They'll not be swayed!

I recently added some FM sways to my 01 and noticed a nice handling improvement. The OEM rear, in particular, looked like a piece of spaghetti compared to the FM unit. Since the sways degrade the ride quality very little, why didn't Miata opt for heavier OEM units?

Rick Day, Lavaca, AR

What you consider an acceptable degree of ride degradation and the development team may not have a lot in common. A few dozen anti-roll bars (varying in configuration as well as dimensions) were tried on each end - something like 300 different combinations were evaluated - and what's on the car is what the development team considered a good trade off for handling, ride and NVH control (in that order of weighting). More importantly, it made the Program Manager smile the most.

bwob

What percentage of 610,000 are you talking about?

Bob, back in the day (1989) when the Miata was new there were no viable alternatives. Not only did the Miata fill a niche in the market place, but it has proven to be a reliable fun car to drive. Fast forward to today and it seems that every auto maker is coming out with a new and improved version of our favorite car. For the last several years the only changes on the Miata have been cosmetic. When do you think Mazda is going to get serious about making our beloved roadster more competitive with the competition in the performance category? Since the Jackson Racing Super Charger appears to be so dependable would you make it an option that can be ordered from the factory?

Gary Rosenzweig, Manorville, NY

The global sales of the car are actually up over a year ago, so I'm not altogether convinced that more power will equate to more sales, especially when people have to pay for it. By having the entry-level car in the segment, Mazda is in a position of control, although that point is seldom recognized by companies when they get into a war of testosterone with competitors and utterly lost on buyers.

Mazda's 'seriousness' will become apparent when the NC Miata appears in a few years time. They will have to balance the existing customer body with the need to continue generating inflow (a huge percentage of which comes from entry level cars), or the sale will drop right off the planet. When that happens, the car becomes a very expensive albatross for the manufacturer and as the sales drop aftermarket support dries up. There's an even chance the NC may head this way, since Mazda may have been looking too much at the S2000 (worldwide sales of which are reportedly about a third below Honda's anticipated level, And slipping) and listening to a noisy minority which wants S2000 power levels from a Miata but will not pay an S2000 price for it. The parallels to the FD RX-7 saga in the 'States are unsettling, with the same dynamic in effect.

Nobody seems to realize it, but car companies (not only Mazda) apply values to increased power as well as increased performance. Additionally, as the guys with deep pockets, car companies are acutely aware of how a lawsuit can come for no reason whatsoever. So while some kid in a garage may bolt on a supercharger and leave the suspension as stock because it seems fine to him, Mazda would be looking at bigger wheels, tires and upgraded suspension and brakes with more power. Which all gets factored in with the resultant price. So Mazda will probably get serious about making the Miata competitive with the competition when the public will buy as many US$37,000 Miatas as they will US$25,000 ones. With the FE RX-7 edging towards the final stages of development, it might be safe to assume that the 'glass ceiling' created by the FE RX-7 will place a cap on what levels of performance any future Miatas might offer. Mazda is neither rich enough or stupid enough to spend a few hundred million dollars in vehicle development just to build a car which will render worthless the investment in time, manpower and money in another car. Mazda has to think of an entire range of cars and the Miata is but one portion of the total equation which must be dealt with. And not to the exclusion of all else.

As for making an aftermarket mechanical component a factory option, it's not something I'd sign off on unless the component were designed, engineered and developed with input from the client (in this case Mazda) to make sure it passes the internal and regulatory hurdles a car manufacturer must deal with.

bwob

Eight = GREAT!

Comments on the new RX-8? Thank goodness the ability to risk into a new sports car venture can still exist under Ford. Also, how did you wind up in Australia. I love that country. Only been to Sydney on R&R back in '69; but, what a wonderful city and wonderful people!

Mike Geiter, Chicago, IL / USA

I like it. A lot, in fact. I've been a proponent of the 'four-door sportscar' idea for a couple of decades, so I'm quite pleased that Mazda's going to be the one to pop it in the marketplace. I strongly suspect that it's going to be a category killer as much as the Miata was. In a word, it's a knockout and a positive manifestation that Ford is not the ogre some narrow minded people make it out to be.

Australia was an opportunity which came up as Mazda was getting badly mired in red ink - thankfully none of it due to the Miata - and input from outside (in this case meaning "outside Hiroshima") was going totally unheeded. I guess because I have some Mazda stock, I felt that somebody who wasn't able to contribute shouldn't be drawing a salary, so - after much trepidation - I decided to leave Mazda and take up a job offer here. It may have been a great move, it may have been a mistake, but the decision was made and without regrets.

Australia is a great place, enough like where I was born and raised - California - that it's easy to feel comfortable here, yet different enough you see and learn something new each day.

bwob

Uuuh, how much is a bag of groceries? Exactly.

Exactly, how much do Miatas cost these day?

Jenn, Woodlands/Texas/USA

How much does a bag of groceries cost? It's the same with a Miata; it depends upon what you want.

While a convenient carry bag ("will that be paper or plastic?") is free with the purchase of groceries, you have to pay for the 'bag' in the case of the Miata, and the ask is US$20,142 this week (plus tax and license). Of course, you do get a partially-filled shopping bag with the Miata and one which is lots of fun. However, if you want more things in it, it'll cost you.

Mazda has applied an interesting concept which you might want to experiment with. Thanks to the clever people at Mazda, you can go into any of the markets selling Miatas (called 'dealers') where the people at the check out counters there can tell you how much additional goodies to put in the grocery bag will cost. I suspect this breakthrough in merchandising will pay Mazda big dividends and that other companies will shamelessly copy the idea.

Of course if there's no Mazda market near you or you just don't like talking to people, you can visit Mazda's Internet website.

bwob

There's always a way, just as long as there's a little will

yeah i have a 2000 special ed miata it came with the factory trunk spoiler i was wondering if there was a way to take that one off and put a larger higher aftermarket one on

scott, USA

(Editor's note: When the grammar and punctuation is as dismal as the above example, we like to leave it unedited to give the reader an idea of just what we're dealing with.)

Yes there is. Five possible courses of action, in fact.

1) You remove the OE Spoiler after finding the sort of circus wagon accouterment you like which will fit the original locating and attachment holes (unlikely, though not totally impossible. Will require a lot of research, primarily of the 'in person' variety).

2 ) You remove the OE Spoiler after finding one which will cover the existing holes without using them as its own attachment points (more likely than scenario 1, though still research intensive).

3) You remove the OE Spoiler and have the holes filled by a good body and fender specialist then locate a spoiler you like and not worry about the holes (probably the simplest of the decent alternatives. Perhaps the only simple one with the least chances for the car to be left in worse shape than when the exercise was started).

4) You remove the OE Spoiler and lay some tape over the holes and hope it doesn't look too miserable then locate a spoiler you like and try not worry about the tape leaking then locate a spoiler you like (simple and cheap. To create a rust-prone area, that is).

5) You remove the OE Spoiler locate a spoiler you like and just leave the holes unfilled to see how long it takes the trunk to fill up unless the spoiler/wing you picked provides a sufficient 'umbrella' effect.

Your choice.

bwob

Not till Colorado becomes a year-round tropical paradise

Bob: Is Mazda ever going to make an all wheel drive Miata? It would sell so well in Colorado, the Miata would be a year-round car instead of a summer car.

Dan, Denver, CO USA

Nope, but why should they? It already is an ideal year-round car for many people. Even those in snowy climes, but more about that later.

Four-wheel-drive runs counter to the car's concept which is simple (as in mechanical complexity or lack thereof), lightweight (tough to do when you're adding extra mechanical assemblies) and affordable (in the context of a two-seat sports car, not as an absolute).

The Miata has never been and will never be a 'car for everybody'. That's just the way sports cars are; they are basically uncompromised to do a certain type of task or reflect a certain philosophy.

News flash: people drove cars in the wintertime in Colorado long before the first four-wheel drive vehicles were commercially available and on tires which were laughable by today's standards. For what it's worth, I know quite a few hearty souls who use their Miatas daily throughout the year in Colorado, Canada, Scandinavia and Hokkaido, so it's a winter car as much as a summer car if you want it to be. This requires you dealing with the car instead of expecting the car to deal with you, however. It's not for people who take driving casually. Which is not to imply that anyone should take driving casually, that is.

One core element of the Miata is the sort of chassis dynamics which are part and parcel of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, so four wheel-drive-would certainly be a quick way for the Miata to stop being a Miata. There are other companies willing to stake that claim (the Audi TT, for example), but Mazda won't be in that league with the Miata for as long as the Miata keeps to the original vehicle concept. Which I suspect will be a long, long time.

bwob

Hey, don't touch!

Hi Bob, I just bought a used 2001 Miata. I would like to know the best way to keep the soft top clean and in good condition. Also is it ok to take my car through a automatic car wash? thanks!

Melvin Bogard, Washington, DC

Following the instructions on soft top care in the owner's manual is a good starting point. I clean mine up with warm water fortified with a mild detergent, then rinse it off with copious amounts of warm water.

Urban myth to the contrary, touchless automatic car washes will cause no problems whatsoever. When I moved to Australia they weren't exactly common, with the southernmost reaches of Orange County having just one of the places. Perhaps they are more popular nowadays. But I'd avoid - like the plague - the 'brushless' variety (which use polyester felt pads) as well as the ones with brushes.

bwob

Time to get ready...for Winter?

I lived in San Diego and loved driving my Fiat Spyder. Now I live in snow country but would like a Miata though I don't want to own two vehicles. Would snow tires make a big difference with the Miata's rear drive or should I just park in for 4 months and get a junker for the snow. My 2001 Prelude is great but I miss the open air.

Great column. Thanks.

Jim Orlos, Detroit, Michigan

Snow tires - on all four wheels - will make a big difference. If local regulations allow, you might even consider studded ones. Adding some weight (say, 40 to 50kg) will help as well, but make sure it is not something which humidity could bother - like a bag of cement - and is well secured. That sort of mass shifting around the trunk of a Miata can damage the battery as well as the rear body panels from the inside out.

bwob

I only need four wheels

I own a 91 Miata, which needs some upgrading at this time. I was interested to find nice alloy rims like most late model Miata's have starting 97 and up, is there a place where I can buy from people or get a great deal on them? I went to Mazda dealership, they wanted arm and a leg for it, I could not afford that price, please help.

In addition, I am looking for subwoofers is there any brand that you recommend and where to purchase them from?

Jeremiah, Alexandria, Virginia

You might try a different dealership or two. The prices on take-offs can vary over a pretty broad range. Checking Roebuck/Trussville Mazda (a dealer in the southeast which does big parts business via e- and snail-mail) at the Miata.net 'Marketplace' and see if they can't help you.

If you have the time, you could take a look through scrapyards specializing in imported cars in your area. MazMart, also in the Miata.net Marketplace, is a scrapyard specializing in Mazda which may be worth a look.

Checking with the local Miata club chapter could prove fruitful as well, as many people who go the aftermarket wheel route on their own dispose of their own take-offs. In this context, it's possible eBay could help as well, although that opens the specter of bidding wars. In any event, finding them at a price you want to pay will entail research on your part.

Inasmuch as I couldn't even tell you what a subwoofer for a car looked like, I am afraid I can offer no suggestions as to where to buy them other than suggest an audio specialist of some sort. I am blissfully ignorant of all car audio - by choice - other than the little chrome-tipped 'speaker' mounted at the rear below the bumper. Sorry.

bwob

It's all part of doing it yourself

I have a slight problem in regards to installing a K&N air filter. I have purchased a K&N pod filter for my partners 89 MX5, I have also brought the correct air filter adapter for easier installation. I have looked in the engine bay and roughly figured out how things will fit, however, the problem is this......once the factory cold air box and the piping is removed, and the filter is attached to the air flow meter, how do i go about securing the the air flow meter to make it more secure? because once the black cold air box is removed, there is nothing supporting the air flow meter and it will just be hanging in the air and will be moving round the engine bay once the car is moving, because it previously was attached to the cold air box which made it secure. could you please tell me if there is a way to secure the air flow meter once the filter is attached to itas i have tried and tried everywhere for help with this matter, but no luck as yet. thankyou for you time.

Minesh, Chirsthchurch/New Zealand

Sure sounds like it's "make a bracket" time.

bwob