Hey guys...I'm thinking about buying a 2000 Miata for the summer.

I'm all about taking on curves fast... Plan on upgrading the intake, suspension, exhaust and a roll cage immediately.

I really don't care if its a girly/gay car...I am interested in the performance, handling, and being a good convertible sports car.

What are you thoughts and experiences?

[Edited on May 29, 2009 at 9:27 PM. Reason : spelling]

5/29/2009 9:00:22 PM

Toughts: Go for it.

Experience: none. My wife drove a 2nd gen miata and loved it. She's a really sporty gal, so if she liked it, chances are I would like it. I consider myself having a man-card because I have a fucking 944 with an anemic 300hp and 325tq and I fully admit I would rock a Miata because they can be had for cheap and be fitted with a roll cage. If the S2k could be fitted with a roll cage (without destroying the interior and blah blah blah), then I'd rock that instead. But it can't, so yes, my vote is Miata. GET IT. post pics first though so we can critique it. Thanks

5/29/2009 9:16:13 PM

Mileage 86,000
VIN JM1NB3531Y0155656 (Could someone look this up for me pleaseeee

5/29/2009 9:26:54 PM

If you can fit in the thing, go for it. Only reason I never got one is I literally couldn't get my knee past the steering column

5/29/2009 9:33:45 PM

Very nice pick. I like the aero/body kit that's on it. The thought of putting a v8 in one of those has crossed my mind one time too many when picking out my bastard project.

Anyways, Good luck on it I don't have any experience with them unfortunately, otherwise I'd post more.

5/29/2009 9:33:59 PM

paging [user]theDuke666[/user]

5/29/2009 9:51:40 PM

Buy one

^^^ you're doing it wrong

I am 6'-5" and 260 lb. and i can fit rather comfortably in my parents miata. I'm sure i look funny getting in and out of the thing, but who gives a shit.

5/29/2009 10:21:02 PM

You can always put an LS1 in it

inb4 weight distribution argument

5/29/2009 10:33:56 PM

there is no weight distribution argument. an LS1 in a Miata is a helluva setup.

Miatas are great little sports cars, and can be bought for almost nothing. Cheap to operate and own, too.


it's generally cheaper to just find one with a roll bar and suspension work already done. I wouldn't bother with an exhaust, and probably not an intake. it's still gonna be slow, and not even any perceptible amount less slow. Waste of money, unless you turbocharge it.

5/29/2009 10:50:53 PM

miatas are fantastic cars

5/30/2009 12:41:36 AM

Quote :

"If the S2k could be fitted with a roll cage (without destroying the interior and blah blah blah), then I'd rock that instead. But it can't"

Yes it can. Would you like to see mine? Its no less destroyed than a miata bar. Who perpetuates these myths?



[Edited on May 30, 2009 at 9:33 AM. Reason : note photo is not of my car. I dont have the stock plastic hoops in anymore. ]

5/30/2009 9:32:33 AM

5/30/2009 9:36:08 AM

Sweett! great responses! cant wait. will post pics once i get it

5/30/2009 9:40:30 AM

You will love it.

I still kind of want one .

5/30/2009 9:43:03 AM

^ Wow, thanks for that Quinn. Did not know...

5/30/2009 9:49:24 AM

It's INVASIVE but it doesnt DESTROY anything. Plus its an s2k. You dont see anything past the cup holders anyways. The lamest part is the top compartment wont open anymore due to the harness bar (which is horribly placed anyways). Thats where the spf 90000 used to go .

I bought spares of every rear trim piece for under 100$.

5/30/2009 9:50:59 AM

So you can't put the top up?

With the Miata the top still works. Thats a pretty significant difference for the average owner.

5/30/2009 11:22:18 AM

top clears fine, and hardtop fits fine.

any more myths i can dispel?

5/30/2009 12:39:34 PM

how well does the s2k turn onto 540 coming S from leesville rd?

5/30/2009 3:59:54 PM

awesome if you can stay out of no mans land and are not hauling your friends 500$ dyson for a passenger

5/30/2009 4:21:37 PM

i got it!!!

its a lot of fun. Never owned a convertible. Its really hot to put the top down during the afternoon, but I've been driving it like crazy this evening with top down and its sooo much fun. It's I feel like i'm going really fast but somehow the speedometer says i'm going the speed limit...wtf. On straight roads...i wish it had more power...(i'm spoiled by my 320HP 350z). I plan on hitting up blue ridge or back roads of chapel hill tomorrow and test this baby out!

5/30/2009 9:16:08 PM

turbocharge it

5/30/2009 10:59:49 PM

Miatas rule. Cheap as hell to buy / maintain and extremely fun to drive.

Decent way to catch a tan, too

5/31/2009 3:39:46 AM

congrats, i personally would've gone for an s2k instead, but thats definitely not as cheap

[Edited on May 31, 2009 at 4:02 AM. Reason : ]

5/31/2009 4:00:55 AM

Miatas are awesomeeeeeeee

5/31/2009 10:17:49 AM

now you need to put it on some wide 13s to complete the go-kart look

5/31/2009 10:46:05 AM

Quote :

"top clears fine, and hardtop fits fine. any more myths i can dispel?"

Oh i misunderstood what you said above. I thought you just said it wouldn't go up.

5/31/2009 11:05:53 AM

sorry

spf 90000 was as a joke because im pale. i could see how that could read as the roof wont go up.

5/31/2009 12:05:48 PM

What Quinn was talking about when he said "the top compartment won't open anymore" is the little storage compartment right underneath the diagonal part of roll bar. You can see it in the picture he posted, it's right in between the two seats, above the lock.

Also the roll bar does push the passenger seat forward, so don't be friends with anyone tall.

Quote :

"(i'm spoiled by my 320HP 350z)"

What year?

[Edited on May 31, 2009 at 12:38 PM. Reason : .]

5/31/2009 12:37:30 PM

^2006

who wants to help me and a friend install a roll cage? PM me your hourly price please

google: miata hard dog sport installation

6/2/2009 10:40:55 AM

Quinn, is yours a Hard Dog bar?

I want to do mine, but I keep pushing it back due to other financial commitments (wedding, new house, etc recently). I think I'm going to just strip the interior behind the seats and get the harness bar mounted properly. My interior is pretty beat anyways.

6/2/2009 10:49:03 AM

Can you put the seat as far back with the S2000 bar as you can without?

6/2/2009 11:10:23 AM

That'd be a deal breaker for me. I can't fit in my car without the seat all the way back.

6/2/2009 12:10:21 PM

Installing a hard dog bar isn't hard. The instructions overall aren't the best, but two guys can do it in an afternoon. The trimming of the interior panels takes more time, depending on how clean you want it to be.

I have the Hard Dog Hard Core Hard Top Double Diagonal M2 in my 97, and the harness bar. Having the right tools to cut the sheet metal would have saved a lot of time.

[Edited on June 2, 2009 at 1:42 PM. Reason : ]

6/2/2009 1:41:03 PM

Quote :

"Can you put the seat as far back with the S2000 bar as you can without?"

Driver's side: yes.
Passenger's side: no.

6/2/2009 3:52:55 PM

Mine I think was technically produced by ELDA. It looks identical. I believe ELDA quit making them and the guy who runs harddog bought / asked to use the design. They look identical to me.

You can pay more and get one with a removable passenger diagonal. I paid I think 300$ for mine used....so I didn't get to make choices that involved my passengers leg room. I don't care what the passengers ride is like.

No you can not put the seat all the way back. But pretty close. Dubcaps took a look at it last night. I am 6' tall and don't mind it.

Jek, I believe the limitation with the location of the harness bar comes down to the center compartment. You have to remove the entire center piece (which is huge if you have ever removed it, it's one piece down to the arm rest) or drill a hole through it. I would probably just drill a hole through it. I'll double check to see if it is a soft top limitation the next time I put the top down. That may be an issue as well. I dont have the stock hoops at all on mine. It's not bad.


Maybe we can have a gay2000 meet and everyone can just look at it and draw their own conclusions. Its not THAT bad and these cars are not worth much so if you're considering it go for it. You dont have any other options.

6/2/2009 6:28:50 PM

^on the s2000 you definitely lose some seat travel, but like quinn said it shouldn't be an issue unless you are over 6'. after sitting in his car i'm thinking i will be going the hard dog route unless i can find a used elda or equivalent.

tdub s2000 meet!

edit: miatas can come too!

[Edited on June 2, 2009 at 7:10 PM. Reason : ]

6/2/2009 7:10:13 PM

and slow50z's (roadsters only)

6/2/2009 8:15:18 PM

I'll come so you kids can see what six cylinders look like.

6/2/2009 8:37:57 PM

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

6/2/2009 8:40:13 PM

just found out hard dog is right outside of winston-salem. they also allow people to pick up bars and not pay shipping...

6/9/2009 1:47:22 PM

^haha..yes! my mom is actually gonna go pick up one for me this week

I know I can install it myself, but I would much rather pay some guy whose done it before 100 bucks to help me. I also don't have the basic tools needed :\

6/9/2009 2:29:42 PM

^^

I TOLD YA NOOB

6/9/2009 8:42:57 PM

wait you told me it was outside of winston?!? i must have been mesmerized by the intoxicating bee noises the civic was making.

6/9/2009 10:29:32 PM

yeah dawg. told you i was going to go up and get my seat belt wedge moved.

the civic is mezmorizing. good thing is its always in front of you so its easy to keep an eye on.

if you want the doors from your 325i back they are still in the back "seat".

6/9/2009 10:57:23 PM

how is the civic coming anyway?

6/9/2009 11:21:25 PM

its livin on a prayer

6/9/2009 11:48:37 PM

Got my roll bar in



[Edited on June 12, 2009 at 1:55 PM. Reason : .]

6/12/2009 1:53:41 PM

nice work!

doesnt look bad at all

6/12/2009 1:57:20 PM

^^looks good!

let's do a roadster meet!

Hey Stein

Quote :

"I'll come so you kids can see what six cylinders look like."

me and Quinn can show you what 8 cylinders look like (when we park our cars next to each other with the hoods up )

Yeah I'm 6'2" so I need all the legroom I can get. Also I'd never want to remove my stock rollbars, they each have 2 speakers built into them.

[Edited on June 12, 2009 at 2:15 PM. Reason : anyone know of speaker upgrades for this cars?]

6/12/2009 2:14:34 PM