Considering a Miata'

[MarkSpecV/M3S]

I have always liked Miata's and were going to cut costs and sell my Spec V. I like to autocross/ drag. Miata's handle great/rwd/small/light from what I can tell. But power wise?? What engines / hp years did they switch? 1/4 times w/ basic bolt-ons?

Anything else to consider / look for when I find one? I found many for $4 range and under.

 

[Orthonormal]

90-93 had a 1.6L engine with about 120HP.
'94-97 had a 1.8L engine with about 130HP, but steeper gearing
'99-00 had a the same 1.8L engine tuned to 140HP, back to the original gearing
'01-present have a VVT version of the 1.8L engine with a couple more HP ad a little more low-end torque, but gained about 90 pounds.

A '99-00 is likely to run the fastest 1/4, but you probably won't be too impressed.

 

[MarkSpecV/M3S]

Info'

Hey thanks that helps' so I gotta find a 94+ to drive !!!

I appreciate it!

 

[dolphin]

For autocrossing, the best version of the Miata right now seems to be the 99 Sport. It also seems to be the fastest in a straight line. That is what I would look for now. The 2000 with a sport suspension is very close. The 99/00 sport suspension also has more suspension compliance than the 94-97 R which is probably the next quickest. I run a 99 10th AE with some success but for some courses the 6 speed transmission is a handicap because it requires another gear change.

 

[Orthonormal]

Any '99-00 with a Torsen diff will probably outrun a '94R at an autocross, but any 1.8L Miata is going to be pretty close.

I don't think that the '99/00 suspension is softer than the '94-97 R. The spring rates are stiffer for sure. I don't know how much the motion ratios changed, and in what direction. The '99/00 could be softer if the shocks are mounted farther in on the lower control arms. The '94-97 R did come with ridiculously stiff shocks, but those can be changed in any autcross category.

 

[maitai92]

90-93 had a 1.6L engine with about 120HP.
'94-97 had a 1.8L engine with about 130HP, but steeper gearing
'99-00 had a the same 1.8L engine tuned to 140HP, back to the original gearing
'01-present have a VVT version of the 1.8L engine with a couple more HP ad a little more low-end torque, but gained about 90 pounds.

A '99-00 is likely to run the fastest 1/4, but you probably won't be too impressed.

I dont think it really matters but your numbers are pretty close I guess, the 90-93 1.6L puts out 116hp and the 94-95 1.8 at 128hp.'96-97 1.8 is 133hp.
But both engines (90-97) puts out around 95-100 at the wheels.
The 99-00 is 138 hp and 01 w/ the VVT is rated at 142hp.(105-110 whp)
Both earlier 1.6 and 1.8 (90-97) will do around high 16s in 1/4 and w/ basic
bolt ons will do as low as high 15's in 1/4. The 99-01 will do low 16s or 15s stock But w/ just your basic bolt on some people even reported a low 15s and even Hi 14s ( In case of the Racing Beat Miata). My 92 w/ basic I/H/E, shaved head, timing at 12btdc(112whp) broke in the hi 15s few years ago Sears. For a $4k range you might be able to find a nice 90-93 or even a 94 1.8. Test drive a few of them and get the one that you like the most. good luck.

 

[Natey]

Throw a turbo in any Miata and 12 sec 1/4 miles are within easy reach.

 

[Orthonormal]

While you're picking nits, I believe that the 1.6L was 118HP for a while then 123HP. That's why I wrote "about". Too many insignificant variations to bother with.

And I know of one '96 Miata that dynoed at something like 109HP at the wheels (which is typical for the '99+ Miatas). That's stock, with nothing more than a Borla muffler. Maybe not even that.

 

[maitai92]

While you're picking nits, I believe that the 1.6L was 118HP for a while then 123HP. That's why I wrote "about". Too many insignificant variations to bother with.

And I know of one '96 Miata that dynoed at something like 109HP at the wheels (which is typical for the '99+ Miatas). That's stock, with nothing more than a Borla muffler. Maybe not even that.

I am just basing my info on what I've actually seen at the dynos and what most people got after they dynoed their Miatas. I know not every dynos will read the same thing even Miatas too, some has higher output than the others. BTW, the 90-93 US 1.6s is rated 116hp at the crank. The 99 Euro/Asian NBs w/ 1.6 had 125hp at the crank and unforetunately this was never offered to US market.

 

[Orthonormal]

I stand corrected on the '90-93s. I remember reading the 118/123HP specs in a table somewhere. But the brochures do say 116HP @6500RPM.

 

[Bender]

I currently have a '93 but am shopping for a '94 or '95. I may go supercharged and feel the a 94/95 with lower price point, 1.8L engine, torsen LSD (most 94-95's), and without OBDII fits me best. I also want a triple black car (my '93 is a B&T).

 

[Foolish]

1/4 times w/ basic bolt-ons?

Anything else to consider / look for when I find one? I found many for $4 range and under.

If you're concerned with 1/4 mile times, the Miata is not the car you're looking for.

That said, the '90-'93 models, being the 1.6L cars, are the cheapest to slap a turbo on, as there's a Greddy turbo kit that can be had for about $1200. It's not amazing, but you can intercool, etc, and really crank up the boost on those kits. The 1.6 Miata engine was based on the 323 GT and GTX engine, which were factory turbo'ed engines, so they are quite receptive to boost, and are very reliable in lower boost (7psi) applications on stock internals.

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

If anyone can find out, I'd like to know the spring rates for the '99 Hard Suspension. I have read that the Sport Suspension is like 136 for spring rates, but want to know how much my Hard Suspension differs. All I can say is that even with 100K+ miles, it'll jar your teeth loose on these crappy potholed roads here in Lub; MUCH more so than my friend's '01 Sport or than I could ever remember my '99 Sport being.

 

[MiaTurbo]

Throw a turbo in any Miata and 12 sec 1/4 miles are within easy reach.

Actually with a turbo, 13's are within easy reach. 12's are in reach with a lot of boost, tuning.

An autocross car, and a drag car will need to be built differently. Find out which is important, and go from there. If you want autocross, I'd recomend an NA6 (90-93) with it's faster reving 1.6l motor. If you want drag get an NA8 (94-97) If you want to be looked at funny, get a 98

 

[Orthonormal]

Spring rates for the HARD S suspension are 4% stiffer in front and 10% stiffer in the rear compared to the SPORT S / STD S suspensions. When you say '99 sport or '01 sport, do you mean SPORT S (the leather package suspension), or do you mean the "'99 Sport package" or "'01 with the suspension package"? If it's the latter, those have HARD S suspension as well.

If you're getting a really rough ride with the sport suspension, there are a few things you should check. First is whether the shocks are in good shape. If they've been on the car for more than 30,000 miles, they're probably shot, even if they're Bilsteins. Second is whether your swaybar bushings are well lubed. A friend of mine was experiencing a rough ride and thought nothing of it. Then he discovered that the sticky grease from Racing Beat that he had put on the front swaybar bushings had turned to sticky glue, and he couldn't move the swaybar when he disconnected the endlinks. Disconnect your front and rear endlinks and try to pivot both swaybars by hand. If they don't move pretty easily, they need to be greased. I've been using anti-sieze lubricant.