I'm ready to buy a Miata, but It's late March and no one has this year's models. Are they late in coming out? When do you think they'll be out?
Thanks. John

John Baker, Newark, Delaware

Huh? This year's model? It's still 2000, and the Y2K Miatas are at dealers now. They have been since the last quarter of 1999 in fact. If the dealer(s) in your area don't have any 2000s, they must be selling the heck out of them. Or they forgot to order some.

bwob

Bob,
I'm sure I'm not the first person to ask this, but given Mazda's concern for the weight and balance of the Miata, why didn't they use a normally-aspirated version of the Wankel engine for it? How feasible would a rotary conversion be?

Rob, Sacramento, CA

The car wasn't conceived as a rotary. Despite the fact the rotary is simple, lightweight and has few moving parts, the production of the engine is extremely labor-intensive, with final assembly almost totally done by hand. The rise in living standards - and wages - that has taken place in Japan since the 1970s means the Wankel is VERY expensive to produce, and not in keeping with the price targets which had been set for the Miata. At the time the car was conceived, the RX-7 was going like gangbusters and the idea of the Miata was to build a car that was different to the RX-7, not just a low-price substitute. So it was conceived as a simple four-cylinder car. With a GREAT exhaust note. The Miata's missing a rotary for the same reason Corvettes don't have sixes - it's what the team developing the car - and the company supporting the team - wanted.

As for the difficulty of a rotary conversion, as a conversion done by an individual, it shouldn't be too tough. As a change that Mazda could make on the production line it'd require a wheelbase stretch to allow the engine to allow sufficient clearance between the engine and steering rack. Manufacturers have to make allowances for variance in build that somebody swapping an engine wouldn't have to concern themselves with. This is a prime example of one.

It's fascinating for me to see all the interest in the rotary after it's been dropped from the US market. Too bad it wasn't able to garner as much support when it was still offered.

bwob

What's the difference from the 10th Anniversary Miata and the new Special Edition Miata that's out this year?

Mike, Chicago

Briefly, color, trim, the lack of a his and hers set of watches and numbered plaque on the fender. Mechanically they're both effectively identical. And you don't have to be so in love with blue to like this one.

bwob

I've contemplated owning a Miata since 1990 but always settled for a more "practical" car. Would I regret trading my 1997 Integra Type R for a new Miata to satisfy my ten year itch?

Terry, Florida

Now that's a tricky one. Assuming the Type R you get in the 'States is as steroidal as the one sold here in Australia, the Miata will be a lot more sedate as regards acceleration. It's noticeably slower than the Type R to 100km/h (62mph); 7.2 seconds to 100km/h and a 15.2 second quarter for the Honda vs. 8.8 and 16.4 seconds for the Miata (both figures are for Australian-spec vehicles with a full tank of fuel and two aboard).

If the US Type R is devoid of firewall and toeboard insulation as the Australian model is - it will be more sedate as regards noise. The Miata rides a helluva lot better than than the Type R does, and the handling is more fluid with a lot more finesse.

If your itch is caused solely by straight-line acceleration and noise, the Miata's likely to leave you wanting more. But driving the Miata with the top down on a nice twisty road is an experience the Type R cannot duplicate. Try before you buy, but I wouldn't have a moment's hesitation. Not that I'm totally unbiased...

bwob

Where can I get the Z3 fiberglass conversion kit?

joseph grant, london/england

Somebody in our office noticed the outfit which had been offering it stopped advertising in local magazines. It's rumored they're switching production to a Miata kit for Z3s. We can only hope so...

bwob

I've read in several sources that the Miata design team assessed about a hundred different exhaust/muffler designs to get "the right sound" for the car. My question is: did you really review 100 or more, or is this slight hyperbole? I can't imagine there could be 100 differentiable exhaust sounds within the target zone for a car like this.

Also, is it true that in 1979, you actually sketched the lightweight sports car design in invisible ink on the windshield of a race car, and then the race car's windshield got smashed by bad guys, but then it turned out you didn't need the plans, because you had them all in your head???

Rob Ulery 91 Mariner Blue/Base (with tin wheels), Columbus, Ohio, USA

In total was over 100. Probably about 105. But bear in mind a fair number were studied via tape. The budget didn't allow for the program manager to buy a Maserati Mistral, but we did have recordings made of some of the better sounding - and more exotic - hardware.

It was a chalkboard drawing, actually. Erased when we left the meeting. But not before a photo had been snapped of it. Mind you, I think the invisible ink on a race car screen is a lot sexier.

bwob

Who have the fastest Miata in the country. (1.6 or 1.8) and what time do they run @ what speed.

03-12-00 I ran 12.67 @ 108 mph

Ric , San Antonio

I managed 62 curves in a bit less than fifteen minutes last December. That was a pretty good record. Cripes, in thirteen seconds I'm just getting warmed up. Maybe it's my age, but I like to stretch things out as long as possible. Sometimes that's hard to do when you're married.

bwob

The new Miata is not selling well in the US. When I think about replacing my 96, the new ones does not have the LOOK. In talking with other owners I hear the same thing. One person here at work has a 99 and when it is parked near mine, my old 96 still gets all the attention. Among Miata owners I have talked to the consensus is the new front end needs to go. When the current owners won't trade in then Miata is in trouble. Is there any chance Mazda will correct their design blunder or are they going to let the Miata fade away?

Nor Jones, Little Rock, AR USA

It's not going to fade away. It's needed to provide some of the mechanicals for the production version of the RX Evolv, in fact. That should ensure its survival for rather a while.

As for the low rates of migration between M1 and M2 you've spoken of, I don't see much of that here. Most of the M2 owners who've 'Asked Bob' (hardly a scientific sampling, I'll admit - though I'll put my numbers against yours) owned M1s before they bought the M2, sometimes keeping the M1 and adding the M2. If the last two generations of RX-7 can be used as a guide, the rate of migration from first-generation to second-generation RX-7s was low, and ditto for buyers who's first RX-7 was a second-generation car moving to a third-generation model.

As for the M2 being Mazda's 'mistake', that's a matter of parallax. I think the front is the best part of the car. Hell, it's the only aspect of the exterior design I prefer to the M1. Then again, I was one of a handful people fighting pop-ups on the M1 till the bitter end. Nonetheless, I'd hardly paint the highly subjective aspect of design with absolutes. the only 'mistake' I've seen Mazda make with the M2 is the utter lack of Sunburst Yellow or Mariner Blue. Now those are mistakes of gargantuan proportions.

bwob

Bwob,
I've lusted after a yellow '92 ever since they came out. I'm finally in a position where I have started looking for them but frankly the yellow paint seems to be driving their market value out of my reach. Just how blasphemous would it be to buy a decent 92-94 in another color and get it painted? It occurs to me that by doing that I could get the Torsen, etc that wasn't avail on the 92...

Alternately, some other countries seem to have received yellow ones in years other than 92 (i.e. Japan) Did Canada get a different "allotment" of yellow-spec cars?

Greg Arter, Marion,OH,USA

The number of yellow Miatas was limited by the fact the yellow cars were all painted twice. The yellow wouldn't cover the black used for the interior and sills of early M1s, so white cars were taken off the line, held in storage, then got a yellow final coat over the white. This meant the production rate was pretty low, too low for Mazda US to consider continued production of the color given the size of the market. Mazda Canada was quite happy with the limitation (no more than 50 cars a month), so yellow was offered longer in Canada than in the 'States. Japan had even had yellow offered on 1.8s.

Blasphemy to repaint a car? Not if you do a good job with the trunk innards, and door jams all yellow. You could get away with doing the engine bay black, though I'd make sure the hood inner was yellow. A yellow M2 would sure look great...

bwob

Last September you said regarding Mazda's increasing the Miata's power output, "Mazda will only be forced into such action if the Toyota encroaches into Miata's price window and offers superior performance." Now we've seen Toyota's price announcement, and the MR Spyder is aimed right at the Miata; further, early tests indicate it does outperform our favorite roadster. Your thoughts?

Craig Blome, Austin, TX, USA

Which early tests? Peter Nunn's article in Automobile certainly didn't come to that conclusion. Ditto the test in Wheels (which I had nothing to do with, but not for trying). The Miata's about more than cut and dry acceleration times. Based on my brief drive, the new MR-2 - as it's called here - is competent and quick, but sterile and doesn't sound especially good. As for looks, well, it's more attractive than a Z3. Which is like being the healthiest person in intensive care.

bwob

Am I the only one who has noticed how similar the '99 or '00 Mazdas look to the extremely more expensive Dodge Viper. Seems to me that all they did was tweak the Miata a little and invented the Viper. (Before the Miata had exposed headlights) With a little imagination, the aftermarket people could make kits for the Miata that would emulate the Viper convertible. Similar good looks, but at a much better price. What do you think?

David Newsom, USA

I think the Viper has six-cylinders too many. Anyway, I'm waiting for an M1 body kit for the Viper.

bwob

I have a '94 Eunos Roadster 1.8 (Japanese import) and of course its restricted. Is it possible to unrestrict it? If so, could you tell me what to do/what I need or how I could find out?

Karl Bowles, Leicester, England

Like all Japanese cars, the domestic version of the Miata is speed restricted to 180km/h. You could replace the ECU - the whole thing, not just the chip ­ with one from an European-delivered MX-5 to start with. Mind you what it's restricted to and what the car's likely maximum is aren't too far apart. I suspect a restricted 180 km/h (111mph) will get you a view of British justice in action just easily as 121mph will.

bwob

Dear Bob,
I'm in the market for a new car and I've been thinking about buying a new Mazda Miata. Lately though I've been having doubts. I'm reading a lot of literature on Miatas, but all they give is the technical information. What I want is how other Miata owners feel about their cars, like what they really enjoy about the Miata and what it could use work on. For instance, does the ride feel smooth or do you feel every bump in the road? I could really use some help, I don't want to buy a Miata and later regret it.

Mike, Chicago

Ride is relative. What are you getting out of? If it's an Integra Type R, the Miata ride is quite nice indeed. If you're making the move from a Crown Victoria, well, you're gonna be disappointed.

As for what owners think, just look around Miata.net for a while and I suspect you'll get a pretty good idea as to what the vox pops is on the little Mazda.

bwob

I tend to agree that the bulk of Miata limited editions cater more to the pampered set than roadster purists, but it has been nice to see some "truly sporting" additions over the last decade, such as the BBS alloys of 92/93/95 (US), limited-slip diffs, and close-ratio M2 6-speeds... What goodies (or deletions) would you have liked to see, especially those easily incorporated into production processes?

Do you think the Miata would have been as effective or critically successful with a live axle? How much of a probability was there of such a design seeing production?

On a more superficial note, the styling of the M1 is definitely more linked with the past than that of the M2. Would you say Mazda missed the nuevo-retro boat (Audi TT, S-type & F-Type Jags, New Beetle, Ford 021) or helped start the trend? (Given that the Miata has spiritual heritage, if not corporate.)

Was ANY consideration given to exposed-headlamp designs for the M1? Turning to the past should have revealed numerous inspirations for incorporating the big round bulbs: MGA, MGB, and especially the Elva Courier you mentioned in the last installment.

Finally, ATF as an oil additive... are you quite serious?!

Thanks for being available through this forum -- and for helping make the Miata happen!

Chris, Dallas, TX

Regarding ATF, remember it's nothing more than super-refined oil. And it's great at freeing stuck lifters.

I'd really like to see Mazda do a special edition that was not aimed at the 50-year-old with leather everything, chrome wheels and woodgrain (real and phony). If there's any problem with Mazda (and the car) it's that the Miata is a victim of a mindset that says young people only want 4wd crossover vehicles. Of course if you don't do anything relating to youth this is likely to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I was, along with Hayashi-san (chief designer of the M2), a hold out for fixed headlamps, but I wanted roundish (circular in direct front view, but elliptical when viewed from a standing person's eye level and conforming to the body contours) fixed headlamps with round (single) taillamps. Obviously I lost that one along with a plea to keep the lugs of the wheels exposed...

I don't consider the Miata (M1 or M2) a retro car. A traditional sports car indeed, but not retro. Hell, I was chastised by the pop-up-headlamp brigade because I wanted fixed round lamps. They were thought to be 'retro', you know?

The rigid axle question is an interesting one, since we were blown away when they not only decided to go ahead and do IRS, but threw away our parts-bin solution (using the whole rear suspension from a 4wd 323), coming up with the final double wishbone arrangement. I don't think the rigid set up would have been proceeded with, since the cost and manufacturing benefits of using the 323 rear end were hard to ignore, particularly alongside a purpose-built five-link rear end that would have no commonality with any other Mazda and would have been produced by an outside supplier.

bwob

In respond to the poll about the Miata being a girl car, I have question about what is the statistic of the gender distribution on all Miata that Mazda sold worldwide or at least in the US. I always believe that it is the guys car and I drive it like is suppose to be driven, hard, like a maniac on wheels.

Tan Nguyen, Houston, TX

I always thought of it as a car lovers' car. But I'm married to a blonde Asian girl, so my judgement must be suspect. Then again, you described a Miata being driven by a hard, like a maniac on wheels. When did you go for a drive with my wife?

bwob