Car talk - How stupid it is to supercharge a Miata

codrus wrote: I agree, supercharging a Miata is stupid. Obviously you should be using a turbo. :)

I think it's pretty clear you should stay away from nitrous and superchargers. No features on turbos recently, so I guess you're right!

codrus wrote: I agree, supercharging a Miata is stupid. Obviously you should be using a turbo. :)

A lot of the supercharger kits out there put the throttle upstream of the blower, resulting in a large throttled volume that can hurt idle control and throttle response. For off the shelf kits, turbos typically end up with better drivability.

I treat Click and Clack's show like automotive Jeopardy. "What is a busted strut!?" "I bet it's the PCV valve...I know it is....WTF? A clogged oil passage?!"

i never knew they had a radio show... but i do remember reading their syndicated "advice" column in the newspaper about 20 years ago and wanting to smack them upside the head with the business section of the paper where their column was printed for some of the "advice" they gave out.. but since their target audience is not me- they made their undoubtedly vast fortunes on the ignorance of suburban soccer moms and their clueless husbands- i let it slide and chalked it up to them being smarter than me by being able to make money off the ignorance of others.

Teh E36 M3 wrote:

irish44j wrote:

wbjones wrote: but they also hand out info that is totally wrong on occasion

so they're just like every other "ASE Certified" mechanic, then.....

And you (wbjones) are correct....huh? These dudes, besides the radio personality bit, have been mechanics for 40+ years in Boston. Every mechanic is wrong on occasion, but these guys are more right than wrong, and honestly, give pretty amazing advice for only getting/giving information over the radio.

you are correct ... but they also gave blatantly incorrect advice on many occasions ... for what reason I have no idea ... and NO I'm not a 40 yr mechanic, haven't played one on TV, nor have I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express anytime recently ... and while they've given great and funny advice many many times, I don't see how that gives them a pass on bad/incorrect advice

Wow. Some folks really need to get funny bones re-aligned.

It's just humor, guys. They are neither lawyers or technical advisers.

We don't seem to mind when Jay Leno says stuff that is factually incorrect. Did we ever expect the 3 Stooges to offer good car advice?

The world needs more people who are as good at laughing at themselves as Ray and Tom Magliozzi.

I agree ... they are good comedy .... but it's only comedy if you understand that IT'S comedy ... when they're right, it's good advice given while poking fun at themselves/and the questioner .... when it's wrong, it's still funny ... as long as you know it's wrong, but not if you're clueless and take their advice and run with it ...

I've listened and read their stuff for yrs .. and have gotten a good laugh most of the time ...learned so things along the way ...