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Car Forum / Mazda / Mazda Miata / January 2006Mazda Roadster (Miata) Coupe site
here is the JApanese site for the Miata coupe. Hope they sell it here in the USA. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.mazda.co.jp/custo mize/roadstercoupe/&prev=/search%3Fq%3DMazda%2BRoadster%2Bcoupe%26hl%3Den%26lr%3 D%26sa%3DG > here is the JApanese site for the Miata coupe. Hope they sell it here in > the USA. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.mazda.co.jp/custo mize/roadstercoupe/&prev=/search%3Fq%3DMazda%2BRoadster%2Bcoupe%26hl%3Den%26lr%3 D%26sa%3DG Try this one: http://tinyurl.com/7owd7 Iva & Belle.) '90B Classic Red.) #3 winkin' Miata >> here is the JApanese site for the Miata coupe. Hope they >sell it here in [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >'90B Classic Red.) >#3 winkin' Miata It seems to be a good looking car, but the ROOF is frozen!!!! Does it come with a saw? Leon  SignatureLeon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) I'd seen the yellow one before. If you look closely, and you should!, it's got fender flares and such. I didn't realize that it had become a reality in Japan, looks like it may have. Interesting, Chris >>> here is the JApanese site for the Miata coupe. Hope they >>sell it here in [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Leon It is an interesting looking car but I'm not sure how well it might sell. Actually, it might do better as a replacement for the RX8, an ugly, but fun car, IMHO. As for the fender flares, I've always thought "add-on" plastic body panels look like what they are, a cheap after thought. Randy > I'd seen the yellow one before. If you look closely, and you should!, it's > got fender flares and such. I didn't realize that it had become a reality in [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > > > Leon Might this be a precursor to a "metal roof convertible" ?? SignatureI work for the ILEC ...." stuff happens! " >> >>> here is the JApanese site for the Miata coupe. Hope Randy, That's a matter of opinion obviously but I would say that yes, they can be tacky but if they are done properly, and they are on this example, they look like factory modifications to go racing. You may or may not remember a beautiful Porsche 944 that was similarly appointed and looked bad a.s! You know, that may have been a 924 (no nasty 924 cracks here please, the car had potential). Just my 2 cents. Chris 99BBB > It is an interesting looking car but I'm not sure how well > it might sell. Actually, it might do better as a [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] >> > EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie > Jensen) > Randy, That's a matter of opinion obviously but I would say that yes, they > can be tacky but if they are done properly, and they are on this example, [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Chris > 99BBB I never heard "tacky" used to describe the body kit that I put on my 1978 Datsun 280Z. It replaced those gigantic bumpers with flush fiberglass covers and made the car look lower but was still somewhat subtle. When I look at the pictures, which I still need to scan, it looks like a far more modern car than the other 240Z's and 280Z's that my friend's were driving. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. After all, look at how many people walked onto the Honda lot and thought, "I gotta get that Element, it is a beautifully designed vehicle". ;-) Pat > After all, look at how many people walked onto the Honda lot and > thought, "I gotta get that Element, it is a beautifully designed > vehicle". ;-) Total piece of fugly crap, now the Scion OTOH.... <GD&R> Plenty of humor around here! I love it. Pat, are you telling me that we share an affection and an ownership history of Datsun Z-cars too? That's amazing. I owned a 73 240Z starting in 78 and later owned a ........mmmmmmm.....76 or 77 280Z. The exact year doesn't matter I wanted a 78 so's I could have the five speed! A friend of mine had a car I've always coveted, he bought a wine colored 78 280Z, 5-speed of course. Sweet car! Oh, those were the days.....seems so long ago but I feel so young.......mmmmmm. I think the miata helps on that front. I really don't think the Z was ever as much fun as I've had with these lil roadsters. Chris 99BBB p.s. spellchecker just pulled up Datsun, now that's funny! >> After all, look at how many people walked onto the Honda lot and >> thought, "I gotta get that Element, it is a beautifully designed >> vehicle". ;-) > > Total piece of fugly crap, now the Scion OTOH.... <GD&R> > Pat, are you telling me that we share an affection and an ownership history > of Datsun Z-cars too? <butting in> I'm sure you meant to type "affliction"... I joined the U-Joint Of The Month Club, too, when I bought a new '71 in pale yellow. Ripped off the smog pump and installed headers/duals, Gerhaty (sp?) carb and timing kit, home-brew cold-air induction, milled 0.060" off the head--would pull redline in 4th @ 140 mph. Konis, spoiler, sways, yadda yadda. Great fun. Unlike the 260/280, the early 240s with SU carbs were actually quick. The Z started going downhill in '72, when Datsun raised the suspension a couple of inches to meet new bumper height regs. > I really don't think the Z was ever as much fun as I've had with > these lil roadsters. No way, 'cause it had a roof. The cheap strut suspension was also not nearly as forgiving once you dialed out the understeer--never, Never, NEVER lift in a hard corner! Oh, and did I mention the way it ate U-joints? Let's not talk about the rust. It broke my heart when the rear fenders rotted through the second time. SignatureLanny Chambers '94C, St. Louis http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html > <butting in> I'm sure you meant to type "affliction"... > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > '72, when Datsun raised the suspension a couple of inches to meet new > bumper height regs. Hey-Hey, that was stock. I had also upgraded the intake, exhaust and suspension of both my 1976 and 1978 280Z's. The heavy bumpers were off of both cars before I ever owned them. The 280Z cars were at least as low as a stock 240Z. Keeping up with my friends in their 240Z's was never a problem. They did have fun constantly adjusting their SU carbs while I never had a single problem with the fuel injection. > No way, 'cause it had a roof. The cheap strut suspension was also not > nearly as forgiving once you dialed out the understeer--never, Never, > NEVER lift in a hard corner! Oh, and did I mention the way it ate > U-joints? I still think you got unlucky with U-Joints. Either that, or they made them stronger on the 280Z than on the 240Z. I put at least 80,000 miles on the two cars together and replaced one, maybe two U-Joints during all of those years of driving. This was on cars that already had many miles on them. > Let's not talk about the rust. It broke my heart when the rear fenders > rotted through the second time. No argument whatsoever. Cheap Japanese steel of the time and bad painting process. Unless your Z-car lived it's entire life in the desert, it had rust. Pat >> Pat, are you telling me that we share an affection and an ownership >> history [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Let's not talk about the rust. It broke my heart when the rear fenders > rotted through the second time. All these years I thought it was my driving style that ate u-joints. I bought a BRG Z in early '71, did the Gerraty(sp?) and added a tow hitch to flat tow my 356 Porsche hillclimb car. I also went through shocks about as fast as u-joints and added a front splitter to help tame the understeer. The best mod was a 5 speed trans from a 2000 roadster and the rear end whine disappeared when I swapped in a 4.10 rear. In '81 it was sold because rust made it unsafe to drive, an auto Xer bought it. > Plenty of humor around here! I love it. > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Chris > 99BBB Did your Z-cars eat up U-Joints? Or is this a Lanny thing? I had quite a few friends with Z-cars during and right after high school and I just don't remember the U-Joints going out all the time on any of the Z-Car models. Pat I didn't have that problem but it sounds like Chas did also so unfortunately, we can't put the full blame on Lanny ;-) I'll have to dig out my pics (see if I had an air dam) cause I know for a fact mine became very very light at the front end at about 120. Sorry to the original poster for highjacking this thread! Chris 99BBB >> Plenty of humor around here! I love it. >> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Pat > I'll have to dig out my pics (see if I had an air dam) cause I know for a > fact mine became very very light at the front end at about 120. Scary, wasn't it? I would've said "over 80." I did three things that resulted in rock-steady tracking all the way to 140: 1. Koni struts. 'Nuff said. 2. BRE front spoiler. 3. Bushing tweaks: I added shims cut from an old radiator hose to preload the soft rubber steering rack mounts; where the front trailing arms bolted to the chassis, I cut a bit off the inner sleeves so the bushings would compress more. I love free mods that work. Aside from the rust, I sold the car at 80k in 1977 (for $2000) because the driveline clunks were making me crazy. My mechanic said there was no single cause, just accumulated wear on everything. It was starting to burn oil, too. The poor car was just worn out. Hopping it up and driving the bejeezus out of it might not have helped... SignatureLanny Chambers '94C, St. Louis http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html >> I'll have to dig out my pics (see if I had an air dam) cause I know for a >> fact mine became very very light at the front end at about 120. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > burn oil, too. The poor car was just worn out. Hopping it up and driving > the bejeezus out of it might not have helped... The air dam I used could be felt at 60 mph. I went through a number of them due to thank-you-ma'ams and wildlife. A friend worked for a local fiberglass moulding shop and would slip me a new one when needed. I used Koni struts but wore them out. The guarantee required the worn struts to be returned, leaving the car useless for weeks, so I used another brand that could be warrantied by the local parts store. The steering rack got the rubber shims too. I had 155K on the chassis, changed the engine at 120K cause the head cracked after being welded 20K before, when I sold what was left after rust for $1000. >>I'll have to dig out my pics (see if I had an air dam) cause I know for a >>fact mine became very very light at the front end at about 120. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > burn oil, too. The poor car was just worn out. Hopping it up and driving > the bejeezus out of it might not have helped... To spare the miata owners further Z-Car discussion, I have started a new newsgroup. r.a.m.d.o.f.d.z.c. This, of course, is : rec autos makers datsun old farts discussing z cars :-) I am afraid that the main topic of discussion will be how much metal is left on the body of your car. Pat >I'd seen the yellow one before. If you look closely, and you should!, it's >got fender flares and such. You are absolutely right. Obviously Mazda figures that the adverse aerodynamic effects are not much of an issue for a yellow Miata, as they would be for a faster white one. And if you prefer yellow Miatas, you probably also like fender flares. These are things that leap out at you (versus the refined beauty of a classically-shaped white Miata, say.) Leon > I didn't realize that it had become a reality in >Japan, looks like it may have. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >> Leon > SignatureLeon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) Come on Leon, no Z stories? Chris 99BBB >>I'd seen the yellow one before. If you look closely, and you should!, it's >>got fender flares and such. [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] >>> >>> Leon >Come on Leon, no Z stories? I am short on Z stories, since I was a poor graduate student in those days, with no time nor money for cars. When I finally got some money I bought an MGB, not a Z car. But it rusted through like the very best Z-cars in upstate New York, if that helps. Leon SignatureLeon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) > When I finally got some money I bought an MGB, not a Z car. But it > rusted through like the very best Z-cars in upstate New York, if that > helps. That's sufficient initiation for me. I hereby nominate Leon as an honorary Z-car owner. Second? All opposed? Passed, by acclamation. OK, amigo, now you can whine with the rest of us. Remember, wherever you'd normally type "Lucas" or "carburetor fire," just substitute "U-joint" instead. I'll forward the secret handshake via email. SignatureLanny Chambers '94C, St. Louis http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html >>When I finally got some money I bought an MGB, not a Z car. But it >>rusted through like the very best Z-cars in upstate New York, if that [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > you'd normally type "Lucas" or "carburetor fire," just substitute > "U-joint" instead. I'll forward the secret handshake via email. How much bondo do you think is in this picture? ;-) http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/pat/zcars.jpg This is actually a pretty cool site showing Z-cars at Deal's Gap. It has a small window showing a car, (a Z of some sort, I would assume), driving the Dragon at a decent clip. http://www.zdayzevents.com/ Pat Hey Pat, that's a pretty sweet running video there in the header at that Z site. Definitely gives you the idea of how great a road the Tail of the Dragon is! Chris 99BBB >>>When I finally got some money I bought an MGB, not a Z car. But it >>>rusted through like the very best Z-cars in upstate New York, if that [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Pat >> When I finally got some money I bought an MGB, not a Z car. But it >> rusted through like the very best Z-cars in upstate New York, if that >> helps. > >That's sufficient initiation for me. I hereby nominate Leon as an >honorary Z-car owner. Second? All opposed? Passed, by acclamation. I am honored indeed. Will there be a reception? 8)) Overall, I would prefer a Kasteel over a Duvel. Leon >OK, amigo, now you can whine with the rest of us. Remember, wherever >you'd normally type "Lucas" or "carburetor fire," just substitute >"U-joint" instead. I'll forward the secret handshake via email. SignatureLeon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) > >That's sufficient initiation for me. I hereby nominate Leon as an > >honorary Z-car owner. Second? All opposed? Passed, by acclamation. > > I am honored indeed. Will there be a reception? Certainly. You'll receive your membership card as soon as I receive your dues. SignatureLanny Chambers '94C, St. Louis http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html |
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