"MPGiata" modding thread: aiming for 50 MPG with a 1990 Miata. Update: success, 55 MPG!

[freebeard]

That tree is about the size of the one that sheds spores, pitch or pine cones on my Superbeetle four seasons a year.

I suggested to the slumlord that he could cut it down for the lumber, but it isn't enough board feet to offset the felling. Nevermind the paint on my car. Truth be told, I could swap the Dasher out of the carport.

[AdrianD]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

RoBoBob - I had read that somewhere.



I store mine with the top UP to make it slightly more difficult for the mice to get inside!

I stored mine once with the top down and all it took was a few hours in the sun for the top to stretch back and close easily. I wouldn't be worried at all about this.

[MetroMPG]

I've now driven ~70 km on a mix of suburban, secondary country highways, and a twisty, hilly gravel road.

My evaluation: 9/10 - would do it again!

Keep in mind, I'm comparing against my impression of the car from last year. But the ride is not noticeably harsher and handling is not noticeably different.

Also note: I deleted both the F & R swaybars, since chopping coils increases spring stiffness. Rationale: a combination of weight reduction & avoiding a too harsh ride.

The front air dam is pretty low though! It scraped on one dip on the highway at speed, and I plowed a little bit of gravel off the crown of a gravel road.

[AdrianD]

I admire your ability to drive this thing for mileage.
I just got my NB2 back on the road and went through half a tank in a bit over 100 miles...must be the enthusiasm of having a Miata again as I haven't driven my NA since summer 2018 and my NB2 since buying it in November.

[MetroMPG]

I may not fast on the straights, but I'm probably one of the faster drivers in this area in select corners/twisty sections of the country roads I drive on.

Driving without brakes is fun in this car!

[MetroMPG]

52 MPG US = 4.5 L/100 km.

This fill was actually about 2/3 from the end of last fall, and 1/3 distance covered this year.

[serialk11r]

I realize an ND costs 5x more money than an NA, but 50mpg would be easy in the ND whose engine is more efficient at 50% load than the NA is at its peak efficiency

Have you considered skimming the head for increased compression? I think there are quite a bit of gains to be unlocked there given how low your compression ratio is.

[MetroMPG]

Is ND the latest version? I'd love to try one - I'm sure they're far more efficient, while still more powerful.


Imagine an ecomodded one! I'd be shooting for 60-70 MPG instead of 50.

[Ecky]

I've been tossing around the idea of my next car project (not any time soon) being an NA Miata with a Honda engine - one built for economy.

What kind of gearing options (if any) do you have with the stock transmission and rear end?

[Xist]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Is ND the latest version? I'd love to try one - I'm sure they're far more efficient, and more powerful.


Imagine an ecomodded one! I'd be shooting for 60-70 MPG instead of 50.

Then you would get a picture of a fake hat--for that car!