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Miata -vs- RX7 TT

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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 03:04 PM
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Miata -vs- RX7 TT

I have a 93 Miata that will beat anything besides my freinds Mustang(Saleen with some goodies) on the road(around here anyway), and i want more. Will the RX7 be that much of an Improvement over my already very "hooked up" Miata. Right now im running at about 14PSI with the turbo and the car is ballistic, but, i was wondering if a RX7 would be an improvement over it. I would think so..but dont really know for sure...

Jason
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 03:09 PM
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Some of us have beaten Saleens with Goodies.

Too many variables involved. For example, I'd like to see if you have the ballz to keep up with an FD top end in your Miata. 5th gear we reach 7500rpm at about 190mph, but how many of us actually stop at 7500rpm
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 03:10 PM
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Can you share any numbers with us? 1/4 mile runs?
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 03:21 PM
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Re: Miata -vs- RX7 TT

Originally posted by JasonY
I have a 93 Miata that will beat anything besides my freinds Mustang(Saleen with some goodies) on the road(around here anyway), and i want more. Will the RX7 be that much of an Improvement over my already very "hooked up" Miata. Right now im running at about 14PSI with the turbo and the car is ballistic, but, i was wondering if a RX7 would be an improvement over it. I would think so..but dont really know for sure...

Jason
this is kinda an unanswerable question. how much hp you pushin?? what kind of mods?? 1/4 times??

my guess is that a lightly modified FD could take you. i havnt really seen that many forced induction Miatas dyno at anything above 200 RWHP. SCC dynoed a turbo Miata a couple months ago, and they got like 180-190ish.

Last edited by JoeD; Jan 18, 2002 at 03:24 PM.
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 03:25 PM
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Originally posted by Flybye

Too many variables involved. For example, I'd like to see if you have the ballz to keep up with an FD top end in your Miata. 5th gear we reach 7500rpm at about 190mph, but how many of us actually stop at 7500rpm
all talk...all talk.

Mike, how fast have you really taken your car??
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 03:41 PM
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Miatas with a lot of power just seem to spin through the 1/4 mi(at least the one I read about with a turbo rotary). 3rd Gen RX-7's compare to the best road cars of the world for handling. A Miata is very similar to a 1st Gen RX7 - a lot of fun on back roads but lack the sophisticated handling of a 3rd Gen. They also don't have the same HP as a 3rd Gen. A Miata is more reliable and costs less for repairs. Most modded FD's would probably run over your Miata(at least that's what I've done to all of them in Northern DE).

It would be interesting to drive a Miata with power. I've had every generation of RX7 but have only driven a stock Miata once. The Miata is a car for enjoying the scenery. Usually I have the RX7 wound up so much the scenery blurs.

There are a number of us in DE with 3rd Gens. You'll have to drive both and compare. Mazda made the Miata a very different car from the RX to keep them from competing against each other.
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 03:59 PM
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HP for my Miata is about 260 and no 1/4 mile times..no where to run a 1/4 mile that i know of here...

Jason
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 04:30 PM
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I think you will definitely notice quite a difference with a modded RX-7 over your Miata if you're currently pushing 260. Put a couple thousand dollars worth of bolt-ons into your 7 and you'll be in the 300s. The Miata handles great, but so does the RX-7. You won't miss anything there.

I know a girl with a Miata pushing 320 rwhp that would beat me from a roll (I'm at about 300 hp and the Miata is what, 500+ lbs lighter?). But from the line I imagine that I would hook up much better. She's bummed because she can't find a good wheel/tire combo to really unleash the little beast.
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 05:08 PM
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you can get 350rwhp in 7 for under 5k. for a fe more you can have 500rwhp.

modded miatas can be expensive. I hav a friend with turbo on it. he has spend many of thousands, car is really quick, almost as fast as FD stock.
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 05:11 PM
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 05:17 PM
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From: Miami - Given 1st place as the POOREST city in the US as per the federal government
Originally posted by JoeD


all talk...all talk.

Mike, how fast have you really taken your car??
Only 155mph. My gf started screaming at me there after. Since then, I haven't really found a good place to do a top end run. I routinely hit triple digits when I take the FD to work, and occasionaly hit 140mph sat mornings going to work, but my area is a high patrol area. I know exactly where the cops sit at, and when I hit about 140mph, just a few hundred feet ahead is a trooper hideout zone.

Although my friend DOES have a nice place to run in PA. He's hit 180 and still pulling strong on that stretch. As soon as I get the FD repainted, I'm gonna go on a little run. It's time for a FULL top end run

I'll tell ya one thing, when I race on the hwy, I don't stop. I have witnesses that think I am nutz
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 05:20 PM
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From: Miami - Given 1st place as the POOREST city in the US as per the federal government
Originally posted by mightyslash
Come on. Give him a chance to deem himself. After all he IS the one coming over to our territory trying to talk smack. He SHOULD be trying to deem himself worthy

Let's see what happens.......
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 05:43 PM
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Are you using the Flyin' Miata or HKS turbo kit?

260hp in a Miata is a bit much.. is that flywheel or rearwheel? Most Turbo Miatas that i've seen are around 200-220rwhp
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 06:17 PM
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I bought the car off of a freind of Mine from DC, he has the Flyin Miata stage 2 turbo in it, and all the goodies to go with it. I would list them all, just dont feel like typing that much. Its in the shop right now getting torn down for a new paint job. I really like the Miata but have not had a chance to drive a RX7. I really cant wait! I think my Miata is glued to the road, cant wait to get behind the wheel of the RX7!! Oh, it has 260 at the flywheel, so minus a 20% drive train loss it has roughly 210hp at the wheels. It seems like as much power and the tires can get onto the road w/o just smoking them all the way through 3rd and 4th gear. But, i have my heart set on a RX7, i just am scared to get my insurance quote, im only 17...

Jason
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 06:29 PM
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My friend used to have a nice fixed up Miata and i let him drive my car a few times and he said they had very similar handling characteristics (fixed up miata suspension vs. stock r1 suspension) I'm sure you'll fall in love with the feel of the car once you get in and drive it.

Not to sound negative, but you might wanna hold on to that Miata..insurance is gonna be as much as a car payment for you. expect ~200+ a month
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 06:46 PM
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Well, i've decided to do something different, WAY different! Im not getting a RX7 any time soon. I just bought a super charged 5.0 from my freind, V8 Miata! woohoo! hehe...know anyone who has one? I hope no one around here has one, i want to be the only one!

Jason
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 07:02 PM
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the Monster Motorsports V8 Miatas are pretty crazy. 400 hp, blown Mustang 5.0 engine, in a 2500 lb. Miata...
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 07:05 PM
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Monster Miata? Those things are hell on wheels... theres a long process in the fabrication, and you lose all handling and stability in it. A very dangerous car indeed. I actually think it would be easier to maintain an FD. Theres a couple monster miatas over here and i've heard stories of cracked frames, broken axles, and all sorts of other gremlins.
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 07:21 PM
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I would rather put a V6 in it, but what the hell? I already have the engine..

Jason
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 07:25 PM
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Originally posted by BlackR1
Monster Miata? Those things are hell on wheels... theres a long process in the fabrication, and you lose all handling and stability in it. A very dangerous car indeed. I actually think it would be easier to maintain an FD. Theres a couple monster miatas over here and i've heard stories of cracked frames, broken axles, and all sorts of other gremlins.
LOL! i guess thats what happenes when you increase the hp output of a car by about 310%.
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 07:27 PM
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I've looked in depth at the turbo powered Miatas and I could only find 6 or so (when I had checked) turbo 1.8L Miatas that have 275+ Rhp. Some are over 300 rhp.

At 220 hp the Miata is very managable and reliable. They can easily be modded to match the acceleration of a stock FD.

They are quite a sleeper. Imagine the look on a 911 or Viper owner that gets caught by surprise. It happens.

Last edited by technonovice; Jan 18, 2002 at 07:55 PM.
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 07:42 PM
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Originally posted by BlackR1
Are you using the Flyin' Miata or HKS turbo kit?

260hp in a Miata is a bit much.. is that flywheel or rearwheel? Most Turbo Miatas that i've seen are around 200-220rwhp


I have 331 horsepower to the wheels and 307lb/ft on a stock motor. I dont have an FM kit,they dont make that much power *in general*.
I Dont have a kit at all.



Have a nice day,
Jenn
94 Miata

Last edited by Miss Mazda; Jan 18, 2002 at 08:22 PM.
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 07:48 PM
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Originally posted by BlackR1
Monster Miata? Those things are hell on wheels... theres a long process in the fabrication, and you lose all handling and stability in it. A very dangerous car indeed. I actually think it would be easier to maintain an FD. Theres a couple monster miatas over here and i've heard stories of cracked frames, broken axles, and all sorts of other gremlins.
There are only 90 standard monsters and 30 mega's in the world, at least TRUE monster motorsports miata's out of escondido CA. Takes 3 weeks to convert. I'm not sure what you mean about being dangerous? A modded( any car) RX7 isnt?
The weight bias does not change that much with the 302 with aluminum heads ,about a 150lb difference total. Koni's can be adjusted to make handling superlative. Stablity? A monsted has a Tbird rear end with 3.27 gears and is a top end beast, and can handle the speed just fine.
I've never heard of broken axles etc, they have hardened halfshafts.
I wasnt aware monster motorsports had ever shipped any abroad for customers. Maybe they're kits?

Cheers
Jenn
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 08:22 PM
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I've always heard that the problem with Miatas is that they get very squirrely and unpredictable above 200 HP; this is what happens to the rotary transplanted Miatas especially. I suppose the right amount of suspension and chassis upgrades would fix this, but its still an underlying problem. I think the 7's stay pretty stable up through 350+ HP.
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Old Jan 18, 2002 | 08:30 PM
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Originally posted by nrolfes1
I've always heard that the problem with Miatas is that they get very squirrely and unpredictable above 200 HP; this is what happens to the rotary transplanted Miatas especially. I suppose the right amount of suspension and chassis upgrades would fix this, but its still an underlying problem. I think the 7's stay pretty stable up through 350+ HP.

WHAT????????

sorry, not trying to sound rude, but you guys need to talk to the right people. That is SOOO far from the truth.
Thats so funny I cant even begin to sit down and tell you why...its just so wrong.
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