Checked out the new MX-5 turbo yesterday...wow, that is a hot little package. I like the Titanium on the RX-8, but it just didn't work for the MX-5.

Not that I am going to jump ship for the roadster, but the Mazdaspeed Miata is a very hot little buggy.

 

its okay.
I wish they would change the gearing a bit from the NA miata. right now its screaming for some slightly longer gears.

Also when I looked at it there were somem really cheap bits about the turbo kit that scared the crap out of me.
1. lots of the piping was plastic (when will they learn?)
2. The intercooler is a joke! its frikkin tiny.
3. the end tanks on the IC look so frikkin cheap its insane. Plastic endtanks=NONONO
4. Couldnt they beef up the internals just a little? I hate it when they just slap on a turbo. If you want to make much more power its still going to be pretty expensive.

Other than that the car is awosome. For someone who isnt going to mod it for much more power I think its a great ride.

 

Any comparions between the 5 and the 8 on power/speed/etc.?

 

Erm off the top of my head the miata:
178hp 166tq
It was tested 0-60 6.7, 1/4 14.7 @ 93
Part of the reason its not faster is because of the gearing.
ex. you shift into third before 60, and I think you shift into fifth before the end of the 1/4 mile.

it pulled .91gs on the skidpad, dont remember the slalom mph.

the good thing is its only slightly heavier than a regular miata at 2500lbs.

 

i think i would consider trading my 8 for the mazdaspeed miata......but only because the thought of a factory turbocharged miata makes me giggle like a little girl.

imagine a slightly tuned model.....you could probably push 200-210 on stock internals. 210 hp with 2500lb now your talking.

 

I think the engine and tranny should be good for 210-220whp before you need to start replacing stuff (rods..).

There are plenty of MazdaSpeed Protege guys running high 13s @ 100+ in the 1/4 mile.

Id imagine 210whp would put that miata deep into the 13s. And its probably only a boost controller, exhaust and some tuning away..

 

The recorded times are slower than the production model's times.
I'd put a huge intercooler on it.

 

they dont need to seeing as how the engine in the miata was originally going to be turbo'd

 

The 99-00 (maybe 01), miata had stronger internals and no VVT.
The VVT engines (01+) are generally accepted to be weaker.

I can definitely say the miatas internals are not that strong, rods start to snap over 250ish whp.

 

250whp! I'd crap myself in a Miata with 250whp! The engine sounds strong enough for modifications to me.