Project 10AE Miata

[Goodspeed]

First off, big thank you's go out to everyone who helped in the search and answered my questions, especially Shea (who also found this car) and Evan who took the time to show me his '99. Once his is ready for sale I encourage anyone who is in the market to take a good look at that car.

Here it is:



Details
- 1999 10th Anniversary Miata
- All stock save for Hard Dog bar
- 87k miles

I picked it up yesterday, Sat. the 1st (a week and one day after selling the Supra) in Strasburg, VA. It was previously owned by a VW dealer tech from Roanoke who bought a Subaru wagon for his kayak and outdoors equipment (that obviously a Miata falls short in carrying). Its all stock besides the bar, and has the typical 10AE stuff including Sports and PEP package items and a 6 speed.

Purpose

The "Project" in the title may be misleading, at least for a little bit. I don't immediately plan on wrenching on the car, but time will tell what my budget allows for the near future. However, this is a car I intend to learn a lot with, both with a wrench in hand and in the driver's seat. After the Supra, I wanted a newer, simpler car that had limits that were both readily achievable and comfortable to attain. The old adage that a lighter, smaller car will be more of an enjoyable driver's car in everyday situations is definitely true, as I've already tossed it around a little bit and its polar opposites from the ol' MKIII. I'm hoping to take this car to auto-x events and eventually into some sort of DE track program.

I've only put ~50 miles on it since buying it as I type this, but already I can tell this is a car that will bring much enjoyment. I still have a few Q's for the MM Miata gang though :

- Little issue: the Nardi shift knob is...broken? This was the only issue I could find while inspecting the car and obviously is a minor issue. Basically, the knob is screwed down, but freely rotates. Its as if the knob itself seperated from its inner threaded shaft, and yet you can't simply pull it off. No idea how it happened, any ideas?

- 3500+ rpm in sixth at 70mph? Maybe its a low-torque, low displacement I-4 thing I'm not used to, but are these really that "buzzy" on the highway? Leagues different than the cruiser Supra...I guess it won't be that great on gas, but oh well.

Plans

I'll probably try to do the timing belt/water pump before too long. It doesn't show in the paperwork, and the PO thought he remembered being told it had been done, but better to be safe than sorry.

In the future, I'd like to do things like Koni's and Azeni's, just light suspension and brake work.

Well, thats about it, we'll be seeing you 8)

[Nis01]

Nice pickup Goodspeed. I've always been somewhat drawn to the 10AE cars, maybe its the bling chrome stockers.

To answer your questions, these cars stay in the upper rpms at all times. My car is actually a little higher in the rpms (3750 - 4000) cruising at my usual 75+ on the highway with the 5 speed. As for the shifter, I have no idea whats wrong with it but actually the guy I bought my miata from had an extra nardi shift knob (from his old 10AE) that he gave me in a box with a bunch of random miata parts. I'll have to check on its condition but if it looks okay I'll make sure to get it to you.

Glad to see you find such a clean example miata, you will definitely be happy with it down the road.

[DavidM]

Great pick up Goodspeed! That color and interior combination are awesome! Can't wait to see it in person!

[Mike]

Looks good! Congrats.

Yep, those RPMs and buzziness on the highway are expected. Yep, gas mileage is surprisingly not that great for such a tiny [looking] car.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Hmm good weekend for MMers picking up cars. Mike just bought an alpine white e36 m3.

[Jake]

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

[Steve85]

Very nice, congrats. I like that body style and really like the color.

[Ryan T]

[DavidL]

Awesome! Looks like a great car after the Supra- definitely looks like a nice one! Can't wait to see it around! I see Verona autox in your future... the 23rd mabye?

[Dave]

Very nice Goodspeed!! That's like the polar opposite of the manatee, so I bet you'll love it :-)

[.RJ]

fap fap fap!

dibs on a test drive next time i'm in hbg

[kcook]

congrats goody! I really like it! Cant wait to see it in person or drive it

[ScottyB]

beautiful!

is that tennis handle wrap on the wheel?

[Goodspeed]

Nice pickup Goodspeed. I've always been somewhat drawn to the 10AE cars, maybe its the bling chrome stockers.

To answer your questions, these cars stay in the upper rpms at all times. My car is actually a little higher in the rpms (3750 - 4000) cruising at my usual 75+ on the highway with the 5 speed. As for the shifter, I have no idea whats wrong with it but actually the guy I bought my miata from had an extra nardi shift knob (from his old 10AE) that he gave me in a box with a bunch of random miata parts. I'll have to check on its condition but if it looks okay I'll make sure to get it to you.

Glad to see you find such a clean example miata, you will definitely be happy with it down the road.

Shea, I won't ask for the knob but if you really don't need it and plan to send it that'd be awesome :thumbup:. And, to, uh...make shipping costs worthwhile, feel free to send on over those 6UL's....

Great pick up Goodspeed! That color and interior combination are awesome! Can't wait to see it in person!

Thanks bud, hopefully we get a good meet in soon after school starts and maybe a SD cruise

Looks good! Congrats.

Yep, those RPMs and buzziness on the highway are expected. Yep, gas mileage is surprisingly not that great for such a tiny [looking] car.

Thanks, glad to find out that I wasn't in fact stuck in 4th on the highway and thats the way its supposed to be, I'm getting more used to it. I still think it'll beat the Supra in fuel economy though :lol:

Hmm good weekend for MMers picking up cars. Mike just bought an alpine white e36 m3.

You have to finish the trend, where's that st00k? I saw that and jizzed in my pants. Now for the love of god make him autocross that thing.

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

Thanks Jake, the LP bracket on the front is not screwed into the bumper but rather from underneath facing upwards. I actually never parallel park for that very reason (and rear damage, and side damage, and....) but I might flip it and see how it looks.

I think you're right on about the 6 speed, more like 5.5 Just joined Miata.net last night, already found some good info. Looking forward to that story

Very nice, congrats. I like that body style and really like the color.

Thanks Steve, I'm still smiling like a 10 year old at space camp b/c it just worked perfectly and I got the model/color that I frankly did not expect to be able to find. Feels great to not settle at all and get exactly what you wanted

Awesome! Looks like a great car after the Supra- definitely looks like a nice one! Can't wait to see it around! I see Verona autox in your future... the 23rd mabye?

If I ain't broke and nothing else keeps me from it I'll plan on going! Its gonna be like night and day when I first auto-x it from the Supra

Very nice Goodspeed!! That's like the polar opposite of the manatee, so I bet you'll love it :-)

Ha, its growing on me fast. I do already miss the sounds and surge of torque the Supra had (especially when a V6 Firebird toyed with me and then promptly rolled out yesterday) but I think the gains it makes in everything other than a straight line will more than make up for it

fap fap fap!

dibs on a test drive next time i'm in hbg

Glad you like it RJ, lmk when you're back in town 8)

congrats goody! I really like it! Cant wait to see it in person or drive it

Thanks man, now get one yourself and turn the Subie into a monster (with the Miata being a mild beast)

beautiful!

is that tennis handle wrap on the wheel?

Thanks, I didn't think about that but it could be...the PO told me an earlier owner used a cleaner that wasn't friendly with the Nardi leather and wore on it. The material feels great though so I'll leave it on until I decide to re-cover the wheel

[Nis01]

Your next purchase has been decided. Don't question, just do it.

[Goodspeed]

Your next purchase has been decided. Don't question, just do it.

Edit, nvm: I right clicked into his smugmug account:

http://chows.smugmug.com/gallery/8866501_V5fvi#P-1-25

hock:

Do want. They look like the 15x8's, yes?

[Nis01]

I believe those are the 15x9s based on the lip but I could be wrong. Nickel just fits that color blue so nicely.

The car is amazing, super sleeper. Build thread: http://www.swaptastic.net/david/index.html
Spoiler: Car has a CTS-V LS6 hiding under the hood.

[fiveoh2go]

Your next purchase has been decided. Don't question, just do it.

Nah, this is the next thing that needs some attention. After the swap you'll no longer need to worry about the car being "buzzy" on the highway.

[Maengelito]

Nice work Goodspeed, it looks great!

If you plan on just dailying it, just keep it as it is and it'll be fine (except for that steering wheel wrap). Maybe get the 01+ center console which is much better than the piece of crap plastic hinged 99-00 center console. I might have a stock shifter (sans knob) but I'm not sure if it'll require the bushing and whatnot. I'm not sure if the 6spd has the same rubber boots surrounding the shifter but if they are, it might be time to replace them if you're in there anyway.

If you want to start tracking it, which I hope you do, since its already got a roll bar, I've got a few suggestions, in no particular order.

This book has some pretty good basic info on wrenching on the Miata and its pretty cheap:
http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?dept...r=46-86000

Brakes are so easy to change on this car. Rotors are stupid cheap too ($20 for fronts at NAPA), so there's no reason to not have a dedicated set of pads and rotors for the track. Get a big tub of the high temp slider pin grease and always grease them up everytime the caliper comes off.

Get a hardtop. All the 90-05 hardtops fit on all the cars. Some will have a headliner and/or defrost, but that doesnt really matter too much. You may not be able to use the side latches since you've got the rollbar in there, but if the top is adjusted pretty snugly, you should be fine. I can't tell from the pics but it doesn't look like you have the frankenstein bolts on the rear striker plates, but those are only like $10 for the pair.

I'm not sure if the 10AEs came in both the Cali and Federal emissions versions. Regardless, both the 99-00 came with cast iron boat anchors as exhaust manifolds. The 01+ tubular headers retain the stock appearance but add power and shed a bunch of weight. That being said, its kinda hard to find those without paying a ton for them. You'll also need the 01+ EGR pipe if you do that upgrade. If your car is the Cali version, it'll have two cats and messing with the O2 sensors is going to be a pain.

The OEM radiator is puny. The OEM radiator for the automatic transmission version is only slightly less puny. There are a lot of different aluminum dual core radiators out there but some might have fitment issues, especially with a big beefy front sway bar and the fans.

If you want, we can talk about suspension stuff too but this post is already pretty long.

[Evan]

looks awesome. that is the ultimate miata.

Ive got a RX-8 shift knob, love it. screws right on. Ebay for cheap.

You can replace the airbag switch with a JDM pocket part for a little more very valuable storage space. and like maeng said the 01+ center console is much improved
get a single din head unit and a pocket above it for more storage space.