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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » What was the answer again? (talk me out of this)

Feb. 4, 2012 5:46 p.m. neckromacr Reader

So I've been avidly DDing my '88 Scirocco 16v until it got totaled last year, to which it got replaced with an '87 which I got for a deal and have been happy with it. The fun tossable little car was worth the 25 year old quirks.

But I think the nickle and dime repairs, the hard cold starts that have been creeping up on me, and the fact that it has to idle for at least 5 minutes (both cars did this) before it wants to go anywhere are getting to me. Or maybe I'm just getting old.

But I still want something light and fun to throw around, low maintenance, maybe even right wheel drive this time... so I started looking at NC Miatas

I found this one locally: http://philanet.com/~zcar/06maz34.html

I liked the cloth better than the leather one on the lot, I fit pretty well and everything felt like it was right where it was supposed to be.

The only thing that's held me back in the past has been that the wife and I have 3 boys. But now the eldest has his own car, and it seems if we're transporting more than 2 of us we take her wagon. Same thing with hauling stuff.

I'll be keeping the Scirocco, sending it into "Weekend Project" status, I just love the old girl too much.

So am I completely mad?
Feb. 4, 2012 5:54 p.m. MG Bryan Dork

No you're not mad. I'd be looking for a S2000 though.
Feb. 4, 2012 6:42 p.m. thunderzy Reader

Pontiac solstice?
Feb. 4, 2012 6:45 p.m. FlightService Dork

Miata
Feb. 4, 2012 6:48 p.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

MG Bryan wrote:

I'd be looking for a S2000 though.

+1. It looks better, sounds better and has a better engine.
Feb. 4, 2012 7:18 p.m. neckromacr Reader

I have liked the S2000's I've been in, but part of this move is getting lower miles and newer car. Sort of starting off on a cleanish slate, let someone else take the initial depreciation hit.

For $15K remotely close to me most of the S2000's have 50K more miles and are about 4 years older.
Feb. 4, 2012 7:19 p.m. carguy123 SuperDork

Honestly 50K is barely broken in on an S2000. It will still have the new car smell.
Feb. 4, 2012 8:36 p.m. neckromacr Reader

No I mean the S2000's are in the 75K-85K mi range where the NC Miata is 35K mi.

I'm trying to avoid going on the downward spiral of "well if I go just a little older, and a little more miles..."

Not to mention the S2000 is double the insurance
Feb. 4, 2012 8:50 p.m. MG Bryan Dork

If you're financing it, the bank will probably limit that spiral to a certain extent. After driving one, the S2000 really is the pinnacle of the 2 seat, front engine, rear drive formula.

The insurance is hard to ignore, but I just can't bring myself to like NC Miatas. Although, if the NC gets it done for you, go for it.
Feb. 4, 2012 9:12 p.m. JtspellS Reader

Just to through it in there RX-8,

Aside from that Miata is probably a better overall bet as compared to the S2k from a used car stand point.
Feb. 4, 2012 10:21 p.m. Maroon92 SuperDork

I can think of a lot of cars I would rather have for 15 grand...

Does it float your boat?
Feb. 4, 2012 11:48 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

My parents have a first-year NC Miata and seem very happy with it. It's newer than my NA but still delivers the goods.
Feb. 5, 2012 2:20 a.m. DWNSHFT Reader

Megasquirt the Scirocco and declare victory!
Feb. 5, 2012 9:40 a.m. neckromacr Reader

From the stories I hear MS won't do much gift the hard cold starts. Not to mention that the plans are to either take my time and do an ABF swap with Digi3 ECU or cobble together an ABF hybrid with US available parts and use the Monotronic from the ABA donor.

I had been trying to think how to do that while DDing it. The answer is you can't without stranding myself without a car for awhile. We have done the single car family thing during this past summer after the head gasket went and it was insufferable.

Getting something newer while the Scirocco goes into project mode makes the most sense to me.
Feb. 5, 2012 9:46 a.m. dculberson HalfDork

The NC will be a great car. If you like it, get it!
Feb. 5, 2012 9:56 a.m. ditchdigger Dork

neckromacr wrote:

From the stories I hear MS won't do much gift the hard cold starts.

Then you are hearing stories from people with poorly tuned megasquirts who need to work on their ASE's and temperature tables. There is no inherent flaw in the twin cam engine design that would cause this.

Cold start issues are always about Idle bypass air, fuel enrichments and spark advance, all of which MS can and will do better than the Jetronic that is on there now.

I squirted a VW 16V with amazing results. It started perfectly whether it was 18 degrees or 100 degrees, and It made 156 at the wheel on stock cams.
Feb. 6, 2012 6:48 a.m. Klayfish HalfDork

Pardon me for handing you the crack pipe, but go ahead, take a hit.

I had an '06 myself, sold it last spring. When I had it, it was my DD. We also have 3 kids, and when we need to take them anywhere, we use our minivan. If you're wife has a wagon that can be family transport, then go for it. The NC is a great car. To me, a much better bargain than an S2000. Only thing I didn't like about my NC was that the seats suck, with a capitol "S". I got used to them after a while, but never liked them. Only reason I sold mine was because we have a live in nanny. She needs a car to use for her personal time. When I had my NC, she was using my wife's car, which I wasn't happy about. So I sold the NC to get a crap can so we'd have a disposable car.

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