Ever get bored of your car?
05-07-2011, 12:37 AM
#1
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Ever get bored of your car?
Good God i'm at that point where i'm just bored of my car. I cant see any direction to go with it.
My 99 sport had been a c-stock champ in its day and just a more fun car to drive than my 92 ever was (even with the turbo on the 92). After I started Grad school i stopped racing much and said "the hell with classing" and went past the common c-stock mods. I installed a set of revalved bilsteins, 550 350 springs, Poly bushings, and a 01 mani, 15x8 6ul's. But now I just dont know what to do feels like every option will cost me more $$$ and time than fun.
The car is my DD and is around 16x,xxx miles. A leak down test shows the motor is fine but I remember all the small BS that comes with TC/SC the car from the previous go around. Yeah I know I can make it reliable but it would mean a lot of the money spent on the car already would be junk. As well as I now know all the little crap that one needs to factor in to have a nice "bulletproof" kit. But unlike when I was in college I will have to pay for it upfront as I don't have the time to search the web for bargains and little time to wrench.
I think about going with a bar and seats but I probably wont track it and the bar would be dead weight at autox. If I had a second car I would track it as my job offers an inflexible attendance policy, and although and HPDE is relativity safe I cant afford to miss work/school due to the uhoh factor. I'm about 5 classes from being done with grad school (if you dont count the certification test at the end), but that will take longer as I just got engaged and probably will takingnext spring and summer of to get ready for the prep classes, and wedding details (remember inflexible job)
Maybe i'm just at a point where moving on to a different car would be the best.
My 99 sport had been a c-stock champ in its day and just a more fun car to drive than my 92 ever was (even with the turbo on the 92). After I started Grad school i stopped racing much and said "the hell with classing" and went past the common c-stock mods. I installed a set of revalved bilsteins, 550 350 springs, Poly bushings, and a 01 mani, 15x8 6ul's. But now I just dont know what to do feels like every option will cost me more $$$ and time than fun.
The car is my DD and is around 16x,xxx miles. A leak down test shows the motor is fine but I remember all the small BS that comes with TC/SC the car from the previous go around. Yeah I know I can make it reliable but it would mean a lot of the money spent on the car already would be junk. As well as I now know all the little crap that one needs to factor in to have a nice "bulletproof" kit. But unlike when I was in college I will have to pay for it upfront as I don't have the time to search the web for bargains and little time to wrench.
I think about going with a bar and seats but I probably wont track it and the bar would be dead weight at autox. If I had a second car I would track it as my job offers an inflexible attendance policy, and although and HPDE is relativity safe I cant afford to miss work/school due to the uhoh factor. I'm about 5 classes from being done with grad school (if you dont count the certification test at the end), but that will take longer as I just got engaged and probably will takingnext spring and summer of to get ready for the prep classes, and wedding details (remember inflexible job)
Maybe i'm just at a point where moving on to a different car would be the best.
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05-07-2011, 01:08 AM
#3
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As much as we all really like the miata, there's always another car. I've had my car since 2002, and it's looking like next year I'm going to get rid of it. I really love my car, it's freaking insane, but at this stage in my life I need something that's better on gas, newer, and more practical. I also find myself opting to take my motorbike out now instead of my miata. The only time I drive it is to take my daughter to school in the morning, and then I do the whole drag racing thing when it's happening. Otherwise it just sits there.
I can see myself a few years downs the road picking up a datsun 510 or something similar and putting a miata powerplant into it, turbo it, etc.
I can see myself a few years downs the road picking up a datsun 510 or something similar and putting a miata powerplant into it, turbo it, etc.
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05-07-2011, 02:46 AM
#7
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I get bored with my car everyother week. What I want is a '68 Hemi road runner. Then again, my car is fast as hell and it gets like 29 mpg. Plus I tune it with a laptop instead of turning screws or changing carb jets. The boarder you get, the faster you need to go. That's how I see it. Make it faster and faster until it scares the **** outta you. Then you won't be bored.
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05-07-2011, 09:17 AM
#13
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I've had a miata of some sorts since 1998.
I've been looking around for 80's turbo boxes (323, mirage turbo, starion/conquest, etc) but they are mostly run down and I'm so hard pressed for wrenching time. Doesn't help that I dont have a garage, just a carport, at my apartment.
I've been looking around for 80's turbo boxes (323, mirage turbo, starion/conquest, etc) but they are mostly run down and I'm so hard pressed for wrenching time. Doesn't help that I dont have a garage, just a carport, at my apartment.
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05-07-2011, 09:36 AM
#14
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No I don't get bored of my car.
I do get bored when little car projects turn into huge frustrating mindbombs because the part/parts manufacturer fucked **** up.
Driving, no, I do not get bored.
I do get bored when little car projects turn into huge frustrating mindbombs because the part/parts manufacturer fucked **** up.
Driving, no, I do not get bored.
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05-07-2011, 09:43 AM
#15
As soon as you're rid of it you'll be kicking yourself for going through with it. My dad did this with his speed boat (there's a gas guzzler) I did it with my first done up car. My wife is trying to make it worse by saying 'you can't get a bike unless the miata goes, but the miata should stay'.
I agree with the above points about having depressing dd's making the miata seem awesome in comparison. My truck and other car are good at what they are good at, but that's not speed or handling.
BTW don't most people get these feelings in the winter if their car is put away? I know that's when I get them.
I agree with the above points about having depressing dd's making the miata seem awesome in comparison. My truck and other car are good at what they are good at, but that's not speed or handling.
BTW don't most people get these feelings in the winter if their car is put away? I know that's when I get them.
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05-07-2011, 11:15 AM
#16
Usually when I'm in your position it's time to start over.
I'll go find so poor college kid across town with a POS he just had to unbolt the turbo off of and trade him cars. I get a new canvas and the car goes to someone that will enjoy it immensely.
jk.
I hate to say this as I really do admire your car...but it does sound like you either need to move on...or find an interim goal/situation you're happy with. Dreaming big (and realizing when you can't fulfill that) is a sign you really do love the project. Your anguish comes from wanting to do more and not being able to. It's enough to torpedo something you'd otherwise be happy with.
Maybe just accept that it is what it is and focus on what's really important now. If you find that you're not using it or don't feel the same then look at a different platform. For those not looking for huge downtime projects, lots of work and heavy investment a newer car with a few bolt-ons can be enjoyable. It will never have the potential of the Miata...but it can be something semi-practical that actually gets you to work reliably and that you still look forward to minor wrenching/mods every other weekend on.
Good luck.
*first vulture on the scene for epic partout of one of Houston's baddest Miatas
I'll go find so poor college kid across town with a POS he just had to unbolt the turbo off of and trade him cars. I get a new canvas and the car goes to someone that will enjoy it immensely.
jk.
I hate to say this as I really do admire your car...but it does sound like you either need to move on...or find an interim goal/situation you're happy with. Dreaming big (and realizing when you can't fulfill that) is a sign you really do love the project. Your anguish comes from wanting to do more and not being able to. It's enough to torpedo something you'd otherwise be happy with.
Maybe just accept that it is what it is and focus on what's really important now. If you find that you're not using it or don't feel the same then look at a different platform. For those not looking for huge downtime projects, lots of work and heavy investment a newer car with a few bolt-ons can be enjoyable. It will never have the potential of the Miata...but it can be something semi-practical that actually gets you to work reliably and that you still look forward to minor wrenching/mods every other weekend on.
Good luck.
*first vulture on the scene for epic partout of one of Houston's baddest Miatas
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