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General => IHADAV8 Playground => Topic started by: Steve Wood on August 16 2016, 11:59:32 PM

Title: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 16 2016, 11:59:32 PM
After a few days searching for a newer truck, I got frustrated and decided to buy a new toy first while keeping my eyes open for an older truck that was a reasonable price.  I don't believe there is such a thing, but, I will keep looking.  Trucks seem to drop very little in price until they are well past a 100k miles these days...

Anyway, I have had the yen for a Miata for some time and my son has had so much fun with his that I started looking for one.  Damn, if the Miata market is not drying up all of a sudden as there are very few for sale at the moment.  Maybe it's summertime and people are having fun.  Suddenly one popped up in Abilene that was low mileage and another one in Dallas that was beautiful but lowered to the bump stops.  I was thinking of having Rich look at it, but, he lucked out and the car sold the first day.

I also found a second generation car down in Houston that was in great shape and it was also very low mileage as well which is very unusual as most are north of 100k miles these days.  Both the one in Abilene and the one in Houston were in the 40K range.

I went up today to Abilene to look at the '97 and it had been driven virtually nothing since the owner bought it.  Seems like it is the 8th Miata he had owned but when he owned the first 7, he weighed 200 lbs.  He went to Dallas and bought this one and drove it home and has not driven it since....probl em is he gained 100 lbs in the interval from owning number 7 until he bought this one.  It was painful watching him trying to get in the car.

At any rate, I bought it.  It has a few light hail marks on the hood and trunk  Otherwise it was in very good conditon.  I had checked the vin and verified the mileage and history and it concurred with what the current owner had told me.  He was an interesting guy and also owned a GN back in the '90's.  He knew his cars pretty well.

Everything worked and I gave him the money, transferred the title, etc. and started home.  About 20 miles down the road, the check engine light came on!  LOL...Did not change the way it was running and I came on home with it.  Plugged in my scanner and it gave me a low efficiency cat code.  I just ordered a new cat, two O2 sensors and a set of plug wires...10% of the cost of the car lol.

At any rate, after an hour and half driving, I was moving a bit slow when I crawled out but it was very easy and comfortable to drive.  Steering is very tight along with the shifter and it goes exactly where the steering wheel points immediately.  First corner I came to, I almost made a U turn...smh...i t was easy after that.

Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: earlbrown on August 17 2016, 12:25:18 AM
A new cat???????      just gut it and stack up two 'spark plug anti-foulers' for the 2nd O2. That works like a champ :)
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 17 2016, 06:53:36 AM
Did that on the subie
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: good2win22 on August 17 2016, 07:11:33 AM
That looks like fun! 
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 17 2016, 09:01:33 AM
That's the main reason I bought it...fun. :)
Title: New Toy
Post by: larrym on August 17 2016, 09:37:50 AM
So which LS are you using 4.8 5.3 or 6.0 😆
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 17 2016, 10:02:00 AM
I don't have the cash it takes to do the swap...you basically replace the undercarriage completely.  Costs close to 20K. 

Maybe if I live a bit longer, I will turbo it which makes them a lot of fun.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: motorhead on August 17 2016, 10:44:55 AM
Nooooooooooooo ooooooo!

http://jalopnik.com/i-hate-miatas-1785135853 (http://jalopnik.com/i-hate-miatas-1785135853)

;)
Title: New Toy
Post by: larrym on August 17 2016, 10:47:17 AM
It looks like s boat load of fun as it sits.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: motorhead on August 17 2016, 11:18:55 AM
Maybe if I live a bit longer, I will turbo it which makes them a lot of fun.

Why wait? http://www.ebay.com/itm/BP14-MX5-T25-STAGE-II-TURBO-CHARGER-UPGRADE-KIT-300HP-BOOST-FOR-MAZDA-MIATA-1-8-/201530223038?fits=Model%3AMiata&hash=item2eec2329be:g:2J8AAOSwx-9Wz7PS&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/BP14-MX5-T25-STAGE-II-TURBO-CHARGER-UPGRADE-KIT-300HP-BOOST-FOR-MAZDA-MIATA-1-8-/201530223038?fits=Model%3AMiata&hash=item2eec2329be:g:2J8AAOSwx-9Wz7PS&vxp=mtr)

It is only $350.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: 1 RARE T on August 17 2016, 11:29:18 AM
Those things are a freakin' blast. Drove a turbo one, couldn't stop smiling.

I bought an Audi A5 for a daily a few months back. Poon-tang magnet!
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Shimy87 on August 17 2016, 11:34:59 AM
Looks fun!!   Must have a thing for black cars  :icon_lol:
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: reality on August 17 2016, 11:37:03 AM
There is a Miata across the ally with a 302 5 speed for sale.Somebody is coming to look at it today.
Cute little car but at 73 and 74 you know what people are going to say.  :powersix: [size=78%]LOLOL.[/size]
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 17 2016, 02:23:44 PM

I did not buy the car because it was "cute".

I bought it because I like cars that take to curving roads with a joy from the factory, and for a couple of thousand for suspension and tires, they handle with anything out there. Simple as that.

I will be 75 in three months and I intend to keep having fun.  No where is there a law that someone must act their age, but I have noticed that those that do are often miserable sons of bitches and are usually the ones that are making comments about those that enjoy life.  I make it a point to avoid them as I don't want to get pulled down by the crowd.

I intend to keep driving cars of whatever ilk entertain me at the moment, shooting any gun that I can figure out how to load, blow up whatever I can, and hang out with kids and play video games if the mood strikes me.  I find it much more satisfying than sitting around with a bunch of ol' biddies gossiping about the people they don't like.

I have lived and worked all over the world, and at this point in my life, I am damn happy to be able to sit on my ranch and do what I want.  If nothing else, it provides entertainment for the miserable sons of bitches that have spent most of their life sitting on their asses whining about unfair the world has treated them.

I have been thinking about buying a '60's Triumph or BSA lately.  That will really give them something to talk about :D
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 17 2016, 02:25:28 PM
Nope, this one is dark blue.  Twilight Mica Blue according to Mazda. :)
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: nocooler on August 17 2016, 02:25:34 PM
They are fun cars. Wife has always wanted one but, it would be very hard for me not to ls swap it or sbf swap it.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 17 2016, 02:28:49 PM
They are fun cars. Wife has always wanted one but, it would be very hard for me not to ls swap it or sbf swap it.

Around five thousand will put a good turbo kit on it...250-300 hp is a lot of fun in a 2300# car.

I will probably put a Megasquirt on this one. 
Title: New Toy
Post by: larrym on August 17 2016, 02:32:31 PM


I did not buy the car because it was "cute".

I bought it because I like cars that take to curving roads with a joy from the factory, and for a couple of thousand for suspension and tires, they handle with anything out there. Simple as that.

I will be 75 in three months and I intend to keep having fun.  No where is there a law that someone must act their age, but I have noticed that those that do are often miserable sons of bitches and are usually the ones that are making comments about those that enjoy life.  I make it a point to avoid them as I don't want to get pulled down by the crowd.

I intend to keep driving cars of whatever ilk entertain me at the moment, shooting any gun that I can figure out how to load, blow up whatever I can, and hang out with kids and play video games if the mood strikes me.  I find it much more satisfying than sitting around with a bunch of ol' biddies gossiping about the people they don't like.

I have lived and worked all over the world, and at this point in my life, I am damn happy to be able to sit on my ranch and do what I want.  If nothing else, it provides entertainment for the miserable sons of bitches that have spent most of their life sitting on their asses whining about unfair the world has treated them.

I have been thinking about buying a '60's Triumph or BSA lately.  That will really give them something to talk about :D
I laughed all the way through this post thanks it was inspirational! 
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 17 2016, 02:41:34 PM
Here is a shot under the hood this morning...for a car that is fixing to turn 20, it's pretty clean
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Be4u on August 17 2016, 03:27:33 PM
Cute cah kiddo.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 17 2016, 05:05:44 PM
Try as you may, you will never achieve Zap status. You are as stale as last month's milk
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Shimy87 on August 17 2016, 06:14:04 PM
Nope, this one is dark blue.  Twilight Mica Blue according to Mazda. :)

Seen a few of these at auto cross events. Set up right they are crazy quick thru a course. Enjoy!!
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: motorhead on August 17 2016, 06:34:49 PM
Get after it, Steve.  Fast is fast.  Fun is fun.  Life is too short to put up with other peoples' BS.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Scoobum on August 17 2016, 07:58:36 PM
The dry climate down there sure keeps 'em nice.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 17 2016, 08:49:46 PM
Yep
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: good2win22 on August 17 2016, 09:55:19 PM
I believe you're right on with your philosophy of life.  I hope to be causing such a stir when and if I get to your age
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 17 2016, 11:37:49 PM
After driving another 90 miles today over cellulite roads, I came to the conclusion that tires that generate the lowest level of road noise are a greater need than tires that provide the utmost traction...Dam n, what a roar inside that suddenly goes largely away on smoother portions.  I would have a hard time carrying on a conversation with myself-forget anyone else.  What I thought was massive wind noise yesterday clearly isn't.  Got caught in a gully washer as well so maybe wet weather performance is a consideration as well. LOL

Right now, I am thinking Nitto Neo-Gens.  Wish I could find the list I made for my son a few months ago when he was listing stuff he needed.  He can't find it either.  Researching, I learned something that I did not know.  Nittos are made by Toyo.  I probably could have asked Mike and he would have known that.

Went by a tire store to get the present tires balanced...see ms they look new but they are ten years old and somewhat square.  That may contribute to the noise level as well.  They run fairly smooth at 80mph
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Pyro6 on August 18 2016, 12:04:49 AM
I have a friend that has a 78 MGB convertible, I love driving that thing. Everything seems upside down, USA girls volleyball loses,  Hillary is in the lead, and now this.  :powersix: :cheers:
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 18 2016, 12:08:59 AM
When I moved to Libya in 1966, I bought a MG-B and loved it.  Then I got an Alfa sedan and discovered the joys of high rpm and good disc brakes and the MG seemed like something from the dark ages...I had a lot of fun in it tho
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Steve Wood on August 18 2016, 12:10:41 AM
oh, the fact that I am looking at 205-50/15 does not help my choice range.  Not going to buy wheels too so I am sticking to that size
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: 1 RARE T on August 18 2016, 11:43:41 AM
All my pictures are too big apparently.  :(
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: Be4u on August 18 2016, 01:06:16 PM
Yeah, my pics too. I had a good one for SW.
Title: Re: New Toy
Post by: daveismissing on August 18 2016, 10:53:41 PM
Miata?......(cue up sexual orientation jokes....)

looks fun
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