical roads more fun. I think this may partly be due to gearing choices as the S has a clear advantage at the crank over most of the rev range.
And of course it is almost impossible to overdrive a Miata while swapping ends in an S2000 is easy as pie. The S2000 is more rewarding to drive near its limits but the Miata is just a grin machine.
Would I rather have an S2000? Yeah, maybe. But a) I am very happy to add the Miata driving experience to my life's motoring resume and b) I couldn't find a decent low mileage S2000 for well under $10K.
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,131
Likes: 126
From: Canton, MA
By the by, Bill, I like the TR quote in your signature. It is one of my favorites by one of my favorite presidents. Did you know Teddy was shot by a would-be assassin named John Shrank in Milwaukee in 1912. Before allowing himself to be taken to a hospital for treatment he gave a 90 minute speech. While the bullet lodged near a rib in TR's chest, its penetration was limited by his overcoat, a steel reinforced glasses case, and a very thick transcript of the speech he was to deliver. Otherwise the slug would have entered his lung or, worse, his heart.
The story of the pursuit of the President around the country by the Shrank is told in fascinating detail in "Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin". Good read if you like history of that period as it gets into the politics of the time as Roosevelt was on the campaign trail when Shrank pursued and finally caught up with him in Wisconsin.
The story of the pursuit of the President around the country by the Shrank is told in fascinating detail in "Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin". Good read if you like history of that period as it gets into the politics of the time as Roosevelt was on the campaign trail when Shrank pursued and finally caught up with him in Wisconsin.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,493
Likes: 2,669
From: Long Beach, MS
