Those with 240 wbhp wish they had more, like closer to 300 wbhp?

[xxscaxx]

Originally Posted by jamesm

more like 250lbs... but yeah. the na's were around 500lbs lighter. the point is a lot of people think 'it's light... it doesn't need much power' when in reality these cars aren't all that light, and don't respond the way other 'lightweight' cars do.

Ok 250 isn't that much of a difference, but I agree. They aren't terribly light. I mean my 05 sti was ~3300 pounds...thats a 500 poundish difference and it was a sedan/awd econobox lol. Guess you aren't going to get much lighter nowadays.

[jamesm]

Originally Posted by xxscaxx

Ok 250 isn't that much of a difference, but I agree. They aren't terribly light. I mean my 05 sti was ~3300 pounds...thats a 500 poundish difference and it was a sedan/awd econobox lol. Guess you aren't going to get much lighter nowadays.

damn feds and their regulations. i mean seriously, who needs airbags? learn to drive and you won't crash!

[Luckrider]

Originally Posted by jamesm

damn feds and their regulations. i mean seriously, who needs airbags? learn to drive and you won't crash!

And super strong support beams (although that does make the chassis stiffer).

In all seriousness, there are lazy people nanny systems in many new cars that make people lazy and complacent. This may make things safer in the short run, but in the long run, it makes people more dangerous drivers.

[jamesm]

Originally Posted by Luckrider

And super strong support beams (although that does make the chassis stiffer).

In all seriousness, there are lazy people nanny systems in many new cars that make people lazy and complacent. This may make things safer in the short run, but in the long run, it makes people more dangerous drivers.

shortsighted regulation causing unintended consequences in the long-term? no way... it can't be

[DriftEm]

Originally Posted by jamesm

is slower.

I guess it depends on what gen miata, the early Miata was around 2000 lbs, so with 225whp is better power/weight ratio than our cars with 250 whp, if you talking about the latest Miata, then I'm surprise since they are only around 200 lbs lighter.

[jamesm]

Originally Posted by DriftEm

I guess it depends on what gen miata, the early Miata was around 2000 lbs, so with 225whp is better power/weight ratio than our cars with 250 whp, if you talking about the latest Miata, then I'm surprise since they are only around 200 lbs lighter.

i've had na's and nb's. the na's were all turbo.. one nb had an ls1 and the other was the stock turbocharged mazdaspeed one. all but the last one were faster lol.

[LBC Por Siempre]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

I agree with you aside from peak power, just don't think it matters as much if you have to scale it back to meet goal 1 and 2. It's true we could probably argue the merits of lap over lap logging but the truth is you can easily find the upper limits of stability this way better than any other testing, namely for testing heat issues. If it passes there, you should never have issues with street able performance. (on the 86 platform) The same is not true in reverse.

I had a PM with Mike about this. Two schools of thought, go out and beat the car 10/10ths or just run more laps at 80-90%.

Proving a tune, or durability does not mean the car has to be run 10/10ths at the track for valuable data collection. You have been playing with tuning now you get the concepts if you were going to do tuning for somewhat what data collection would you prefer?

Exactly, you need to "run up". You're not Phil Hill who can go 11/10 right out of the paddock. It's better to take your time to warm up the bits on a properly outfitted and looked after car.

A really big issue with people who drive in weekend driving events at tracks is to remove your "COOLANT" and for some events it is a requirement. Just plain water, distilled if possible, and some "WATER WETTER".

You don't want to pop your radiator hose on a weekend track day because it makes the track more slippy than oil. As a matter of fact it is a requirement to switch over from the coolant to water to avoid such a conundrum.

[mwjcyber]

2014 Mazda Miata:

Curb weight (lbs)                  
Manual transmission               2511 lbs      
Automatic transmission            2542 lbs      
Weight distribution (front/rear)  52/48

Not to mention, all but the base model MX-5 Miata cost more than the FT86.

[jamesm]

Originally Posted by mwjcyber

2014 Mazda Miata:

Curb weight (lbs)                  
Manual transmission               2511 lbs      
Automatic transmission            2542 lbs      
Weight distribution (front/rear)  52/48

Not to mention, all but the base model MX-5 Miata cost more than the FT86.

that's an nc... not what we're talking about here. grab the same numbers on an na .

the point is that the ft86 just doesn't respond the same. it's not just weight. the dimensions and gearing are probably just as important if not more so. at the end of the day, the ft86 just doesn't respond to power like i expected it to. people thinking that it will be fast with 250whp are in for some disappointment if they're expecting it to respond like a miata or mr2. it takes significantly more power to make an 86 do the same things.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by jamesm

that's an nc... not what we're talking about here. grab the same numbers on an na .

the point is that the ft86 just doesn't respond the same. it's not just weight. the dimensions and gearing are probably just as important if not more so. at the end of the day, the ft86 just doesn't respond to power like i expected it to. people thinking that it will be fast with 250whp are in for some disappointment if they're expecting it to respond like a miata or mr2. it takes significantly more power to make an 86 do the same things.

....or rip out the interior. That's an option too

On a side note...wonder what a project MR2 with a FA20 heart transplant would feel like around the track...

[mwjcyber]

Originally Posted by jamesm

that's an nc... not what we're talking about here. grab the same numbers on an na .

What are you smoking. Those numbers are from Mazda for 2014 Miata's, all which have the "MZR 2.0L DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with VVT" (167-hp 140 lb-ft ) na engine. Not only is the current Miata not light anymore, but it's engine is pretty pathetic.

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/disp...ehicleCode=MX5

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by mwjcyber

Um you're notcorrect "nc", and an idiot.

What are you smoking. Those numbers are from Mazda for 2014 Miata's, all which have the "MZR 2.0L DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with VVT" na engine.

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/disp...ehicleCode=MX5

I think he's talking about the body style there chief...

Take a look at the generations:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_MX-5

[jamesm]

guy makes himself look like an idiot in the process of trying to call someone else an idiot... oh the internet lol.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by mwjcyber

Not only is the current Miata not light anymore,

I will agree to this though. The miata needs to take a diet for how small it is. Seems like the Elise/exige are the only cars I know of that haven't gotten fat over the years.