red rocket.

[momo]

so, I bought a miata.

I needed a reliable and fuel-efficient daily driver for college, but I didn't think I could stand a civic/corolla/camry/appliancemobile, so I held out a bit.

So about 3 weeks or so, I found this thing on craigslist. Listed at $2000, with a salvage title due to hail damage. I email the guy as soon as I find it, and tell him to call me. he does... but at the moment I was busy, and had to tell him I'd call him back. So I call him back that night, he doesn't answer, so I leave a message. A few more days go by without answer, leave another message. A few more days go by, I start losing hope. I then get an email from him, apologizing for not replying, as it got pretty crazy during the week for him, but stating that he'd drop the price to $1500 for me, and that he'd be out of the country for about a week.

Fast forward to this Friday night; I run down to Northfield with a couple friends to pick it up. Meet the guy, he's super nice. Hop in the car, start it up, and as soon as I got out of the driveway I was completely sold. Tightest feeling car I've ever driven in, maybe even rode in (that includes a Lotus Elise). Clutch is a recently installed performance clutch, take-up is smooth, linear, and snappy. Steering and handling, even on the snow tires it was rolling on, was nothing short of amazing, coming from what I've driven. Engine was smooth, torquey, responsive, and refined. And the sound... honestly, one of best sounds from a naturally aspirated inline 4 that I've heard. Smooth and burbly, but not raspy at all.

I come back into the driveway. Sold. Guy throws in a set of flyin' miata swaybars, Racing Beat adjustable endlinks, the stock alloy wheels with almost-bald falken azenis', a couple shop manuals, a crap-ton of receipts from the course of his ownership, and a ton of extra parts. Ducked into the house to do the paperwork, and on the way through the garage, come to find out, he has what looks to be a pristine E28 M5. (He's looking to get around 10k for it I believe, PM me if you're interested and I'll get you his contact info!)

And then, I had the happiest drive home I've probably ever had. It's kind of crazy, at 75mph, this thing is spinning at nearly 4k rpms... but it doesn't even feel like it. It just happily hums along.


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

Had some fun in a parking lot after I got back in brainerd, and I honestly couldn't believe how flat, neutral, and predictably the thing handles. It's crazy. Want a little more rotation? A little bit more throttle input. Want a lurid, yet easy-to-control drift? hammer the throttle. The go-kart cliche may seem way overused, but once you get in a miata and drive it, you just understand. That was also on snow tires.

So, spent a couple hours yesterday cleaning it up. As it was when I got it home:


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

First things first, threw on the alloys and azenis.


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

check out the stainless steel enthuza cat-back exhaust:


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

then went to see if I could do anything with the dull and oxidized paint on all the plastics.

how they were:


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

took a little polishing compound to it, and they actually shined up pretty alright! I didn't spend much time on them, and I will probably end up respraying them, but they turned out much better than I expected. I forgot to take detail photos of them afterwards, but they look a ton better.


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

more random pictures.

hail damage... I will probably eventually just replace the hood and trunk, but for now I'm not worrying about it. I guess I might see if I can pop any of the dents out, but I don't need it to look perfect at this point. I might do something funky/stupid with the hood if I get really bored with it, since it's not worth much of anything as is.


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

engine bay:


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

the interior:


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

I really love the look of the door cards. simple and undecorated. form through function. they kinda remind me of a lotus elise.


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

tons of extra stuff in the trunk... stock engine mounts, extra locking lugs, new rear rotors and pads, RB adjustable endlinks, new coilpack, NGK plug wires, etc etc.


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

flyin' miata sways!


Untitled by iwannadrive, on Flickr

If you can't tell though, I couldn't be happier with this car. It needs nothing. Driving it is the most fun I've ever had. The grip and responsiveness is incredible. But what astounds me is that this is (apparently) completely stock suspension... I honestly don't even notice any body roll. I don't even feel any need to put on the bigger sway bars at this point.

So, what's next for it? nothing big, I think. I'll probably get some new summer tires for the alloys, since they are very close to cording. And I'm pretty happy with the suspension, as it sits. I do want to put some kind of classic steering wheel in it though, and I'll probably throw some kind of cool spherical shift knob in it as well. Eventually it might end up on raceland coilovers or some kind of lowering springs, and some classic, dishy 14" wheels. but for now, I am happy. more than happy.

[palmer]

I miss my Miata so much.

You are going to have a riot. Enjoy.

Voodoo shift knobs are awesome, FYI. Looks like you got some nice goodies with it too!

[MisdemeanorMatt]

[JUSTION337]

That's awesome. I kind of want to sell my mk3 Jetta and get a miata.

[TwoTone]

I also miss my Miata, fantastic car for driving even when stock. What year is this one?

[momo]

It is a '97 Touring model, with 131k miles on it.

also should note that it's got $350 worth of poly bushings from Flyin' Miata in it, as well as Mazda competition motor mounts. Probably a big reason why it feels so tight and responsive. Timing belt was also done at 125k, so about 6k miles ago. A/C blows cold, everything works, etc. I can't believe I got it for $1500.

[Stephen]

diamond racing steelies

[Topher]

crack the windshield and then stitch it with leather strips

[Sven7]

14" works

[Stumanbmx]

Awesome! Nice pick up. Now I want a Miata...

Also, needs moar teeth!

[JUSTION337]

crack the windshield and then stitch it with leather strips

Actually he used pipe cleaners.

[Sven7]

Get a graffiti artist to tag the entire exterior (minus windows, etc of course).

[momo]

14" works

I wish I was that baller.

Get a graffiti artist to tag the entire exterior (minus windows, etc of course).

Haha, that could be cool, but I'm not going to go that crazy with it yet.

[TwoTone]

Those alloy wheels should be 14s...

[Majend]

Get a graffiti artist to tag the entire exterior (minus windows, etc of course).

i know Guf (the guy who did my art wheels) would be down to do that if you paid him hehe