2004 MazdaSpeed Miata - Turbocharged
 

Hey Guys,

Log on to the Mazdausa website and check out the 2004 Turbocharged Mazdaspeed Miata. It looks great, and now puts out around 180 HP.

How soon do you think before they come out with a Turbocharged RX-8?

Probably not for a long time. I think we might be stuck with the RX-8, unless Mazda pulls out all stops and releases a 4th gen. I imagine a turbocharged RX-8 in the not too distant future. :)

edit: here's the link on the thread about the MS Miata. :)

https://www.rx8club.com/general-automotive-49/mazdaspeed-mx-5-a-37046/

I test drove one about 3 months ago. They are a blast to drive. After driving the 8 though when you hear that turbo kick in on the Miata it sounds like the engine is going to explode. Not bad, just different, I am used to the smooth sounding engine at high RPMS

yeah... not exactly new news. I saw one at the dealership when I was looking to buy an RX-8.

I saw the MazdaSpeed Miata prototype at SevenStock a couple years ago. It did pique my interest with the turbo, but the car is just too small.

Could a Renesis fit in the Miata?

I completely agree- I was left totally unimpressed with the MS Miata... aftermarket systems like the FM are a much better option.

Yeah but there's more to the MS miata than just a turbocharger. It's a great starting point similar to the EVO. The EVO starts with 271 hp (~230whp) which isn't that much...add $2-6k and you've got a 330+ whp monster. I expect we'll see something very similar with the MS Miata.

Haha. I've forgotten about Flyin' Miata. Their turbo kits pwn the MS MX-5.

edit: I, being the chief of the repost police, hereby, pimp slap you. :D

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=37046

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung...smiley-020.gifhttp://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung...smiley-020.gif

Save your time, no flames required.

I liked it. I drove it, I wanted it. I finally got a dealer to meet my price, I scheduled the pick-up. I decided to lease the 8 instead of buying the MSM. The wife realy wanted a Rx-8. The 8 can serve double duty as a family car, don't you know. ;)
I can't however find a way to fall in love with the 8. (only 472 miles so far) Most likely because I blew my knee out just after getting it, (it hurts to get in, get out and push the clutch !!!) and the fact I know it's just on loan from the bank. ( No point in mods or upgrades) :( Could be to much internet info has me afraid of driving the 8 hard in fear of breaking the less than bullet proof tranny. :eek: I don't know.


I had the first year of this version of the Miata. City bus driver in a hurry ended that, after only one year. :(
This is one of the last years for this style for sure. So I had sentimental reasons for wanting it as well. I have the next 47.5 months to figure out why I didn't get the Miata. Today, however, I really don't know. :o

It might make sense to state that for the last 15,000 miles, I was driving a Mini Cooper S. It probably sounds funny to most of you, but the 8 feels BIG. Huge in fact, like I am driving a firebird or camaro, without any of the torque. :o

Hopefully now that the 500 mile break in is nearly over, I can get my mind to move all my shift points up 3,000 rpm or so, and forget about that Miata. Maybe I can forget the 15 mpg average as well. We'll see.
The 8 is definetly more car than either the MINi or the Miata. It's faster and quicker, if you ring it's neck. It's roomier and likley safer. Just haven't found it to be as much fun yet, but it's still early.
:p

Sure you can- just take a base Miata, add FM kit, brakes, adjustable shocks and catback, and you've got a car with nearly 300hp that can outhandle just about everything on the road or track. If you've already bought the MS version, you're pretty much stuck with all the MS stuff since you paid for it... upgrading it wouldn't make much sense.

I started with the LS since it has a LSD diff and added the 6 speed tranny.

LS Miata MSRP: $26000

FMI kit: ~$4000

Brakes: ~$1000

Shocks and springs: ~$1000

Turboback exhaust: $1000 (catback + downpipe + highflow cat)

Installation: ~$1000
--------------------
Total: ~$34000....~200whp

Or

MS Miata MSRP: $25700 (that's right...it's less than the LS with 6spd)

Turboback exhaust: ~$1000

Shocks and springs: ~$1000

Boost Controler + AFC: $500

Intercooler: $500

bigger turbo: $2300

Installation: ~$1000
------------------------------
Total: ~$32000...235+whp

MS Miata is $2000 less.

Things that the LS mIata is missing:
- 17" lightweight rims
- 6 disc CD changer
- bigger stabilizer bars (front and rear)
- stronger clutch
- stronger diff?
- engine management? how does the FM kit stack up to Mazda's

You're also forgetting about the super economy MS Miata:
- turboback
- intake
- boost controler
- SAFC
--------------
total $2000

This will probably bump the power 220+hp. It could be more but I don't know how much power the stock turbo and intercooler are good for.

I'll still go with the MS Miata. Putting a turbokit on an engine orginally designed to be N/A is not as simple as you think. The MS engine was designed with FI in mind. Thus it has lower compression, stronger drivetrain for the added torque, and probably has better engine management and knock sensors.

Comparing new versus used always favors the used. Obviously a used car will be much cheaper at the risk of reliability. There's also the fact that a 4 year old car, looks and feels 4 years old. So I compared new vs. new so they were on a level playing field.

The point of my post was to point out that the MS Miata is a good value and brings more to the table than if you tried to build it yourself.

To answer a couple of your points- FM (formerly The Dealer Alternative) has been tuning Miatas for nearly 20 years- I would trust their engine management and forced induction experience over Mazda's in a heartbeat. As Maniac mentioned, all Miata engines are turbo capable... I would be very comfortable running 9-10PSI boost with no worries about the motor. And if an FM comes out to only $2k more than the factory MS for nearly twice the RWHP, I think that's the hands down easy choice.

I sometimes wish I'd kept my '96M and dropped an FM kit- already had headers, cat, exhaust and adjustable shocks, and in my opinion a much better looking style than the new ones.

The problem is that the FM kit was $2k more and less horsepower. If you notice, I priced out the FMI kit which is listed at 180 whp @ 8PSI as recommended by FM. Going with the MS Miata, I was able to upgrade the turbo and intercooler which would most likely put the car well above 180whp.

I almost got one cause I really enjoyed my Spicy Orange Mazdaspeed Protege. I test drove it while vacationing in FL and came to my local dealer whom is not a speed dealer to find out when they were going to be come one. They really wanted my business and they gave me basically what I paid for my speed a year ago, so I took the eight. Plus they did the basic service on my speed and treated real decent even thought I did not buy the car from them.

My husband didn't think I would be happy with the MS Miata for some of the reasons I wanted to trade my MSprotege. So after driving the 8 twice, I got it.

I was disappointed in Mazda for bringing some of the speed colors to the non speed mazdas, all except the orange of course. So that kind of took the coolness away from the MS Miata speed for me as well. Don't get me wrong I like the colors, but it just made the speeds stand out alittle more. My Spicy Orange speed was one of 600 cars produced and they will not bring the color back. Pretty cool.