NA miata, 1.6 vs 1.8 preferences? inspired by owners thread

Since i see lots of multi generation and multi-displacement ownership among grmers, which NA miata engine does GRM prefer for overall ownership and why, assuming it is to be kept naturally aspirated with only mild mods?

1.8, period, end of thread. The 1.6 sucks, they are all older, the CAS will fail, and they all have crank snout issues. Also, you can't get the Torsen or bigger brakes. And there's no tuners availble for the 1.6. Also, they suck.

You should check miata.net. There's a wealth of information there!

1.8 FTW!!!!!

Also: @ dyintorace

In reply to dyintorace:

Well, it may degrade from a NA1 vs. NA2 to NA vs. NB vs. NC....

Thankfully, the miata.net separates each of the versions. Including the not yet born ND.

As for the CAS- Joey- did you find a virtually perfect Miata with a broken one of those that you got for a song? Sometimes, you can work faults into features!

I'm sure djhives has his OWN opinion about that and isn't afraid to use it.

All my Miatas have been 1.6s, haven't had many problems with any of the engines. Only real problem I've had with one was the one that the PO caused by unqualified bolting on of a cheapo turbo kit.

I'm sure he'd done a better job if he checked on http://miata.net/ first.

I've got a 1.6. I don't think they suck but the 1.8 is a better starting point imo.

The 1.6 does rev a bit faster but the 1.8 will put down better numbers.

I have a 91 1.6 - it was cheap and has been dead nuts reliable. 135,000 miles

I like the idea of a worked n/a 1.6 with the lightest clutch/flywheel package i could possibly find with ITBs and a short gearset.

Beyond that. Meh.

You guys are too much, stop making me laugh at work...

I have a 1.6 and love it.

i'm familiar with most of the differences between the NA1 and NA2 cars (at least the drivetrain/chassis stuff), and of course the larger engine is usually the better choice for making more power, but i have only driven n/a 1.8Ls and a turbo 1.6L, so without any apples to apples experience, i was wondering about other's opinions, and maybe why they have own/race a 1.6 vs 1.8 (of course that'll likely mean it was the cheapest one they found on this board)

Well according to miata.net there's virtually no price difference between a 1.6 and a 1.8 car, so you might as well get the bigger, better engine (and brakes, and differential, and clutch, and interior, and wheels).

Also, I have driven both a lot and I've never found a 1.6 to "rev quicker" than a 1.8. I think that was a myth started by 1.6 owners jealous of the 1.8's superiority. Though it might rev quicker after the crank snout breaks off and there's no longer any accessories or balancer to spin...

Just get a 94-95 (pre obdII) with a torsen and be done with it. I had a 1.6 for years, then borrowed my friends 94 for a day. The extra torque is real nice to have. I do feel that at 4k+ rpm the 1.6 revs faster though.

I was pulling 31mpg every day commuting with my 1.6. I hear most people say the 1.8 isnt quite that good on gas.

I have a 1.6 and i'm basically swapping everything over to the 1.8 parts as they break or wear out.

I should have just started with a 1.8 car.

1.6 car was historic tag legal - no inspection ever, cheaper tag, practically free insurance.

128k 1.6 motor w/ new gaskets + seals + plug wires + header/exh/intake motivates the car just fine.

I can drive my weedy little 1.6 WFO about all the time which is fun. My crazily built '98 M3 is miserable on the street - you never even scratch the surface.

When the 1.6 pops I'll buy a '99 1.8 and put a cold side supercharger on and try a totally different Miata experience, but now a momentum car is a nice diversion.

I've owned a 1.8 NA and a NB. The cars were pretty similar in character, but my NB has been the easier car to own because the bits are all newer and there isn't any undercarriage rust. I'm also partial to the interior and exterior styling of the NB, but that's completely subjective.

failboat wrote: Just get a 94-95 (pre obdII) with a torsen and be done with it. I had a 1.6 for years, then borrowed my friends 94 for a day. The extra torque is real nice to have. I do feel that at 4k+ rpm the 1.6 revs faster though. I was pulling 31mpg every day commuting with my 1.6. I hear most people say the 1.8 isnt quite that good on gas.

I love OBD-II, why would you avoid it?

alfadriver wrote: In reply to dyintorace: Well, it may degrade from a NA1 vs. NA2 to NA vs. NB vs. NC.... Thankfully, the miata.net separates each of the versions. Including the not yet born ND. As for the CAS- Joey- did you find a virtually perfect Miata with a broken one of those that you got for a song? Sometimes, you can work faults into features!

Wowza... Can't believe you remember, but yeah, we bought a nice 1991 with high mileage and a bad cas.

Worked great till it got in an accident...

Joey

nderwater wrote: I've owned a 1.8 NA and a NB. The cars were pretty similar in character, but my NB has been the easier car to own because the bits are all newer and there isn't any undercarriage rust. I'm also partial to the interior and exterior styling of the NB, but that's completely subjective.

Yes, but if you consider the NC, and even the ND when deciding between a 1.6 or 1.8l NA.....

(OTOH, I agree. Which is why I got the '99 so fast. Well, except I do have some rust)

I like the 94-97 cars, but would convert back to 1.6 brakes, 1.6 flywheel, and 1.6 interior carpet (much nicer)

Javelin wrote: Though it might rev quicker after the crank snout breaks off and there's no longer any accessories or balancer to spin...

Well...yeah.

tuna55 wrote: I love OBD-II, why would you avoid it?

Sometimes I feel like it is out to get me.

I love my 1.6. I will never own a 1.8, they are HORRIBLE, worse in every way!

tuna55 wrote: I love OBD-II, why would you avoid it?

Because at least every 2 years I have to remove my supercharger, intake tract, larger injectors, and standalone engine management, reinstall the stock parts, putt through the emissions and inspection line, then put all the fun bits back on.

If the PO had started with a '94-5, it would not need to be OBD-II compliant and it would be a LOT easier to get inspected.