Megan the Merlot M edition

[*insertusernamehere*]

They grow on you lol. I still can't say I particularly like them or have a craving to own one but they're very good at what they were made to do. I drove James's the last time I was in hburg and I was grinning from ear to ear the entire time.

[Senor_Taylor]

I was moving the car down to the street the other day, and noticed the fuel gauge was under half.

Lucky for Taylor I know of a great gas station just out 33 in West Virginia.

Ok, so maybe not that far, but Corina and I did run it up to Costco for gas and a couple of items for her upcoming birthday party. Confession time, I've never driven a miata before, but I'm kind of afraid I like it now. I don't know if I'll ever make that jump since they still have a 'chick car' stigma in my mind, but I have a better appreciation for the appeal of them now. I guess I could get one for the wife, then accidentally drive it all the time.

I think the only thing I'd do differently would be to check the trunk and make sure there's not a big ol' box of oontz in the back before you try to load up a costco cart full of stuff. Cabin was a bit crowded on the way home, but my daughter survived.

I was worried you hadn't driven it yet! I'm glad you took her for a spin, but please drive a less craptastic Miata before making any decisions. My suspension is as blown as a suspension can be without being unsafe. As for the subwoofer, blame Jake for that one. Maybe in a few months when I can actually fix it up, you should drive it again. A Miata is good for a second or third car, but not for a DD unless it's an NB or newer.

How warm was the weather? Did it idle weird? Did it explode oil out the exhaust? Was the speedometer cable making a racket?

[davej]

My suspension is as blown as a suspension can be without being unsafe.

That may be, but it makes the speed bumps so easy on your kidneys.

It did rev up and down a couple of times at idle, but nothing much else to report outside of that. The shiftier did feel heavy compared to the 02, but that just might be the nature of them?

[Senor_Taylor]

My suspension is as blown as a suspension can be without being unsafe.

That may be, but it makes the speed bumps so easy on your kidneys.

It did rev up and down a couple of times at idle, but nothing much else to report outside of that. The shiftier did feel heavy compared to the 02, but that just might be the nature of them?

I rebuilt it like...3 weeks ago. BMW shifters are light and smooth. Miatas are known to feel solid and notchy, but in a good way. I do need to change the gear and diff oil, but you know, beer money.

[rherold9]

Just drive an NC and it will change your mind about Miata's. They are great cars for what they are. An NA is great fun but it doesn't compare like many have said Dave. I drove an NA and had a blast. But I couldn't see myself wanting or owning one and then I drove an NC. It definitely changed my perspective on it.

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[Jake]

Every Miata is small, cramped, noisy and relatively slow, no matter the generation.

They are also equally smile-inducing when you beat on 'em.

I couldn't own one as a daily driver again but I thoroughly enjoy getting to drive others' when it's offered.

[Senor_Taylor]

Wow, long time since an update! This must be some kind of record!

As the weather has gotten warmer, the idle issue has started to subside. I really should find a new TPS, but if the car behaves normal over the summer, I guess I have no real reason to worry about it. Other than that, the car has been fine besides the occasional cloud of smoke on startup which seems to happen randomly on cold days when I haven't started in a while.

My best lap at the After-Show autocross event in Verona was 63.758 but with 1 cone. When I was out there, I felt really slow, but apparently that put me in the top 40 for Pax out of over 100 people. I really wasn't focusing on doing well (I never do at the events that has MM involvement). I instead focused on showing as many MM'ers how fun a Miata can be and I hope I did a good job as someone rode with me on every run. Looking at the results and speaking to people in BRR-SCCA, it seems that the E street class is completely stacked. I agree with this as over the last 2 and a half seasons, there are always people in ES with miatas running times MUCH faster than most of the STR field. It really seems like I should stop worrying about staying in ES and I should go ahead and get better tires, do a full suspension and add some more go-fast parts and move up to STR and actually compete. As it sits, my times would place me higher in STR than I place in ES, and that could only improve if I added some suspension bits. Hell, I might just do STR next event so I can place higher even though it's a class up from what I run now. I wish I had the money at the time to buy some better tires than these as they aren't really that good for autocross, but you live and you learn I guess.

[youtube]TwHD3TjQh6Q[/youtube]

Next up, graduation, but hopefully after that I can start to really get some things done.

- New TPS to hopefully improve how it runs
- Get a soft top that isn't exploded into a million pieces
- Used Koni Yellows so I can get a better suspension feel and lower it a little while still being legal for ES if I choose
- Gear/ Diff Oil
- Fix hole in front left fender
- Re-do compression test / Leakdown to confirm if it's valve seals causing my smoke and low compression in Cylinder #3

Overall, I've been happy with the car, but this is a really frustrating thing to drive when it's cold and doesn't want to run correctly. Hopefully a new TPS and a suspension that doesn't let it bang off the bump stops 20 times a day will make it more livable. Sorry if I'm rambling, but I'm trying to write this during class.

[rherold9]

I'd go up to STR if you want. You will have a lot more fun and probably be more competitive locally. If you decided to stay ES you'd have just as much fun with stickier tires alone. Lighter wheels, decent dampers, and a sway bar would also help. Be a bit cheaper to run ES as well.

I don't think you were planning on running nationally but, ND's and S2K's rule the show. With a really good driver maybe an NC or MR2 will be in top 5.

[Scott]

Looking at the results and speaking to people in BRR-SCCA, it seems that the E street class is completely stacked. I agree with this as over the last 2 and a half seasons, there are always people in ES with miatas running times MUCH faster than most of the STR field. It really seems like I should stop worrying about staying in ES and I should go ahead and get better tires, do a full suspension and add some more go-fast parts and move up to STR and actually compete. ]

This is false logic, if you want to compete and truly become a better driver, you stay in the class with the best/closest competition and work on your driving (ES locally given the Miata platform) It gives you a "carrot" to chase and a consistent marker of your progress.

Either way you need different tires and shocks to be competitive in either class, so that's a nonissue regarding which of the two classes you want to be in. If you WANT to do coilovers, lower the car, wider wheels, etc, then by all means jump to STR, but if you want to actually improve your driving, buy a set of tires and shocks and stay in ES.



-Scott (who went from winning every NASA race in SSM with 2-5 cars per event to finishing in the top 10 in SCCA with 50+ cars every race and is having way more fun on the track competing)

[Scott]

*Something to keep in mind is what is your end goal for this car? When I started autocrossing STS was the Miata/CRX class to be in (STR without the torsen) and had a great time, A couple years ago I got bored with the stock Miata power, did a motor swap and put in an aftermarket ecu, without doing anything else to the car, it bumped it into a prepared autocross class and isn't really competitive anymore and won't be without some major mods, making it a lot less enjoyable on the street, which is why I did the motor swap in the first place.

[Senor_Taylor]

Mileage: 114,XXX

This is my first full day in my new house in Sterling with a garage, so I figured I'd test out the new vehicle storage facility.



Working on a car in a garage is such a joy. Everything just seemed easier. I had my music, light, and a fan and I was very pleased. Concrete is much nicer to roll around on than pavement that is 110 degrees and at a 45 degree angle. The Miata is definitely losing oil somewhere, but I don't think it's burning it all. I suspect my rear main is leaking as the bottom of the car has some oil on it and the RMS is the only seal that hasn't been replaced. I usually wait until I hear the lifters clacking, and I add some oil. It's funny how the BMW frightened me with its oil loss and the Miata doesn't really phase me. Granted, the BMW lost a lot more oil a lot more quickly, but it's the same principle.

After topping off the oil, I rotated the tires, and I changed the oil in the diff and trans for what I suspect is the first time ever. A considerable amount of metal on the diff plug, and a little less on the trans. Both seem okay, but if there was anymore on the diff plug and I had reason to suspect it's not at least 15, if not 23 years on that oil, I'd be concerned. I couldn't spring for the fancy Redline or Motorcraft stuff, so I used Mobil1 and Valvoline, which is better than whatever the old stuff was. The car feels good, and with the shifter rebuild I did a few months ago, shifting feels great. Before someone comes in and starts freaking out over the metal on the plug, save your breath. There is literally nothing to do about it and the diff behaves fine. Freaking out will not accomplish anything.



I took the car on a late night test run down to Tyson's and back and it was a very therapeutic experience. Taking the hardtop off and leaving it in the garage (instead of carrying it up 10 feet of stairs) was nice. It's easy to forget how nice the exhaust sounds when the hardtop is blocking out 40% of the sound and 100% of the crackles, pops, and burbles. Overall, it was a nice day with Megan that was ruined when I hit the moped with the Miata was I was backing it into the garage. For some reason, my brain can't compute what is straight when I'm backing into a garage. I guess it's something I'll get used to. I'm not used to having this luxury, so I guess it's a #FirstWorldProblem

[Deceus]

I know the feeling, I worked on the dart for like 4 years in a backyard before it ever saw a garage. It's nice not having to clear leaves or deal with bug bites when I have to get under it.

[SlimKlim]

Overall, it was a nice day with Megan that was ruined when I hit the moped with the Miata was I was backing it into the garage. For some reason, my brain can't compute what is straight when I'm backing into a garage.

Ask jake about the time I clipped a floor jack pulling into the garage and sent it through the wall. Or about the time he forgot where he left his extra miata engine and backed his spanking new Focus into it. :lol:

[Jake]

LOL, yep. Garages are hard when they're not totally empty.

I backed my FoST directly into my replacement Miata engine with all of 1500 miles on the car. That was fun. At least once you put the first ding on a car, you don't mind the next one as much.

[SlimKlim]

LOL, yep. Garages are hard when they're not totally empty.

I backed my FoST directly into my replacement Miata engine with all of 1500 miles on the car. That was fun. At least once you put the first ding on a car, you don't mind the next one as much.

I also kicked a floor jack into the rocker panel like, 1000miles after that. And scratched the plastic in the trunk shoehorning a TV box into it. That poor car had no chance.

[JPolen01]

LOL, yep. Garages are hard when they're not totally empty.

Nah bro. That is operator error.

[Jake]

LOL, yep. Garages are hard when they're not totally empty.

I backed my FoST directly into my replacement Miata engine with all of 1500 miles on the car. That was fun. At least once you put the first ding on a car, you don't mind the next one as much.

I also kicked a floor jack into the rocker panel like, 1000miles after that. And scratched the plastic in the trunk shoehorning a TV box into it. That poor car had no chance.

Keep in mind I also vomited all over the interior.

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[SlimKlim]

Yes, I remember

[Ken]

LOL, yep. Garages are hard when they're not totally empty.

I backed my FoST directly into my replacement Miata engine with all of 1500 miles on the car. That was fun. At least once you put the first ding on a car, you don't mind the next one as much.

I also kicked a floor jack into the rocker panel like, 1000miles after that. And scratched the plastic in the trunk shoehorning a TV box into it. That poor car had no chance.

Keep in mind I also vomited all over the interior.

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151 again?

[Senor_Taylor]

LOL, yep. Garages are hard when they're not totally empty.

Nah bro. That is operator error.

There's our little ray of sunshine.