There has been much talk of swappin the Speed Mazda 3s' turbo 4 cylinder into the MX5 for a Speed MX5. This would have made a really fun/quick roadster and some real competition for the turbo Kappas.
Mazda confirmed today that apparently the fuel pump design makes the swap from transverse to longitudinal mounting prohibitively expensive for the turbo 2.3L.
It looks like the Solstice/SKy will continue to be the best selling US roadster- so sad Miata fans.
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2008 Black/Black GXP, purchased 7/23 right off the train.
Mod#1 blacked-out headlights
Mod#2 GMPP Intake -I like to hear my turbo.
Mod#3 Special Sauce
Mod#4 Solo Street Race
'97 Burb.
"07 Charger R/T, Mama's car
Race #1 Charger 0 /Sol 1
There has been much talk of swappin the Speed Mazda 3s' turbo 4 cylinder into the MX5 for a Speed MX5. This would have made a really fun/quick roadster and some real competition for the turbo Kappas.
Mazda confirmed today that apparently the fuel pump design makes the swap from transverse to longitudinal mounting prohibitively expensive for the turbo 2.3L.
It looks like the Solstice/SKy will continue to be the best selling US roadster- so sad Miata fans.
About 6 months ago, several Miata fans around here were claiming the Speed version was a done deal and mules were already seen driving on the roads.
Like the saying goes, "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride."
Of course Miata fans could still buy a GXP and ride like the wind.
I'm sure Mazda didn't want the MX5 kicking the crap out of the RX8 either.
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2008 Black/Black GXP, purchased 7/23 right off the train.
Mod#1 blacked-out headlights
Mod#2 GMPP Intake -I like to hear my turbo.
Mod#3 Special Sauce
Mod#4 Solo Street Race
'97 Burb.
"07 Charger R/T, Mama's car
Race #1 Charger 0 /Sol 1
Location: Rosamond, CA - Home of Willow Springs Raceway
That sucks for them. I wonder how their sales will go without a new model to help carry it along.
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2007 Cool GXP with Darkside Top, 5 spd, Ebony Cloth, Monsoon with Single CD, Sport Pedals, XM, A/C
Mods - Solo Street/Race Exhaust, K&N Drop-in Air Filter, EDAL
At least they aren't 2007 WRX owners. Those guys got REALLY screwed if you know what I'm talking about. The 08 got a bunch of big upgrades to compete with Mitsu's Ralliart.
__________________ 2007 Solstice GXP 5-Speed - All options - Bone Stock
-5% Tint
Location: Rosamond, CA - Home of Willow Springs Raceway
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koobie
The 08 got a bunch of big upgrades to compete with Mitsu's Ralliart.
Yeah, Subaru hosed those guys over.
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2007 Cool GXP with Darkside Top, 5 spd, Ebony Cloth, Monsoon with Single CD, Sport Pedals, XM, A/C
Mods - Solo Street/Race Exhaust, K&N Drop-in Air Filter, EDAL
At least they aren't 2007 WRX owners. Those guys got REALLY screwed if you know what I'm talking about. The 08 got a bunch of big upgrades to compete with Mitsu's Ralliart.
Yeah... they got hosed. The '08 got a new, bigger body, carried over the same drivetrain, received a softened suspension that didn't handle as well, and fewer available features. There are few '07 owners that wished they had an 08.
(I think you probably mean the 08 owners got hosed for buying a 1st year car, as the '09 has a more powerful engine, better handline suspension, etc).
It's slower, doesn't handle well, is ugly and cramped. Bottom line: it can't compete with the Kappas so why build an inferior car?
What is the point? I dunno, a good number of people are still buying them over a kappa. I am sure there is a point for it to exist. Maybe it is the larger trunk, or easier to use top, or availability of a hardtop, or that some people think it is more fun to drive because it is more tossable, better visibility out of the cabin (especially with the top up), or a better reputation for reliability...
It's slower, doesn't handle well, is ugly and cramped. Bottom line: it can't compete with the Kappas so why build an inferior car?
have you ever driven a miata? Any year?
They are rad little cars and for the price it's hard to find a better roadster. I'm really considering picking up an older one for a track only car and leave the kappa for DD.
Only problem is once i have it setup, with a cage and suspension, it might be even more fun around town than the sol
still keeping my eyes out for an old datsun 510 first though... mmmmmm
Location: Rosamond, CA - Home of Willow Springs Raceway
Quote:
They are rad little cars and for the price it's hard to find a better roadster.
I have and I wasn't impressed. Nothing really stood out, except for my head and I'm only 5'9". The car had WAY too much body roll for the weight. My 92 Sentra had less body roll. The steering was good but not spectacular. The ride was too soft. Grip was average.
I was really expecting to be blown away given all the rave reviews on the car but it just felt like a eco-car with RWD. Maybe with some coilovers and sticky tires would make it feel better but so did both of my Sentra's when I did those mods to them. The Mazdaspeed Miata gave it some decent power but my Spec V was just as fast in a straight line. I really wonder what the auto journalists were smoking when they did those reviews. To each his own.
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2007 Cool GXP with Darkside Top, 5 spd, Ebony Cloth, Monsoon with Single CD, Sport Pedals, XM, A/C
Mods - Solo Street/Race Exhaust, K&N Drop-in Air Filter, EDAL
I have and I wasn't impressed. Nothing really stood out, except for my head and I'm only 5'9". The car had WAY too much body roll for the weight. My 92 Sentra had less body roll. The steering was good but not spectacular. The ride was too soft. Grip was average.
I was really expecting to be blown away given all the rave reviews on the car but it just felt like a eco-car with RWD. Maybe with some coilovers and sticky tires would make it feel better but so did both of my Sentra's when I did those mods to them. The Mazdaspeed Miata gave it some decent power but my Spec V was just as fast in a straight line. I really wonder what the auto journalists were smoking when they did those reviews. To each his own.
Hey, the older Spec Vs were great cars and if they were RWD they would actually be a possible platform for a fun track car (hell, there are plenty of them the way they are). Why would you consider them not?
I wasn't too impressed with the kappa from factory either. Everything about it is heavy and that flies in the face of a traditional roadster but it was super-easy to resolve.
That said, i couldn't imagine spending 20k on a new one but 5-10k and i'll have a car I can track and it'll be even more solid around street corners.
i'm 6'1 and had the same height issue with the s2000 but fit in the sol with no problem. I'll be replacing the seat in whichever project i pick up so that's not a worry.
Mazda had horrible sales values with the last MS:Miata they did, the car was a dud for them. The engineering time and money it would take to make the MS:MX-5 to Mazda was probably not worth it. Looking at the current economy and niche roadster sales, it looks like the desire not to make it paid off for them in the long run.
