WIW: '04 Miata

Of course, I get home and can't access the site I saw it on again, but the gist is it is an 04, 5spd, 102k, "sport" package, navy blue exterior and tan interior. Lady wants 8k.

Hive?

Unless i miss my guess, an 04 "Sport" should have a 6spd, yes?

In reply to Swank Force One:

That is why I am asking. I was able to see the posting for about 5 sec before I left for the day and can't see it until tomorrow at the earliest.

There wasn't actually a "Sport" package in 2004. You can't rely on classified descriptions.

6-speed was an option on leather cars (tan interior), but it'll be on a car with the Suspension Package.No external clues other than the shift lever and the Bilstein shocks. 2004-05 6-speeds have the stupid 4.10 rear end, so the gearing is really really short.

Keith Tanner wrote: There wasn't actually a "Sport" package in 2004. You can't rely on classified descriptions. 6-speed was an option on leather cars (tan interior), but it'll be on a car with the Suspension Package.No external clues other than the shift lever and the Bilstein shocks. 2004-05 6-speeds have the stupid 4.10 rear end, so the gearing is really really short.

Looked at the 04 brochure on miata.net and it looks like to get the "sport" package with a tan interior means it is a LS model. It also needs to have the 6spd to get the same package, but you don't get the LSD.

What is wrong with the 6spd and 4.10, besides it looking better on paper city car? I'm looking at 75 miles of 65 mph freeway anyways with a few stop lights thrown in for good measure.

With a 6spd and a 4.10 that car will be turning just about 4krpms at 80mph in 6th gear. It's loud, buzzy, and obnoxious. I like the combo ok otherwise on an n/a car.

A 3.9 is probably a better compromise.

If it's got leather, it's an LS. That part's easy.

And if it's an LS with a stick, it has a Torsen. Actually, a Tochigi-Fuji, but who's checking. Anyhow, that's also easy.

But there's no "Sport" package. So you can't tell from the leather if it has the 6-speed or not. The easiest way to tell is to look at the gearshift knob. Since you won't be buying the car before you look at the ad again, I recommend holding horses and doing that then. The internet cannot tell you, especially not based on mostly-random ad copy that was probably not written by a Miata options nerd.

6-speed with a 4.10 is just too short. You're shifting all the time and spinning high rpm. Is the yuk. 2nd gear won't even crack 53 mph.

I don't drive 80 around here. 65-70 is about the max between climbing hills and around the curves. If I ever got to that point, I'd run a taller tire unless there is a strut or something in the way.

Ranger50 wrote: I don't drive 80 around here. 65-70 is about the max between climbing hills and around the curves. If I ever got to that point, I'd run a taller tire unless there is a strut or something in the way.

Not sure you'd like what a taller tire does to the handling on a Miata. Mine goes into storage on the "taller tires" the PO put on it. It drives like a totally different car, in a bad way. Tall tires ruin the Miataness.

Swank Force One wrote: With a 6spd and a 4.10 that car will be turning just about 4krpms at 80mph in 6th gear. It's loud, buzzy, and obnoxious. I like the combo ok otherwise on an n/a car. A 3.9 is probably a better compromise.

I really like the combination of a 6-speed and a 3.636, it makes it very close to a 5-speed with a 4.3, plus an extra 6th gear. OTOH, I've got a little bit of extra torque, so... :)

codrus wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: With a 6spd and a 4.10 that car will be turning just about 4krpms at 80mph in 6th gear. It's loud, buzzy, and obnoxious. I like the combo ok otherwise on an n/a car. A 3.9 is probably a better compromise.

I really like the combination of a 6-speed and a 3.636, it makes it very close to a 5-speed with a 4.3, plus an extra 6th gear. OTOH, I've got a little bit of extra torque, so... :)

Is there a cheap way to make 3.636 happen? I would do that in my DD in a heartbeat. Cruising at 4300 RPM and 25mpg on the highway just sucks.

Depends on your definition of cheap. There's a few vendors that sell the parts needed to convert over. I think it's in the $500-600 range.

codrus wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: With a 6spd and a 4.10 that car will be turning just about 4krpms at 80mph in 6th gear. It's loud, buzzy, and obnoxious. I like the combo ok otherwise on an n/a car. A 3.9 is probably a better compromise.

I really like the combination of a 6-speed and a 3.636, it makes it very close to a 5-speed with a 4.3, plus an extra 6th gear. OTOH, I've got a little bit of extra torque, so... :)

I'm in that weird spot where the 6spd/4.10 combo is awful due to power, but i don't feel like i'm making enough power to keep the 3.636 entertaining. We'll see if the Haltech setup results in the 50-60whp gain i'm expecting.

BTDT the 4.10 is very annoying at all speeds but the 3.9 is much better. I didn't even install the 3.6 gears I had because I was sure it would make top gear just about useless without downshifting a lot.