08-02-2009, 08:36 PM
Looks awesome!! That is one of my favorite colors on the Miata and yours looks really clean. A few things...
Check your front license plate bracket. Tell me it's not bolted through the bumper. If it's properly mounted (underneath, bolts to the mouth) then flip it upside down, so when someone backs into you while parallel parking, they don't punch two bolt holes in your bumper. Takes a 10mm socket I think. Or 14.
The 6-speed is misleading. Mazda messed with the ratios and the gears are more like 3rd, 3.5, 4, 5. Final drive is (I think) the same as, or very similar to, my 5-speed. In top gear, 80 mph should be 4000 rpm or so. You will still get 30-32 mpg highway with a heavy foot and properly inflated tires. Around town I can get 24-26. Not great for a small car, but that's with 4k+ rpm shifts.
Finally. Don't be afraid to rev the shit out of the motor! The powerband is pretty narrow and doesn't come alive until about 4500. I ran mine in 2nd gear at 5500 pretty much all last weekend (Deal's Gap, story to come) and it ate it up.
Post here or check out Miata.net when it comes time to wrenching and fixing things. I am mechanically deficient and can still work on the car for repairs and basic maintenance. You have plenty of other Miatae on MM so speak up, son.
Congrats
Check your front license plate bracket. Tell me it's not bolted through the bumper. If it's properly mounted (underneath, bolts to the mouth) then flip it upside down, so when someone backs into you while parallel parking, they don't punch two bolt holes in your bumper. Takes a 10mm socket I think. Or 14.
The 6-speed is misleading. Mazda messed with the ratios and the gears are more like 3rd, 3.5, 4, 5. Final drive is (I think) the same as, or very similar to, my 5-speed. In top gear, 80 mph should be 4000 rpm or so. You will still get 30-32 mpg highway with a heavy foot and properly inflated tires. Around town I can get 24-26. Not great for a small car, but that's with 4k+ rpm shifts.
Finally. Don't be afraid to rev the shit out of the motor! The powerband is pretty narrow and doesn't come alive until about 4500. I ran mine in 2nd gear at 5500 pretty much all last weekend (Deal's Gap, story to come) and it ate it up.
Post here or check out Miata.net when it comes time to wrenching and fixing things. I am mechanically deficient and can still work on the car for repairs and basic maintenance. You have plenty of other Miatae on MM so speak up, son.
Congrats
Now:
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan
Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan
Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M