No true gear head can go through life without owning at least one Miata! That opinion may be controversial but I’m sticking with it! This particular Miata had been part of my family from 1996 through 2007. My dad picked this up used with about 56,000 miles and daily drove it until about 200,000. My brother needed a back-up car to his turbo Integra so he took over ownership for a few years. Later on, when my brother finished school, I inherited the Miata. The timing worked out in my favor. Around the time of my acquisition, the hot-rod engine in the hatchback was down and I was done with my Evo.
With the Evo sold, and the Civic waiting for a new engine, I drove this road weary Miata for a solid year through rain, sleet and snow! While I had it, I went through the suspension and replace ball joints, and a few wheel bearings. I also installed a fresh set of rotors and pads, a timing belt and water pump. To spruce up the interior, I picked up a new radio/hvac bezel, shift boot and new shifter seals (weather and transmission).
Driving the Miata in the winter wasn’t fun from a temperature perspective. The snow tires made it safe and fun to drive. These cars don’t really prove their worth until the weather warms up and the sun comes out. With the top down, I could drive this thing forever!
Alas, it was a 16 year old car with 208,000 miles back in 2007 when I needed to get a new car. The hatchback suffered its second engine failure, this time due to faulty workmanship from the shop that did the work and the Miata wasn’t going to handle the commute to the new job that I started. I bought a new ’07 Si and sold the Miata.
After a decade of family ownership, it was time to say farewell to the Blue Bomber, as I liked to call it.
Modifications:
- ’94-’97 brake upgrade
- No name vintage race car gauges faces
- 15″ Bronze Rota Sub Zero wheels
