Swaps are real popular now. I originally planned on swapping a 2001 VVT engine into my 1990 NA, even have the engine for it, but now I'm thinking of a VTEC swap. An NA with a tuned VVT engine is ****ing quick if you know what you're doing.

 

yeah, I know they can be fast... but I like a car with at least some power behind it, and an NA/NB Miata just isn't doing that without boost. That isn't really a problem on NA cars, but I don't want a car that old. Its a problem on NB cars cause you need a stand alone to run it and that won't pass emissions. A K swap is too expensive (min 10k on top of the car, I wouldn't be doing my own work on it)

NC Miata is easy, you can tune it with an Ecutek reflash. You can also swap in a 2.5L engine from any 2.5L Mazda or Ford from 2009+ and make 200/200 hp/tq in a sub 2500lb car...

 

An old Miata is a big step down from an S2000 or Evo. Choose a platform that can grow with you.

 

Unless you're a pro-racer, you're not going to outgrow a Miata.

 

Wow. Just wow.

 

thats a very generic statement... you can really say that about any car...

 

Right, I forgot, you're a professional racer that is too good for a Miata, along with also being an expert on all things Ford.

The Miata has the room to grow with you given it's immense aftermarket support. If you want more power, it can be cheaply obtained. If you want aerodynamics, again, easy to obtain. The car can be as simple or as modded as you want.

I don't know if it's the right car for you, but I think a RWD NA car is the best option for a track car, whether that's an NA/NB Miata, NC Miata, S2000, Mustang, whatever. AWD is a ****ing blast at the track, but I think it hides mistakes too well, and doesn't promote development in the same way that an "underpowered" momentum car does.

Learn to drive a Miata/S2000 fast and you'll genuinely be a fast driver, not just a guy driving a fast car.

 

power isn't easy on an NB miata unless I'm willing to forget about emissions. and since I wanna keep it street legal, I need to be able to pass emissions

If you read the thread, I'm leaning towards RWD. I'll only get an Evo if I find a unicorn car, so chances of that happening are very slim


edit:
keep personal attacks and b*tching out of this thread please

 

Sounds like NC or S2000 is the best bet then. I'm not sure about emissions since we don't have that requirement here.

 

Miata, the last sports car you will ever need.

 

Did I say that? No, I said as a track car that you're buying to learn from, unless you're a very skilled, pro-level racer, it's unlikely you'll "outgrow" it as a learning tool. For ****s sake, Randy Probst still loves the Miata despite the fact that he makes a living racing cars.

 

ok man, no personal attacks applies to you to

 

I have a friend that raced an NA for yeeeeeeeeears. He loved it and poured countless R&D hours into the thing. it was right around 260-275whp, but with supporting mods to balance out the power. Nothing was untouched, even the body was seam welded. It ran perfectly, did everything it should, etc but he still outgrew it. He's a great driver and all, but in the end, it had it's limits and he wanted to go faster, do more, and be more competitive with our group. He'll always have a soft spot for Miatas, though. He decided he could either go ALL out with it (full on race car) but he'd rather do that with a different platform so he's going with a Catfish.
By the way, it sold for LOT of money.

 

I see street tires and no aero. That car could have gotten a lot faster with rcomps or slicks, a big ****, and well designed splitter.

 

The wing disappears in the background (APR GTC-250) but he did run NT-01s at the track. Could have gone with full slicks. Instead of moving to slicks and retuning the car around them, he decided on the catfish. He decided (in his words) if he was going to get even more serious with the build, he may as well go with something easier to work on and with more potential.