Had and RX7, traded it for a 626. I'm bored silly in the 626 and really want a Miata M-Series I test drove last night. Practical? Also, in the city (Washington, DC) is a rag top too easy for thieves? Please advise...Thanks

Cathleen, Washington, DC

Not having an idea as to how US cities are stacking up in the latest crime rate statistics, I couldn't hazard a guess as to the survivability of a soft top in DeeCee. But you could always add the hardtop if that was a factor which affected your comfort levels about leaving the car on the street.

bwob

I have a Mazda 323 LX. I'm making a show car out of it believe it or not. I just have one problem and I hope you can help - I need parts. I make the ones I can't find. That's all. Thanks if you can Help

Josh Kelley, Scottsdale, AZ

You might want to see if http://'www.323.net   is up and running yet. I can't think of any source of 323 show car bits other than Mazdaspeed in Japan.

bwob

Hello Bob!
I really hope you can help me. I have a Miata year 1990. Last summer I bought a new plastic window for my convertible - it really looked nice, then we had a pretty hard winter here in Denmark. One morning I came out and the car was buried in snow. I took the ice off my plastic window with a ice scraper which is made by rubber (I believe it's called so - it's to take ice off from the windows). Afterwards my plastic window had a lot of scratches. They don't feel like scratches and I don't think they were, cause I took of the ice with rubber. I only think I've made stripes at the window. My Question is, can you please help me in anyway to get off those stripes, so I can get my nice and clean window back. Thanks a lot for this extremely fine homepage. I hope you can understand my problem and question. Thanks for your time

Allan Auning-Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Allan, while Mazda use a pretty good quality plastic for the rear window, it's still far, far softer than a rigid transparent plastic such as Perspex or Lexan. My father owned a fleet of convertibles from 1935 which ran unbroken up to 1979, and he managed to get rear windows to last in pretty good shape for as long as nine years, to six to seven was the norm. His secret? He told us that we should never let the rear window come in contact with anything we wouldn't touch our eyes with. Needless to say, that leaves ice scrapers out.

Though you might not think so, I suspect you've seriously scratched the rear window with the ice scraper. Needless to say I can't be certain without seeing the window, but I'd be shocked if it isn't scratched after running an ice scraper over it. You might want to try Meguiar's rear window treatment, but expect the worst.

bwob

Hi! - I just bought a 1993 without air conditioning. It has standard rack and pinion steering (not power steering). I want to put air in it, but I've run across two possible problems. First, I've been told that I have to put power steering on the car because part of the air conditioning unit bolts to that. Isn't there some kind of adapter I can get? Sounds unreasonable that you have to have power steering to get air. Second, Mazda no longer makes the factory air for 93' - but they have it for 94 - 97. Will the newer unit work on my car? I guess I could buy a used unit from a wrecking yard, but I'd rather go new if possible. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Jack Hart, Kingsburg, CA - US

Jack, the reason the 1993 (and earlier) air con gear isn't available probably has to do with its dependence upon R12, a banned refrigerate. Later Miatas (and other cars) use a system developed around R134A, a much more ozone-layer-friendly gas. The problem with R134A is that it required more evaporator area than R12 (it wasn't quite as efficient in terms of its heat-exchanging properties), and it lacked the lubricating properties of R12, which mandated different compressor design.

As for availability of air without power steering, it was available (and in fact was the only way you could get the cars in Australia 'til 1993), so there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to set your car up in that manner.

bwob

I was at the 2000 auto show last week. At the Mazda display they had a 2000 Miata. It was sporting the new "evolution orange" paint. I am so disappointed with Mazda. That color is dull and unappealing. It almost matches the tan leather. Now to me, that's not orange... Why didn't they just use the "evolution gold".

J. Walker, Pittsburgh, PA

Good question. I give up. Why?

bwob

I've had a yellow Miata for nearly two years now and love it to death, except for one small detail I noticed when I was first test driving Miatas. The ignition key looks like it fits a truck. My father has a 66' sunbeam tiger and I learned to drive on it (one of the reasons I decided to get a Miata). The key for that car was smaller than a motorcycle key. Small car = small key. Isn't there some British sports car commandment that's been broken by giving the Miata the same key that fits a pickup truck? While I'm griping, the ignition should be on the dash and not on the steering column. Other than that, the Miata has all the charm of the tiger with none of the reliability "quirks." Well, the Miata doesn't have the grunt of the V-8 either, but I digress...

Jonathan, Raleigh, NC USA

I had the same gripe with my first Miata back in 1989, but I found a 'fix' (and a prophetic one at that). In Asia-Pacific markets Ford sold a version of the 323/GLC called the Ford Laser which had a key with a seriously large plastic handle - easily three times the length that of the Miata's, which was featured on the cover of the Japanese Laser sales brochure. Since the lock cylinder was 100% Mazda, I went to the Los Angeles Central Library, borrowed a Sydney, Australia Yellow Pages. looked up the phone number of the parts department of a Sydney Ford Dealer and called 'em up. After ascertaining that they had the key, I gave 'em my credit card details and ordered one. I liked the key so much I rang the dealer back and ordered three more blanks, which I used on my subsequent Miatas.

I'm a stickler for not putting any more keys along with my ignition key than I need to, so the big end of the key was a lifesaver when rummaging in my jacket pocket. If you don't mind a Ford oval pressed into the black plastic of the key end, it was a great solution for me. And the way the Ford/Mazda relationship has gone, a solution ahead of its time, too.

bwob

Bob, I just bought a '99 Miata and was wanting to know if anyone has put in their Miata this Prolong engine treatment stuff. I'm looking for more performance without having to do too much mechanical work. (Installing a K&N air filter and thinking of putting in the Prolong treatment). Any info you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Dennis Reavis, Dallas,Tx. USA

I've got no first hand experience with those engine treatment chemicals, but I still favor mineral oil over synthetics (yeah Castrol GTX!). Maybe some Miatanetheads can offer testimonials or damnation. You ought to drop by the message boards here at Miata.net and see if the vox pops there will help.

bwob

Dear Bob,
I am the proud owner of a 94 blue Miata. I love it. But rather than talk about this wonderful car too much I will get to the point. You mentioned in one of the past questions that you answered that your favorite engine to put in a Miata would be a Dino 308GT4. I was wondering who made that engine and what cars is it put in currently.

Grant Sanderson, Union Mills/IN/USA

The engine was built by Ferrari. Actually the one I like is the one used in the 208GT4, a 2.0, rather than 3.0 litre version of this all aluminum twincam V8. The 3.0 was in all the North American-delivered Ferrari 308 models. It sounds great!

bwob

Hi Bob,
You have indicated before that you are not a fan of turbos on a Miata.
Can you explain why?

Lee Bohon, Lexington, KY

It's pretty simple. First I don't consider the car underpowered. But then I've always felt that if you can't go fast on 90hp, 900 won't help you. Blinding acceleration? I don't need it and it's pretty easy to obtain in any case. Remember the Plymouth Road Runner? I like MoPars, but that was hardly the most sophisticated thing that Chrysler came up with. I prefer balance, and it's much , much harder to obtain. Takes a lot of skill rather than brute force.

Also, to my point of view turbocharging is an inelegant method of power extraction on an Otto-cycle engine. Great for diesels with their more complete heat cycle and a tendency to need oomph at the upper end of the rev range, but pretty Neanderthal on the exhaust side of a spark-ignition engine. Turbos can expose additional heat loads on the engine and the lubricating system. Pump the boost way up and engine response goes on vacation.

Both turbocharging and supercharging add additional mechanical assemblies, weight and complexity. I suppose on a technological terror like a Nissan Skyline GT-R or Audi S4 forced-induction can be rationalized, but not on a car which has simplicity as its hallmark.

Supercharging gives you the mechanical drag of one, sometimes more, additional cylinders. Not to mention something else to break. Obviously Miata power window cables aren't enough for some folks who like fiddly mechanical things ready to cut loose with little warning.

Some people say "Mazda needs a more powerful sports car to take on the Boxster". Great talk, but where were these people when the RX-7 needed buyers? It wasn't discontinued in the 'States because it was too popular.

My wife worded it quite succinctly when we had a great drive up McQuarrie pass a couple of hours south of Sydney when she said "anybody who NEEDS more power in a Miata probably NEEDS Viagra. Or a penile implant".

Viagraless and 'compact' bwob

1997 Supercharged Mazda Miata -
If I get a Nitrous kit is it O.K.? I know it is probably not recommended, but if used sparing, is it O.K.? I don't want to blow up my engine but if it's O.K. then I want it!

James C. McInnis, Lake Charles. LA

My opinion's unimportant. What does your mother say?

bwob

Hi Bob,
I would like to know if weight distribution was a factor of consideration in designing the Miata. If yes how much of a priority was it. Thanks for improving on my brothers old MGB.

Christopher Cole, Olympia, WA USA

It was indeed. That's one of the reasons the battery is taking up valuable trunk space!

bwob

I've heard the Mazda Miata referred to as the "Miata" as the "MX-5" and as the "Miata MX-5". Is there a difference between a Miata and an MX-5 or are they identical? Is MX-5 just 'driver jargon' for a Miata???

Michael LaJaunie, Thibodaux,Louisiana(U.S.A.)

All Miatas are MX-5s, but not all MX-5s are Miatas. Both are 'roadsters', but not Roadsters. Of course the Roadster is a 'roadster, but it's not a Miata OR an MX-5. Does that clear things up?

bwob

Editor's note: "Miata" is the name used in North America for the Mazda MX-5. In Japan, it's tagged a "Eunos Roadster."

I am very close to buying a 93 LE. Never wrecked, 42000 miles. Appears to be in great shape with great care taken. Carfax reports good clean title. It does not have the numbered plate, registry cert., Key Fob, Lapel Pin, or glossy pic's. Will this hurt the value? Also, assuming everything is working and nothing needs replacement except for the original tires, what is a fair price. The guy wants $10,500 and there is no hardtop. As well, this seems to be a very unique Mazda (1505 93 LE's) Do you have an opinion on this particular model edition and year.

Chris Fellers, Madison, WI, USA

Do you like it? Do you want it? Are you buying it for yourself or for the person you'll sell it to next? Unless you're buying it as an investment why worry about key fobs, lapel pins or other paraphernalia?

The only limited availability Miata I get hot-and-bothered about is the 1992 Sunburst Yellow. And not because only a few were built, but solely because it's yellow. I can't afford to buy a car for the next guy. He may pay me money when I sell the car, but he won't do anything to improve my driving experience of the car while I'm making the payments...

bwob

Bob, Have you heard any aftermarket exhaust systems you like? I do mean the sound, not say, perceived power increase, etc. I have a 90 "A" package, in case that matters for this.

Brion Shimamoto, Riverside, CT USA

I personally like the Jackson racing system. Nice sound with good exhaust note and not too much bass.

bwob