The Mazda Miata: Legendary or not?

[Zenith]

You know you can put an LS9 into a Miata, right?

And then spin your wheels into 6th

Joking, by the way.

I just don't see where people get off saying "Miata? LOLWUT a Corvette would KILL IT!"

Well no ****, Sherlock. A Corvette costs twice as much. Nobody seems to factor in COST when talking about car vs car...

Yes, yes, I agree, calm down. I'm on your side. Comparing cars with such a wide price difference is pointless. Let's just not get knee deep into a modification discussion.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Trying to stack up modified cars against stock cars is ridiculous.

It may be, but he's talking about the performance-per-dollar ratio here.

 

[12thgear]

The Corvette isn't exactly a pig. I think it handles quite well, actually. I think if you put talented drivers in both cars that knew their rides inside and out, the Corvette would defeat the Miata on most courses. On really tight courses, the Miata might be victorious.

 

[Luminis]

The Corvette isn't exactly a pig. I think it handles quite well, actually. I think if you put talented drivers in both cars that knew their rides inside and out, the Corvette would defeat the Miata on most courses. On really tight courses, the Miata might be victorious.

Yeah, but I think it's true that, dollar for dollar, a Miata would eat a Corvette alive. Then again, given the price and aftermarket support, most of the cheaper JDM sportscars would...

 

[fitftw]

I am a businessman, so I always think in terms of dollar equality. I don't think it's fair to compare two cars that are more than a few thousand dollars apart. Just like car magazines don't compare a Honda Accord vs. a Ferrari, they would never compare a Miata to a Corvette.

But I'm sure if they did, they would rank the Miata higher due to its fun-per-dollar ratio being much higher than the Vette. Face it, not many people are rich enough to afford a $50,000+ car. Sure you may see them all over the place, but the vast majority of people fall into the $15,000-$30,000 new car segment.

 

[zr1chris]

You know you can put an LS9 into a Miata, right?

Then you can take the balance advantage the Miata has and throw it out the window.

 

[Zenith]

Then you can take the balance advantage the Miata has and throw it out the window.

Oh no, here we go again...

 

[zr1chris]

Oh no, here we go again...

I know. This thread has gone so far off topic since yesterday that its not even funny.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Then you can take the balance advantage the Miata has and throw it out the window.

Having witnessed it first hand, this statement is entirely un-true.

Edit:

Overall, the car gains less than 200 lbs with 1/3 of that on the rear wheels. In other words, the car does not become a nose-heavy beast. To put things in perspective, one of our SuperFour Challenge turbo Miatas came in at almost exactly the same weight and distribution. From the outside, the car looks completely stock. The ground clearance is unchanged and nothing needs to be altered on the body. As long as the engine is off, it's a great sleeper. But once you fire it up, there's no mistaking what's underhood.

Does it handle? Well, the first time we took one autocrossing, we set FTD with it - by a margin of nearly 4 seconds. We've destroyed our own lap records around our local track, outrunning purpose-built race Miatas with a street-oriented V8 Miata. Yeah, it handles.

 

[Luminis]

Then you can take the balance advantage the Miata has and throw it out the window.

And that's why you take a 13B or 20B 👍

 

[zr1chris]

Having witnessed it first hand, this statement is entirely un-true.

So what is the balance ratio on a LS9 Miata? It cant be the same as stock which is pretty close to 50/50. I know the LS9 is very light for a V8 but it still not as light as an inline 4.

 

[CodeRedR51]

So what is the balance ratio on a LS9 Miata?

Not an LS9, should have stated. LSx swap in general. Check the edit on my last post.

 

[Luminis]

Well, I think that the power to weigth ratio would compensate for any hit you take in terms of balance, anyways. Getting close to 500HP per tonne is quite something.

 

[nobuffalo]

I consider myself a big MX5 fan, but somehow with every post fitftw makes it makes me want another MX5 slightly less. Mega fanboyism can really put you off something.

+1

fitftw, your car is nearly perfect in my eyes and I love Miatas (mine included), but your fanboyism really is a bit distasteful.

 

[CodeRedR51]

+1

fitftw, your car is nearly perfect in my eyes and I love Miatas (mine included), but your fanboyism really is a bit distasteful.

Well there are people that love their cars, and then there are people that really love their cars.

Nothing wrong with that.

(I'd also like to find the guy that invented that word and punch him in the face)

 

[fitftw]

My apologies to whoever I offended.

An LS9 crate engine goes for $21,000 and I don't think anyone has put one in a Miata yet.

There is always this for $30,000 which ironically would put a brand new Miata in the same price-range as a Corvette: http://flyinmiata.com/V8/configurator_files/help.php?UID=15

Why more people don't buy Miatas and do that V8 conversion instead of buying Corvettes bewilders me.

 

[Zenith]

(I'd also like to find the guy that invented that word and punch him in the face)

A bit off topic, but care to explain?

 

[CodeRedR51]

A bit off topic, but care to explain?

Fanboy.

I.Hate.That.Word.

 

[zr1chris]

Not an LS9, should have stated. LSx swap in general. Check the edit on my last post.

Just noticed the edit after my last post. That's very impressive. The heavier rear-end (to handle the LSx) must compensate for the extra weight under the hood. I would think you would have to be VERY gentle on the gas still. I smell burnt rubber just thinking about it.

 

[zr1chris]

My apologies to whoever I offended.

An LS9 crate engine goes for $21,000 and I don't think anyone has put one in a Miata yet.

There is always this for $30,000 which ironically would put a brand new Miata in the same price-range as a Corvette: http://flyinmiata.com/V8/configurator_files/help.php?UID=15

Why more people don't buy Miatas and do that V8 conversion instead of buying Corvettes bewilders me.

So the price of the car plus cost of the motor alone is almost $50,000 (providing you buy a new Miata). Now you still need to buy all the accessories that will be needed to finish the install. Also most of us dont have access to do this ourselves so then you need to pay someone to do it.

oops, double post. My hands are up!! Please don't shoot!!! I didn't mean it!!

 

[Zenith]

Fanboy.

I.Hate.That.Word.

Yeah, the question was "Why?"

Seems like an arbitrary hatred

 

[fitftw]

So the price of the car plus cost of the motor alone is almost $50,000 (providing you buy a new Miata). Now you still need to buy all the accessories that will be needed to finish the install. Also most of us dont have access to do this ourselves so then you need to pay someone to do it.

What? Did you not see my link? You drive your car or ship it to Flyin' Miata and they will weld in a brand new LS3 and do ALL the work. $30,000 is for the insane amount of new parts and labor PLUS warranty. Very good deal for anyone who's considering a new Corvette.

 

[zr1chris]

What? Did you not see my link? You drive your car or ship it to Flyin' Miata and they will weld in a brand new LS3 and do ALL the work. $30,000 is for the insane amount of new parts and labor PLUS warranty. Very good deal for anyone who's considering a new Corvette.

Just looked at the link however I don't see a price. It does also say that you are still responsible for the upgraded cooling system if the car doesnt already have one which a stock Miata probably doesn't.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Just noticed the edit after my last post. That's very impressive. The heavier rear-end (to handle the LSx) must compensate for the extra weight under the hood. I would think you would have to be VERY gentle on the gas still. I smell burnt rubber just thinking about it.

The stock 4-Cylinder is cast iron and the LSx is all aluminum, so there's not much weight gain there. Most of the weight comes from the T-56 transmission actually. Since the transmission is in the middle of the car, that helps spread the distribution. The CTS differential in the back doesn't add much if any weight.

Yeah, the question was "Why?"

Seems like an arbitrary hatred

I don't know, just makes me want to punch the guy every time I hear it.

Just looked at the link however I don't see a price.

That's an average cost.

 

[fitftw]

Just looked at the link however I don't see a price.

Scroll to the bottom, second to last question mark bullet: http://flyinmiata.com/V8/configurator.php

 

[Luminis]

What? Did you not see my link? You drive your car or ship it to Flyin' Miata and they will weld in a brand new LS3 and do ALL the work. $30,000 is for the insane amount of new parts and labor PLUS warranty. Very good deal for anyone who's considering a new Corvette.

I just read the FM page for a bit, appearently, they've been getting 400+ HP at the rear wheel on the Miata's four banger, with 'just' a turbocharger setup, which would be much, much cheaper than the full engine swap.
Surely not as relaible, but if we're talking about a car that goes fast for little money, that'll probably work out very, very well.

 

[Joey D]

It's really a question why more people don't do V8 swaps in a Miata then buy a Corvette? Really? Engine swaps are almost never problem free and trying to get a V8 Miata serviced, insured and even plated in some areas would be a headache.

Motor swaps are only for the truly mechanically inclined and patient. While a V8 Miata would be very cool to own, I'd personally skip the headache and buy a Vette for roughly similar money.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I just read the FM page for a bit, appearently, they've been getting 400+ HP at the rear wheel on the Miata's four banger, with 'just' a turbocharger setup, which would be much, much cheaper than the full engine swap.
Surely not as relaible, but if we're talking about a car that goes fast for little money, that'll probably work out very, very well.

That's not on a stock motor. We're talking about a $6k to $10k motor with forged internals. 👍

 

[zr1chris]

Scroll to the bottom, second to last question mark bullet: http://flyinmiata.com/V8/configurator.php

$33,745 👍 Pretty good deal if you want to go really fast. However for the same price you can go not quite as fast (but still fast) but in my opinion be much more comfortable and the looks aren't even close.

 

[CodeRedR51]

$33,745 👍 Pretty good deal if you want to go really fast. However for the same price you can go not quite as fast (but still fast) but in my opinion be much more comfortable and the looks aren't even close.

Sounds good too!