Mazdaspeed MX-5 NC?

Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
> Agreed on the bulletproofness of the NA and NB engines.
>
> Chris
> 99BBB


Even when combined.
A '99 head on a '94 block installed in a '91 miata is a beautiful thing. :-)

Pat

Mostly I wish Mazda had Honda's R&D budget.

That's a good thought! Trust me, WHEN you drive an RX-8 you'll understand!
Now go do it! :-)

Later,
Chris
99BBB

"Carbon" > wrote in message
news
> On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 23:32:33 -0600, Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
>
>> Lanny, you're probably right about that but, what do you think of the
>> rotary engine for the next MS Miata? Have you driven the RX-8? It's a
>> truly magical engine.
>
> I've never driven a rotary, though I would very much like to. The highest
> redline of any car I have ever driven was an Acura RSX-S which was (IIRC)
> 8400 rpm. If the rotary is anything like that, it must be truly amazing to
> drive.
>
> However, I've also driven my wife's '94 Tercel which due to a leaking rear
> gasket went through a quart of oil every 1500 miles. I'm not sure I want
> to be monitoring the oil level of any car that closely ever again.
>
> Mostly I wish Mazda had Honda's R&D budget.

Lanny, You're not answering the question ......... are you evading or did it
just slip by you? I just wanted your opinion.

Snip:
Lanny, you're probably right about that but, what do you think of the
rotary
> engine for the next MS Miata? Have you driven the RX-8? It's a truly
> magical
> engine

Thanks,
Chris
99BBB

"Lanny Chambers" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Scott Streeter > wrote:
>
>> Wasn't there a recall on all the RX-8 engines out there recently?
>
> Mazda wanted dealers to check on the engines. Nearly all cars passed the
> inspection without a problem.
>
> --
> Lanny Chambers
> '94C, St. Louis
> http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

With RX-8 sales #'s tumbling (your salesman wont admit to that) the price
may not be very far apart if you work it just right ;-)

Chris
99BBB

"pws" > wrote in message
...
> Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
>
>> That's a good thought! Trust me, WHEN you drive an RX-8 you'll
>> understand!
>> Now go do it! :-)
>>
>> Later,
>> Chris
>> 99BBB
>
> I might have to do that.
>
> There is a very rare breed of salesperson at my local dealership. I hope
> he lasts. He lets you look at the car while he keeps his mouth shut except
> to answer questions, does not act like your best friend, and is actually
> helpful.
> When he showed me the new hardtop, I went home feeling "un-slimed" for the
> first time after looking at a dealership car. Very low-pressure.
>
> Of course, he has a giant NC hook in my lip and is just waiting for the
> inevitable. He is the best salesperson that I have dealt with, but he is
> still a shark smelling chum when I walk in.
>
> I still haven't test-driven the NC either.
> I might have to "make up my mind" one day between the NC MX-5 and the
> RX-8. (wink, wink)
>
> Pat

pws wrote:
> Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
>> Agreed on the bulletproofness of the NA and NB engines.
>>
I love my 1999 Mazda Roadster 1.8 but it did go through a hic-cup (?) about
2 years ago (35k miles always serviced) -started with the dreaded misfire,
sorted with new leads then a few months later, passed its MOT but then -
overheating resulting ina new radiator and then a a new lambda sensor and a
new cat

lurkio wrote:

> I love my 1999 Mazda Roadster 1.8 but it did go through a hic-cup (?) about
> 2 years ago (35k miles always serviced) -started with the dreaded misfire,
> sorted with new leads then a few months later, passed its MOT but then -
> overheating resulting ina new radiator and then a a new lambda sensor and a
> new cat

I still think that overall build quality was at a higher level before
1996 or so than it was afterwards, with the exception of the short nose
crank on '90 and some early '91 models.
I have read and dealt with many M1 miatas, and most go well past 100,000
miles without needing major work even when they are not very
well-maintained.

By contrast, I have seen and heard of a number of the newer/lower
mileage M2's have something ruin the cat, and alternator problems in
particular seem to happen earlier than before.
The M2 coil problems are famous and are practically unheard of on the M1
until many years have passed. Even the oxygen sensors seem to go out
faster now on average than with the first model.

Of course, replacing the cat is more difficult as well on the M2, since
it is not a direct bolt-in unit. A car never gets easier or less
expensive to work on as it develops.

This is not a slam on the M2 at all, they are great cars and I am still
considering one.
It will be interesting to see how the reliability of the NC holds up.

Pat

snip:
How many miles are are the engines
> typically good for with proper care?
Good question, don't know the answer to but, I was unpleasantly surprised
when I came across an RX-8 sporting excellent condition, new engine, 60k
miles. Scary!

I love the car though.
Chris
99BBB

"pws" > wrote in message
...
> Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
>> With RX-8 sales #'s tumbling (your salesman wont admit to that) the price
>> may not be very far apart if you work it just right ;-)
>
> I would love to have one of both, but I can't do that, so even if they
> were the same price the NC MX-5 with hardtop wins for me based on:
>
> 1. I'm single
> 2. I have no kids at home
> 3. it's a convertible
> 4. I like how the NC MX-5 looks better, even with that ass raised up too
> high.
> 5. Very infrequent need to move large items or more than two people, and
> the items tend to be too big for the miata or the RX-8 anyway.
> 6. General rotary distrust. It's nifty, small and powerful, but I keep
> hearing "apex seals" in the back of my mind when I think of one.
>
> Has this issue been fully resolved? How many miles are are the engines
> typically good for with proper care?
>
> I do still want to drive the RX-8, though.
>
> Pat

I don't remember ever hearing about more than a 2 rotor but I could have
missed that.
As for the RX-8 vs RX-7tt engines, there's a whole lot of differences
according to a mazda tech I talked to, many / most of those differences
specifically to enhance reliability.
Between the short nose crank and the 99-2000 thrust bearing issues, I guess
the miata has been somewhat less than perfect!

Chris
99BBB

"Chas Hurst" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Lanny Chambers" > wrote in message
> ...
>> In article >,
>> pws > wrote:
>>
>>> Is this the same nightmare design as what was in the 3rd generation RX-7
>>> or not? If not, what is different about it? Inquiring minds want to
>>> know....
>>
>> There's one very major difference in the engine's layout: the intake and
>> exhaust ports are in the side plates, not the periphery, so the apex
>> seals don't pass over the ports. The downside of side ports is that it
>> limits the engine to two rotors, where the old motor could stack them as
>> modules (I think four was the most used).
>>
> Two rotors are a limitng factor in any rotary engine regardless of port
> configuration. Adding more rotors is the same as joining two or more
> engines together.
>
>

Agreed on the bulletproofness of the NA and NB engines.

Chris
99BBB

"pws" > wrote in message
...
> Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
>> I don't remember ever hearing about more than a 2 rotor but I could have
>> missed that.
>> As for the RX-8 vs RX-7tt engines, there's a whole lot of differences
>> according to a mazda tech I talked to, many / most of those differences
>> specifically to enhance reliability.
>
> That is what I figured, and I guess an advertising campaign of "our rotary
> doesn't require high-dollar maintenance like the RX-7 did" might not be
> the best advertising strategy.
> Still, with the problem being so widely-known with the RX-7, it seems like
> some mention should have been made of this without the need for research.
> Maybe it was and I missed it.
>
>> Between the short nose crank and the 99-2000 thrust bearing issues, I
>> guess the miata has been somewhat less than perfect!
>
> Ahh, but both problems were confined to the first two year models of a new
> model design.
>
> That is why I would not even consider a 2006 model, and will likely hold
> out for a 2008 model to make sure that any potential problems are worked
> out.
>
> By late 1991 until they switched designs in 1999, I would describe the
> miata engine as near-perfect as far as long-term reliability from my
> experience with them.
> Even the thrust bearing problem was not universal, and I met a guy who had
> over 60,000 miles on his 1999 model before the end of the year 2000. He
> took it well beyond 150K miles with a lot of hard driving before he sold
> it, with the engine still running nicely.
>
> Pat