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Keep a 94 Miata and turbo it, or buy something else?

BrunoPuntzJones

BrunoPuntzJones

Lifer
Strictly from a driving/performance standpoint.

I currently have a 94 Miata with 82k miles. 0 problems, everything works fine. I've thought about putting it in storage for a while until I can come up with funds to put a turbo on it. With the turbo would be an upgraded clutch, etc. Needs new tires, so would replace it with larger, wheels and fender rolling.

Not stuff I want to do now, but maybe in 18-24 months.

I can't decide what I want to do:

1 Store it (with the occasional drive) for the next while until I can upgrade it
2 Sell it and buy another Miata down the road and fix it up then
3 Sell it and buy another car all together down the road

I'm leaning towards option 1. With option 2, that gets me cash flow right now, but if I buy another, who knows what I'll be getting into. I know the car I have now, and the 94 is one of the most desirable years (larger engine and oil pressure gauge).

I don't know what else would fit in the under $10k price range that would be as fun to drive. Even stock it's fun to drive, just not real fast. If I could get 180-200hp out of it @2100 lbs...
 
Whats wrong with just driving it as is till you have the money to turbo it? I have a wrecked 94 miata basic turbo that made 160hp at the wheels and even that was plenty to be really fun. I also have a 95 non-turbo with suspension upgrades that I haven't swapped the turbo drivetrain into yet and probably won't. I really don't miss the extra power very often and I don't want to be stuck in the crazy autox class again.
 
Sell and when ur ready buy a speed mistake already Turbo. I don't know what the speed price is currently but in 2 years it could be in your range.

Sent from my Nexus One
 
T2urtle said:
Sell and when ur ready buy a speed mistake already Turbo. I don't know what the speed price is currently but in 2 years it could be in your range.

Sent from my Nexus One
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Auto-correct? 😕

OP, keep the Miata in storage. Nothing like knowing all the foibles with the car you're going to mod.
 
Another vote for keep... buying used cars can be a gamble. Sometimes things are cobbled together just right that it looks good enough, and three months down the road you've thrown $2000 into it.

If yours is in good condition, and you plan on doing something with it or a different one down the road, you just as well keep it.
 
Keep it. Turbo it if you need/want 200+ whp, S/C if you want <200whp. Plenty of options in either case! A turbo miata is really hard to beat in terms of $/performance. Flyin' Miata's FM II Hydra turbo kit ($5300) will get you 265hp at the wheels, you'll be faster than just about anything you'd care to race given the 2100-2200lb curb weight.

If you're more of a tinkerer and want to piece something together you can do it for far less than $5300 too.
 
Jeff7181 said:
Do a V8 conversion?
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This. 😀

IMG_0105.JPG
 
It seems like you guys in America seem to really like MX-5's, personally I hate them, I don't know anyone in the UK that likes them, over here people think of them as girls cars, just a two door convertible, nothing special, that being said the Top Gear guys seem to like them, so I must be missing something!

I say if you like it keep it. The V8 thing looks entertaining too 😀
 
They are viewed as girly cars somewhat in NA as well, but people still seem to love them. I've never driven one personally (though I have been a passenger in an 89), and from what I understand they handle like they're on rails. Sounds like a good time to me.
 
HAL9000 said:
It seems like you guys in America seem to really like MX-5's, personally I hate them, I don't know anyone in the UK that likes them, over here people think of them as girls cars, just a two door convertible, nothing special, that being said the Top Gear guys seem to like them, so I must be missing something!

I say if you like it keep it. The V8 thing looks entertaining too 😀
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The Miata was patterned after classic British roadsters (Elan, Spitfire, MG, etc.) - you'd think they'd be popular in the UK.
 
dpodblood said:
I saw 2 old greyhaired ladies drive by in a brand new Z4 with the top down yesterday. I thought it was quite amusing.
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Hah, I saw a woman get out of a Land rover Defender (with wheels like below) once, she then went round the other side and got out her zimmerframe. She must have been 70.

Land_Rover_Defender_110_Crew_Cab.jpg
 
dpodblood said:
They are viewed as girly cars somewhat in NA as well, but people still seem to love them. I've never driven one personally (though I have been a passenger in an 89), and from what I understand they handle like they're on rails. Sounds like a good time to me.
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It's a very visceral experience. You can "feel" everything that the car does, very connected between driver and car. Nothing electronic between yourself and the road. They are a real smile to drive 😀
 
BrunoPuntzJones said:
It's a very visceral experience. You can "feel" everything that the car does, very connected between driver and car. Nothing electronic between yourself and the road. They are a real smile to drive 😀
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I'll agree with this, I drove a 1st gen that someone had done an all-motor build on, I think it was only somewhere around 165whp, but it was a blast. I'd probably consider one if I didn't look so ridiculous in them (6'3").
 
BrunoPuntzJones said:
It's a very visceral experience. You can "feel" everything that the car does, very connected between driver and car. Nothing electronic between yourself and the road. They are a real smile to drive 😀
Click to expand...

I get that, but if you want something light with two seats fun to drive why not just get a Lotus Elise?
 
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