Sometimes, things just don't go as planned. The goal was to run acceleration, braking and handling numbers on Project Miata, our 1997 Mazda Miata, now that it's been infused with a Kraftwerks supercharger kit and meaty 6UL shoes.
Two out of three ain't bad.
Project Miata struggled this time around with a very tired and very stock clutch during the runs down the drag strip. After a single acceleration run with the thing slipping, we decided to scrub any further acceleration testing. Thus, the acceleration performance it posted is not representative. Nevertheless, that single accel run is shared below as an FYI.
We have a new clutch on the way and will re-test once it's in.
Our testing of its handling, on the other hand, went quite well. Check out the grip and the slalom speed, as well as Chris' comments. Yowza!
To recap, we'd run numbers on the current FatCat Motorports suspension back when it was on the white car. We never had a chance to track-test this hardware in conjunction with the 949Racing 6UL wheels and Hankook R-S3 tires, though, until now.
Vehicle: 1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Odometer: 129,627
Date: 3/1/11
Driver: Chris Walton
Specifications:
Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Five-speed manual
Engine Type: Supercharged and intercooled inline-4
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 1,839/112
Redline (rpm): 7,200
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 173 @ 6,900 (Dynojet chassis dyno)
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 141 @ 5,900 (Dynojet chassis dyno)
Brake Type (front): 10.0-inch one-piece ventilated cast-iron discs with single-piston sliding calipers
Brake Type (rear): 9.9-inch one-piece solid cast-iron discs with single-piston sliding calipers
Steering System: Hydraulic-assist rack-and-pinion power steering
Suspension Type (front): Double wishbones, FatCat Motorsports adjustable ride-height coilovers with coil springs and monotube dampers, Racing Beat hollow stabilizer bar and 949Racing endlinks
Suspension Type (rear): Double wishbones, FatCat Motorsports adjustable ride-height coilovers with coil springs and monotube dampers, 949Racing endlinks
Tire Size (front and rear): 225/45ZR15 87W
Tire Brand: Hankook
Tire Model: Ventus R-S3
Tire Type: Summer
Wheel Size: 15-by-9 inches front and rear 949Racing 6UL
Wheel Material (front/rear): Aluminum
As Tested Curb Weight (lb): 2,344
Test Results:
Acceleration
0 - 30 (sec): 2.8
0 - 45 (sec): 4.9
0 - 60 (sec): 7.7
0 - 60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 7.4
0 - 75 (sec): 10.7
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 15.6 @ 90.3
Braking
30 - 0 (ft): 27
60 - 0 (ft): 112
Handling
Slalom (mph): 71.8
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 1.01
Comments
Acceleration: Clutch cannot handle both an aggressive launch AND wide-open throttle upshifts -- obvious clutch slippage after each upshift. Still, it feels and sounds like the meanest Miata I've ever driven. Still love the shifter, but I would move the pedals slightly for easier heel-toe action.
Braking: Cold tires really confused the ABS system for the first stop. I thought it was just the tires and ABS not getting along so I did several non-ABS stops which proved very easy to find the threshold. After returning to ABS, found it worked best in the end.
Handling: Skidpad: Awesome balance, poise and compliance. This is how I would want a racecar set up. Steering is direct, precise, responsive and informative. The nearly-identical counter-clockwise and clockwise times speak to the amazing balance in theis setup. Didn't hit/feel bump stops or rub a tire.
Slalom: Took a few runs to get the tires to proper temp (first few I could tell the fronts were cold and not working). Then the balance I was expecting gave me confidence to attack. Like a Lotus, there's more roll than expected in transition, but also tons of grip and control (throttle-steer and steering-steer are both available and predictable). Joy!
--Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor
Photos by Mark Takahashi
roadburner says:
06:41 AM, 03/ 8/11
Interesting. Thanks for the update!
bodyblue says:
07:37 AM, 03/ 8/11
That little sucker is going to really scream with a new clutch.
drtwofish says:
07:48 AM, 03/ 8/11
I can't wait for the new-clutch numbers - what kind of clutch are you putting in? Please share any opinions on that, too...
blueguydotcom says:
08:03 AM, 03/ 8/11
Dang, very nice.
viss1 says:
08:24 AM, 03/ 8/11
"...throttle-steer and steering-steer are both available and predictable"
-----------------------------------
That's one of the main reasons even a stock Miata is a blast.
kevm14 says:
09:39 AM, 03/ 8/11
I knew it. I'll withhold final judgement when the new clutch goes in but I think I was right about the performance with a supercharger. See: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2011/02/1997-mazda-mx-5-miata-happy-wheels.html
It FEELS fast, but really isn't. I agree the car appears to offer very good feel but as far as acceleration numbers, I don't think this is going to do any damage to anything outside of autocross. Which is fine, if that's your thing.
eldaino2 says:
09:39 AM, 03/ 8/11
Woo awesome! Epic handling numbers too. I wonder how much time the new clutch will shave off....maybe get her below seven seconds? That's plenty fast for everyday
felonious says:
10:21 AM, 03/ 8/11
It sure helps to have a couple of Miata racers on-staff, eh? (Current and former, that is.)
stovebolter says:
10:25 AM, 03/ 8/11
Awesome, thank you! The clutch woes should probably be expected given the power addition and unknowns about previous owners.
Just think of how much better the handling could be without the bulky hard top raising the center of gravity so much.... :-D
addicted2sp33d says:
11:07 AM, 03/ 8/11
Imagine what it could do with wider wheels and 245mm or 265mm rubber!
church123 says:
11:42 AM, 03/ 8/11
I'm pretty sure that fixing the clutch will knock a good second off the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. I used to have a Honda CRX that, on the same dyno Edmunds used, put down 184 whp and 145 lbs-ft. With me in the car it weighed 2415 lbs. And being FWD, wheelspin was a problem. Nonetheless it would run the 1/4 in the low 14's at just under 100 mph on street tires at the old Carlsbad raceway and at Pomona when it was still open for test and tunes.
I still think this Miata will go about 14.2@97 mph, give or take a tenth or mph.
narenji says:
11:49 AM, 03/ 8/11
i doubt it would do much better... an exige has a lot more power than this car, and their tires are narrow... 195 in the front and 225 in the back. wider tires wont translate into better times necessarily. they should be in proportion to the car's power, suspension setup and weight.
subytrojan says:
12:07 PM, 03/ 8/11
This post is full of win! Nice job, Jay and Chris!
fundango says:
12:23 PM, 03/ 8/11
Great handling numbers from the project Miata. Looks like the stretched tires didn't hurt performance/feel either. I'll refrain from commenting on the accleration numbers until a better clutch is put in.
Glad to finally see what this little guy can do!
stovt001 says:
12:35 PM, 03/ 8/11
Even with the worn clutch that acceleration isn't too shabby. I gotta get me one of those superchargers.
"throttle-steer and steering-steer are both available and predictable"
+100. That's one of the big reasons I love the Miata. All the controls seem to work in unison to allow the driver to exploit and explore the full dynamic range of the vehicle. Everything works in balance and it rewards a true driver rather than a mere operator.
hopster says:
01:14 PM, 03/ 8/11
That car sounds like a blast to drive. Have you guys listed the prices for the aftermarket parts?
I remember you did a test of a very limited 2007 Miata MS-R, pretty much a stock miata with aftermarket shocks/springs/swaybars and sticky tires. It performed very similar to your modified '97.
I think I would trade the slight weight penalty, a bit of speed, and a few extra grand for a much more modern, safe, less likely to brake down newer Miata. Checking the local craigslist you can pick up a used NC Miata for 12k with ~50,000 miles on it.
Here are some of the stats for that 2007 Miata-
2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata MS-R
Curb weight, as tested (lbs.) 2,480
0-60 mph (sec.) 7.1
1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) 15.3 @ 90.3
60-0 mph (ft.) 110
Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) 72.0
Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) 0.98
http://www.insideline.com/mazda/mx-5-miata/2007/follow-up-test-2007-mazda-mx-5-miata-ms-r.html
zoomzoom22 says:
04:01 PM, 03/ 8/11
No videos? Blasphemy!!!
stovt001 says:
04:54 PM, 03/ 8/11
"I think I would trade the slight weight penalty, a bit of speed, and a few extra grand for a much more modern, safe, less likely to brake down newer Miata. Checking the local craigslist you can pick up a used NC Miata for 12k with ~50,000 miles on it."
I had to laugh when I read this. Less than a year ago I got my 06 NC Miata (just over 50K on it at the time, now around 60K) for $11,300, and I barely drove it at all for all of December and January because of an intermittent non-start and juddering when started and driving issue that we just couldn't get fixed. True, most of that was because our mechanics were trying the wrong fix, but when you haven't had reliable transportation for 2 months, and were stranded 4 times, you'll begin to question how reliable the newer car really is. Good news is the car is now fixed, and the bill will be going to Subytrojan, as the problem just happened to start the day after he set a rather brisk pace up Mt Polomar. Just saying...
Good news is you won't really give up anything in acceleration. The NCs have 2.0L mills putting out I believe 148 hp, and I think the added oomph more than makes up for the slight weight gain. Mazda did a great job growing the dimensions without making it a porker. Aluminum hood and trunk lids FTW. Another nice NC perk is the top with one-handed operation and a glass rear window that does not need to be unzipped. The purists may scoff, but I think Mazda nailed it with the NC, making it better without really sacrificing the feedback, nimbleness, and ease of use that defines the Miata. Just be sure to clean out the drain holes...
sierrabravo says:
09:28 PM, 03/ 8/11
Sounds like fun!
kyolml says:
11:56 PM, 03/ 8/11
except skidpad, it doesn't help that much on slalom and stopping on the wider tires?
body roll is not always a bad thing if it keeps weight transfer optimum, just like all the after market anti-lift kits are intended to.