Boost!

[rstype]

1. How do you like the Honda?

I like it! I was initially considering an SUV, but it never snows here and gas is expensive. I wouldn¡Â¦t have touched the Ody five years ago, but now I appreciate its no-thrills practicality. It¡Â¦s great for our Costco excursions, my wife¡Â¦s art supplies, bikes, etc. The high seating position and visibility is great. Granted it's no BMW (duh!) but the handling and engine are both quite good. The cupholders and trays are very useful ¡V I wouldn't dare to eat and drive in my previous manual 325i. The cushy ride is great for 405 traffic.



The Ody can stand some improvement. The rear suspension sags with four passengers on board. There is a lot of road noise and the rear doors make BMW-like groans and rattles when the body flexes. The transmission is smart but doesn¡Â¦t seem too strong. The brakes are just adequate.



I can't complain, though. It's easily the best minivan out there with the exception of the Sienna. But I would never buy such an ugly vehicle, no matter how good it is. Plus, I'd rather have my weak tranny than their sludgy Toyota V6.

 

[rstype]

2. Have you ever seen the Mopar 13 second, turbo mini-van some guy drives? Talk about a sleeper.

I know! What an amazing van!



Unfortunately, I heard that the guy who started it all passed away recently.

 

[CharlesW]

The Ody can stand some improvement. The rear suspension sags with four passengers on board. There is a lot of road noise and the rear doors make BMW-like groans and rattles when the body flexes. The transmission is smart but doesn¡Â¦t seem too strong. The brakes are just adequate.

Interesting comments. My 1998 Pontiac doesn't have those problems after 119,000 miles. I would have been upset, but not too surprised if it had. In a Honda, I would be ballistic. In a Honda I would expect a strong engine and tranny and what I always felt was typical Honda quality throughout. Never owned one, but always heard good things about them.

We have a Pontiac GTP for true driving, but for all around utility, I think we will probably always have a van. And I used to hate the darn things!:nixweiss



Charles

 

[JustinR32]

There is much to say about power but without control to me power is usless. Sure its cool to have a miata (or any other street car) that can do the 1/4 mile in 11-12 s but id rather have a miata that handles like its on rails @ reasonable speeds without having the tires ever consider breaking lose. I can only go in a straight line so far before I have an urge to yank the wheel and take a 90 degree turn at 40 without worrying about the car even grunting. Or taking the 'back' way home with lotsa deep curves and small straight aways and feel SAFE really safe. That and knowing my vehicle could handle better than i could ever put it threw its paces is a comfort.

Yup, agreed 100%.



I've had the car for 3 years. I did Koni coilovers, heavier front and rear sways, front and rear braces for the chassis, a roll bar (additional longitudinal bracing), 15" SSR Comp wheels (9.2 lbs each), Bridgestone S03 tires, Brembo cross drilled rotors and Mintek pads. I also did a competition alignment (while sitting in the car) and set the ride height even at all 4 wheels (while sitting in the car). The only thing I didn't do was corner-weight it. The car handles like it's on rails, allright. I made sure of that before I did ANYTHING. I love taking an entire day to search out new twisties. My car is waaaaay more capable than I am.



The SC puts the car probably into the high 14s, absolutely not a drag racer, that would never be my intent; but it's now respectable. What it DOES do is even everything up, making the drivetrain more the equal of the suspension.





Tom

 

[CharlesW]

Mosca:

Sorry about hi-jacking your thread. Didn't even realize what I was doing.



The Miata has been a great little car since it was first introduced. It really only was lacking in power. Obviously, you have now taken care of that. The handling to go with that power really makes it all come together. Has to be a real fun ride.:xyxthumbs



Charles

 

[JustinR32]

Aw, man, I was enjoying that hijacking! Sometimes that's when threads get most interesting; by all means, continue!



IMO, I don't have to resort to explaining about how Miatas aren't about power but handling, etc. any more. Instead, I can say that I've dealt with the situation and leave it at that, without having to resort to old bromides like "If you can't go fast with 90hp, 900hp won't help you." Sure, but now when I'm going up a long hill with the AC on I don't have to row down two gears and floor it, I can simply goose the gas and go.





Tom

 

[Deep_Freeze]

You guys are tooooo funny, going from talking about a boosted car to minivans and Oldmobiles. Dear lord.



I will stick with my 350Z, you guys can have the minivans.

 

[boostdfd3s]

Ive got a 1994 RX7, and i totally agree with you all. TURBOCHARGERS OWN! Right now im only pushing 10lbs of boost from the stock twins, making ~300hp at the flywheel. Hoping to get a fuel computer soon and push that to 14psi and 330 rwhp! :xyxthumbs





there is something to be said for v8 torque tho...my dads vette jus GOES and GOES and GOES....but i will never give up the turbo pull!





-Zach

 

[TortoiseAWD]

"Turbos make torque, and torque makes fun." -- Corky Bell



:up

 

[hogdust]

Boost is GOOD :xyxthumbs

 

[JustinR32]

Y'know, one of the first things I was told was, "Now, just 'coz yer boosted don't mean you can go pickin' on Mustangs, and pickemups and the like. 'Member, they know about boost, too, and they started wit' four more cylinders than you did."



Tom

 

[Stl_GT]

What kind of internals does the miata have ? Sorry if you have already noted that, but for such a small engine I *might* worry about the longevity of the pistons and such.



As for the mustangs, we don't always need boost to beat a boosted 4 cylinder. I've beaten my fair share of srt-4's, and I am N/A.

 

[JustinR32]

The Miata engine was designed to be boosted. Typical NA mods give very little bang for the buck. Stock internals are good up to about 250 rwhp; at that point, you start calling Wiseco etc. Even at the higher levels, the first thing to go is the rear.





Tom

 

[Intercooled]

Running about 16# of boost. Fastest production car of the 80's.

245 hp & 345 ft lbs torque stock! Simply amazing ride for a 3,400# car! Gota love that turbo!!!

 

[cpaddock]

Running about 16# of boost. Fastest production car of the 80's.

245 hp & 345 ft lbs torque stock! Simply amazing ride for a 3,400# car! Gota love that turbo!!!

Buick GN = Brick. Dead sexy brick:bow . I love watching young kids look at GNs at car shows. They don't even give them the time of day :nono .



FI cars are SO much fun. I put a 3" TB exhaust on my car Sun. I am still smiling. I'm amazed how much the response was. The turbo spools so quickly now and pulls like it grew 2 more cylinders.



Welcome to the club:wavey

 

[JustinR32]

Buick GN = Brick. Dead sexy brick:bow . I love watching young kids look at GNs at car shows. They don't even give them the time of day :nono .



FI cars are SO much fun. I put a 3" TB exhaust on my car Sun. I am still smiling. I'm amazed how much the response was. The turbo spools so quickly now and pulls like it grew 2 more cylinders.



Welcome to the club:wavey

After I sorted out some issues with hose clamps constantly loosening (went to Wilkes-Barre Truck Center and bought some constant-torque t-bolt clamps), I am having a stone cold blast. The temps have dropped into the 40s, and it feels like 10 more horsepower! Miatas are known to lose 26 hp in drivetrain, so taking the average whp# for my kit, 165, and adding 26, that's about 190 sae hp... in a 2300 lb car. What I love is that it's all driveable hp, too; no peakiness, no "on/off" switch.



The only thing I feel that I've lost is some of the fun of driving around the stock Miata's weaknesses. Any energy problem can now be solved with gas and brake only, rather than gas, brake, and gearing. Before, I used to constantly plan energy conservation for hills, curves, traffic; now, I hit the gas and go.



Eh. I'll take the trade.





Tom

 

[Stl_GT]

It sounds like a winner, now go and get that bad boy tuned ! Just out of curosity, what's the redline on the miata and when does the boost kick in ? Have any pics of the final product?