New Miata (er, MX-5)

My '96 died, as I reported earlier. It was dying a slow death, then the
engine gave out. I sold the remains today. I suspect it will be junked. I
also suspect it would pay somone to put an engine into it. I just wasn't up
to it. Tomorrow, I'm flying to LA to complete the purchase of a 2004
Titanium Gray Mazdaspeed, 40K miles, with various FM upgrades, driving back
to Dallas. I toyed with getting a 2006 or 2007 Mazdaspeed6, or even a 2010
Mazdaspeed3 (they're just too bizarre looking) but in the end went back to
the MX-5. The only thing I'm a little worried about is whether the 6-speed
is too much of a pain in the ass in traffic.

"Frank Berger" > wrote in message
...
> My '96 died, as I reported earlier. It was dying a slow death, then the
> engine gave out. I sold the remains today. I suspect it will be junked.
> I also suspect it would pay somone to put an engine into it. I just
> wasn't up to it. Tomorrow, I'm flying to LA to complete the purchase of a
> 2004 Titanium Gray Mazdaspeed, 40K miles, with various FM upgrades,
> driving back to Dallas. I toyed with getting a 2006 or 2007 Mazdaspeed6,
> or even a 2010 Mazdaspeed3 (they're just too bizarre looking) but in the
> end went back to the MX-5. The only thing I'm a little worried about is
> whether the 6-speed is too much of a pain in the ass in traffic.
I admit I often with my 6speed do a 2nd to 4th or 4th to 6th, I know its
lazy but ......

PS Enjoy your new motor

On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:13:17 +0100, thomas wrote:
> "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> My '96 died, as I reported earlier. It was dying a slow death, then
>> the engine gave out. I sold the remains today. I suspect it will be
>> junked. I also suspect it would pay somone to put an engine into it.
>> I just wasn't up to it. Tomorrow, I'm flying to LA to complete the
>> purchase of a 2004 Titanium Gray Mazdaspeed, 40K miles, with various
>> FM upgrades, driving back to Dallas. I toyed with getting a 2006 or
>> 2007 Mazdaspeed6, or even a 2010 Mazdaspeed3 (they're just too
>> bizarre looking) but in the end went back to the MX-5. The only
>> thing I'm a little worried about is whether the 6-speed is too much
>> of a pain in the ass in traffic.
>
> I admit I often with my 6speed do a 2nd to 4th or 4th to 6th, I know
> its lazy but ......
>
> PS Enjoy your new motor

I do that all the time.

* Frank Berger wrote in rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata:

> My '96 died, as I reported earlier. It was dying a slow death, then
> the engine gave out. I sold the remains today. I suspect it will be
> junked. I also suspect it would pay somone to put an engine into it.
> I just wasn't up to it. Tomorrow, I'm flying to LA to complete the
> purchase of a 2004 Titanium Gray Mazdaspeed, 40K miles, with various
> FM upgrades, driving back to Dallas. I toyed with getting a 2006 or
> 2007 Mazdaspeed6, or even a 2010 Mazdaspeed3 (they're just too
> bizarre looking) but in the end went back to the MX-5. The only thing
> I'm a little worried about is whether the 6-speed is too much of a
> pain in the ass in traffic.
>
>

I have a 25 mile drive from allen to farmers branch and while traffic does
suck, the 6 speed is no worse than a 5

I have a 2007 MX-5 PRHT

--
David

"Frank Berger" > wrote in message
...
> My '96 died, as I reported earlier. It was dying a slow death, then the
> engine gave out. I sold the remains today. I suspect it will be junked.
> I also suspect it would pay somone to put an engine into it. I just
> wasn't up to it. Tomorrow, I'm flying to LA to complete the purchase of a
> 2004 Titanium Gray Mazdaspeed, 40K miles, with various FM upgrades,
> driving back to Dallas. I toyed with getting a 2006 or 2007 Mazdaspeed6,
> or even a 2010 Mazdaspeed3 (they're just too bizarre looking) but in the
> end went back to the MX-5. The only thing I'm a little worried about is
> whether the 6-speed is too much of a pain in the ass in traffic.
>
Good choice! What a blast that drive is going to be! I doubt you will mind
having 6 gears but you probably WILL wish 6th was a taller cruising gear! I
know, I keep bringing this back up but it's one of Mazdas biggest mistakes
on the NA,NB and NC cars IMHO.

Give us all the details when you get back!

Chris
99BBB

In article >,
"Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote:

> you probably WILL wish 6th was a taller cruising gear! I
> know, I keep bringing this back up but it's one of Mazdas biggest mistakes
> on the NA,NB and NC cars IMHO.

You do understand why, right? With the NA and NB, we'd be downshifting
for minor hills on the Interstate if top gear were taller, because we'd
still be on the soft side of the torque peak. It's unlikely much if any
fuel would be saved, since it would require larger throttle openings to
maintain speed, even on the flat. Certainly, top speed would not
benefit. I suppose it might be slightly less noisy, but hey, it's a
roadster. I guess the NC could use a taller final drive, since it has
plenty of beans and it's not much of a roadster anyway... <ducking>

Maybe you bought the wrong car? A nice Camry, perhaps?

(I'm just yanking your chain, Chris.)

--
Lanny Chambers
St. Louis, MO
'94C

Lanny Chambers > wrote:

> Maybe you bought the wrong car? A nice Camry, perhaps?

He needs this: http://preview.tinyurl.com/y5zl6jp

> (I'm just yanking your chain, Chris.)

Me, too,..... maybe...


--
XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project:
http://twovoyagers.com/improve-usenet.org/

"XS11E" > wrote in message
...
> Lanny Chambers > wrote:
>
>> Maybe you bought the wrong car? A nice Camry, perhaps?
>
> He needs this: http://preview.tinyurl.com/y5zl6jp
>
>> (I'm just yanking your chain, Chris.)
>
> Me, too,..... maybe...
>
>
> --
> XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
> The Usenet Improvement Project:
> http://twovoyagers.com/improve-usenet.org/


You know, Pat warned me about you ;-) What a fabulous 'classic' car! lol

Chris
99BBB

"Lanny Chambers" >
> You do understand why, right? With the NA and NB, we'd be downshifting
> for minor hills on the Interstate if top gear were taller, because we'd
> still be on the soft side of the torque peak. It's unlikely much if any
> fuel would be saved, since it would require larger throttle openings to
> maintain speed, even on the flat. Certainly, top speed would not
> benefit. I suppose it might be slightly less noisy, but hey, it's a
> roadster. I guess the NC could use a taller final drive, since it has
> plenty of beans and it's not much of a roadster anyway... <ducking>
>
> Maybe you bought the wrong car? A nice Camry, perhaps?
>
> (I'm just yanking your chain, Chris.)
>
> --
> Lanny Chambers
> St. Louis, MO
> '94C

I hear that argument all the time but I'm far from convinced. 1000 rpm's
lower at cruising speed would, imho be completely livable and better in
every way. When did you ever meet a Miata enthusiast that minded an
occasional downshift? I wish I knew enough about transmissions to know how
hard it would be to simply change 5th gear a bit taller.

cd
99BBB

Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
> "Lanny Chambers" >
>> You do understand why, right? With the NA and NB, we'd be
>> downshifting for minor hills on the Interstate if top gear were
>> taller, because we'd still be on the soft side of the torque peak.
>> It's unlikely much if any fuel would be saved, since it would
>> require larger throttle openings to maintain speed, even on the
>> flat. Certainly, top speed would not benefit. I suppose it might be
>> slightly less noisy, but hey, it's a roadster. I guess the NC could
>> use a taller final drive, since it has plenty of beans and it's not
>> much of a roadster anyway... <ducking> Maybe you bought the wrong car? A
>> nice Camry, perhaps?
>>
>> (I'm just yanking your chain, Chris.)
>>
>> --
>> Lanny Chambers
>> St. Louis, MO
>> '94C
>
> I hear that argument all the time but I'm far from convinced. 1000
> rpm's lower at cruising speed would, imho be completely livable and
> better in every way. When did you ever meet a Miata enthusiast that
> minded an occasional downshift? I wish I knew enough about
> transmissions to know how hard it would be to simply change 5th gear
> a bit taller.
> cd
> 99BBB

The 6-speed runs 4,000 rpm at 80 mph. Unless I'm mistaken, my dearly
departed 5-speed also ran 4,000 rpm at 80 mph, in 5th gear. Sure, a little
quieter cruising at 80 would be nice for conversation and listening to
music. I did downshift to 5th a couple of times on my trip home until I
figured out it wasn't necessary. I'm not sure which setup I'd choose.