julekpl

Hey guys, I'm Juelkpl, a new guy. I have a red 1990 miata with 82k miles on it and I would like to fix it up a bit. It works fine, but it's time to play around with it a bit. I go to college, so my budget is very low, and I am majoring in radiology, so I have little to no knowledge about cars and car engines. I would like to do some minor changes, such as a new exhaust system, but nothing that requires taking the whole engine apart. From what I know, my car has all the original factory parts, nothing custom. Any tips on what I should definitely change? I know that radio is in dire need of replacing...

Thanks, Julekpl

oh and here are some pics of my car:

RedTurboMiata

wheels & tires (same bolt pattern as most hondas) and do i see an over drive off light on the dash. please tell me you didnt get an automatic sports car.

julekpl

I did get an automatic I know, I know, good sports cars should be stick shift. I'm not too much into racing, so stick didn't mean much for me. Plus it was on auction and they didn't have another miata for the price I got it.

Streeter

What direction do you want to take your Miata in? It could help with suggestions. A few things I can suggest based on the info above is: 1) Check craigslist and forum classifieds for inexpensive used exhaust systems, it won't cost alot of money and will be an easy job. I got a Flyin' Miata Exhaust with High Flow cat for $200.00. You can also look into some DIY jobs like the DIY Randall Intake. If you don't have to take emissions and don't mind negating the effects of a Prius on the road, you can also look into removing your emissions systems at little to not cost. Those are just a few that popped into my mind.

sixshooter

That's a low mileage car for its age. Welcome to the forum. The best investment I can recommend would be some used Bilstein (yellow) sport shocks from a 99-'05 or from a Mazdaspeed (gray).

julekpl

Thank you for the tips. I am looking for exhaust systems on craigslist everyday I'm trying to go for more speed and HP, something sporty, but not lowered suspension kind of stuff. Just casual sporty, if there is such a thing. It's just that the factory everything is boring me, and these cars are easy to customize. I will look for the shocks as well

sixshooter

Exhaust will make it sound different but won't make it much more powerful in the way that it will on certain other models. We have other limiting components that get in the way.

Removing excess weight will be helpful in every aspect of performance and will yield gains you can feel. And it is free. But, let's face it, unless you have forced induction any Camry will embarrass you at a stoplight. Our cars have strengths in cornering and braking due to superior suspension design and being lightweight. Play up your strengths. When naturally aspirated I would let the mustangs have the straights but I will gain on them in the braking zones and catch them by mid-corner. Many would screw up just trying to handle the corners under pressure in such an ill-designed car.

julekpl

Well I have managed to take a mustang....once :P I'm not too much into racing, just trying to add a few things that will make my car run better, and just in case, be ready to take someone on. I have heard that getting a new intake filter helps a little bit, and a new exhaust system might get me a few horses. I don't want to mess with my engine, until I finally know exactly what I'm doing, but I'm starting on my cold air intake filter once it comes in.

RedTurboMiata

ill just drop this here for you to look at, may reconsider your options on motor work.

flying_solo

iTrader: (1)

Six said what I was going to say. Exhausts are hard to come by used at least they were for me. Every time I found what I wanted, it was in CA or NY and they wouldn't ship. Like six says start with trimming the fat and work on your suspension. It will be a lot more sporty feeling (minus the auto).

Don't forget to do all the maint to prolong the life and most is easy enough todo yourself with simple tools. These are great cars to learn on as they are very easy to work on and very forgiving towards mistakes both mechanicallly and while driving.