It's been a while

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
03/16/2019 at 22:01 • Filed to: None

I went HAM on the Miata. Driving 9/10ths, tires squealing around every turn, suspension bottoming out in places, bouncing against the fuel cutoff... It may sound like shit after getting used to the Volvos, but the driving dynamics can’t be beat.

And this was on two year old winter tires, no alignment, and very much not dialed in suspension.

Thank you Eric for showing me some of the best twisty roads around. I ran into a small group at a traffic light and ended up joining them for a few passes up and down the 10 mile windy section. 2 bikes, S2000, E46 M3 and a BRZ.

After the first run it was myself and the two bikes in one group, the rest of the cars in another. I felt pretty good about that... Most of the road we were on had suggested speeds of 10-20mph. I’m unsure of the actual speed limit as my eyes were glued to the road, scanning ahead for bumps, potholes, downed bikes, elevation changes, etc.

Doesn’t look like much, but the roads are super twisty, with tons of interesting and/or sketchy elevation changes.

Suspension tuning is abysmal right now, with a very uncontrolled feeling at the limits of grip. I was purposely kicking the back end out around every corner ever so slightly just so I could control the timing, and not be surprised when it happened on it’s own.

With the old winter tires, just a bit of trail braking and some steering input would also kick the back wheels loose, which was a bit dicey until I started to get used to the feeling again. Luckily while the breakaway point of these tires was pretty ill-defined, grip would come back and catch in a smooth manor.

All in all... I ended up beating my old speeds around every single corner. And those records were set with brand new 200tw summer tires.

So I need to get summer tires back on. Either stick with dunlop and go ZIII’s or go back to re71r’s. Probably going to make my decision based solely off cost.

I also need to lower the car a bit. I don’t think my coilovers are really meant to be driven this hard at the absolute highest possible setting like I’ve been doing.

I never properly adjusted my sway bars when I installed them and the adjustable endlinks, so that’s on the list. And as embarrassing as it is to admit this, I’m 90% sure I installed the rear sway bar upside down....

I also desperately need an alignment. I’ve had the car for 5 years now (!!!) and it’s never been aligned.

With the above done it should be absolute corner-carving weapon. Probably past my skill level if I’m being honest, and that’s with the stock 130ish hp...

But good god does the 4 cylinder sound shite after being exposed to turbo Volvos for so long :(

DISCUSSION (27)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 22:09

But did this help your beard?

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/16/2019 at 22:10

Beardlier than ever

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 22:25

Funny how it’s so much easier to control less grippy tires. I was a drift god in my 185 shitty tires. Man I cannot wait to start modding my suspension and braking. That along with some weight cutting on the front is next on my list.

I am currently waiting my new sport clutch and aluminum flywheel from SuperMiata. My throwout or pilot bearing is shot and I figured when in Rome.

wafflesnfalafel > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 22:38

I love High Bridge Rd... Paradise Lake Rd between 522 and Woodinville-Duvall is nice too - just don’t carry too much speed over the flat top past the conservation area.

Cash Rewards > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 22:41

Rear sway bar should be angled toward the car as you move upward from the ground. o/----\o

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 22:41

Beards add weight, more weight makes it slower.

AestheticsInMotion > Cash Rewards
03/16/2019 at 22:45

Yeah, it's definitely upside down. Sigh

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 22:45

Oh, to have roads worth driving on! (And a miata to do it in)

Sounds like a good time!

AestheticsInMotion > wafflesnfalafel
03/16/2019 at 22:48

I normally take novelty hill road all the way down to west Snoqualmie road and drive that untill it turns into high bridge, followed by Elliot road. Such a fantastic section.

The 522 to Woodinville Duvall stretch is next door to my work and I drive it regularly too. Tons of fun, but I wish it was a bit tighter.

AestheticsInMotion > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
03/16/2019 at 22:49

It's pure downforce.

AestheticsInMotion > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/16/2019 at 22:50

Huh, curious to hear how you like it! I have no idea how my clutch is still going strong...

Suspension yes, but honestly I think my brake upgrade was the biggest waste of money I've ever done. They look cool but.... Super unnecessary haha

AestheticsInMotion > MM54
03/16/2019 at 22:51

Save it for the w est coast trips!

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 22:52

Your Miata does not have enough power to justify it, right now it’s creating too much drag.

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 22:53

At this point I’m just waiting for the weather to stop being shitty, then I can go back to wishing the roads weren’t shitty for a few months before the weather goes off again .

AestheticsInMotion > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
03/16/2019 at 22:54

It’s a momentum car. You don’t need power when you can *sl owly* get up to 90 and carry that speed around the bends!

*checks price for LSX swaps*

AestheticsInMotion > MM54
03/16/2019 at 22:54

This was our first decent weekend.

Getting the rx7 out soon?

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 22:58

I have a bunch of on-and-off / back-and-forth work travel coming up, by the time that wraps up it may be getting to be nice enough to pull it out of storage. When it comes home, the first thing happening is I’m pulling the gas tank to do something about it apparently being full of rust that I discovered late last year. Since a new tank (old stock only) was $650 last I looked, I think the POR15 kit for coating the inside will be tried out.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 22:59

Yeah I’m super excited. Their f lywheel is almost 15lbs lighter than stock. It’s gonna rev like hell. I will put a miata update in the first week of April and should have it in by then. Cannot wait!

But really? Your brake upgrade was unnecessary? Are they just not particularly good or what? I don’t feel my brakes are anywhere near what they could be. Suspension you have xidas right?

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 23:03

but if you had less drag you could get 90 quicker.

AestheticsInMotion > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/16/2019 at 23:07

They're good, I just don't think better brakes were important. It's a 2000lb car. I think stainless brake lines, a brake flush and some better pads would have been pleeeeeeeenty for just about any type of driving

Cash Rewards > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 23:27

I installed mine on Thursday, and I remember you being unsure when you did yours. I double checked the instructions to figure it out. I still haven't really gotten out to push it and see the difference yet, unfortunately.

AestheticsInMotion > Cash Rewards
03/16/2019 at 23:34

Only thing I’ve noticed is a muuuch harder ride. Well, a nd I guess there’s a noticeable difference in how connected the left and right feel too. I probably should have waited until I went back to summer tires to install them

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > AestheticsInMotion
03/16/2019 at 23:35

Hmm. Ok. That would keep cost down doing that plus maybe stainless rotors. weight savings (a/c delete, etc.) and suspension are def next.

AestheticsInMotion > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
03/16/2019 at 23:55

We’re you planning on getting FM coilovers?

And yes Xidas. Xida race. Now that they have more options, if I did it over again I'd probably get Xida Ace, or go all-in and save up for the electronically adjustable ones.

NKato > AestheticsInMotion
03/17/2019 at 00:25

Stupid or crazy idea: throw a Ford small block V6 or V8 in there. There's a lot of them out there.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > AestheticsInMotion
03/17/2019 at 09:16

Nice. I hear good things about xidas. Didn’t know they had more options now. And fm coilovers are what I was looking at before but man not many people have good things to say about most of what fm is selling. I know they use a lot of cheaper parts, so I’ll prob avoid them. Unsure of what I’ll be doing at this point.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2019 at 19:45

If you haven’t destroyed your tires by now, the alignment can’t be that bad. But yeah a proper ride height adjustment and then a good alignment with lots of front camber will work wonders for the car. Dialing in as much front sway bar as possible will also be a good thing, even if it results in understeer at low speeds. You will just get so much turn in that it’s amazing.

Do not do the Re71 for street driving unless you hate your wallet lol. The Z3 is also supposed to be more akin to the Re71 in the longevity department, but they haven't been around long enough to prove it. I loved the Z2 I had and would be willing to try it again. But I'd recommend probably using a cheaper tire unless you plan on tracking it. For Street driving, just pick a 200tw summer that costs the least and is proven to last. You could go higher Treadware but I think those mostly perform like garbage in comparison.