Dan's '92 Miata - Really really slow build

[AllBlkdOut07]

Sorry, but I don't see the point in getting a nice wheel set up without addressing the stance.

Keep telling yourself it'll look okay like that for a couple years.

 

[Zembonez]

Sorry, but I don't see the point in getting a nice wheel set up without addressing the stance.

Keep telling yourself it'll look okay like that for a couple years.

"Stance" does not translate automatically into handling improvement. These wheels are super light and will decrease unsprung weight by a bunch. This next statement may not compute with you... so read it with caution.

Everything you do to a vehicle does not have to have something to do with appearance.

I know.

Shocking.

 

[DV2000NJ]

Sorry, but I don't see the point in getting a nice wheel set up without addressing the stance.

Keep telling yourself it'll look okay like that for a couple years.

Reason for wheels:

-Save over 4 lbs. of unsprung weight per corner
-Gain 1.5" of wheel width (will allow for wider tires, and will let the tread contact the road more uniformly)
-The offset of the stock wheels looks like SHIT. They are seriously recessed about 2" inward of the fender
-They just look a hell of a lot better than the stock Daisys, even at stock height (what looks better, tall car with ugly wheels, or tall car with good wheels that fit well )

I would love to lower the car, but I'm not going to choose a sub-par suspension setup just for looks. A good set of coilovers, full bushing kit, and replacements for any other worn out stuff just isn't in the budget. You of all people should understand waiting until you can go all out with the best parts.

Not to mention this car with stock suspension is beyond my driving abilities, let alone with an aggressive suspension setup. I need to improve my handling abilities before I improve the car's more than anything.

 

[AllBlkdOut07]

Sorry, but I don't see the point in getting a nice wheel set up without addressing the stance.

Keep telling yourself it'll look okay like that for a couple years.

"Stance" does not translate automatically into handling improvement. These wheels are super light and will decrease unsprung weight by a bunch. This next statement may not compute with you... so read it with caution.

Everything you do to a vehicle does not have to have something to do with appearance.

I know.

Shocking.

Sorry, but I don't see the point in getting a nice wheel set up without addressing the stance.

Keep telling yourself it'll look okay like that for a couple years.

Reason for wheels:

-Save over 4 lbs. of unsprung weight per corner
-Gain 1.5" of wheel width (will allow for wider tires, and will let the tread contact the road more uniformly)
-The offset of the stock wheels looks like SHIT. They are seriously recessed about 2" inward of the fender
-They just look a hell of a lot better than the stock Daisys, even at stock height (what looks better, tall car with ugly wheels, or tall car with good wheels that fit well )

I would love to lower the car, but I'm not going to choose a sub-par suspension setup just for looks. A good set of coilovers, full bushing kit, and replacements for any other worn out stuff just isn't in the budget. You of all people should understand waiting until you can go all out with the best parts.

Not to mention this car with stock suspension is beyond my driving abilities, let alone with an aggressive suspension setup. I need to improve my handling abilities before I improve the car's more than anything.

Coilovers? Well excuse me... I thought this was going to be nothing more than a DD.

As far as lowering the car on a sub-par suspension, I would think lowering the car would automatically improve handling over stock height, so it wouldn't be just for looks (That was for you Jimbonez). Besides, I didn't tell you to cut your springs. My coupe handled amazingly well with a good set of lowering springs, stiffer aftermarket struts and some sticky summer tires. I guess my set-up was 'subpar', and the new set up: Progress Technologies progressive rate springs and beefier front sway bar is gonna be just as lame.

Oh, and full coilovers are sometimes more of a headache than they are worth. I've known a lot of guys that get them thinking they are the sh*t, then end up selling them before too long for various reasons. So IMO coilovers aren't the only option. Why do you think a very good set up needs to cost more? You sound like my father, he buys the most expensive things thinking because they cost more they must be better.

 

[AllBlkdOut07]

I forgot to mention, the Miata is the right year, and right color.

 

[DV2000NJ]

Coilovers? Well excuse me... I thought this was going to be nothing more than a DD.

As far as lowering the car on a sub-par suspension, I would think lowering the car would automatically improve handling over stock height, so it wouldn't be just for looks (That was for you Jimbonez). Besides, I didn't tell you to cut your springs. My coupe handled amazingly well with a good set of lowering springs, stiffer aftermarket struts and some sticky summer tires. I guess my set-up was 'subpar', and the new set up: Progress Technologies progressive rate springs and beefier front sway bar is gonna be just as lame.

Oh, and full coilovers are sometimes more of a headache than they are worth. I've known a lot of guys that get them thinking they are the sh*t, then end up selling them before too long for various reasons. So IMO coilovers aren't the only option. Why do you think a very good set up needs to cost more? You sound like my father, he buys the most expensive things thinking because they cost more they must be better.

On these cars, the stock setup is so good, that for it to be improved, it takes a lot. It's not just your standard small economy car, it's set up from the factory to just plan GRIP. Sure, I could get a set of stiffer lowering springs and roll would be decreased, but the overall handling characteristics of the car would be affected negatively. Even just struts and springs will be around $700, and that's only going to drop the car about 1 or 1.5".

The eventual plan for the car is a car that's DD-able, but also a beast on the track/autocross course, and the adjustability that a good set of coilovers offer makes them the best choice.

There's no inexpensive way to lower these cars without decreasing the handling ability and ride. Since I have "big plans" for the car in a few years, I don't want to spend the money twice when it already handles great as is.

 

[Zembonez]

Lowering springs do not instantly translate into better handling on a Miata unless you go with stiffer bushings and some premium shocks. I've been around a zillion of them at Autocrosses. It takes a good combination of suspension parts to better the original setup. There is a lot more to the dynamics of the car than ride height... even though some people are allergic to - GASP - the sheer existence of wheel gap.

I just like getting Umberto De Magnifico fired up! (Good to see you here man)

 

[Truckguy24]

Man those are gonna look great! And the wheel gap would be less anyways, the springs aren't even compressed

 

[AllBlkdOut07]

On these cars, the stock setup is so good, that for it to be improved, it takes a lot. It's not just your standard small economy car, it's set up from the factory to just plan GRIP. Sure, I could get a set of stiffer lowering springs and roll would be decreased, but the overall handling characteristics of the car would be affected negatively. Even just struts and springs will be around $700, and that's only going to drop the car about 1 or 1.5".

The eventual plan for the car is a car that's DD-able, but also a beast on the track/autocross course, and the adjustability that a good set of coilovers offer makes them the best choice.

There's no inexpensive way to lower these cars without decreasing the handling ability and ride. Since I have "big plans" for the car in a few years, I don't want to spend the money twice when it already handles great as is.

Ok, fair enough, you know the car better than me, I didn't realize it was such a special car, an exception to the rule.

I have no doubts you'll get the most out of it, afterall, I'm quite impressed with what you got out of your truck.

I just like getting Umberto De Magnifico fired up! (Good to see you here man)

I wish I could be here more often, you guys are def a lot of fun. But don't you guys have any hobbies?

I've been in home reno mode so my time is seriously lacking.

 

[DV2000NJ]

Ok, fair enough, you know the car better than me, I didn't realize it was such a special car, an exception to the rule.

I have no doubts you'll get the most out of it, afterall, I'm quite impressed with what you got out of your truck.

Believe me, I was pretty disappointed to find out that I couldn't lower the car inexpensively without losing some ability. It's probably for the better though, I need to keep this thing as stock as possible for a while. That doesn't seem to be happening though.

Next time Colin and I are up I'll give you a ride, I think you'll be surprised at how well this thing sticks to the pavement, even with piss-poor tires.