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Old 11-08-2016, 01:38 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
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Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

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90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

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I'm buying* Canada's cheapest, roadworthy**, 50 mpg*** Mazda Miata MX-5



First, the asterisks:

1 *) I don't own it... yet. But I think I'm close!

[Update! I got it. Read on...]

I've been trying for several weeks to buy this 1990 Miata from a seller who is both hilariously and frustratingly laid back. Seems he doesn't like to rush things when it comes to communication. Think "island time" mentality. He works strange hours and will only talk by text messaging -- oh, and I happen to be the last person who doesn't own a cell phone, so friends and family have been acting as intermediaries.

Also, he doesn't need the money. Also, the car is out of sight, out of mind from his perspective (not parked at his house).

All these ingredients make this a recipe for slow going and for cultivating patience.

2 **) Ran when parked!

Roadworthy? Well, it's been sitting in a back yard for almost 2 years. 2014 was the last time it saw daily driver status.

3 ***) 50 MPG??

EPA says: 22 city / 28 highway / 24 combined

But AntiochOG did it! http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ata-27879.html

The top 3 Miatas in EM's garage:

Fuelly shows a couple hundred owners of the early 1.6L cars are averaging 27 mpg US. Half a dozen owners of the 1.6L "NA" model report averages of 40-45 mpg.

So I'm guessing low-mid 40's is achievable, un-ecomodded, in my typical driving environment (my driving is mostly country roads, 80 km/h / 50 mph speed limit). And of course it won't remain un-ecomodded for long.

4) The car:
  • 1990 Mazda Miata MX-5
  • Engine/trans: 1.6 L (116 hp), 5-speed manual
  • Curb weight: 2100 lbs / 952 kg
  • Odometer: 216k kilometres (134k miles)
  • Cosmetically: rough
  • Mechanically: unknown, but owner at least says oil changed "religiously" and other than a burst rad hose once, has been "bulletproof"; it was not winter driven; brakes will be a bit rusty from sitting outside for a year.
5) The price:

He's asking a thousand bucks for it.

That's quite a bit less than even the cheapest basket case Miatas advertised in Canada, of which there are 400-500 for sale right now.

More to come!

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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
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Old 11-08-2016, 01:56 PM   #2 (permalink)
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CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
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Haha, interesting find!

What makes you want to buy this car? You already have a small fleet.
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Old 11-08-2016, 04:57 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
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I guess I'm just a sucker for thousand dollar cars.

If this happens, one of the others will have to go. I'm trying (and clearly failing) to shrink the horde, not expand it! http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...der-34104.html

But seriously, the reason is: many years ago I had the chance to drive a relative's gen. 1 Miata a bunch of times, and I distinctly remember it being a very fun little car -- joyful to drive. One of the earliest reviews I read said something like: if all the world's leaders drove Miatas, world peace would break out.

And for that price, as long as it's not mechanically trashed, it's a question of "why not?", not "why?"
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
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Old 11-08-2016, 08:14 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Either (a) you are a sucker for mongrel vehicles or (b) you have a bad case of G-note$ burning holes in your pocket(s)...all metaphors intended.
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Old 11-08-2016, 09:18 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
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I can neither confirm nor deny the charges!

Except about G-note$ falling out of my pockets... I can deny that part.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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Old 11-08-2016, 09:43 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Winsight - '00 Honda Insight
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That year had wobbly crankshaft problems, just warning you. I believe the issue was corrected with a redesigned crank in 91 or 92.
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Old 11-09-2016, 09:06 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
potential crank pulley issue

Yes! I've read about that - somewhat scary.

The keyway on the end of the crankshaft can be destroyed if the crank pulley bolt (a) simply loosens over time; (b) or was re-torqued incorrectly after removal; (c) or the key was inserted backwards in the keyway on reassembly.

The result is the crank pulley develops a wobble that wrecks the crankshaft end = need new crank/engine.

I will be looking for evidence of this:



Resulting damage:



^ That should be a clean, straight keyway.

It's a fatal flaw in the 1.6L 1st gen engine with the "short nose" crankshaft pulley end.

There's also a "loctite fix" procedure that may work if the damage hasn't progressed too far.
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__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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Old 11-09-2016, 11:00 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Princess - '92 Mazda MX-3 GS
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Looks like an excuse to electrify whatever that pulley was turning.

(The alternator can be replaced by a plugin-pack.)
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Old 11-09-2016, 11:09 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
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Yes!

However...

The unfortunate problem is that shaft / pulley defect also affects the camshafts via the timing belt, which is not visible in the video. The crank timing gear is hidden behind the larger pulley, but it's driven by the same key/keyway connection.



When the crankshaft keyway starts to fail, the camshaft timing goes off.
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__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2016, 11:30 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Firefly EV - '98 Pontiac Firefly EV
90 day: 107.65 mpg (US)

Little Boy Blue - '05 Toyota Echo
90 day: 33.35 mpg (US)

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90 day: 17.19 mpg (US)
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I have one of those...it only gets ~24mpg though. Gearing, DOHC, aerodynamics...it isn't designed for MPGs.

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