ZX-Tex

iTrader: (15)

Hell yes! I am trying to keep my LS1 Miata track car street legal (barely) for that reason. The looks on some people's faces when they hear it is priceless.

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

Bringing this back from the dead, noticed I had posted here over a year ago, about the woes and trade-offs of driving my NA every day on the street... but I found the solution:

I bought an NB for the DD. Best of both worlds - the NA is still street legal and I love taking it places, but when I just want to jump in and be comfortable while heading to work or to run an errand, the NB fits the bill.

wayne_curr

iTrader: (8)

I'm with you except my new(ish) daily driver is a 323 GTX. Its still a blast to drive, handles great with its aftermarket dampers (super rare, thanks splitime) and I can fly over ANYTHING! The car takes gravel roads, pot holes, speed bumps, curbs, and small children/old people in stride. I FLY over speed bumps. I love trying to catch air haha. I never have to even think twice about scraping. For how well it handles, you'd never guess how much ground clearance it has. Everyone at work thinks i'm crazy for not lowering it but keep trying to tell them that it'll just ruin it.

The factory recaro seats are so comfortable that i'll never dream about changing them out. The power steering makes DDing a breeze. I'm taking it on a road trip to south dakota this summer with my girlfriend and I cant wait. Its going to be a perfect road trip car.

I almost bought another miata for a daily. I'm glad I was able to buy this GTX though, its so much better having the cargo space of a hatchback and the ride height. This has changed my perspective on the miata. I've even been considering gutting the interior lately but I dont think i'll ever cage it. I really want to keep the miata safe on the street because I still enjoy cruising around with the top down on our very few nice summer days.

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

I don't track mine either, but I felt like it was getting to be a bit extreme for a daily. No AC, PS (which isn't all that bad, but still..), PW, bolted-on hard top, etc.) I've purchased several parts to help correct that (PW, vented quarter windows, etc.) which will be going on while I'm on leave.

Also - third Marina autox pic in the thread:

dgmorr

iTrader: (4)

I'm on the verge of taking mine off the road. It gets more attention than I want, and it's hard not to drive like a retard when I have it on the street. Going to the track regularly helps get rid of the urge to drive hard, and I've been comfortable driving like an average citizen in my Audis.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

I just found this pic:

I kind of miss the days where my car was innocuous looking. Today it commands respect.

I frequently find myself looking for cheap, <$5k 250whp cars in the classifieds to replace my daily driver with.

Now it can still be driven on weekends and maybe a weekly trip to work when it's cool. I plan to run at least 1 more season of NASATT and although I'll still do TT occasionally in the Miata, I want a CMC 3G Camaro. It's time to go W2W and my Miata is too nice to beat to pieces.

olderguy

iTrader: (19)

My car still has all the comforts: A/C, P/S, Heat, and it is an all around DD car. I am not the fastest driver, but putting on the RA-1's for track or autocross gives me a fun time.

However, some very good drivers have driven my car to set records in time trials and FTD at the autocross; so it isn't the weight that holds me back.

Joe Mauch

My 95 came loaded with a torsen/AC/PS/PW etc, I just added a rollbar, 6UL's and Toyo R1R (this week actually).

I find this thread really interesting because I love doing lapping days but I want the car to still have some semblance of a normal miata.

Let me know if this makes sense for a Hustler like build of riding the line between the two extremes:
Autopower rollbar, 15x9 6ul + 225/45/15 R1R's, 949 racing stage 1 brake kit, Xida CS's 550/350 = track days for the rest of this summer/fall

Am I losing a lot of the daily driver characteristics going this route or is a good balance?

hustler

iTrader: (6)

As long as you duct the radiator/consdenser, you can run exactly what you have, reliably and it will be fun...heavy but fun. You may also want to go even firmer on the springs. I have the 700/400lb springs on my non-Xida ASTs (XIDAs ride better in the rear) and I'm fairly certain that although firmer, the 700/400lb AST stuff is more comfortable than my 115/95lb Bilstein HD set-up. I don't know which spring rate is better for the R1R, but don't let comfort scare you away from the 700/400lb set-up. I frequently drink coffee in my track car on the way to the track, lol.

Trackwhore

Agreed, but the spring rates are fine for a mostly street car. Higher-end suspensions ride better than most people think.

Get all that stuff on your list and never look back. I sure didn't.

twothirdsCobra

iTrader: (3)

While my car really doesn't work DD duty (I have a company car), it's still my only personal road car. If I needed it to, it would function fine as a true DD. It has all the comforts of the OE that most others real DD have to include a nice stereo, power windows, door locks, mirrors and cruise control.

I enjoy driving it too much to have made it just a track car.

timk

I miss the fun factor but not the noise/problems/crap idle etc.

It's so good to be able to drive the car 100% at the track and not have to worry about **** breaking affecting you getting to work.

I rock a 2001 Protege but thinking of getting an Evo 8 or something, to spice up my commute.

falcon

iTrader: (13)

He lives in Renton. We don't need that silly ducting up here...

mr_hyde

iTrader: (4)

I came across this thread while searching/researching for my project. Over the last 3 years, my MSM went from bone stock to almost nothing stock. Everything I did to make it faster on the track without blowing up made it less pleasant to drive on the street. I have also progressed as a driver to the point where I can't go any faster without putting the car at risk - pushing the limits and my comfort to the point where you will go off occasionally.

I have a bone stock '90 that is going to get all the go-fast bits off the MSM and complete MSM drivetrain from an unfortunate donor car. I can put a cage in the '90 and not worry about compromises in performance, comfort or safety. If I eat a tire wall, it will be a bummer but the chassis will be more or less disposable compared to the MSM. All of the expensive bits can be transferred to a $500 donor chassis in a matter of weeks and I'm back in business.

I'm really looking forward to the MSM starting, idling and getting in and out of the parking garage at work without scraping. I'm looking forward to making simple maneuvers with one hand on the wheel while I hold a coffee with the other. Quite brakes. Getting in and out without crawling over a door bar and down into a race seat. The list goes on and on.

For new guys that haven't been through this cycle yet, know it is coming. It starts with a few bolt-ons and then you go to the track for a driving school or an autocross. Triage begins for the things that need to be upgraded to handle the demand and help you go faster. Next, you go faster and need more supporting mods. That leads to even more upgrades and even less street manners. After a few years, the car is a real handful on the street in rush hour.
-h