What is the best year miata to buy?
#24
mkturbo.com
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If you run the car in parallel it is possible but it is much harder. I would highly recommend picking up a 94 and just being done with it. Knowing the luck of people on this board if you find a 95 it will be OBD2 just to spite you.
#25
Like "notching" the frame rail for turbo clearance.
#35
Advantages of the 94. 1.8L engine. Lowest compression engine. Last year of OBD1. Torsen rear end. Last year with a real oil pressure gauge. Oil port in block for turbo. Bigger brakes.
1.8L - extra displacement doesn't hurt. Also corrected some problems with the early 1.6 short nose crank. Doesn't have the bottom end problems that crop up in the 99. Low compression engine is good for boost. OBD1 means just a sniffer test for emissions. OBD2 and you have to have the stock ecu in place for them to plug into. Torsen is a good rear end for the track unless you go huge HP. Earlier 1.6L years had viscous. Real oil pressure gauge means you don't have to buy one aftermarket - minor bonus. The block oil port is just a convenience and ease of install thing. The 1.8 cars have more brake under them than the earlier 1.6's. The stock brakes with proper pads can take care of you just fine until you combine significant boost and heavy road coarse duty.
That being said, people have and enjoy every year built. Each year has it's own issues. 94 just happens to be a pretty great year for people wanting to go FI.
1.8L - extra displacement doesn't hurt. Also corrected some problems with the early 1.6 short nose crank. Doesn't have the bottom end problems that crop up in the 99. Low compression engine is good for boost. OBD1 means just a sniffer test for emissions. OBD2 and you have to have the stock ecu in place for them to plug into. Torsen is a good rear end for the track unless you go huge HP. Earlier 1.6L years had viscous. Real oil pressure gauge means you don't have to buy one aftermarket - minor bonus. The block oil port is just a convenience and ease of install thing. The 1.8 cars have more brake under them than the earlier 1.6's. The stock brakes with proper pads can take care of you just fine until you combine significant boost and heavy road coarse duty.
That being said, people have and enjoy every year built. Each year has it's own issues. 94 just happens to be a pretty great year for people wanting to go FI.