Help getting a Miata

Hi everyone!

After reading through a lot of posts here, I've decided that I'd like to get a Miata so I too can fulfill my dreams of becoming the next Schumacher (but better, obv). I'm just a beginner, but would really like to improve my driving skills by taking some lessons through HPDE, and other courses through clubs. I'm convinced that Miata is the way to go but have a few questions that I haven't necessarily found the answers to. I'd appreciate some guidance on these questions:

1) Does year of Miata matter -- seems that older ones are lighter, but less power too? 2) Outside of a sanctioned roll bar and brakes/fluids, should I replace or watch for anything else if the car is stock? 3) There's been some discussion on the merits of getting a car that already has go fast goodies on there. Obviously that's ideal since I don't have my own garage.. but where does one get these Miatas? I've looked through some forums and the biggest one (miata.net) only seems to have a few that's ready for track.
4) Any other advice for someone who's never been on a real track? (I've done some autox events in my mom's camry back in high school )

Thanks so much!! I'm excited about this!

If i was looking (and i am), i'd be looking for the earliest 1.8 LSD car i could find.

Okay, what do you want it for? Autocross only? DD and autocross? Actual track outside of HPDE? What class do you want to go into with autocross, if you do want to autocross? How much do you want to spend, how competitive do you want to be? Lots of answers to your question as you have it now.

Here is a good place to start though: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/mazda-miata/

I did my first track day in a 94 Miata with a roll bar as the only modification. I went through the track day organizers safety checklist to make sure I was good on that aspect. You will have a blast.

mtn wrote: Okay, what do you want it for? Autocross only? DD and autocross? Actual track outside of HPDE? What class do you want to go into with autocross, if you do want to autocross? How much do you want to spend, how competitive do you want to be? Lots of answers to your question as you have it now. Here is a good place to start though: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/mazda-miata/

I will use it mainly as an autox, HPDE 1 & 2 car and go from there. I have no idea where I'd run in autox -- again just trying to have some fun and learn to be a better driver vs. winning trophies.

I will drive it to and from events b/c I don't want to get a trailer. Outside of ensuring I don't risk my life on the highway, I'd like to spend as little as possible. Again, not trying to be competitive. I've already read the article you, thank you.

Never mind .... just drink the Cool-Aid!

Just find best one that you can that fits your budget. I would take condition over year. That being said I like my '99 the best of the stock Miatas that I have had. (Modified is a different story.) But I have liked every one that I have had!

I've driven a lot of Miatas now. I've liked every single one of them, but my 1994 R-package is my favorite even before the turbo was installed.

You really can't lose.

I will say that somebody else's project is almost always cheaper than buying a stock example and adding the bits yourself.

Tom Heath wrote: 1994 R-package is my favorite

This is my holy grail.

With what you are looking for, I would ideally find a 94-97 R package. Those can be difficult to find though, so really any 94-97. I would have gone the R-package route, but mine has to be my daily driver for the next few years so I went for more comfort and ended up with a 10AE.

There is really no "bad" solution to this, only some that are better than others.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

Tom Heath wrote: 1994 R-package is my favorite

This is my holy grail.

I missed an R-package for $3000 by one hour.

Tom Heath wrote: I will say that somebody else's project is almost always cheaper than buying a stock example and adding the bits yourself.

Where does one look for such modified vehicles? I'm not having much luck finding them on Autotrader, miata.net, and the usual places.

I like Craigslist.

I don't think the R package is anything to be excited about. The suspension is pretty bad in stock form. and it's not hard to find a Miata with a Torsen. The one thing they have going for them in many people's eyes is the manual steering rack, but that's not a plus in my book That said, my fastest Miata is an R package but the VIN is the only way to tell!

Where do you find modified Miatas? Pretty much anywhere. Talk to your local Miata club. Watch eBay. Stop by a local track day, or ask your local motorsports club. Sometimes some pretty interesting cars come through the Flyin' Miata classifieds.

craigslist is a good place to look, where are you located?

Capt Slow wrote: craigslist is a good place to look, where are you located?

Boston. Looking now.

Holy crap, who knew all the cheap miatas were hiding on craigslist!

Thanks for the tip guys!

Other than the required safety gear, good tires, better brake pads, and a change of ALL fluids incl. brake fluid. These are the minimums to have a happy day. The rest is up to you. Get the car to finish the day so that you can drive it home.

One thing to watch out for on a Miata for HPDE is helmet vs. roll bar height. I'm 6' tall, and even with a "foamectomy" on the driver's seat (removing seat foam to get myself sitting lower in the car) I would still sometimes get called in for the top of my helmet being above the roll bar. There are ways around it - foamectomy, racing seat, taller roll bar, hardtop over roll bar - but it's something to keep in mind.

That said, the only thing lacking in my previous Miata that I took to the track was power. In the turns I could hang with or gain on cars with many times more power if I drove it right. And I still drive one for autocross. Check out the Renegade Miata Club for autocrosses in your area with Miata only classes.

My 2 cents is to get the best condition one you can find and afford. Being in Boston rust may be a issue and I would rather have older rust free car over a nasty newer one.

Also as far as mods go.... You don't mention how much experience you have but my advice is to forgo the mods with the exception of a roll bar and some decent tires ( not r-comps). Learn to drive a mechanically sound stock car first before swapping out suspension bits. If you don't know how a car should behave it will be way too easy to mess it up when modding it.

I also think you should learn to drive it with a stock motor as well before adding power. The Miata is a momentum car. The lack of power will teach you better braking and steering habits as opposed to a car with lots of brute force.

Like everybody's said, I'd find one with no rust, and the lowest miles (and wear) as possible. I'd stay away from anything that's been modified, as you have no way of telling the quality of the mods. Usually, they're done poorly. Be sure to get one with the Torsen, as that axle is the best one to have, and an expensive upgrade.

My car gets driven about 5,000 miles a year, and about one track day per year. More if I could afford it. Since my first track day, I don't mess around with autocross--you'll understand why some day.

My 1996 now has 75,000 miles and it is garaged all winter. I trailer it to the track, but just so I can drive it that much harder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U4QFxaI9TM

bcp2011 wrote: 4) Any other advice for someone who's never been on a real track? (I've done some autox events in my mom's camry back in high school Thanks so much!! I'm excited about this!

I have recently considered selling my miata. Its a 94' M edition thats been completely rebuilt and track prepped, but is still plenty civil to use daily. I have receipts for everything thats been done. The price is a bit more than the classifieds allow, so if you have any interest please feel free to pm me or call me 412-974-5695.

As for advice that applies to all miata's. Find a rust free car, that has maintenance records. DO NOT buy the cheapest one you can find, you will end up putting so much time, money and work into it, you will never make it to the track. Assuming you find a decent car for around $3k or so, then do the maintenance to make sure the car will survive a track day safely and get you back home, then add the required safety gear plus some minor upgrades plan on spending a few grand more.

First timers track advice, is just go and have fun. It will be quite overwhelming at first, just go in with the mindset of learning everything you can from your instructor and don't worry at all about how fast your going or your lap times. My best students(I used to instruct with NASA Mid Atlantic & Great Lakes regions) were the ones with NO ego. They learned the quickest and ended up being the faster drivers very quickly. Lastly remember you can't win practice!