Is Miata always the answer?

[GitRDone]

That sucks! I bought my '92 NA in 2001 from a classified in the local paper. It was crashed in front but not totalled. Owner had a nice payoff from insurance, and they let him keep the car. He was selling it for 1k. Super nice guy. I rushed over to see it, but when I arrived there were two buyers looking at it. Damn! Although it looked pretty gnarly it was sheetmetal only, frame was straight. I really wanted the car, but I didn't want to get into a bidding war. So I played my only card : Doubt. While looking over the car, I sent out some subtle negative vibes (i.e. shaking my head and muttering to myself). Then I told the owner thanks I will pass and sped off in my trusty truck (yes Ford Ranger, what else?). Only instead of home I went around the block to observe from a safe distance. Sure enough, after some time the first guy left, and the second shortly after. To my delight neither had put any money on the car and I was able to buy the car, and drive it home. After I put about $500 into sheetmetal and paint, the car looked and drove good as new.
20 years and 172,000 miles later, I am still enjoying this car. It has never had any major work, and was on its original top until last year when I punctured the plastic rear window trying to "help" the top up on a frozen NC trip. Recently, I was able to track down the original owner and let him drive his old car. It was a really special moment. Behind the ear-to-ear grin I think the man teared up a bit, but I pretended not to notice. Great car, even greater memories. Probably never sell that thing.

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[Mellow]

That sucks! I bought my '92 NA in 2001 from a classified in the local paper. It was crashed in front but not totalled. Owner had a nice payoff from insurance, and they let him keep the car. He was selling it for 1k. Super nice guy. I rushed over to see it, but when I arrived there were two buyers looking at it. Damn! Although it looked pretty gnarly it was sheetmetal only, frame was straight. I really wanted the car, but I didn't want to get into a bidding war. So I played my only card : Doubt. While looking over the car, I sent out some subtle negative vibes (i.e. shaking my head and muttering to myself). Then I told the owner thanks I will pass and sped off in my trusty truck (yes Ford Ranger, what else?). Only instead of home I went around the block to observe from a safe distance. Sure enough, after some time the first guy left, and the second shortly after. To my delight neither had put any money on the car and I was able to buy the car, and drive it home. After I put about $500 into sheetmetal and paint, the car looked and drove good as new.
20 years and 172,000 miles later, I am still enjoying this car. It has never had any major work, and was on its original top until last year when I punctured the plastic rear window trying to "help" the top up on a frozen NC trip. Recently, I was able to track down the original owner and let him drive his old car. It was a really special moment. Behind the ear-to-ear grin I think the man teared up a bit, but I pretended not to notice. Great car, even greater memories. Probably never sell that thing.

That's cool!... pictures?

 

[D Fresh]

That sucks! I bought my '92 NA in 2001 from a classified in the local paper. It was crashed in front but not totalled. Owner had a nice payoff from insurance, and they let him keep the car. He was selling it for 1k. Super nice guy. I rushed over to see it, but when I arrived there were two buyers looking at it. Damn! Although it looked pretty gnarly it was sheetmetal only, frame was straight. I really wanted the car, but I didn't want to get into a bidding war. So I played my only card : Doubt. While looking over the car, I sent out some subtle negative vibes (i.e. shaking my head and muttering to myself). Then I told the owner thanks I will pass and sped off in my trusty truck (yes Ford Ranger, what else?). Only instead of home I went around the block to observe from a safe distance. Sure enough, after some time the first guy left, and the second shortly after. To my delight neither had put any money on the car and I was able to buy the car, and drive it home. After I put about $500 into sheetmetal and paint, the car looked and drove good as new.
20 years and 172,000 miles later, I am still enjoying this car. It has never had any major work, and was on its original top until last year when I punctured the plastic rear window trying to "help" the top up on a frozen NC trip. Recently, I was able to track down the original owner and let him drive his old car. It was a really special moment. Behind the ear-to-ear grin I think the man teared up a bit, but I pretended not to notice. Great car, even greater memories. Probably never sell that thing.

That's awesome. I'm gonna remember that tactic if needed.

 

[GitRDone]

That's cool!... pictures?

I think is just before I cracked the rear window.

 

[D Fresh]

Was eyeballin' something else this morning.

And this for a possible swap'n'hoon.

I think I have a problem.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Was eyeballin' something else this morning.

And this for a possible swap'n'hoon.

I think I have a problem.

Rotary engine.

NOOOOOO!!!

They suck, they're unreliable, they're gas hogs, they rev to the moon, they have a cool beeper that tells you when to shift because the engine is so smooth, they make a distinctly addictive howl at high RPM, they....


I want another one.

 

[D Fresh]

Rotary engine.

NOOOOOO!!!

They suck, they're unreliable, they're gas hogs, they rev to the moon, they have a cool beeper that tells you when to shift because the engine is so smooth, they make a distinctly addictive howl at high RPM, they....


I want another one.

I made the mistake of searching 12a bridgeport noises on Youtube. There went an hour.

 

[Mellow]

I made the mistake of searching 12a bridgeport noises on Youtube. There went an hour.

Once again... Miata is the answer... lol

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Rotary in a Miata ?

 

[GitRDone]

My brother had a 1st gen RX7. No major issues that I recall, and it was pretty fun to drive. But it was absolutely gutless until 4-5k rpm. I had a 240Z at the time which in comparison had buckets of torque and was also a hoot to drive. Hard to find a clean one now without cashing in the 401-K.

 

[ctechbob]

Rotary in a Miata ?

Actually easier to fit an LS(X), J Series V6, or Honda K-Series in them. The crankshaft in the rotary sits too high to fit easily.

 

[D Fresh]

My brother had a 1st gen RX7. No major issues that I recall, and it was pretty fun to drive. But it was absolutely gutless until 4-5k rpm. I had a 240Z at the time which in comparison had buckets of torque and was also a hoot to drive. Hard to find a clean one now without cashing in the 401-K.

I've only driven a rotary once but they've always made me smile. I've always liked oddball engineering.

Rotaries are definitely weak at low RPMs. The lack of torque is a challenge but the noises are oh so hot!



A 240 project would be sweet, but haven't seen many around for quite some time. 510s as well.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

The weak torque at low RPM is resolved by a turbo.

The 3rd gen with the twin sequential turbos had good low end, well, after about 2k RPM.

Not much til 2k then it felt like you were rearended by a dump truck. Rotaries LOVE boost.

I got rid of the sequential function on mine (along with a ton of vacuum lines) and it lost a bit of low end, but everywhere else, HHHHHOOOOOOOWEEEEEE ?

 

[D Fresh]

The weak torque at low RPM is resolved by a turbo.

The 3rd gen with the twin sequential turbos had good low end, well, after about 2k RPM.

Not much til 2k then it felt like you were rearended by a dump truck. Rotaries LOVE boost.

I got rid of the sequential function on mine (along with a ton of vacuum lines) and it lost a bit of low end, but everywhere else, HHHHHOOOOOOOWEEEEEE ?

My project car budget does not allow for an FC unfortunately.

However a single turbo 12a is in my realm.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Actually easier to fit an LS(X), J Series V6, or Honda K-Series in them. The crankshaft in the rotary sits too high to fit easily.

Yeah, the eccentric shaft coming out of the center of the engine instead of at the bottom makes for some interesting packaging choices.

But if I were going to do an LS swap I'd probably do it to an RX8.

Beefier components than a MIata to start with and can be found very cheap compared to Miata or FC/FD RX7.

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