You may have already seen
my initial Miata thread, which documents the saga of buying and repairing this fun old turd bucket to make it road legal. Time for a fresh thread that focuses on the ecomodding!
The car:
- 1990 Mazda Miata MX-5
- Engine/trans: 1.6L (116 hp), 5-speed
- Drag coefficient (random search result): 0.38 top up; 0.40 top down
- Frontal area:
- Curb weight: ~2k lbs, depending on options
- Odometer: 216k kilometres (134k miles)
MPG potential:
EPA says: 22 city / 28 highway / 24 combined
AntiochOG did a 50 mpg fill using pulse & glide (but P&G is not my plan):
50 mpg! (1990 Mazda Miata)
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.
The goal:
50 MPG (US) / 4.7 L/100 km, in my typical summer driving environment:
- relaxed cruising, almost always taking the scenic route or back roads;
- but fun DWB ("driving without brakes") in the twisties!
- 80 km/h (50 mph) max. posted limit most roads
- primary driving techniqe = driving with load (when not affecting traffic)
- but also engine-off coasting toward some turns & stops, or on steep enough descents that allow me to keep speed.
- top will be down most of the time (despite worse aero), since that's one of the main reasons I got it!
Results so far: 1) 37.5 mpg US = 6.1 L/100 km: first fill last year, cool autumn driving (10-15 C = 50-60 F) with no mods other than tire pressure;
2) 43.6 mpg US = 5.3 L/100 km: 2nd fill (1st fill of this year); warm summer driving with some mods in place;
3) 44.2 mpg US = 5.2 L/100 km: warm summer driving with even more mods in place;
4) 49.9 mpg US = 4.7 L/100 km: so close! Continuing ideal warm weather, still more mods!
5) 51.0 mpg US = 4.6 L/100 km: Success!! 2/3 ideal warm weather, still more mods.