My question Sir Bob, pertains to the fact that I am now considering adding  on a FACTORY hardtop to my '97 Red (I now know, my error was not getting  the Mariner Blue). Back to the question, does the FACTORY hardtop include   a headliner? I've never gotten to see one and am just curious. Before I  go, since you live in Australia: What's the difference between a Crocodile  and and Alligator?

Anne, Madison, WI U.S.A.

There's no headliner in the hardtops in the sense of one as seen in a car with a fixed roof. As I recall it's just a piece of grained vinyl over a thin foam pad. Not too sophisticated, eh? The very first hardtops on the prototypes had no headliner, and in certain conditions condensation would form inside, causing it to 'rain' on occupants. That didn't last long...

An alligator is big and relatively lazy. Crocs are nasty and aggressive. Alligators have broader snouts, while crocodiles are narrower of nose and the eating bits. Thankfully they prefer it in Queensland and the Northern Territory, and not here in Sydney. All we have to worry about are funnelweb spiders, blue bottle jellyfish, great white sharks and bats with three-foot wingspread. The fig tree in front of our house is a favorite with the bats...

bwob

Bwob, Why did the M1 end up with pop-up headlights? (Please don't say "because if they didn't pop up, the light wouldn't get out...") Do you like them? Were there other alternatives that Mazda considered? 

Rob, Ohio, USA

Nope, I wasn't a fan of pop-ups and favored fixed lamps with their weight and aerodynamic benefits. Obviously there were others with more ammo who disagreed. Better late than never with the M2, though I'm not big fan of the shape they ended up with.

bwob

Hi Bob. I have a Land Cruiser jeep and last week when driving it suddenly it stopped. After my car service's investigation we see that engine crankshaft broken from 1st bearing cap. And also the gears (crankshaft and oil pump) broken too. The injectors (1st and 2 nd) have problem but the others parts have no problem. Could you tell me why did happen it?

hakan, istanbul/turkey

I think the problem stems from the fact it hasn't got a Miata engine.

bwob

Bwob, Why didn't you answer my question about why 1992 A package makes a creaking noise?

Willard Whyte, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Well WW, first of all there was no e-mail address in your earlier versions of the question, so I couldn't drop a note back to you. That's the way I answer most of the "Ask Bob's" anyway, so if there's no e-mail address, I can't reply. And diagnosing things mechanical by e-mail isn't any different from dropping a note to your doctor about a sore back. While somebody might get lucky and stumble upon the proper diagnosis, you're a lot better off seeing a specialist - especially one who has the opportunity to get 'hands-on' with the patient to fix things properly. What does your mechanic say?

While I'd love to be of more help, I can't make an educated guess without getting my hands on the car. Believe me the cost of shipping here to Sydney to look at it would be a lot more than taking to a mechanic and getting it fixed.

bwob

I wish to know what option my 96 is. As in does it have a LSD... the vin is JM1NA3535T0xxxx0. How do I find out what it has? I have gone to CARFAX and looked up the title, but have heard of no way to find out about the LSD short of jacking the back end up.

christopher, Richmond, VA

Christopher, if you can't visit a friendly shop with a hoist, you'd better get the jackstands ready...

bwob

Hey, My father offered ME AN 88 Mazda Miata.First, I was wondering if you had any pictures of one. White. Also, I'm 16 and I have been through 2 cars already. I don't want to make a mistake again. Do you think it's a good car? Also people tell me it's tiny. Is it really that small? Well,hope ya write back.

Paul Monico, Middletown, NY

Well, inasmuch as the first Miatas were 1990 models (with an on-sale date of 4 July, 1989), I'd say that's an awfully rare bird you've got there. Needless to say, I haven't got may (any) pictures of 1988 Miatas as a result. You oughta take a picture of your father's and send it to Miata.net. I'd sure as hell like to see it, and I suspect a lot of the Miata.netheads would too.

As for small, well, it's a helluva lot smaller than, say, a 1960 Dodge Polara wagon. You can see one at: http://www.pacificcoast.net/~acmesafe/howard.htm   The Miata's a lot smaller than that. But Miata's don't come with a two-tone or roof rack from the factory.

bwob

Do you know of any sites or any programs I can go to or down load to check est 1/4 mile times or performance on my Miata with .

mike, new jersey

No, but then I didn't even know such programs existed. If it's the raw data you want, you could always go to a library and take a look in the back issues of car magazines for road test data.

bwob

Is the M coupe going to go into production? and When?

Kevin Felt, Browns Mills, NJ

Nope, so probably never.

bwob

Hey bob, I need to change my thermostat in my '91 Miata but I don't want to change the coolant because its brand new..... is this possible? if so, how would I go about doing this?

charlie gold, burbank ca, usa

Unless I replaced all the coolant a week ago, I'd just drain it and refill if it was my car. Doesn't your Miata deserve that? I hope you don't save the air in the tires when you buy new ones if you just topped 'em up a week before.

bwob

Thanks Bob for responding so quickly. I have one more question for you and I will leave you alone. Since I don't have a gas light, I was curious as to how many miles I can get in the city for the tank. I have gotten 223 in the city on a full tank, but I am not sure about how accurate the gas gauge is. Every time I fill the tank up, I can only put 10 gallons. This is a 12.7 gallon tank correct?

Trey, Ft Lauderdale,fl

Fuel gauges in cars are about as accurate as in airplanes. And pilots go by a gauge which (accurately) shows gallons per hour consumed, not solely the fuel level gauge. Miatas (in M1 form) have indeed 12.7 gallon tanks, but because of the vapor recovery system used, you've got to be awfully patient to get 12.7 gallons in it. Mind you I can't take a week off to fill the tank.

bwob

Please, I want to buy an used Miata in Brazil.

fernando martins, sao paulo brazil

Then just drop by the local Mazda dealer and see what he's got in his used car lot.

bwob

Just a comment, I agree with you whole heartedly about the Miata being a well balanced vehicle not in need of more power. I purchased my '99 Classic Red Leather addition in late '98, I have owned many sports cars over the years. 1960 Bug Eye Sprite, 1967 Austin Healy 3000, 1969 Datsun 2000 Roadster, 1975 Datsun 280Z, 1979 TR8 Conv.Plus a few others. The Miata presents the best overall balance, quality and ease of maintenance of any aformentioned vehicles. Thanks for my last sports car.

Stan Sharp, Placentia, CA U.S.A.

No, no! Not you last. Buy another Miata. Maybe two!

bwob

First, I fully endorse the notion that the best new engine choice for the Miata would simply be a 2.0 four cylinder. Simple, but more torque and a little more oomph.  Now, my question. Are the Mazda folks that select the paint options for Miatas glaucoma victims? Why does Mazda insist on only dark colors for the Miata? Other than the yellow, the obligatory red and white, all of the colors are dark. I will scream if they come out with yet another dark blue/purple whatever. Evolution Orange created a pre-release buzz because (like the yellow) it appeared to be cheery and not in need of Prozac to combat its depression caused by a lack of light (of course, in the flesh this color is more of a dirty brown...it was a cruel joke when I eagerly went to the dealership) Why is Mazda so agonizingly conservative with its paint?  I would be willing to give up my 92 yellow and would be happy with a new Miata painted with any color that doesn't belong in a funeral procession.

David Trimble, Washington, DC

David, I agree wholeheartedly. It's more than a little depressing to see the car wearing colors which look like something you'd see in the bottom of a cappuccino cup. Knowing the propensity some of the Mazda design team has for proper (non-Starbucks) coffee, maybe that's where the color inspiration comes from.

There's something to be said for the Miata to recall its roots and have a few bright solids in the color selection. Not micas, not metallics, not pearls, but proper solid colors. I'd bring yellow back, add a lime or Kelly green and even give Mariner blue a reprieve. But only as a limited edition. No sense wasting it on the uninitiated!

bwob

Can the hard top be stored in the trunk and is it easy to install if you have the standard soft top?

g graf, Canada

The hardtop can easily be installed by two people. One person can do it, but not easily. The hardtop can be stored in the trunk, but you'd need to cut it up into a lot of small pieces. And it wouldn't be as easy to install afterwards.

bwob