The Official MX-5 Miata Thread

[Eye of the Tiger]

Some of the guys I race with get the lower half of the car vinyl wrapped in the same color as the car. Old muscle cars are super prone to rock chips since the body tucks in at the bottom. With sticky 200TW tires constantly picking up rocks and throwing them at the paint, it's almost a necessity

Dude. Rally flaps.

[giant_mtb]

I want this. Get a pro to do this or DIY?

Depends on your ambition level, and I've never really heard of a pro service offering it, just an idea I've used before.  Something like this would make it pretty easy: http://a.co/9IUQwPr

Comes pre-cut in thin strips.  Or you can buy bulk sheets (search: 3M clear bra film) and cut it yourself.  Measure your arches to see how much you'd need.  Practice laying it on with painter's tape and to find where you want to cover exactly...lots of edges and intricacies and gaps and shit to deal with on a modern fender lip.  Clean the surface really well, and apply your 3M strips.  Cheap insurance for fender lip chips, which often are the ones that turn to rust first or expand quicker because of their high exposure to road junk.

[Rich]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mINzvEAQAnE&feature

there's a nice easter egg in there about seats, whole video is a good listen

[MrH]

I want this. Get a pro to do this or DIY?

Get a pro. Google for clear bra installers in your area. You can get the entire car wrapped in clear bra. Or just front end, hood, fenders. Depends on how much you want to pay.

[Rich]

[Laconian]

That's a cool backdrop for that shot. Goes with the silver paint.

[Rich]

https://jalopnik.com/the-2019-mazda-miata-could-get-a-nice-bump-to-181-horse-1823432715

The 2019 Miata may get some fiercer power numbers to back up its fierce looks, according to recent U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents found by Road & Track. The documents suggest the Miata could go from 155 to 181 horsepower next model year, a huge jump for a car that small.

[Payman]

https://jalopnik.com/the-2019-mazda-miata-could-get-a-nice-bump-to-181-horse-1823432715

Mazda denied in the past the Miata would get the SkyActive-X, but this seems to confirm it.

[SJ_GTI]

Wow, that would be a nice boost.

Buying a Mazda is always something I toy with in my head, but my rational side always wins. Adding ~30 HP will definitely give my irrational side more ammo. 

[CaminoRacer]

Yeah that's super tempting. Especially if I can still add a supercharger on top!

[SJ_GTI]

With ~180 HP I am not sure I would even bother with a supercharger (although if one is available for a reasonable price that would also be tempting).

[CALL_911]

Awwwww hell yea

[CaminoRacer]

With ~180 HP I am not sure I would even bother with a supercharger (although if one is available for a reasonable price that would also be tempting).

250 hp would be my goal.

And I'm an Edelbrock shill so I gotta get it if they offer it.

[12,000 RPM]

No Skyactiv

I told you guys people were hitting damn near 200whp with bolt ons and a tune. 14:1 compression does things

[Laconian]

Can I swap the engine? Ahh well

[Xer0]

Can I swap the engine? Ahh well

I'm pretty sure tuners will have packages that will get you there.

[12,000 RPM]

Yea they are keeping your engine Lac, no Skyactiv-X. PRobably too much weight

[Tave]

[CALL_911]

Are you gonna ship the Miata to HI?

[Tave]

Are you gonna ship the Miata to HI?

Of course! Yes. If I have to strap it to a raft and paddle it myself, yes.

[Tave]

Going to cut out of work early June and take a leisurely 3-week road trip to San Francisco. I'll ship it from there.

[2o6]

Going to cut out of work early June and take a leisurely 3-week road trip to San Francisco. I'll ship it from there.

Man, you're out here living your best life.

[AutobahnSHO]

Going to cut out of work early June and take a leisurely 3-week road trip to San Francisco. I'll ship it from there.

Yellowstone is only 35mph on windy roads. Prefect Miata driving, except for the tourists.

[CALL_911]

Of course! Yes. If I have to strap it to a raft and paddle it myself, yes.

God, I fucking hate you. I'd kill to go live in HI

[Soup DeVille]

God, I fucking hate you. I'd kill to go live in HI

Had a: well a slim chance years ago. Job was as an electrical technician at the Haleakela observatory, and my "in" was experience with a certain somewhat odd family of servo/vfd drives.

But, Hawaii has some weird protectionist laws and one of the requirements was to obtain an endorsement from one of the local community colleges that trained residential electricians.

[GoCougs]

Had a: well a slim chance years ago. Job was as an electrical technician at the Haleakela observatory, and my "in" was experience with a certain somewhat odd family of servo/vfd drives.

But, Hawaii has some weird protectionist laws and one of the requirements was to obtain an endorsement from one of the local community colleges that trained residential electricians.

Kollmorgen/Industrial Drives!

[Soup DeVille]

Kollmorgen/Industrial Drives!

Fuck. Nice guess.

[GoCougs]

Fuck. Nice guess.

Not quite a guess .

Can't remember exactly, but the drives were the Industrial Drives BDS-3, Kollmorgen/ID BDS-4 or 5 (rebranding after Kollmorgen bought ID, but the ID products were still available) or the then-brand new Servostar. Motors were the Kollmorgen "Goldline" brushless servos, probably with resolver feedback.

My first employer, circa 1995, provided the servos and related support (sizing, tuning, etc.) and mechanics (gear heads, ballscrews, etc.) to the machine builder that built the various motion control mechanicals of that observatory. FWIW I don't remember helping out - just remember the project (it was a small company).

[Soup DeVille]

Not quite a guess .

Can't remember exactly, but the drives were the Industrial Drives BDS-3, Kollmorgen/ID BDS-4 or 5 (rebranding after Kollmorgen bought ID, but the ID products were still available) or the then-brand new Servostar. Motors were the Kollmorgen "Goldline" brushless servos, probably with resolver feedback.

My first employer, circa 1995, provided the servos and related support (sizing, tuning, etc.) and mechanics (gear heads, ballscrews, etc.) to the machine builder that built the various motion control mechanicals of that observatory. FWIW I don't remember helping out - just remember the project (it was a small company).

Well, I'm gonna say that's one of those eerie coincidences then.

I do not know the particulars, I only know that they were interested that I'd mentioned Kollmorgen on my resume, and that seemed to be the reason I got a call. I don't know if it ever would have gone anywhere, but I thought he idea of working on the edge of a volcano was cool as fuck.

[AutobahnSHO]

Hey So cars in Hawaii rust out earlier than usual.. Lots of salt or something or other. Just so you're aware.

But they're also more valuable there- the used car market is loopy because of shipping costs and isolation.