Ask Bob!

November '99

Dear Bob,
First off I'd like to tell you that you saved the world from putting up with the problems associated with old British sports car's{like spitfire's and MGs,I know because I have had a few of them}. I have two questions. First,how much of the original drawing do you see in the M1? Second,how would you like to see the Miata change? More sport and ground pounding or more civil and tame? Lastly that del Sol owner "John" needs to remember that your the founder not the mechanic and to direct his #$%@ing bitching somewhere else. Thanks again for helping all of us get damn good sports car. 501

501 blues, Bakersfield CA USA

First question: Well, that depends upon which original drawing you're speaking of. If you mean my 1979 chalkboard scribble, well, thankfully none. The later drawings (first ones where it was a semi-official project), especially those from Masao Yagi and Mark drawings have a lot of the DNA that appeared in the final car.

Regarding what I'd like to see in the car, well, I would like to see an incremental performance greater than 40lbs/18kg, with the luxo/performance balance just about where it is today.

As regards del Sol owners, at least they have the Capri to aspire to. No, that's being unfair to the Capri...

bwob

Hi Bob. I just turned 16. My parents were considering buying me a Miata until the Mazda salesperson in town told my mother that Miatas weren't for teenagers. He told her that I would "kill myself." I'm a pretty responsible person, and I think that he's wrong. Nevertheless, my mother is convinced that Miatas are too fast, too small. What do you think? Could you tell me some of the safety features of Miatas?

Anonymous

Hmmm. I don't think my list of friends will increase after this answer.

First off, I can only imagine that the dealership the salesperson works for must've run out of Miatas. Or maybe there's a competition to get people into Proteges. In any case it appears this moron isn't familiar with the concept of the customer always being right. I don't foresee much of a career for him in sales of any kind. In any case, he certainly is wrong to a large degree.

Like any rear-driver car, the Miata can be a tricky on snowy or icy roads. But my first car was a Renault 8 Gordini, a nasty rear-engined beastie which weighed in at something around 1720lbs/780kg with a 92hp four hung off the rear behind the swing-axle rear suspension. Tricky? No. Treacherous? Absolutely. But to pleasure of the local barkeep and my creditors (not to mention the chagrin of many others) I'm still here.

My dad and mom went to great lengths to point out the 'ins' and 'outs' of driving, with my father taking a strong interest in my attitude towards driving as well as my technical abilities. As a result of his simple guidance, I've managed to get through my first 45 years with only two accidents that were my fault, neither involving any other car or pedestrian. The first (rolling the aforementioned Renault in a gymkana) was embarrassing in the extreme - although the car was driveable afterward. And I didn't knock any pylons over! The second (a brush with a wall in my 1958 Dodge) came about when I misjudged the size of the monster. Both were low-speed incidents.

If your parents think that a Miata isn't for teenagers (or any new driver), I can only suspect they must not be very good drivers themselves or at least feel as though they've not set a proper example behind the wheel for you to follow. The Miata (or any car) is only as safe as the driver, regardless of how many airbags are fitted to it. Responsibility (on the part of yourself as well as your parents) is the safety device over which we have the most control. It's also the most important one of all. And it's available in a Miata as readily as it is in a Toyota Echo or Ford Explorer. Best of all, at no extra charge.

bwob

Bob:
I like affordable roadster such as the Miata. With the likes of new roadsters coming to market such as the Toyota MR Spyder, do you think that the competition will put a dent into Miata sales?
Also, will the Miata ever get a mid-engine layout?

Bart, Savannah, GA USA

The MR Spyder/MR2 is a damn good drive, that's for certain. But the Toyota's effect on the Miata will initially be directly proportional to the cars price vis-a-vis the Miata. Once you get past price (and I haven't seen where it will be positioned in the US market) you will have to deal with the fact it's controversially styled and the mid-engine layout may be dynamically good, but it isn't the most versatile as regards utility. Traditionally follow-on purchase rates of mid-engine cars are quite low, mainly do though the perceived lack of space utility (not that the Miata is all that hot in this same area). It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out, but I suspect that the Miata will have longer legs than the MR2/MR Spyder in the long-term sales race.

A mid-engine Miata? God, I hope not...

bwob

Sometimes I wish the rear shelf were lower,  so I could throw my loose stuff back there, or maybe even carry a third passenger like I used  to do in the MG Midget. I've often wondered why  the gas tank weren't shallower and wider, so the shelf could be lower. There certainly is plenty of space on either side of the tank to do that. Was that ever considered?

Jeff Wagner, Aptos, Calif., US of A

The Midget not only had less fuel capacity, it couldn't clear modern safety impact standards if it were made of concrete. Mind you that would finally make a Spridget rust-proof. The space around the tank is to ensure you don't get a shower of volatile hydrocarbons and possibly incinerate the occupants if somebody whams into you. The British attitude would be to sell the car with asbestos suits and view the fuel tank's vulnerability as a supplement to the anemic heater.

bwob

Hi Bob!
I've recently bought a new MX5 1.8SE here in the UK - it's great fun! I've never done so much popping out to the shops to get some milk, bread, etc, and then detouring round the country lanes of Kent for 1/2 an hour! My wife thinks I've gone mad!
My question to you is about the headlight adjust control (you know the one that moves the headlights up and down). I wondered why this is included in such a small car - surely you would be hard pushed to fill the boot with enough weight to make difference to how the headlights are pointing - or am I missing something? My dealer even expressed confusion at the inclusion.

Hope you can clear it up...

Ian Blackburn, West Malling/Kent/UK

Ian, if you're driving your car with the top down and the windows up, you are mad.

Just like the disappearance of yellow headlamps in France and size- and shape-specific bananas in your local fruit and veg, the existence of the headlamp adjustment doohickey comes with being part of being Europe.
Brussels commands!

bwob

As an owner of an M2, I look and see cars that cost marginally more money but out-perform the Miata as far as acceleration goes. Is it possibly that in the near future Mazda will be forced to give the Miata about 175 horsepower so it can keep well ahead of the Z3, the S2000, and the up coming MR Spyder.

Michael L. Skinner, U.S.A.

Mazda will only be forced into such action if the Toyota encroaches into Miata's price window and offers superior performance. To be honest I haven't seen the North American proposed pricing of the MR Spyder/MR2/MR-S yet, so I cannot comment on the situation in Canada and the US.

As regards competition with the Z3, you are joking, aren't you? Or did the BMW have a price reduction to its actual value - something below $20,000 while fitting the M3 engine as standard?

bwob

How much to cut my 96 stock springs and how low can I go? What are the stiffest bars avail?

Joel winter, fair oaks ca.

If you're going to cut the springs, why not fit some hydraulics, a set of 13-inch gold-spoke Dayton wire wheels with whitewalls and a tuck and roll velvet interior while you're at it? Never, ever cut the springs if you want to improve the handling of a car. How do you intend to alter the spring rate with the lower overall height? The money you spend getting a set of properly wound springs (with a rate that's going to work with the altered height) will be well spent. The stiffest 'bars' would probably be a section of railroad track cut to fit. But if you're really concerned about improving the car's dynamics, you don't just want stiff, you want a package that matches springs to bars and shocks. Check with the people in the message boards here, and brows the Miata.net marketplace for an idea. But don't short change a car as delightful as the Miata - or yourself - with the cheap and nasty way out.

bwob

Bob,
I really have been wanting to get a used Miata, but don't know a lot about them. I came upon a 1990 , with 110,000 miles on it. My question is was/is there anything I should look for, is this a lot of miles? The price is $6000.
Any in's and out you could suggest on looking for a used one would be appreciated..thanks

M, NY/USA

The mileage is relatively unimportant IF the car comes with a full service history you can validate. I'd rather buy a well-kept car with 110,000 miles than one that's a 40,000 mile car owned by a 'drive it and forget it' owner.

Look for the lowest mileage car you can afford with a documented service history. That's the key point when buying any used car. Or even a used del Sol if you don't want a car.

bwob

Editor's note: Info on buying a used Miata can be found in the Miata.net FAQ.

I love the curves of the M2. Was the design done entirely internally? Was there any Italian involvement? To me it made a great design greater ...

jock gunter , St. Louis, MO USA

It wall all done by Mazda, though the design concept came from the California studio. As for Italian influence, well Ken Sayward's not too Italian, but as I recall Miata Chief Designer Koichi Hayashi likes linguini.

bwob

I am an avid autocrosser in my 93 base Miata, and there is no doubt that the Miata is a very capable racer. Question is, have you ever raced the Miata? It would be a shame for the father of such a superb car to not play with his creation at it's maximum limits.

Todd Murray, Brookfield, WI USA

Yes, I showed my incompetence on the racing track in a one-make race for Miatas in Japan a few years back. It was loads of fun, but Mika has nothing to worry about if I decide to change my day job.

bwob

I'm driving a Mercedes C200 and recently I got a used MX-5 for my wife. I understand that there are MX-5 clubs all over the world, but how about in Malaysia? Is there a local MX-5 club? If not, is it possible to join another overseas MX-5 club?

Kelvin Goh, west Malaysia

Kelvin, there's an MX-5 club in Singapore (I suspect the contact details are somewhere here at Miata.net), and you can always join the Miata Club of America. I know that their contact details are here on Miata.net.

That's awfully kind of you to suffer driving the Mercedes and let your wife drive the good car. Please don't let my wife know, okeh?

bwob

Did Mazda designers ever consider a chrome grille for the Miata? Was an overall styling theme along the lines of the MGA ever considered? Thanks.

Tom Smolenski, Taylor, MI USA

I am pleased to say 'no' to both counts.

bwob

Bob, any regrets with the M1 during your stay at Mazda? One more quick one...why in Japan do they list the M1 and M2 Miata as NA or NB?

Peter Brusa, Atlanta, GA, USA

No, none that would have made any difference to the car or it's reception. Anyway, since the car came out so well, I can't honestly consider personal preferences as regrets. I wish Mazda been more dynamic with the color palette, however. But that applies to all Mazdas not just the Miata.

The use of the 'NA' and 'NB' codes is in keeping with Mazda's internal practice for program management. The Miata is coded 'N', with 'A' the first generation, 'B' the second and so on. The last RX-7 sold in the 'States, for example, was the FD, with the preceding model (1986-92) the FC. Makes keeping track of parts and the like a lot easier, at least from the manufacturer's viewpoint.

bwob

I am doing a little research with the intention of buying a used Miata. First, I see from a previous answer that you would have a '92 1.6 in the garage if you had one. Is this your all-time number 1 choice? Second, when coming to a stop, could I expect unattached females to jump in the car with me? And third, could I hit you up for a loan for my purchase?

P.S. I enjoy your site, your answers rate up there with Click and Clack.

Tip Lowery, Bedford, Indiana, USA

Yup. Since 1992 was the only year that you could get both Mariner Blue and Yellow, it's my first choice. I prefer the balance of the 1.6s more than the 1.8s too.

Your second question's rather more difficult to answer. When I first drove one home, I had this blonde Japanese girl jump in to the passenger seat, so I guess it's entirely possible. Mind you she's been there ever since.

Regarding the loan, I'll have to see how the $17million lotto draw goes next week. I'll get back to you...

bwob

Not really meaning to complain, but, where you autographed my trunk lid is starting to corrode, and it looks like the name is changing from "bwob" to "captain..." something-or-other.
What should I do??

Dick Carlson, Kansas City

Have PJ make you a properly dry Gibson then a back rub. And don't forget to buy her some nice jewelry. Karen says you'll feel a lot better afterwards.

bwob

When is Mazda going to produce a Miata in Kodak Yellow color?

Tom Trowell, London, Ontario, Canada

Probably after the Agfa Orange and Fuji Green ones. Or maybe the idea will be left underdeveloped.

bwob

Why was the Miata sold under the Eunos name in Japan? Why not Mazda?

Jason Rego, Phoenix, AZ USA

Why does GM sell cars as Oldsmobiles in the 'States? As with GM, Mazda's decision was a matter of brand strategy. Eunos was going to be a keystone for a major revamp of Mazda's Japanese domestic sales network, and the Miata was seen as a strong product to kick the new channel off with. Domestically the revamp replaced Mazda's two and a half sales networks (Mazda (everything but trucks), Mazda Auto (trucks and all cars but the 929) and Autorama selling Ford-badged Mazda 323s and 626s) with Mazda, Autorama, Enfini, Eunos and Autozam (really) sales channels. About the same time Japan's bubble economy popped, Mazda launched a bunch of new models which were beautifully-styled to western eyes but not quite so palatable to Japanese ones. Combine this with a shift in Japanese buyer's purchasing habits from cars to sport utilities and minivans, and the idea of these five sales channels became unworkable. So the Eunos name lived on in Japan till the M2/NB was launched there. They're all Mazdas again in Japan.

bwob

I've found a Miata on a used car lot here in Boise that really has me perplexed. The dealer claims in is a '94 but it is a British Racing Green version with plan cloth seats and a hardtop. I can't remember if it had power windows but the rear window did have the defroster in the hardtop which I think indicates a factory accessory. The car appears to have power steering but does not have air conditioning. On the passenger side is a data tag indicating the car was built in March of '94. I also found a Canadian notation on a tag on the driver's door jam. I thought the BRG version was only built in '91 as a limited edition with tan leather. Could this be a model only available in Canada? It has the two piece visors and dual air bags that would indicate a '94 model. In the matter of the air bags: Can the passenger side air bag be deactivated on the older Miatas so equipped. The VIN is JM1NA3514R0514680 Regards.

Craig McAllister, Boise, Idaho USA

This one's got me flummoxed, but perhaps a Canadian Miata.nethead can put some light on this. The BRG was offered in Japan continuously from the time the car appeared in the 'States till production ended.

bwob

Editor's Note: Sounds like a Canadian Miata to us.

I don't really have a question, I just had to tell you how lucky I got. Well, for my 17th b-day (this year) my pop's surprised me with a beautiful untouched 1990 blue Miata with (gasp!!) 60,000 miles on the tach! He works at a dealership and someone traded the one owner beaut and he paid $5,000 for it!! And even though I race it sometimes (don't win very often and don't tell my dad!) I take great care of it! Thanks for being available for us to ask questions!

Samantha Bates, Altoona, PA

Hey, my pleasure Sam! And lucky indeed - you got the BEST color for a Miata! It's a delightful change to hear from people who don't want to know why their Miata makes an odd noise at 30mph, what their 1991 red A-pack car is worth in Boise, or whether their Goathair Brown Mica 1993 Q-Edition Miata (one of a limited series of 225,000) will be collectable in 2055.

Change the oil every 5000km/six months and NEVER drive it with the top and windows up!

Thanks again for the refreshing note. It helps to make it all worthwhile.

bwob

If the tie-down hooks are the "second thing" you would remove from your Miata, what is the "first thing"?

Victor Streed, Mobile, AL USA

The wheels and tires. I had a set of Irmscher ten-spokes with 205/50 Uniroyal RTTs I swapped from car to car.

bwob

Hi Bwob!!
Any cravings for a "Jay's Burger"?

Keiko Cooper, Pomona, CA USA

Yes! With no tomato and extra chili! Nothing like it in Australia. If only...

bwob

Hi bowb how are you? I have a question; how do you fix a broken radio? It's a Mazda 6 CD changer. Thanks

Chad Martin, Thunder Bay Ontario Canada

Well Chad, I'd fix it by going to somebody who knows how to repair audio equipment. But I wouldn't trust such a person to change the oil.

bwob

I have read several articles about Miatas with Ford 5.0 V8's but most seem biased in favor of the installation. Where can I find an unbiased source of information regarding this modification?

Tom Sanders, Baytown, Texas USA

Well Tom, not from the people doing the conversions OR from me. Though between the two of us you might get an average.

bwob

Bob,
I've read and read about how you are completely against increasing the Miata's power. Did you have a bad experience with it? Bad childhood memories?
Kidding aside, I have to disagree that building a Miata with a V6 would be such a huge cost to Mazda. The MX-6 w/V6 was in the low 20's only a few years ago. When I bought my Miata, there were cars all over the lot with V-6's that came in under 20. I have a new black '99 Miata and love it. I'm going to love it even more with some power before 4000 rpm's.

Carl, Arlington, VA 22209

Huh? I'm not completely against more power in the Miata, since I really think the car's crying out for a 2.0 liter four, something you must've missed when you read and read how I'm against increasing the car's power. I am, on the other hand, completely against destroying the balance that is the magic of the car. After all, a Miata's not an XR2 Capri (that had plenty of power) or del Sol.

Take a look at the V6 under the hood of an MX-3, MX-6, 626 or Mazda Millennia (not to mention Autozam Clef, Mazda Astina, Mazda Lantis, Mazda Cronos, Enfini MS-6, Enfini MS-8, Eunos Presso, Eunos 500, Eunos 800, Xedos 6 and Xedos 8). This is the K-series V6, and it was produced in 1.8, 2.0, 2.5 and blown 2.3 liter versions, ALL of which were mounted transversely and drove the front wheels. If you look at the engine you'll notice how the rear bank of cylinders is standing nearly vertical. The K-series V6 was designed to sit at an angle ranging from 12 to 20 degrees off the horizontal to better package the engine (sideways) under the sloping MX-6 hood.

Because of service and other considerations in the Miata (like clearing the front suspension), the engine would have to be cranked back so the banks of the vee are at 60 degrees. When you do that you've completely altered the oil flow through the engine's galleries, which were designed to work with the engine leaning over to one side. Now if you want an engine that can't lubricate itself properly, go ahead and put a K-series V6 into a Miata. You'll have a chance to do it again too, since it's certain to give up the ghost and need replacing when it can't get oil to all the places it's supposed to go. Yes it can be done, but no manufacturer in its right mind is going to build a car that it knows is going to come with a 100 percent failure rate well within the warranty period. Well, nobody other than maybe Hyundai.

Disagree to your heart's content, but just because an engine says 'Mazda' on it doesn't mean it will fit in every Mazda. The V6 that will fit (with only a few compromises) is Suzuki's 2.0 or 2.5 V6. This engine uses many (most) of the rotating components from the Mazda K-series, but puts them in a block that's designed to fit longitudinally, sitting upright in a car. It's also designed to be coupled to a conventional transmission rather than a transaxle. The biggest problem the engine has is a very deep skirt on the block that (when combined with a deep oil pan) necessitates getting a dry sump system to work in a Miata.

Hell, the engine swap I'd love to have in my own Miata is to drop the all-aluminum 2.0 liter twincam V8 out of an Italian market Dino 308GT4 under the hood. But that's hardly a viable economic proposition, regardless of how great it would sound.

bwob

Bob, I was wandering if you have ever heard of anyone putting a Mazda 323 turbo GT-X engine into a Miata? I've heard that the Miata and the 323 of similar years share the same 1600 motor. If that's the case, why not an all wheel drive Miata? I know there's more to it than swapping out motors and trannys, but I am thinking that they are based on the same platform. Thanks for your time and effort.

Lee Bender, Fort Wayne, IN

While the original Miata 1.6 block was based on that of the 323 GT-X, just about everything else was different. Four wheel drive would be a real nightmare, since the GT-X used a system designed around a transverse engine layout. The Miata and 323 are on different platforms, though the blocks have a common origin and the Miata's differential started out as the same component at the back of a GT-X. Now the Mercury Capri IS on the same floorpan as the GT-X. Now that would be an interesting, though probably unpleasant, hybrid...

bwob

Bob my question is ...I'm a 30 yrs young man and right now I drive a 1995 Volvo 850 for two reasons Reason #1 is safety and reason #2 is that on sport cars the insurance rate is to high for people under 30 Well now I'm 30 and ready to get a Miata. So my question is 'how safe is a Miata overall'. I really like this car, but I'm afraid of accident people in Florida drive like crazy.

Manny Hung, West Palm Beach, FL

Well, if you're going to buy the car to crash it, it's a really poor choice. Stick with the brick you've got. Your mindset is going to have as much of an effect on the car's safety as the car itself, if not a little more. So if you're that concerned about an accident, it's probably going to happen. If you're concerned that somebody's going to plow into you, you're also not likely to feel that comfortable in a Miata, and if you aren't comfortable behind the wheel you shouldn't be there. That goes for any car, not just the Miata.

bwob

Hey Bob!!!
I am a 1 year old Miata lover and I want to purchase one for my 16th birthday. Do you think that I could purchase one for under 5,000?Thanks and good luck with miata.net!!

Shea, Owensboro, KY

Yeah, no problem. In fact they'll be down to that price before you get out of Kindergarten.

Hey, what's that aroma? Shea, I think your nappies need a change. Let your pop know.

bwob

In the Sony Playstation game Gran Turismo, V-spec and S-spec models are available. Do these cars actually exist?

Mike, Perth, Western Australia

They do indeed mike (they're Japanese domestic versions). For what it's worth, Gran Turismo 2, which goes on sale in Japan on 25 November, 7 December in Europe and as well as North America and on 8 December in Australia, features the following Miatas;
1989 1.6
1990 1.6 V-special
1992 1.6 S-special
1993 1.8
1993 1.8 V-special
1993 1.8 S-special
1999 1.6 S Package
1999 1.8 RS
1999 1.8 VS
I played GT2 in Japan a few weeks ago, and it's even better than the original. There's also an MGF, one suspects for comedy relief.

bwob

Bob,I wonder how you fit in a Miata. Appears you are getting the mid roundness.

amstel adams,

Very well, thank you. The performance probably suffers, but even with me aboard the overall balance seems as good as ever. Thanks for caring. Love your photographs and your beer.

bwob