Miata Mailing List: March 1993, Message #133
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   From: (none)
Subject: Re: a few questions
   Date: (none)

> 
> Hi.  I've just joined the mailing list after having purchased a new
> base-model miata about ten days ago.  I have a couple of random
> questions.
> 
> 1. At what speed do you usually cruise on the highway?  I've been
> driving RX/7s (an '81 and an '86) for almost ten years now.  I'm used
> to having to pay attention to keep from going too fast ("too fast"
> means "too fast to keep your license if you get caught").  But the
> little four-banger in the miata seems to be winding out at relatively
> slow speeds, and I feel like I have to push it to get up to 70.  I'm
> know the gear ratios are closer, and the rotary engine is unusually
> quiet, so I'm not used to getting the auditory feedback.  I just
> wonder how fast is too fast for cruising, and I don't believe the redline.

I generally cruise between 65 and 80.  Now don't get the wrong idea, I'm not
some sort of speed demon - but traffic *does* move at that speed on the
NJ Turnpike.  It isn't "too fast" for the Miata.  I spent two days at the
Miata driving school driving between 6000 and 7300 RPM pretty much non-stop.
Other than the noise, there is no problem doing this.

Believe the red line.  The fuel will cut off before you run into trouble. 

> 
> 2. I had a recommendation to use spray silicone for dressing the top
> and rear window.  Has anyone done this?

I wouldn't use silicone spray on either.  It will discolor the window and
leave an oily film which will run all over your car when it rains.  Use
a convertable top dressing for the top (I don't know which one I use offhand)
and Meguires Window Cleaner and Polish on the window.  It works great!

> 
> 3. Cd changer in the trunk.  Is there power readily available in the
> trunk?  I know that Mazda offers a changer, so I thought there might
> be a wire already there.  Is the hard suspension too much for a cd,
> does it skip a lot?

There is a large thing on the right side of the trunk with these *big* wires
coming off of it.  It's the battery.  There is most definitely unswitched
power available there.   There is *no* switched power anywhere in the
trunk.  I had to run a wire through the tunnel, down the carpet, under the
floor carpet, and up into the fuse box area to get switched power to my 
changer. (I didn't get the one sold by the dealer - I bought a Sony 10
disc RF modulated unit.)  The suspension hasn't been a problem at all.  About
once a month, I'll hear a skip, but interestingly, it doesn't happen on
sharp bumps.  It usually will skip on smaller, less dramatic bumps.  My guess
is it has to do with the amplitude and frequency of the bump.  There is
probably some exact combination that will cause a skip.  Like I said, its so
rare, I don't worry about it.

> 
> 4. Weight limit on the luggage rack 22 lbs?  Has anybody exceeded that
> without damage?

I don't have a luggage rack.
> 
> OK, so that's more than a couple.  I'll stop now.
> 
>     Guy Hillyer
>     guy@odi.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

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Gary J. Fischman		NYNEX Science & Technology Center
E-mail: fischman@nynexst.com	Wireless Communications Laboratory
Compuserve: 73750,2552		Room: 2C-10
Phone: 914-644-2725
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