At Long Last: My '92 Miata
#1
So, roughly a month ago I sold my first car. It was a Sonic Blue 2002 Ford Focus SVT with 116k miles on it. I loved that car, it was stupidly fun to drive and looked great (in my opinion); it was perfect. Except when it wasn't, which was all the time. Evidently a previous owner had fooled around in the engine bay and had neglected to do anything important to the car, resulting in everything failing. I did have it fixed and everything was fine, but only after a mountain of repair costs that left me not wanting to own it anymore. A few weeks passed following the repairs and the Focus departed from my life with a tear or two shed, and then the hunt for a new car was on.

Even before I bought the Focus, way, waay before I could even own a car or drive, I knew I wanted a Miata. I had never driven in one, let alone sit in one before, or interact with one in any way whatsoever, but I craved one. I could never find one, though, and months of scouring classifieds had left me defeated once, so I hadn't had much hope the second time around. Sure enough, I couldnt find anything, anything, in my price range. I began thinking about other cars that I could settle for when I started chatting with a guy at my school (I'm in high school) named Brandon (who recently posted up his new z31). Somehow we discovered that we both shared an interest in cars, and that we were both on the hunt for something new. Brandon's suggestion to buy Miatas together soon after reinvigorated me, and after he introduced me to the MM forum and showed me how he had found a nice miata by posting a thread on it, I decided to give it a go. Incedentally, Brandon's Miata fell through, but he referred me to the guy he was talking to, who happened to post a reply on my thread a few hours later. He said he had a crazy nice base model NA6 Miata he picked up from the original owner, and directed me to a thread about it. I was sold. A few days later, I drove to Sterling and met Taylor, who was more than enthusiastic to show me his NA6 and tell me everything about it. We came to a deal and a few days after that, I picked it up and drove it two hours home. I laughed the whole time.

A week has passed since I bought the Miata, and I couldn't be happier. It needs a some things to be in tip top shape; the paint isn't perfect and there's a dent in the front right fender, and its been stalling on me. But, I'm making progress. Brandon and I put on a new soft top today, and I've got a Hard Dog M2 rollbar waiting to be put on. I don't know what else I want to do as far as modifications to it, but it's going to be my daily, so probably little things here and there. We'll see. In the meantime though, I'm going to enjoy blasting around my town and its surrounding backroads.

Also, huge thanks to Brandon and Taylor, who have been helping me a ton with the Miata. Brandon, thanks for being a great car buddy and an all round good friend, and Taylor, thanks for all the support and hospitality. I really appreciate it.[Image: 9dc4716532cc324b3fda09a3b16daeba.jpg]
  Reply
#2
Use imgur to host your photos, or upload directly if you're using the tapatalk app on your phone.

Glad you made a thread and I'm super happy/impressed you're making such progress! Great pickup with getting the roll bar already. Please reach out before you pull the trigger on any parts! Hopefully I can help you find good deals.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
  Reply
#3
Okay, thanks, I'll do that!
  Reply
#4
Nice post, and of course man I got you! Also here is the pic from last night[Image: a4295c0add683dc5dd65a75b2c6fb7cc.jpg]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  Reply
#5
Wait, now two high-schoolers on the forum before most students?! This is madness, and fantastic.

Welcome welcome, you will enjoy that Miata. Joey and I got to flog it a little bit before Taylor sold it and it's a very good example of a NA6.

[Image: 27993697_10216598780871584_4752899300061...e=5B4A2008]

You'll find that a lot of us old fogies have owned Miatas, and some still do (Scott, in particular - races a Spec Miata and owns about 19 others). Definitely ask if you have questions - we've got you covered between street and track use. Enjoy it and be safe!
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
  Reply
#6
jmwhtzl Wrote:I don't know what else I want to do as far as modifications to it, but it's going to be my daily, so probably little things here and there. We'll see. In the meantime though, I'm going to enjoy blasting around my town and its surrounding backroads.

great to hear you snagged this one, its definitely a diamond in the rough but seems like it was really well cared for. i know Taylor was excited about it.

sounds like you're taking the modification path slow and steady which is great. they're fun cars as they are, and i'm sure you'll be able to enjoy it to the max this spring with top down in the mountains!
2010 Civic Si
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
--------------------------
Past:  03 Xterra SE 4x4  |  05 Impreza 2.5RS  |  99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T  |  01 Accord EX  |  90 Maxima GXE  |  96 Explorer XLT
  Reply
#7
Welcome to the club, great to see these cars staying in the MM family. It would be awesome to try to come up with a comprehensive list of all of the cars that have been bought / sold among members here over the years.
Posting in the banalist of threads since 2004

2017 Mazda CX-5 GT AWD Premium

Past: 2016 GMC Canyon All Terrain Crew Cab / 2010 Jaguar XFR / 2012 Acura RDX AWD Tech / 2008 Cadillac CTS / 2007 Acura TL-S / 1966 5.0 HO Mustang Coupe
2001 Lexus IS300 / 2004 2.8L big turbo WRX STI / 2004 Subaru WRX / A couple of old trucks
  Reply
#8
Thanks, everyone! Also, suggestions for simple mods are welcome and greatly appreciated.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
  Reply
#9
(03-08-2018, 10:19 AM)WRXtranceformed Wrote: Welcome to the club, great to see these cars staying in the MM family.  It would be awesome to try to come up with a comprehensive list of all of the cars that have been bought / sold among members here over the years.

We've done it among NASA Mid-Atlantic (and other "east coast" regions) before. It's insane. My open trailer is on NASA M-A owner #5, my green E36 is on NASA M-A owner #4, etc.
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
  Reply
#10
Simple mods.

Redo the brakes. Changes the whole car.

Trans and diff oil. Changes the whole car.

Paint correction and detail.

eBay front lip.

Repaint wheel center caps

Flying Miata / Jackson racing intake - Makes the car sound REALLY good

New Speakers + Rain guard mod for speakers

Seat Foamectomy

Get a cheap head unit and install the sub I gave you

Eclipse HVAC vent Mod

Exhaust (I liked the cobalt cat back, but you can't go wrong with a racing beat)

Cheap suspension - Zach got his cheap and it's pretty decent

Racing beat sway bar

Delrin door bushings - stiffen the car up

Shock tower brace

Seat belt tower brace from an NA 8

CAS timing increase to move torque down in the rev range

Replace CAS o ring

New plugs and wires

Third brake light blinker mod

Turn signal intake ports




Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
  Reply
#11
How loud would the racing beat exhaust and an intake be? I don't mind the noise, but I know my family does.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
  Reply
#12
Not very loud if you keep your cat and use a resonated pipe. It's just a little more noise and tone.


Go double check, but I think NA6 exhausts unbolt before the Muffler like NBs do, so you can just buy the muffler instead of the full cat back like I had to.

Here is what my cobalt sounded like. I believe it's a little louder than the RB exhaust. Cheaper.



Or if you want to be a terrible person and just unbolt the muffler, then melt your bumper from the exhaust gases

Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
  Reply
#13
Hm, maybe I'll do the cobalt. No way I'm just taking the muffler off though, lol

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
  Reply
#14
A cold air intake is only loud if you're really standing on the throttle. Like 50% or more input. At startup/idle you can hardly tell anything is different, and there shouldn't be any drone around town or on the highway unless you're actively accelerating.
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
  Reply
#15
Cool, drone was the one thing I was concerned about most.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
  Reply
#16
I second the intake. Looking back, I'd rather have the intake than the exhaust. No drone and honestly a much cooler sound. I know it doesn't sound plausible, but a Miata with an intake sounds so cool. I love the way James' and Zach's sound. Almost an exotic note.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
  Reply
#17
Okay, I'll look into an intake. It will probably be a little way down the road, though.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
  Reply
#18
Just remember NA6 uses a vane style MAF. So I don't think you can use an intake for a 94+.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
  Reply
#19
Okay, I didnt know about that. Thanks for the heads up.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
  Reply


Forum Jump: