Ask Bob!

June 2002

What? Me worry?

Bob - I thought you would like this question. Someone (AZSilver99) posted this on the Miata.net Forum not too long ago about the next generation Miata. As quoted (in the May 2002 Automobile Magazine) Mr. Takao Kijima, MX-5 Program Manager - says: "...we're aware that the third generation of any car is not always a success. That's why I'm cautious and remembering the spirit of the first generation."

What are your thoughts on Mr. Kijima's outlook?

Peter Brusa, Atlanta

Kijima-san is the best possible Program Manager the NC could have. He's been with the Miata since the start (he was the bloke in charge of suspension development on the NA and was Program Manager for the NB) and with his background so well versed in dynamics he's ideally situated to bring his skills to the single most important aspect of the Miata, the dynamics of the car.

He's no friend of excess weight either, and that's of critical importance with a clean sheet of paper program like the NC. He understands the Miata all as a piece, not in the manner non-thinkers do; as numbers on a specification sheet.

I'm not at all worried. The Miata is in great hands.

bwob

Now there's a bizarre concept; 'Fun to tow'

We have a 95 Miata with a manual tranmision. There seems to be controversy over whether it is safe to tow it and why.
Thanx, Zoom Zoom Glenn

Glenn Vaniman, Magalia, CA. USA

The car was never designed, developed nor tested by Mazda to be towed. People do tow them (one of the benefits of living in a Free Society) in spite of this.

Since we didn't bother designing the Miata to be towed (and never tested it for same) I cannot pass judgement as to whether it's safe or not.

We had this really idiotic idea that the car should be fun to drive, so we focused our efforts in that area and totally disregarded the concept of towing one. Sorry.

bwob

Ask the Man who Owns One, Part 2

After owning my 92 Miata for 2 years this May, I have arrived at the folowing conclusion: The only car better than a Miata is a better Miata! Profound as that may seem.

Ronn, Canada B.C.

That's a statement which is hard to disagree with.

bwob

His Miata's just a little too popular

I am really hoping that you have some advice or an answer for me regarding how my 2001 LS was stolen.

She was locked down very tight and with the club on the wheel. There was absolutely no sign of forced entry, yet it was stolen from a very visible lot on a very visible corner in San Francisco. To me this implies that it was done quickly, and the person knew what they were doing.

The car was recovered, and in perfect condition. It appears that whoever took it ditched it soon after due to it having only 8 miles put on it and it was parked 2 1/2 blocks away.

From my understanding the Miata and many newer cars have an ignition that if tampered with will render the car undrivable. Is this not true?

I have the car at the local dealership for the safety inspection, and i would like to know what I should ask them to look at?

I thank you for taking your time and being here for us Miata owners. Ican think of no other car that means so much to so many people! I wouldn't wish this on anyone. A solid week of no sleep, and paperwork up the wazoo. (not to mention getting the vehicle released from city tow and the police!)
thank you again, and best regards,

Jonathan, Sausalito, CA

While an enthusiastic fan of CSI, my forensic investigative abilities are pretty limited. On a par with my neurosurgery skills, in fact. Which is to say nonexistent.

Worse still, my own criminal past has been limited to swapping the box lid from a $1.39 1963 Pontiac LeMans convertible AMT plastic kit onto a $1.99 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray AMT Styline plastic kit at Sav-On, so my insight into The Criminal Mind is less than adequate.

Having said that, everything I've seen shows that things like the club are about as much of a deterrent to a determined thief as "KEEP OFF THE GRASS" sign is to a six-month-old Border Collie. The State Police here in New South Wales showed us how a Club (or similar) can be popped off a steering wheel in about 15 seconds, so the benefit they offer is effectively of the psychological kind. Well, for a while, at any rate.

Ignition immobilizers are fitted to some cars, not to others in the 'States. It's up to the manufacturer in the US since, (unlike here in Australia or the EC) they're not required under any regulatory guidelines.

If a car thief wants your car bad enough, he's likely to get it. The only anti-theft measure I've found which is pretty certain to cause the bad guys grief - or at least enough inconvenience that they may go elsewhere - is a fuel cut-off switch. While most modern car thieves are all prepared to do some electrical or computer work, very, very few of 'em are ready to mess with the plumbing. The down side it they can be inconvenient to deal with and are no guarantee that somebody won't come along with a tilt bed and drag your car away.

I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I cannot postulate as to how your car was pinched. It's a real crappy feeling when it happens and the helplessness is almost as bad as the feeling of being done like a dinner.

bwob

Let's just keep this our little secret then

I just got done reading the last entry in the May 1 installment of Ask Bob regarding "power-whiners" and was rather impressed. Dare I say your readers are finally "getting" the Miata? I've even toyed with the idea of adding a little more "juice" to my baby (red '91 A, no A/C), but I just can't bring myself to do it. It's got more than enough "go" for day-to-day situations, and I only find myself wanting more when leaving stoplights next to some punk kid in daddy's 'Vette. But then I figure he can get the speeding ticket for me, and allow me to duck down the twisty little back-road that nobody else uses. Who needs to spin the tires of the rims at every light?

Thanks for the space to write this, Bob. I think everyone would agree that you're the "father" of the Miata family. Or at least the bestest big-brother everyone seems to like. Kinda like Wally. I learn something new every month, here. Keep it up!

Todd, Chaska, MN

Wally, huh? Thanks.

I think.

Hang on a minute. Beave wants to know where Captain Jack got off to.

>PAUSE<

Well, Mom and Dad are glad I sorted that one out without Eddie Haskell's so-called 'help'. Where were we? Oh yeah...

It's refreshing - as well as reassuring - to know that the world's not composed entirely of horsepower whores and that there are still plenty of drivers (as opposed to pointers or steerers) who are clever enough to understand what the Miata's all about.

You know, maybe it's better we keep this an exclusive club, so don't blab too much, okeh? I promise I won't tell anybody.

bwob

Whaddya mean it's as warm at 20 degrees as it is at 60 degrees?

I saw that Miatas in Japan have 125 and 160 HP and in Europe 110 and 146 HP and I am interested why is it so and is it possible to make 146hp into 160 HP (with different electronics or so). I heard it is possible but I don't believe it till I hear it from someone with credibility. Thank You very much for your last response.

Luka Reöetar, Croatia

The differences between Japan's 125hp and 160hp engines vis-a-vis the EC 110hp and the 146hp units are essentially the horsepower rating systems. The EC requires horsepower rating using the DIN (Deutsche Industrie Norm) system, while horsepower figures in Japan must be calculated using JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) systems. Variables such as coolant temperature, air intake density/temperature and dynomometer loading vary between these two rating systems which is the primary reason for the disparity in outputs between the two.

The Japanese engine's ECU is programmed slightly differently than the one fitted to EC cars (and includes a 180km/h speed limiter as well) but the actual horsepower difference between the two is a shade less than one horsepower in the DIN measurement in the case of the 1.6 and a frag over one horsepower with the 1.8. Manufacturing variance in build could absorb that disparity quite easily, so from a statistical standpoint the outputs should be considered virtually identical if both were rated using identical test criteria.

It's a bit like asking whether it's colder at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 degrees Celsius. Regardless as to what the numbers say, the amount of heat (or coldness) relative to the freezing point of water, for example, is the same.

bwob

Color, color, who's got the color

Why does Mazda have such a limited choice in colors for the 2002 MX-5 Miata SE, and can we expect to see more colors for the 2003 model, before they completely change the body style? If not, can we order custom color combinations?

Dustin, Pittsburgh/Pennsylvania/USA

You'll have to ask the gang at the US Mazda importer as to the actual reason, but I suspect it may have something to do with the limited number of colors the car is available in from Japan.

Historically Japanese companies offer nowhere near as many colors as US Manufacturers do as the long pipeline from Hiroshima to the 'States makes supply a real problem. The Miata was offered only in three colors for the first months of its existence, while Honda's Accord was launched with three and stayed that way for four years. The idea of a palette consisting of eight to twelve - or more - colors may be culturally part of the American automotive scene, but not Japan's.

Manufacturing complexity means there is a limit to how many colors the Miata can be offered in. Only four or five colors can be used for each car platform built at Mazda's Ujina and Hofu assembly plants without downtime to clear and resupply the system with additional colors, a process which removes one of the already existing shades from the system. One of the reasons the availability of Laser Blue Mica and Vivid Yellow was limited to the start of production and to specific order only was that the cars had to be built in batch production, something which disrupts the entire manufacturing system. Additionally, both of these colors were already in Mazda's production system as offerings for the Familia S-Wagon, the Japanese domestic version of the Protege 5/Astina.

Japanese companies have never been active supporters of special orders, partly due to the long shipping pipeline and delays involved with same, but primarily because it isn't compatible with the Kanban (just-in-time) manufacturing process which makes car production so efficient. The closest to custom order which the system is likely to support would be a limited run of run of otherwise unavailable color/trim combinations as was done with the Vivid Yellow and Laser Blue cars at the beginning of this model year. Such a program would ideally be done at the start or end of the model year (when things are ramping up or winding down), but would be unlikely in the middle of a model year. As to whether Mazda's experience with the Vivid Yellow and Laser Blue cars was sufficiently positive that the US importer wishes to repeat the exercise, well, you'd have to ask them.

bwob

Why isn't the Boeing 747 a biplane?

Why didn't Mazda consider a rotary and or turbo charged engine for the Miata?

Denny Chiu, San Francisco, CA, USA

Because Mazda was already making a rotary-engined sports car when the Miata was being developed, the car's concept was about simplicity and low cost (so no turbocharger) and finally because nobody working on the car wanted a rotary or turbo in it.

Pretty straightforward reasons actually. No reading between the lines required.

bwob

Who in the hell is Hiroko Anzai?

I am currently trying to decide on what brand of headers to buy for my 99 Miata. I want the best their is out their for my dollar.Your advice would greatly be appreciated.

Billy Goode, Surprise, AZ 8537

Well, since I think Hiroko Anzai is the second-best looking woman on Earth, if I owned an NB I'd probably be looking at the Pit Crew Racing port to cat system (available in the 'States through R-Speed, I suspect). But the term "best" is highly subjective, as is the situation of budget. For example you might be as unhappy with the PCR headers as I would be with a daggy barker like, say, Britney Spears.

Money can be a real problem, since while I'd happily pay 200,000 Yen for a Toda Power stroker crank, I wouldn't pat $2.50 for a rear wing of any kind. Very subjective values apply in this case.

Here in Australia as well as in Japan, there are about 1/4 as many port to cat exhaust systems available for NB Series cars as there are for NA Series ones, but I'm afraid I am not as well versed as to who's selling what in the 'States for the NBs. Hopefully the situation there is better than on this side of the Pacific. If I were still living in the 'States I'd check to see what Good-Win Racing has as well as Jackson Racing, Racing Beat as well as the R-Speed mob.

bwob

Immediate seating, no weighting

Unless I am mistaken, I think the Miata gets heavier as time goes by (with good reason I'm sure) from 1990 to 2002. Has Mazda considered trimming it down a few hundred pounds so it's a little more nimble. Not that I'm looking for a Lotus 7 or anything drastic ... just more in line with the MR2. I just don't want to see the Miata turn into the Z3 with big engine, tires, weight.

Brad Tipton, Mill Valley, CA, USA

Weight management is a high priority with the NC currently under development. With tougher safety standards on the books and a higher level of crash protection demanded by consumers, weight is a really tough situation to deal with. But Kijima-san and the mob doing the next one are well aware of the problems and challenges.

bwob

Imrey Klaatu nerawatt, laakto provaal!

I've heard on older miata's that one can install a cooler thermostat from NAPA to increase H.P. Have you heard of this, and if so does it work on the M2's?
thanks alot,

adrian , atlanta GA USA

I've heard it too, along with the stories of the London Bus on the dark side of the moon and the space aliens running up a really big room service tab at a motel just outside Roswell, New Mexico since 1947. I cannot see why it will work better on an NB than it doesn't on an NA.

Unless you're a space alien in a New Mexico motel, there are no free lunches.

bwob

How much was that bag of groceries?

How many miles can a Miata have before the engine needs to be replaced?

Amber, North Carolina

Anywhere from, say, 10,000 miles to 315,000 miles (the highest mileage Miata I know of on its original engine - there may be others with more miles on the clock I am unaware of). It all depends upon how the car is maintained and driven. Just like people. Take care of yourself, exercise right and the odds are you'll live longer than the fatso who's sedentary, smokes three packs a day and just can't get enough cholesterol.

A well maintained and unabused Miata - or any other car except a Simca - is likely to last longer than one which is neglected.

bwob

"Strong letter to follow"

I realize that this is a hard question to answer, but are the "R" package Miata actually worth substantially more than the base models?

Jamie Walling, CA, USA

What's so hard about saying 'no'?

bwob

Deep what? How deep?

I was looking at (lusting over, if you will) the SP Miata that's available in Australia. I've lived in many different countries and I always enjoy seeing the different types of cars available. Since you worked for Mazda, perhaps you can provide some insight for me. I could see the 121 as a desirable car for Americans, as well as many others. Even Ford and GM make cars for other countries' markets that are more desirable than their homeland offerings, like the Puma and Mondeo from Ford and the Holden cars from GM. Why are some cars available in most countries but not the U.S.? Are we really that enamored with SUVs, pickup trucks and gigantic wallowing sedans?

RL Dodson, Washington, D.C., USA

It's based on what the marketing guys handling model mix believe will sell. In most cases this relies upon what has sold in the past or what's selling right now, so it's not an especially creative or proactive line of work.

Outfits like GM and Ford also have history of being infested with the NIH (Not Invented Here) culture a handicap which is fading, albeit slowly. Something developed overseas is often pooh-poohed as being inappropriate or unacceptable for American consumption. Often perfectly good cars get heavy - and unneeded makeovers when they head 'Stateside.

The Mondeo is a great example of this, as it was supposed to be a 'World Car'. Shortly after it was decided that the Mondeo would replace the Tempo and Topaz in the Ford and Mercury ranges, somebody, somewhere in Ford's US operations managed to convince the company's top management that the European Mondeo was not acceptable in the US.

So the car was restyled for the US market, with the biggest change lowering the roof and bringing the rear header forward. This was enough of a change that the bodyside apertures and doors had to be altered. Changing these meant that all the sheetmetal above the sills and aft of the cowl was new, along with every piece of glass except the driver's door window.

The best part of this extensive - and expensive - change to the perfectly good European Mondeo was that the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique (a.k.a. Ford Detour and Mercury Mistake) had insufficient rear seat headroom and were avoided by the fleets which were needed to keep the production rate up. Arrival of the Focus (which had more interior space for less money) was the final nail in the coffin.

So when the second-generation Mondeo was under development, Ford's US arm said it wasn't interested in the the upcoming model so all product development was done to target the car at markets other than North America. From the viewpoint for the people doing Mondeo development this was actually a blessing, since it meant some of the more nonsensical regulations (accommodating US bumper standards, for example) wouldn't compromise the new model.

This is a factor in why things like the Demio (121) don't make it to the 'States as well. Sometimes Mazda decides a model will be focused primarily at the Japanese market, so no request from anywhere overseas will be enough to get it. The Enfini MS-8 and Autozam Clef are a couple of examples of this. Others will be targeted at non-North American markets and so haven't been developed to accept things like US-legal bumper systems (the Demio's an example of this).

Mazda's US arm also has limited resources for marketing. Federalizing the Demio may not be worth the trouble since it might merely cut Mazda's pie into smaller pieces while the additional model would be drawing a percentage of marketing funds not in keeping to the profits it could generate.

The insanity over SUVs in the 'States also makes small cars (like the Demio) pretty unattractive to manufacturers, and not only because the public doesn't seem to be interested in them. Because the R&D and tooling costs of a small car are not much less than a larger one, usually within five percent of them, in fact, most companies would rather sell larger, higher profit cars than smaller, less profitable ones. SUVs, on the other hand are often (though not always as the 626-based Tribute demonstrates) derived from cheap-to-build commercial vehicles and can be priced at silly levels because silly people will cheerfully part with silly amounts of money for the silly things. This is the treadmill the damn SUVs have created. They're gawdawful slag heaps (however well equipped) but so cheap to build and can be sold for so much that companies are hooked on the per-vehicle profits and are neglecting cars. Should the public's trend leaders realize that too many followers are driving SUVs and decide they want cars again, Detroit will be in real deep poo.

I hope that helps and I haven't babbled you to senselessness.

bwob

How much money do you want to spend today?

how do i replace the headlights on a 1999 miata?

derf, us

If you are talking about removing the headlamp units, there are number of ways.

1] You can go get your tools and start removing things. This is the cheapest method. However, my not knowing what your mechanical and organizational skills are like means it may leave the car in a mess which s not easily put back to the way it was. If, of course, you have average or above average mechanical and organizational abilities, this should not be a factor.

2] You could invest in a Factory workshop manual, then get your tools and start removing things. This will be less cost-effective than option 1, but the odds are greater than the car can be put back together again, even if you should lack mechanical dexterity or the ability to prioritize and organize an activity. But only if you follow the instructions in the manual.

3] You could take the car to a dealer or independent shop and have them remove the headlamp units. This will be more expensive than option 1, probably by a fair margin since I am assuming the headlamps will be placed back in the car at some time in the future. This will, of course, necessitate another trip to the shop for reinstallation. Another down side to this options is that you wouldn't be able to drive the car at night between the time the shop removed the headlamps and reinstalled them.

4] Pay a US$750 an hour consulting fee (two hour minimum) and I'll pass along step-by-step instructions after your check clears. Despite the fact it does my finances no benefit whatsoever, honesty demands I inform you that this is by far and away the least cost-effective of the four options. Slow as well, since it takes four to six weeks for a US check to clear here in Australia.

If you are talking about replacing a bulb and not the entire headlamp assembly, the procedure is outlined in the owner's handbook supplied with every Miata when it leaves the assembly line.

bwob

I <yawn> was wondering if....zzzzzzzzzz

Any idea if a larger eng will come in 2003??

Mary Ann Dietz - Zooom Zooom

Assuming you mean engine and either fell asleep in spelling class back in elementary school or at the keyboard rather more recently, to answer the first part yup. To answer the second part, nope.

bwob

Where do you think the 'after' in aftermarket comes from?

Is it true that a M2 top with glass will work on a '96 frame with a Hard Dog Sport, no interference with top down and roll bar?

Bud, Georgia

I can't tell you. Not into roll/sport bars or glass rear windows on NA Series Miatas or 1980s mid-engined BMWs. In fact I've gone to great lengths to avoid roll/sport bars, glass rear windows on NA Series Miatas and 1980s mid-engined BMWs altogether. Sorry.

I know this is going to sound like a real stupid idea, but have you considered contacting the Hard Dog people?