The "you need a Miata" thread

[Art Vandelay]

Damn, that makes me sad too, but mostly because I can't afford to buy it.

Midwest pricing. It would probably be a $25 Miata in California.

[Diamond Dave]

It seems like the options consist of removing foam, or getting serious race seats. There don't seem to be many solutions that give you a bucket seat that's usable on the street, and a lower seating position. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

A) Not looking hard enough
B) Budget needs increase


Lotus Elise (Probax) seats meet your criterion, but they're upwards of $900/pair. Comfortable, drops seating position by almost 2", full head protection, racetrack ready.

Pic courtesy of RevLimiter:

[freedomweasel]

A) Not looking hard enough
B) Budget needs increase


Lotus Elise (Probax) seats meet your criterion, but they're upwards of $900/pair. Comfortable, drops seating position by almost 2", full head protection, racetrack ready.

I've heard of those but honestly haven't looked too hard. I've been eyeing the Sparco Sprints as they seem to be fairly drop-in, and lower the seat just a bit as well.

I guess I meant that most of the options I've seen look like they require some fabrication work for custom brackets and I'm fairly useless with that. I wouldn't even know where to start.

I need/want something that I can order with the brackets and bolt them in with little trouble. Not afraid to spend money on good seats, but I don't want to be grinding and cutting to bolt something straight on the floor or have to make some custom job in my living room.

[AKADriver]

I've been eyeing the Sparco Sprints as they seem to be fairly drop-in, and lower the seat just a bit as well.

They won't, if you use the bolt-in hardware.

I need/want something that I can order with the brackets and bolt them in with little trouble.

It just doesn't exist.

[Numbersix]

I wish I knew someone with an Elise so I could try one of the seats. I suppose I could just go over to Park Place.

There was one on CL a few months back, but it was sold by the time I called.

[Short Bus]

racetrack ready.

No belt pass-through for a proper harness.

[freedomweasel]

They won't, if you use the bolt-in hardware.



It just doesn't exist.

I thought that between brackets from Goodwin and Sparco they worked, but perhaps it was an older version. Oh well.
I'm gonna just start with foam removal to drop my head a few inches and see if anything fun pops up in classified ads.

Need more pics!

[Diamond Dave]

No belt pass-through for a proper harness.

Perhaps I should have pointed out that the picture above is the best reference for the height difference. It is possible to use Sector 111 cutouts for the harness pass-through or you could buy an Exige seat or Tillet seat.

Modify Elise seats



Buy Exige seats


Buy Tillet seats

[Short Bus]

Perhaps I should have pointed out that the picture above is the best reference for the height difference. It is possible to use Sector 111 cutouts for the harness pass-through or you could buy an Exige seat or Tillet seat.

Fair enough. But when I read the term "race track ready" in regards to seats, in addition to being set at the proper height (when convertibles are involved), I also think "it needs to work with a five point harness." If it doesn't, then in my mind, it's not race track ready. But that's just me.

[mellbergVWfan]

Fair enough. But when I read the term "race track ready" in regards to seats, in addition to being set at the proper height (when convertibles are involved), I also think "it needs to work with a five point harness." If it doesn't, then in my mind, it's not race track ready. But that's just me.

Regarding 4-bolt harnesses on Miata's, where would be the proper mounting area? Because I know they say to not mount the harness below your shoulder or you will cause compression.

[freedomweasel]

Regarding 4-bolt harnesses on Miata's, where would be the proper mounting area? Because I know they say to not mount the harness below your shoulder or you will cause compression.

Harness bar on your rollbar, or Bossfrog claims you can wrap the harness directly on a specific spot on their rollbar and it's at the correct angle with no need for an additional bar.

[Short Bus]

Regarding 4-bolt harnesses on Miata's, where would be the proper mounting area? Because I know they say to not mount the harness below your shoulder or you will cause compression.

I'm sure you can get harness bars that'll work, but I don't think I'd use a harness unless I had a sufficiently sturdy (FIA approved) aftermarket seat with a roll bar. Most roll bars include a place to connect your harnesses properly to avoid compression issues.

[mellbergVWfan]

Just remembered about this cool mini-top option I'd seen in phryxis's Nisei Showoff thread.

http://www.formoverfunctionz.com/welcome.html











http://revlimiter.net/blog/2011/06/miata-bikini-top/


And another random NC on RPF1's

[JettMKII]

Gotta keep this thread going.

[DubNMiatafan]

A few more because I'm procrastinating:





I believe this is a TCL Member's car... Troze something if I'm not mistaken?

[freedomweasel]

Miatas attract a number of types of enthusiasts, I think that's pretty cool. Definitely makes these threads a little more interesting at least.

[weezintrumpeteer]

This is an amazing looking car:





(taken from http://www.clubroadster.net/vb_forum...=10082&page=14)

[Claff]

[Ark6]

Almost bought a Marnier blue Miata, but I really couldn't stand the cracked dash, and I seriously considered a NB/MS NB but the price was way too close to the S2000.

Also I came across a 06 NC for $8999 at a dealer, but I balked at it because it had high mileage, and it only had a 5 speed (i.e. it was a base model). Maybe I should have gotten that...

[hushypushy]

No belt pass-through for a proper harness.

They also have next to no bolstering.

Sure, the Exige seats are low, but if you want to be supported, look elsewhere IMO...

[crannky]

Did you not see that this picture was posted so people could buy Miatas to SAVE them from turning into that monstrosity? That thing is a giant POS

Just because it has a hardtop doesn't mean it's a piece of ****!

[Ark6]

They also have next to no bolstering.

Sure, the Exige seats are low, but if you want to be supported, look elsewhere IMO...

buttonwillow?

[mellbergVWfan]

buttonwillow?

Laguna Seca I'm pretty sure. Facing Andretti hairpin.

[JettMKII]

A few from clubroadster.net to keep the thread going.

[weezintrumpeteer]

MOAR!


White Miata by chrisisageek, on Flickr

[DubNMiatafan]

Just because it has a hardtop doesn't mean it's a piece of ****!

Uh sorry, it's a piece of **** because of the hideously stretched wheels and absolutely moronic suspension setup.

[50fridge]

I really like this thread. These Miata's are really nice. They look like fun cars to drive.

[hushypushy]

Laguna Seca I'm pretty sure. Facing Andretti hairpin.

Yup, facing the hairpin from the parking lot over by Turn 4.

[weezintrumpeteer]

Anyone know what wheels these are?

[hushypushy]

OZ Ruote << not a typo.

They are extremely rare AFAIK.

[MrMook]

OZ Ruote << not a typo.

They are extremely rare AFAIK.

Ruota means "wheel" in Italian. Apparently those are actually called Starlites, but are still quite rare.

Found a note about them in a post on a Civic forum that mentions that the 4-lugs are especially rare:

OZ Racing forged Starlights 15x7. There were 2 known 4x100 15" sets on H-T and then a third popped up on local craigslist from some guy's basement. I scooped them up asap, he didn't know how rare they were.

[mellbergVWfan]

It's a shame they're so rare. It's quite a good looking wheel, especially on a Miata.

[hushypushy]

I'm not sure if you can see it, but I see some big differences between these wheels



They have similar spoke designs, yes, but that's about it. Those look like two different types of wheel, which usually gives it a different name. I can't find much about these OZ Starlights, other than they all have that dish and lower offset.

I can't find it (search out of wack?) but there was a thread on TCL asking what those wheels were, and no one could conclusively figure it out.

The Starlights are actually way cooler than the high offset flat spoked ones than that Miata, though...







Okay, now I want a set of these on my Miata

[weezintrumpeteer]

My new Miata...92 base.

[per-diems]

Uh sorry, it's a piece of **** because of the hideously stretched wheels and absolutely moronic suspension setup.