Well...looks like winter is coming early this year.

"RotaryLover" (rotarylover) 10/29/2013 at 10:34 • Filed to: Winterization

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Soon I have to put it back in the garage, which means that I gotta get rid of the Rx7 immediately, which breaks my heart. Then I gotta change the tires on the 3, change the oil and the front pads. This is gonna be a busy Thursday since they said it's gonna be hotter that day.

On another note, ever noticed how powerful a car gets with colder weather air intake? My butt dyno noticed. That car became a rocket last night!

ncasolowork2 > RotaryLover 10/29/2013 at 10:36

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Isn't that a picture of an MX-5 or a Miata?

RotaryLover > ncasolowork2 10/29/2013 at 10:39

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Yes. That's the car I have to put in the garage in place of my Rx7. I took pics of it but it's torn in pieces...

Der Käfer > RotaryLover 10/29/2013 at 12:14

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I love that the miata gets "put up" for the winter, a true jalop at its finest.

Long Live the Longdoor > RotaryLover 10/29/2013 at 12:59

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Jeez, and I thought I was a Mazda fan, you have 3 currently?

RotaryLover > Long Live the Longdoor 10/29/2013 at 13:15

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Yup, 2010 Mazda 3, 1988 Rx7 and this 1997 Miata. Coworkers at the garage say all the time that they see rust on my Mazda polo shirt hahaha.

Long Live the Longdoor > RotaryLover 10/29/2013 at 17:57

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Lol awesome. I love Mazda's but don't own any ATM (though that will change next year when my wife gets a CX-5 and when I eventually cave and buy a Miata). How do you like your Miata by the way (I know that's a somewhat biased question to ask on Jalopnik, but I like to ask anyway)?

RotaryLover > Long Live the Longdoor 10/29/2013 at 18:49

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I love it but only the NA/NB models. It's raw, when you press the gas pedal it goes, it's responsive. The intake sound is wonderful. The 5 spd is perfection IMO (didn't try the s2000 yet) and it's the easiest manual car I've driven so far! Once you get a good alignment (not the stock alignment) and good tires on it, it turns at 90 degrees almost with no drama. The brakes...not so much great unless you get pads that bite more in the rear than the ones in front, but if you want it to stop IT WILL stop! The engine can take a lot of abuse and is already suitable for turbocharging since it has forged internals. There's a LOT of DIY mods that you can do at no cost for this car. Parts are cheap and available everywhere! You can rebuilt your car with the help of Kijiji/Craigslist for really cheap. Maintenance is a breeze with this car, and changing parts too, you have a lot of room.

Now the only thing that I don't like is how noisy the car is, but it's one of the quirks of it. Nothing that a deafening mats can't fix. Also you have the 60 MPH shimmy as they call it. You drive at 60 MPH and it vibrates, but over 60 it goes all smooth. When you open up the headlights it's kinda worst. Removing the lock nuts and balancing the wheels kinda help this issue. The top tends to leak a bit as it goes older...so far I haven't fixed the issue since I want a hardtop and i'll completely remove the soft one. I'll drive on sunny/clear days without the hardtop. The stereo kinda sucks because of the gutless doors, it really needs a sub.

Changing the fluids really helps this car alot! Get ones from Redline. And also insurance is REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY cheap!

People love your car. Haters will hate until they drove it. You get compliments all the time and some people actually think you're rich. NA owners tend to say hi and have a little convo with you at red lights, just cruise along and show off in corners or just flash their lights/wave at you when they are at the opposite side of the road. NB owners....depends, but so far they just ignore you. As for late NC1 or NC2 owners...you don't exist, early NC1 owners tend to be friendly.

Talking about the NC miata, it changed quite a lot. It feels bulky and not lightning sharp as the NA. The gas pedal response sucks (grounding the whole car will help). The 6 speed is horrible compared to the 5 speed I have (a fluid change with Motorcraft synthetic fluid will COMPLETELY change that) . You feel more inside the car and feel like you don't see as much as in the NA. The interior wraps you like a blanket, you feel you can't breathe. But boy oh boy it's beautiful inside and out and has all the bells and whistles you want. I heard NC owners manage to fix the issues and made it as fun as NAs with better suspension bits (the stock suspension even for the sport model SUCKS), a better sway bar, better alignment (really important because Mazda's stock alignment is really loose!) and much more. There's a lot more stuff on Miata.net, TurboMiata and ClubRoadster forums.

But seriously try them all, don't go all out blindly on one generation of Miata. And also, it's best to keep it as a weekend car. If you DD it too much, it's gonna ruin the fun. But once you miss it for a couple of days and start driving it again, you get in love like before.

Long Live the Longdoor > RotaryLover 10/29/2013 at 19:47

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Wow, sweet! Thanks for all the info! This is why I stick around Jalopnik, I love reading all the juicy details from owners of cars!

I love the Miata, it's my automotive rock. Ok so that kind of sounds cliche. But seriously, on any given day I find myself looking into something new, lusting over something else and yet when it comes right down to it, I still just like the Miata. I could buy a GTI or get a used [insert sports car here] or I could just buy a Miata and be perfectly happy. I know there are better cars out there, but none that make me feel the way I do the Miata.

I'd be swaying towards a NA or NC Miata, the NB just doesn't click with me the way the other do. I am looking forward to seeing what the ND turns out to be, I'm hoping Mazda doesn't screw up the formula.

RotaryLover > Long Live the Longdoor 10/29/2013 at 20:24

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You're like me. That's why my name has two meaning, the later being that I change my mind everytime car wise. I'd say, if you want a fun car that is RAW and that you wont do much highway (its not it's forte and you'll get scared/a wtf face the first time you drive at 3800 RPM at 120 km/h), get an NA. If you need a DD get a NC, but if you go that route, I'd say wait for the ND. The NC is good for comfort but needs mods and tweaks before it's fun. So far the ND is quite promising stock! Also about the shimmy thing, it's at 70 mph, sorry.