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Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

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What is this discussion about? Mazda, Toyota MR2 Spyder, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Convertible

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#3519 of 4340 I don't know about you guys by thel Apr 09, 2004 (5:04 am)
But I don't think I'll ever be able to og back to FWD...not a FWD with any power at least. It's just no fun for me, gunning a FWD monster and have to rein in the torque steer once the front wheels stop spinning and send horrible vibrations all the way through to the steering wheel. Don't get me wrong, I think FWD is fine for cars that are weak, like my wife's Civic, but put any hp under the hood and forget it. yuk!
#3520 of 4340 by ateixeira Apr 09, 2004 (6:38 am)
I call it wrong wheel drive.   -juice
#3521 of 4340 thel by lngtonge18 Apr 09, 2004 (7:58 am)
Actually, front wheel drive isn't all that bad when done right. Some automakers get it right and some don't. VW/Audi's front suspension has been applauded for completely getting rid of torque steer. My Hyundai Tiburon V6 has pretty strong torque steer even though it only has 170 horses and it is annoying and even a bit dangerous. My Mitsu Diamante has 205 horses and doesn't have much of an issue with torque steer. It jerks the wheel slightly to the right when floored but it doesn't continue to fight you like my Tib sometimes does.   I will admit rwd is nice in how it doesn't affect the steering. But fwd has its pluses. In fact, I much prefer the safe traction it provides on slick roads.
#3522 of 4340 by ateixeira Apr 09, 2004 (7:59 am)
AWD gives you the best of both. It's fun and lets you drift yet safe when you want it to be. Of course there are cost, packaging, and weight issues with that setup also.   -juice
#3523 of 4340 Juice by thel Apr 10, 2004 (5:56 am)
The WRX isn't a convertible either
#3524 of 4340 by ateixeira Apr 12, 2004 (7:51 am)
That's the only reason there isn't one in my driveway.   I liked the B9SC concept but it would likely be too expensive to serve as my 3rd car/toy.   -juice
#3525 of 4340 Clicking Noise by theredwolf Apr 12, 2004 (10:31 am)
New 2003 Miata has an intermittant clicking sound coming from the steering wheel. You can 'feel' it when preeing the palm of your hand against the center of the steering wheel. It happens infrequently, with the start up of the ignition and stops when turn it off. Won't always repeat when you restart, but eventually comes back.   Nothing about the operation of the vehicle is affected.   Dealership initailly said it was a bad solenoid; has replaced ignition; no change in the problem.   Any thoughts?
#3526 of 4340 Just a guess . . . by poorrichard01 Apr 12, 2004 (3:59 pm)
. . . and a pretty far-off one at that. I had a similar problem and it turned out to be the column cover -- the two-piece plastic cover that goes right in front of the steering wheel ("front" meaning toward the front of the car). There are two screws that hold the top half of the cover to the lower half, and one lone screw that holds the lower half to the steering column. That lone screw was missing and it caused a clicking/scraping sound every time I turned the wheel. There was nothing intermittent with my problem, however, and I didn't have to press on the wheel to make it appear. I humbly suggest you remove the cover and see if the sound goes away.   I have Mazda's Workshop Manual for my 2002 and it's on page 09-17-4.   Good hunting, Poor Richard
#3527 of 4340 California Turbo MX-5s by poorrichard01 Apr 12, 2004 (4:14 pm)
At the MazdaUSA website I did an inventory search for the TMX-5 and noticed the ones in California have as an option "LEV Emissions Equipment." I did a cursory search at dealers outside the Golden State and it seems to be a California-only "option." Mazda still reports the horsepower as 178, but I'm wondering if the LEV equipment saps away a few ponies. Didn't Mazda have this problem with the RX-8s offered in California and had to offer to buy back said RX-8s from any disappointed owners? And didn't Mazda have to offer $500 rebates to Miata owners in 2001 when the improved 1.8L engine (with variable valve timing and distributorless ignition) produced only a 2-horsepower increase instead of the promised 15 horses?   I suppose I should get off my duff and go to a dealer and see for myself.   Poor Richard
#3528 of 4340 poorrichard01 by lngtonge18 Apr 12, 2004 (5:11 pm)
Both hp goofs were for nation wide models not just California. Whether the LEV equipment lowers the hp varies. Some cars lose up to 5hp with the option and others are unaffected. So if Mazda doesn't list a change, then I would believe them. I think they have learned their lessons from the RX8 and 01 Miata.

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