Miata Mailing List: October 1993, Message #82
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   From: horma200@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Milton Horst)
Subject: Trunk Space
   Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1993 17:53:45 -0400


Kris Eckols wrote:
>> I think Mazda should have located the spare the
>> way they did in the 1st gen. RX-7. Make a spot for the spare in an
>> indentation and have a cover over it. Then you would have a nice
>> clean, flat, and uncluttered trunk.
>
> Ken Wrote:
> true, but wouldn't this start interfering with the muffler or
> other junk underneath the trunk?
>
> Maybe not. Vaguely I remember reading about someone modifying the
> trunk to increase the capacity. I think there is more space
> available than Mazda uses. And that muffler is the size of a
> trash can. Minor complaints aside, I haven't been at a loss
> for space when it came to loading the car for long
> topless weekends :).

IMHO, this is one area with a lot of potential for improvement.  When I
looked under the back of my car, I see a lot of space on the left side
under the trunk which could be freed up with a minor redesign of the
exhaust system.  If the pipe entered the trashcan in a slightly 
different position, or from the side, there would be enough space to
make a well for storing the spare tire vertically, or at least nearly so.
This would (A) eliminate the need for an accessory trunk protector plate,
and (B) free up the CAVERN which is currently occupied only partially by
the spare tire.  It looks as if there is enough space in there to hold a
full case worth of beer cans :-).  BTW, the well in the bottom of the trunk
is IMHO a great feature.  My briefcase fits in there and doesn't slide
around, and it can hold three bags of groceries upright without falling
over.  It would hold four bags of groceries if the spare tire were moved!

         Milton Horst          Compuserve: 71155,674
         Seattle, WA           Internet: horma200@bcstec.ca.boeing.com