If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Need Miata advice
I'm moving to a new place where I will have a 55-mile commute, each
way, from the Park & Ride or the Light Rail terminal. It's mostly 4- lane US or Texas state highway. Not interstate slab, but still pretty straight, and no hills to speak of. I want to get a 1999 or 2000 Miata for this commute (as well as some occasional weekend running around). My concern is that according to what I've read, the Miata engine runs at over 4000 rpm at 75mph, which is what my speed will be most of the way. Won't extensive running at this rpm cause excessive wear? I've also heard that Miata wheels are aligned slightly outward, which would wear out tires in this kind of driving. I really, really want the Miata, but could use some advice from experienced owners. Please reply to the newsgroup. Thanks, Ron M. |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Need Miata advice
|
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Need Miata advice
as much as i love my miata, i can't say it would make a great commuter car.
it is loud. if i were plaining to drive an hour to and an hour from work each and every day i would want to listen to talk radio, or audio books. i can't listen to audio books in the miata, it is just too loud. and i not talking about with the top down. i think you might be happier communtting in another car, heck, even a carolla or civic... which are also probably better on gas too. ps. please don't ban me from this group for speaking such blasphemy > wrote in message ... > I'm moving to a new place where I will have a 55-mile commute, each > way, from the Park & Ride or the Light Rail terminal. It's mostly 4- > lane US or Texas state highway. Not interstate slab, but still pretty > straight, and no hills to speak of. I want to get a 1999 or 2000 > Miata for this commute (as well as some occasional weekend running > around). My concern is that according to what I've read, the Miata > engine runs at over 4000 rpm at 75mph, which is what my speed will be > most of the way. Won't extensive running at this rpm cause excessive > wear? I've also heard that Miata wheels are aligned slightly outward, > which would wear out tires in this kind of driving. > > I really, really want the Miata, but could use some advice from > experienced owners. Please reply to the newsgroup. > > Thanks, > Ron M. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Need Miata advice
On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:31:23 -0400, Christopher Muto wrote:
> as much as i love my miata, i can't say it would make a great commuter > car. it is loud. if i were plaining to drive an hour to and an hour > from work each and every day i would want to listen to talk radio, or > audio books. i can't listen to audio books in the miata, it is just > too loud. and i not talking about with the top down. i think you > might be happier communtting in another car, heck, even a carolla or > civic... which are also probably better on gas too. ps. please don't > ban me from this group for speaking such blasphemy Mine isn't the best for commuting either, but I still love it. They get good mileage and are reliable and cheap to insure. You could do worse. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Need Miata advice
On Oct 14, 7:46*am, wrote:
> I'm moving to a new place where I will have a 55-mile commute, each > way, from the Park & Ride or the Light Rail terminal. *It's mostly 4- > lane US or Texas state highway. Not interstate slab, but still pretty > straight, and no hills to speak of. *I want to get a 1999 or 2000 > Miata for this commute (as well as some occasional weekend running > around). *My concern is that according to what I've read, the Miata > engine runs at over 4000 rpm at 75mph, which is what my speed will be > most of the way. *Won't extensive running at this rpm cause excessive > wear? *I've also heard that Miata wheels are aligned slightly outward, > which would wear out tires in this kind of driving. > > I really, really want the Miata, but could use some advice from > experienced owners. Please reply to the newsgroup. > > Thanks, > Ron M. I have an '03. In 5th gear it goes roughly 20 mph per 1000 rpm, so I don't think 75 mph puts the engine over 4000 rpm but it's in that neighborhood. As another poster said, reliability probably still isn't a big worry under those conditions, and the car will serve this purpose all right. EPA highway for my model was 28 mpg and you can get 30 if you drive smoothly. But this kind of driving isn't really where the Miata is going to shine. You're not really turning or shifting, and the top's probably up most of the time. And besides the noisiness which someone else mentioned, the ride isn't great, at least on my car. With good roads it's not a problem, but the rougher the roads are the more this may get to be an issue for you. You WILL have a lot more fun on your "weekend running around," though, especially on curvier roads, compared to a more practical car. So that's the trade-off. It still may be worth trying, especially since with a used one you'll take less of a hit if you decide to get a sedan later. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Need Miata advice
I REALLY appreciate all the knowledgeable replies. Thanks a heap. Hard
to believe we got this far without Godwin's Law kicking in. (-; Noise won't really be an issue (heck, I'll wear ear plugs if I have to), nor will ride quality or any of these other factors. My main concern was engine wear from running ~~4000 rpm all the time. I noticed one of you mentioned using synthetic oil - no problem there. I used Mobil I 5w-30 in all of my family's vehicles, and I'm fanatical about changing it every 2500-3500 miles, whether it needs it or not. I'm wondering if, for this particular engine and rpm, if I should go up to a 10w-30, or if it would matter. As I mentioned before, the route is an hour each way: a big 4-lane undivided state highway, flat and smooth, the kind where you just set the cruise control on about 73, stick a tape in the player and settle in. Since I ride a cruiser motorcycle often, I'm not averse to having the top down if the weather permits, for what that's worth. Seeya, Ron M. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Need Miata advice
A 99 has mechanical lifters, so the noise issues with the NA lifters don't
exist. Originally, the 99 called for 10w30. I suppose a change to 5w30 might cause a bit more oil usage, or perhaps some valve train noise. Don't know. A lot may have to do with the temperature range you are driving in. > wrote in message ... >I REALLY appreciate all the knowledgeable replies. Thanks a heap. Hard > to believe we got this far without Godwin's Law kicking in. (-; > > Noise won't really be an issue (heck, I'll wear ear plugs if I have > to), nor will ride quality or any of these other factors. My main > concern was engine wear from running ~~4000 rpm all the time. I > noticed one of you mentioned using synthetic oil - no problem there. I > used Mobil I 5w-30 in all of my family's vehicles, and I'm fanatical > about changing it every 2500-3500 miles, whether it needs it or not. > I'm wondering if, for this particular engine and rpm, if I should go > up to a 10w-30, or if it would matter. > > As I mentioned before, the route is an hour each way: a big 4-lane > undivided state highway, flat and smooth, the kind where you just set > the cruise control on about 73, stick a tape in the player and settle > in. Since I ride a cruiser motorcycle often, I'm not averse to having > the top down if the weather permits, for what that's worth. > > Seeya, > Ron M. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Need Miata advice
> wrote
>I REALLY appreciate all the knowledgeable replies. Thanks a heap. Hard > to believe we got this far without Godwin's Law kicking in. (-; > What are you, some kind of newsgroup posting Nazi? How's that? (:-)> Seriously, it sounds like you are the kind of person who will appreciate the Miata for what it is and enjoy your 2 hour commuting time. As others have noted, your original concern of running at 4000rpm and above is not a worry for the relatively bullet proof Miata. Anyone who rides a motorcycle will consider the Miata downright quiet. -- Ken Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red An ordinary citizen Inside the Beltway |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Need Miata advice
Stuffing a blanket or a lined jacket in each of the top wells behind the
seats makes a big difference in noise at highway speeds. > wrote in message ... >I REALLY appreciate all the knowledgeable replies. Thanks a heap. Hard > to believe we got this far without Godwin's Law kicking in. (-; > > Noise won't really be an issue (heck, I'll wear ear plugs if I have > to), nor will ride quality or any of these other factors. My main > concern was engine wear from running ~~4000 rpm all the time. I > noticed one of you mentioned using synthetic oil - no problem there. I > used Mobil I 5w-30 in all of my family's vehicles, and I'm fanatical > about changing it every 2500-3500 miles, whether it needs it or not. > I'm wondering if, for this particular engine and rpm, if I should go > up to a 10w-30, or if it would matter. > > As I mentioned before, the route is an hour each way: a big 4-lane > undivided state highway, flat and smooth, the kind where you just set > the cruise control on about 73, stick a tape in the player and settle > in. Since I ride a cruiser motorcycle often, I'm not averse to having > the top down if the weather permits, for what that's worth. > > Seeya, > Ron M. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Long Miata Trip Advice? | mdginzo | Mazda | 15 | September 6th 07 08:46 PM |
FA: Flying Miata STB + Hood Prop for 1990 - 1997 Miata | pws[_1_] | Mazda | 0 | March 30th 07 02:00 PM |
Advice on Purchasing a Miata Please | Tom | Mazda | 7 | May 4th 06 03:54 PM |
2000SE miata top FS on miata.net classifieds | pws | Mazda | 1 | December 20th 05 08:29 AM |
What a Miata wants to be when it gows up - Mazda Miata mini monster truck.jpg (0/1) | schism | Mazda | 13 | November 27th 04 03:18 PM |