Why did mazda use HLA's in the Miata engine instead of solid lifters?

Ron Crookham, las Vegas, NV USA

To reduce maintenance requirements. Valve adjustments weren't part of the development brief any more than oil changes every 3000km were. One of the first requirements was that the Miata had to be a good Corolla in addition to being a great sports car.

bwob

Hi Bob! I have a RED 1990 with 94,000 miles on it. The car looks brand new and most people think it is a 98 !!! Assuming I continue to maintain it, what is the average life span of the Miata ( Mileage wise?) This car is the most fun car we have ever owned!!! As much as I would like to get a new one...my heart and soul are in this one and just want to get a feel for how long it will last

Loren Doppelt, Palatine, IL

When the Brooklyn Bridge was opened, the dedication included the line "with proper maintenance the Brooklyn Bridge will last forever". Strictly speaking, there's no reason the same can't be said for the Miata. Or any other car. Maintain it correctly, replace things that break (but wear out) before they brake and you should be able to give the car to your grandchildren. Hopefully they'll take care of it too...

bwob

I have recently purchased a 1990 Mazda Miata MX-5 and I want to put a new sound system on. The problem is, there is no room to put a decent subwoofer. The truck already has a spare tire on the upper right hand side. And I want a little cargo room, not just a giant box where other things could go. Is there anywhere BUT the trunk to put a subwoofer? I go almost all the way back in the seat, so I can't place one behind it.

Brad Gattuso, San Diego/CA/USA

Put the subwoofer in your house. I've got a subwoofer in my living room, but then I don't have a ton of spotwelds in my house to be delaminated from all the bass...

bwob

I recently purchased a '97 M Edition. It seems to be one of the most complete designs (of anything) I have ever encountered. I am extremely pleased with almost every aspect of the car, but can't figure out why Mazda installed the arm rest assemblies they did. The arm rests are too low to be used by anyone taller than about 48 inches and the hand grab limits the knee space. It seems like a simple hinge pull handle like some older British sports cars had would be more cost effective and useful. Am   I missing something?

Jim Ferguson, Roseville/CA/USA

Mazda did the armrests that way because a few year earlier they had removed them altogher and caught hell from owners from it.

bwob

Do you think MAZDA should make a bigger engine and, by the way, stretch and widen just a little bit the Miata (like a late Jaguar E-Type) or maybe set it up with a different style of head lights maybe like a TVR Griffith? Also would have been interesting in the early Miata's 928 style retractable lights. I am not in any way trying to diminish the Miata's design, but those should really be some interesting design experiments. What is true is that the Miata would really benefit with more horsepower. What do you think considering the growth of convertible two seaters on the market (BMW,Toyota, Honda) giving Mazda a run for it's money?

Miguel Arango, Puerto Rico

Well, the Z3 seems to gone well off the boil, maintaining appeal to badge slaves, so I'm not sure I'd be worried about reworking the Miata to meet that particular challenge. The Jury is till out on the Toyota (though it's had such an icy reception in Japan a restyle is already in the works), but I suspect it will have the traditional mid-engine car problems in the marketplace, especially since it's got no trunk space. the Honda's the most credible threat, but here in Australia (as well as in Japan) there's a pretty big price walk between the two, so is that a competitor? No, the Miata could use a few additional horsepower as long as the car doesn't move too far out of its spot in the marketplace.

bwob

Which European roadster does the Miata owe moat of it's "lineage" to?

Chris, El Cajon, CA. USA

That's easy. Sanford Supersport.

bwob

I am interested in installing a Ford 5 liter engine, T5 trans and Ford Thunderbird limited slip diff. in a Miata. I have heard of excessive oversteer in this situtation, can this be corrected?

Eugene Pate, Ft. Wayne, IN USA

Yes. Remove four spark plug leads. Of course leaving the Miata engine in would be a lot cheaper and maintain the car's balance, if such things matter to you.

bwob

Hey Bob I'm having a VERY hard time finding a conversion kit I heard about from my brother in law. He says there's an after market BMW Z3 kit that you can do to a Miata? Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Ryan, New Orleans, LA

"Do to a Miata" is right. No, the last I heard, the outfit is making Miata conversion kits for Z3s. It seems there more of a market for people who want to upgrade their Z3s than Miata owners who desire a downgrade.

bwob

Just a comment. I just purchased a 1993 Miata as kind of a mid-life crisis thing, or so my wife says. The car is really clean and was well cared for. I also own a 1967 Triumph Spitfire MK2 which is so similar to the Miata it is amazing. Glad to see that the old British sports cars had an affect on the Miata's design.

Curt Lind, Novi, MI USA

Design, to a degree, yes. Reliability, thankfully NO!

bwob

Hi Bob! Two weeks ago, someone in a huge Dodge pickup backed up and over the front of my '99 Miata. I was on a payphone less than 50 feet away and I suffered what can only be called a physical response to the accident. Since then, it has been beautiful convertable weather and I am stuck driving some rent-a-car. Is there any cure you can recommend for Miata withdrawal?

Carolyn Gohlinghorst, Baltimore, MD USA

Well, a large collection of Gibsons or Brandy Alexanders (maybe both) is a good place to start...

bwob

Which one is better, supercharged or turbo? Thanks Bob.

Michael Chen, San Mateo, CA, USA

Michael, I don't think one's better than the other, but I'll let you know what's best; ATMO!

bwob

How come people usually ask you such stupid questions. I would give examples, but I don't want to embarrass anyone. Is this a running gag that I am naive to? Some of the stuff I have read is really lame. I would hope more people would ask you questions in the realm of that which is relevant and realistic with regards to the scope of your experience and what you can answer in this kind of medium.

My question to you: Why do you dislike the pop-up headlamps so much on the M1? I think that the silhouette and 3/4 front view of the original design is gorgeous when the lamps are closed, yet I do dislike the bug-eyed look when they are opened. I replaced mine with Low Profile units. I really like the appearance when lights are up. The ability to focus my high beams where I can use them and unobstructed forward vision is nice too.

I know this question is both subjective to taste yet influenced by engineering benefits/detractors, but is your objection to the pop-ups based on the headlamp up ergonomics/aerodynamics/aesthetics or just the added weight?

Mike, Pasadena, CA, USA

Mike, thanks for the support. Yeah, I do get some moronic questions, but it's part of the territory, I guess. The two most common are 1) "My car has [your choice of not-so-minor mechanical problem here] and I'm really worried. What is it and how can I fix it myself?" Yeah, they're so worried they they'll try to diagnose the thing via e-mail and won't take it to a pro. They sure must love their Miata. And lets' not forget number 2) "I have a 1992 K-package with gold badges and an ElBarfo body kit from Gesmachtlos of Germany with 753,000 miles. What's it worth?" It's damn hard for me to keep up with used car prices here in Australia, so following them in the 'States is damn near impossible. Oh well, at least they're incrementally more entertaining that the requests for information that's on Miata.net, but requires a little work (or initiative) to find. I bet they call '411' rather than use the phone book as well.

My gripes with pop-up lamps are both aesthetic and weight-related. Not to mention the added complexity of something else to go wrong. Early on in the project we had a conformal, circular headlamps proposed, philosophically not too different to what was on the first (not current) Neon. they were lightweight and had sufficient reflector area that photometric performance would have been a knock-out. Nonetheless, there was a faction in Japan that wanted pop-ups, so pop-ups it had. Thankfully Hirai-san (Program Manager of the M1) required that the set-up accommodate a 7" circular lamp. This allowed really fantastic H1 lamp units like Cibie Biodes or Marchal Ampiluxes to replace the OE units, which many of us suspected was Hirai-san's plan all along.

bwob