stinkfist

I'm looking for a vert for my girl to drive daily, and for me to play with. I already have two RX-7's as toys(84 GSL VERY moded and 10AE soon to be 400 RWHP).

I'm debating between the RX-7 and Miata.

I love how light the miata is and how well it handles. It's so much fun to drive. It's also a little more reliable than the RX-7.

The Rx-7 has potential to make more power and be faster. I can make it handle as well as a miata. It just doesn't have that nimble, tossable feeling to it though.

I like the looks of both, so thats not a factor to me.

I'm kinda leaning toward the miata at this point.
What do you guys think?

Thanks,
Mike

rico05

I want a Miata, myself. A guy I know installed a turbo from a company down in Houston, Tx. Said he is damn near 325 rear wheel hp! That is a lot for such a little car! And it really looks sweet!

Silkworm

Miata, I don't think a Vert RX is much faster, and for all the other reasons you said, I'd go with a Miata. Just get new wheels, those stock Miata rims are hideous.



PaulC

prmazdarx7

turbo????????????? t------uuuuuuu---rrrrrrr---bbbbbb--oo000

the company youare talking about is just down the road from where you and i met when i sold you thr TII hood

the are behind the mustang dealer and im not talking about the cars im talking about the heavy equipment. they are of 290 just pased the belt 8

Icemark

The first gen Miata was a girl car. It was cute, it was light to drive, it was/is a girl car. No matter how much you do to it people are gonna look at you driving the car an question your sexuality. You can disagree with that, but its what the average Joe thinks.

But being its for your girl, thats not a bad thing.

I like them, more so when they have the racing beat fiberglass on them to fix the lines.

Now the 2nd gen Miata is much better. Of course it helps that the RX7 design team worked on it. And other than the lack of headroom and extremly low windsheild it is much more a uni-sex car.

So all things being equal, you are down to what you want to spend.

If your initially spending $7000 or less, get the RX-7. Its a better car for the money, with more power and IMO a more solid feel.

But if your spending more than $7000 get a 95+ (preferably 99+) Miata. Much more a skateboard, like the SA/FB.

NZConvertible

One of my dream projects (one day...) is to drop a 13B-REW into a Miata (MX-5 down here). With 350-400hp pushing 1000kg you can call me a girl all you want, I won't hear you over the squealing tyres and screaming exhaust!

go_speed_go

I guess I'm uniquely qualified for this one being that I owned a '90 vert for 7 years and just sold it for a Miata on August.

The vert had - polished & matched ports, Bonez intake, Bonez super-flo cat, Dynomax cat-back, MD Racing ECU, Eibach Pro TII springs, Tokiko 5 was adjustable shocks.

The Miata bone stock.

In a straight line the 'vert might have been a little quicker after you got the revs up, but other than that, the Miata is a superior car for autocrossing. There's only so much you can do to compensate for the extra 5-600 lbs the 'vert has. Miatas don't need to make big power because they don't have a lot of weight to move around.

From what I've read, 1.8 Miatas (94&up) with a full exhaust, intake, and timing bump will run mid-high 15's. I don't think anyone here with a NA stock ported 'vert has even gotten into the 15's. I'm not saying it can't be done, it's just going to be a lot harder. The Miata chassis is also a lot stiffer since it was built to be a roadster. Where the 'vert would creak (a lot) taking it up a steep driveway unevenly, the Miata barely makes a sound.

Also Miatas are going to be a LOT more reliable. After owning one I now know why. Mazda didn't screw around with gadgets like they did with the RX-7. All the controls are tried and true never needing to be re-soldered, reworked, or replaced. The Miata motor also will last forever. There are many Miatas with will over 200K on the original engine as well as a handfull over 300K also on the original motor. Even with a 100K mile motor, you could run FI (~7 lbs) for 50K miles before worrying about a rebuild. Find it hard to believe? Just go to the forum at www.miata.net and you'll find plenty of threads of people doing it.

I spent 4 years autocrossing my vert. I knew it in and out. After 5 events in the Miata (only 3 on R compound tires), the Miata is going faster than the 'vert ever could(on much wider R compounds). Even on more HP friendly courses, the nimbleness of the Miata allows it to carry far more of the speed it manages to build up. As fast as the Miata is so far, I know it'll go a lot faster as I learn more about exploiting it's handling characteristics.

Go with the Miata. You won't be sorry.

MisterMatt

From a Vert. owner. I just test-drove a new Miata the other day...one of the ones with a 6 speed, and I REALLY Love it. My vert is really fast, but the Miata is just as fast (or faster), and it's definitely quicker. One thing though, is that the Miatas have quite a bit less room than the RX7. The RX7 is TONS more comfortable. My RX7 would probably be faster if it wasn't an AUTO (plus, the RX Vert isn't exactly a Bantam Weight...it's pretty chunky) ( ) but I was incredibly impressed with the Miata. I would even consider trading off my Vert. for one. Well, another thing...is that the Miatas get like twice the fuel Mileage as the RX7. It's not really very fair, but I don't know. It's all in how you think of the trade off. Comfort and Power as opposed to quickness, lightness, and fuel economy. It's your call, but I Love them both!

God Bless,
<>< <>< Matt ><> ><>

stinkfist

Damn! I thought this thread would be a lot more biased towards the vert 7. I'm glad to see these responses. It just reinforces what I already thought.

go_speed_go, thanks for your input. It is very helpful. I'll be looking for a 1.8L Miata in a couple of months.

NZConvertible, I've been thinking about that for years. It's the Miata Mazda should have built.

Icemark, I hear ya. It does look like a girls car, but they are SO much fun to drive. check this one out. This is my buddies supercharged miata. It's not a girls car.
http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?U...id=34792632303

Sorry for the big *** link.



Thanks,

MIke

vaughnc

Well the rx7 vert is definitly more planted on the road. I can toss er pretty good.

The miata does have a hardtop option - so definitly a plus.

The rx7 vert is bigger and more useful room. Better stereo system too.

Miata is pretty small though, so roadster vs. sports car with the roadster feel.

von

Convertable vs Convertable go with the miata... Its more reliable, quicker not faster but quicker wich means better streetablility. And gets better fuel. I drove my friends 97 and its a blast... Lacking top end but its quick and the gear box is really close wich gives you power at almost any rpm... If your worried about looks go buy a body kit.

Turbo Timmy

Don't know about you guys but whenever I see two men riding in a miata with the top down I start looking for pink triangles!

von

Ya.. We all now people look gay iin them... I know it you know it but people who drive them because thier good cars dont give a ****...

von

Excuse my language

ajsuper7

i honestly think the rx7 vert looks better, much more muscular. miata's have alot going for them but for driving around town i say rex. they are alot rarer and they stick out imo. one night i was driving my brothers vert and a brand new lotus came up behind me and flashed me with his high beams, he must of thought it was a fast car. i didnt feel the need to embarass myself so i didnt race him but i dont see any lotus's looking for miata's to race.

Mykl

'93 Miata + Greddy turbo kit ($1600)

Samps

go out today and count how many miatas you see, and count how many rx-7 verts you see. Even in the winter the results will tell the story.

They make ALTEZZA's for miatas; nuff said.

go_speed_go

More like 11-1300 if you get in on the right group buy.

http://www.greddyturbofaqs.com/

go_speed_go

I don't think there's that much more usefull room. There's about 2-4 inches behind the seat depending on where you sit. The trunk is also a little bigger, but not much, especially if you relocate the Miata spare tire to the underside of the car (several kits and do it yourself sites). If you really need more storage space for a long trip there are several temporary and permanant luggage racks you can buy. There is also custom sized luggage that will strap to the boot area behind the seat with the top down if you desire to travel in the open air.

One of the biggest advantages to the Miata is the aftermarket. Just about anything the 'vert may be able to do better, there's probably an aftermarket component for the Miata to level the playing ground.

I don't see how the stereo is any better if you compare equivalent systems. My Miata has the factory 'premium' system with ~5 inch speakers in the lower front door, treaters in the upper front door, headrest speakers, and small bass thumpers in each seatback to make up for the lack of bass produed by an open top car. The stereo has modes for adjusting the sound depending in whether the top is up or down as well as an auto adjusting variable volume which increases & decreases with road noise/speed. The stereo in the 'vert is a little easier to hear at speed though, but I think that's because you have a taller inner cockpit surrounding you.

vaughnc

Vert has 8 speakers - Under dash, woofers on the doors, 4 headrest speakers with selectable spacious effect. Headrest volume is independantly adjustable and can be turned off.

Vert's OEM system has a seperate sub amps for the door woofers and headrest speakers.

The main thing about the vert is making it a Turbo II vert. The 7s handle massive HP better. From the 200HP miatas I've read about, they get pretty squirley at higher speeds, fast stops, and fast acceleration.

Well stinkfist, I hope this discussion helps you You've already got 2 7s, so I don't think you'll miss them with a miata.

Have you driven the vert hard yet? BTW - the vert downpipe helps

supergoat

Miata!!

von

AJsuper7...

funny u mention who wants to race...wenever I drive my friends miata hondus even trucks try and race me all the time... Most with altezas. No one ever really tries to race me in my rx7.

Shamrock1054

Don't know if you guys remember, but to me, the Miatas harken back to the day of the Triumph TR3-4s and Spitfires, and the MGBs, only it's a helluva lot better car in terms of reliability and performance.

Those cars were a lot of fun to drive!

Gregg