Hi everyone, I guess it's time to stop lurking.My name is Garret, I've been wrenching on cars for years mostly Toyota and Nissan, new to the Mazda game!. I bought my 1991 miata a few months ago ,it was in rough shape but I'm slowing fixing it up to drift/daily. I'm tossing around the idea of a turbo or supercharger for a modest 150+ whp.

 

Welcome to the forum.

If you are planning to drift it, why bother to fix it up?

If you are planning to drift a daily, you will need a second car.

The Miata is a terrible choice for drifting because it has a very low polar moment of inertia. This is also the primary reason it is a good road racing car. There are many choices for drifting that are far easier and more capable platforms. A Miata will be starting with a considerable disadvantage.

 

I'm just fixing small things, like broken sway bar brackets, and regular fluid changes that were overlooked by the previous owner. I do have a r32 for second car and a Tacoma, but the reason I say daily the miata, is I'm only home for 7 days a month so I find myself driving it the most . I've search and read about the inertia and it causing the car to spin out lot,but it's something I'm willing to work with. Autocross could be a possibly thou..

 

Short wheelbase and a fairly central center of mass is good for slaloms and twisties.

Longer wheelbase and center of mass further forward relative the center of the wheelbase would make it far easier to hold a drift angle, from what I understand regarding the physics of it. See also 240sx.

 

Welcome to the forum, Garret! Glad that you decided to join us and post. Your Miata looks beautiful, congrats. May it provide unlimited fun and unhampered travel across all terrains for as long as you two are together. Enjoy the time behind its wheel!