What are Mazda Miatas like?

[Andrew1990]

I currently have a cargo van that I drive as it was free. I will be looking for a new "used" car once I get a steady job again.

I have always wondered how the Mid '90s Miatas drove ever since my grandparents stored one for my uncle years ago.



They look like they can turn on a dime due to their size and they have a nice look to them as well.





Can a 6ft tall guy fit into one of these?

 

[honkydory]

They are nice, and you will fit, barely. I would shoot for the newer body style (97' and newer IIRC) they have the newer aluminum block motors and a few other desirable things. I have been doing my research on Miata's I plan to fit a LS1 or LS6 (LS Engine) sort of how this guy did it, http://www.swaptastic.net/ls1_miata/index.html god i cant wait till i get a new job and have money to throw around.

 

[senseamp]

They are a blast to drive. So low to the ground even if they aren't all that fast, they feel fast, and handle like a dream. Engine also has nice meaty exhaust note to it even though it's a 4 cylinder. You will fit in them, though prolly look a bit silly with top down, but it's small price to pay for the fun.

 

[daveymark]

factory leather seats on the NB's will make you more cramped. So if you try fabric seats you will definitely be good to go.

 

[thedarkwolf]

You will just have to sit in one and try but 6ft shouldn't be a problem. I'm 5'10" and have room to spare.
97 is the same NA, first gen, bodystyle. 99 is when the NBs start. Which body style is the best is a constant argument over on miata.net along with is the 89-93 1.6l better than the 94+ 1.8l. I have a 94 which is the best year btw .

 

[Pacfanweb]

I'm 6' 4" and cannot drive one at all. Literally cannot fit. You might have more luck, but it'll be tight.

 

[jlee]

My dad has one (2003)..he's just under 6' and he loves it.

 

[CRXican]

look for a 94 or 95

I've had a 1996 for about a year and a half now. So fun to drive, easy to take care of.

 

[Andrew1990]

Ok, I will ask my uncle if he still has his and see if I can give in a test drive.


Also, are all Miatas convertible? How does the seal hold up?

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: Andrew1990
Ok, I will ask my uncle if he still has his and see if I can give in a test drive.


Also, are all Miatas convertible? How does the seal hold up?

http://images.google.com/image...1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

There were a small handful of miata coupes made for the JDM.

You could also get a hardtop for it.

If you're talking about the seal for a convertible, it works great as long as the top was installed properly.
The engine seals, that's another story. They'd probably have to be replaced for most miatas older than the mid 90s, but that's pretty normal for just about any model of car of that age.

<- miata lover that had a 99, 95, and currently drives a 91

 

[thedarkwolf]

The tops are very well made and don't leak but they do wear out. They average around 10 to 15 years before needing to be replaced. My car is a 94 with the original top and the bottom half of my rear window fell out last year. I glued it back in but when I was cleaning it last week I noticed a small tear in the back corner of the top. Still doesn't leak yet. Luckily the tops are pretty cheap at $300 and up depending on the style and quality and another $250 give or take to have installed unless you want to try it yourself. I'll limp mine through the rest of the summer and put my hard top back on for the winter and deal with getting a new top next year. The hard tops aren't cheap at $600 and up used and they aren't easy to find so if you want one try to find a car with one already. The hard tops aren't really any warmer than the soft, heater works good, but they do have a bigger rear window that you can scrape in the winter and you might even get a rear defroster, my hard top doesn't have one.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
The tops are very well made and don't leak but they do wear out. They average around 10 to 15 years before needing to be replaced. My car is a 94 with the original top and the bottom half of my rear window fell out last year. I glued it back in but when I was cleaning it last week I noticed a small tear in the back corner of the top. Still doesn't leak yet. Luckily the tops are pretty cheap at $300 and up depending on the style and quality and another $250 give or take to have installed unless you want to try it yourself. I'll limp mine through the rest of the summer and put my hard top back on for the winter and deal with getting a new top next year. The hard tops aren't cheap at $600 and up used and they aren't easy to find so if you want one try to find a car with one already. The hard tops aren't really any warmer than the soft, heater works good, but they do have a bigger rear window that you can scrape in the winter and you might even get a rear defroster, my hard top doesn't have one.

Just to put this in perspective, the soft tops on the S2000 cost roughly $1500 installed, tend to wear out in 2-5 years (though a new TSB should extend that), and OEM hard tops cost $3500 or more. So the Miata is a bargain in terms of costs for the top.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
The tops are very well made and don't leak but they do wear out. They average around 10 to 15 years before needing to be replaced. My car is a 94 with the original top and the bottom half of my rear window fell out last year. I glued it back in but when I was cleaning it last week I noticed a small tear in the back corner of the top. Still doesn't leak yet. Luckily the tops are pretty cheap at $300 and up depending on the style and quality and another $250 give or take to have installed unless you want to try it yourself. I'll limp mine through the rest of the summer and put my hard top back on for the winter and deal with getting a new top next year. The hard tops aren't cheap at $600 and up used and they aren't easy to find so if you want one try to find a car with one already. The hard tops aren't really any warmer than the soft, heater works good, but they do have a bigger rear window that you can scrape in the winter and you might even get a rear defroster, my hard top doesn't have one.

Just to put this in perspective, the soft tops on the S2000 cost roughly $1500 installed, tend to wear out in 2-5 years (though a new TSB should extend that), and OEM hard tops cost $3500 or more. So the Miata is a bargain in terms of costs for the top.

lol, those costs for the S2000 costs more than the used Miata goes for

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I'm 6' 4" and cannot drive one at all. Literally cannot fit. You might have more luck, but it'll be tight.

I'm about the same size, and it doesn't work for me either. It looks like I'm trying to smush into a clown car. Love them, but can't drive them.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I'm 6' 4" and cannot drive one at all. Literally cannot fit. You might have more luck, but it'll be tight.

I'm about the same size, and it doesn't work for me either. It looks like I'm trying to smush into a clown car. Love them, but can't drive them.

I've seen some very big men driving those Smart Cars. If that doesn't approximate a clown car, I dunno what does :laugh:

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I'm 6' 4" and cannot drive one at all. Literally cannot fit. You might have more luck, but it'll be tight.

I'm about the same size, and it doesn't work for me either. It looks like I'm trying to smush into a clown car. Love them, but can't drive them.

Love the look and size of the Miata, so I've never been more glad that I'm a foot shorter.

 

[Jumpem]

Fun to drive, but slow. I traded mine for an STi when my wife came home with a station wagon that was faster.

 

[ja1484]

Originally posted by: Andrew1990
What are Mazda Miata's like?

Small.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I'm 6' 4" and cannot drive one at all. Literally cannot fit. You might have more luck, but it'll be tight.

I'm 6'6" and I can fit in the new ones. Never tried the previous generations.

It's not quite as roomy as my Town Car, though, so don't expect me to be trading any time soon.

If I were shorter, I'd love a miata as a second car.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
Fun to drive, but slow. I traded mine for an STi when my wife came home with a station wagon that was faster.

That is where all the cheap aftermarket parts come in handy like turbo kits. Mine is a turbo but with just a basic 5psi kit it still isn't super fast but its fast enough to be fun in the straights as well as the turns. One of these days I'll get around to upping the boost and turning it into a monster but I haven't really felt the need yet.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Great.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
That is where all the cheap aftermarket parts come in handy like turbo kits. Mine is a turbo but with just a basic 5psi kit it still isn't super fast but its fast enough to be fun in the straights as well as the turns. One of these days I'll get around to upping the boost and turning it into a monster but I haven't really felt the need yet.

Not necessarily cheap though. A solid setup from Flyin Miata is ~$5k.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
That is where all the cheap aftermarket parts come in handy like turbo kits. Mine is a turbo but with just a basic 5psi kit it still isn't super fast but its fast enough to be fun in the straights as well as the turns. One of these days I'll get around to upping the boost and turning it into a monster but I haven't really felt the need yet.

Not necessarily cheap though. A solid setup from Flyin Miata is ~$5k.

Thats their ulitmate 265hp kit but they also have a 165hp kit for $3k which till isn't cheap. Bell Engineering Group has basic kits starting at $1k. Bunch of kits on e-bay staring around $1k too.

My car has a 160hp setup and 160hp doesn't sound like a lot but its pretty peppy in a 2300lb car.

 

[iamwiz82]

I supercharged my early NB with a 12psi BRP kit and a full intercooler and it was still slow. . Probably my favorite clutch/shifter combo of all time, though.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I supercharged my early NB with a 12psi BRP kit and a full intercooler and it was still slow. . Probably my favorite clutch/shifter combo of all time, though.

What do you consider fast ? That should have been putting out around 230hp at the wheels and run a mid to high 12 second 1/4 mile time.