Gamezilla

Should I get the convertable or TII?

convertable pros:
-Looks nice
-Wind in your face (I like)
-Personally think it looks better than the non-verts (I'd add a spoiler)
-More Impressive to girls
cons:
-Heavy
-Need to buy replacement tops or patch them
-Not turbo

TII pros:
-Faster
-Turbo
-More impressive to guys
-Has all the goodies

Cons:
-More of a racecar (I don't want to race a bunch of ricers all day)
-Expensive and hard to find 89-91's

DC350

screw the girls with your drop top....just get a phat system and you'll get their attention. The Convertables are pretty slow...i think there like 3300 lbs? But go with the T II i think it would be alot more fun and you can still have the wind in your face.....stick your head out the window

Snrub

iTrader: (1)

The TII is good for your karma. The gods smile upon all who drive them. I've yet to race anyone in almost 3 months. (no one has tried to race me) However, I get to have all sort of fun with it.

Gamezilla

Well, the engine's isn't that big of a deal for me. I know it's got a lot of power, but I'd rather spend the money on replacing it with a V8 instead of rebuilding it. So I'd have my fun till the day it died. Then I'd rip out its beautiful soul and put the heart of a beast in there. I'm wondering which car comes with the best options (leather, brakes, ABS, etc). And should I get a vert to put a V8 in, or should I just wait and get a TII (probably will be a 86-88 cause 89-91's are hard to find).

InfiniIIIREX

Well if you put a V8 in the vert, I don't think you'll be very welcome in this forum . I'd get a Turbo II man, I think the convertibles are ugly.

vaughnc

I have both, so here's some insight.

The TII performs & handles better - it's a supercar. It can be a daily driver if you take care of it and fix any bugs. The turbo gives you a nice shot of torque in all gears & rpms speeds.

The vert is fast and feels better planted on the road. It has another 1000rpms (vs the TII) on the tach. which helps the 0-60 speeds. It's a bit more reliable, but you loose that "spacious" feel found in the hatchback with the top up. The 5 speed on the vert is better suited for heavy traffic as it's got a huge sweetspot.

The 89+ verts are the fastest, but the 87-88s might be cheaper.

I've got my Japan contact looking for a hardtop aftermarket source as well.

Icemark

You know it was only a month or so back I was saying the same thing... which is better?

Both were available in my area at a good price, (although I ended up getting the 'vert for $2600 with a new top thrown in, he was asking $3800 at first).

I decided since the car is not my daily driver, and I am not racing it on a track, that the 'vert would give me more miles to the grin than the T2.

But I am in the process of putting a T2 motor in anyway. So performance wise the 'Vert will only be about 125 lbs heavier than the T2 anyway, with a slightly up tuned HP figure.

Don't drop the V8 or any piston motor in. IMO it is a cop out. Someone that is too lazy for real power and just trying to make a stoplight speedster. The 13BT in the car is what japan wanted in the first place, and with mild tuning becomes a wonderful car. And doing most of the work myself, the 13BT conversion is going to be considerably less costly than a funky V8 conversion that you will have trouble selling in the long run.

So... if the car is your daily driver I would go with the T2. But if it is your second car by all means go with the 'vert.

Flobb

I think you should get a TII. Then when it dies you should sell it to someone on the forum and get a dead NA to put a V8 in. Still, not that many people will like you for it. But at least you arent ruining a TII or a vert.

djantlive

V8 would be a sinful act. Doesn't it require chasis change to beef up the frame due to increase engine weight?

Anyhow, verts are nice, especially ones with the headrest speakers. However, I would rather get a second gen miata than a vert. That would be more expensive though...