Miata Mailing List: April 1994, Message #13
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   From: Joe Goeke 
Subject: General chit chat...
   Date: Fri, 1 Apr 1994 13:49:22 -0500

>So there you are, *guy* in *red* car passes trooper at 90 in a 55 and gets
>no ticket with no excuse.

No fair what's so ever....Cop must have been gay ;-) (...and there's nothing 
wrong with that!...)

>So far my red Miata has only attracted warnings. Touch wood.

I've gotten TWO warnings in my white Miata.  Both times out here in Seattle and 
I was doing around 10 over. First time a pace on a nice day, talking to my 
sister (not paying attention :-( ) and in talking with the cop, he was from the 
midwest and a Iowa Hawkeye fan, so I got a warning (grew up in Iowa).  Less than 
12 hours later, got pulled over again.  Got pulsed in a ritzy neighborhood, this 
time by a lady cop. she ended up flirting with me and liked my shirt (mickey 
mouse) and also gave me a warning.  My sister is still rassing me to this day 
;-)

>MT-90 behaved like the stock transmission oil

I'll second that motion.  I just did my 30K and I put in the MT-90 in both the 
tranny and diff.  2nd gear is actually worse when cold, but the limited slip 
rear diff is BUNCHES better (especially in the rain).

Also, along the line of maintanence, I too do all my own work.  It isn't just to 
save money and usually not save time, but It's because I LIKE to do it :-)  Most 
poeple who do there own work, like to do it at least a little, so let that be 
your guide.  (the money saving is great too.)  In the last 10 years and three 
cars, I've only had two trips to any repair shop.  Never have stepped foot in a 
dealer repair bin.
 
>If your car drives straight,
>handles predictably, your tires are worn evenly, and your steering
>wheel is straight when pointed straight ahead, you probably don't need
>an alignment.  You might want to consider something a little more
>aggressive than stock to enjoy your car at the limits,  but anything
>else is throwing away money that could be better spent on something
>more critical.

Anyone who Auto-xes knows the value of a good alignment.  The reports I've heard 
and have experinced, is that the Miata holds it aligement very well, and most 
come from the factory not so good.  I also suggest getting it done by a "good 
shop".  Not only do you need to worry about the people doing it, but also the 
equipement being used.  Most places don't calibrate them well or at all.  I'd 
ask one of your local auto-x poeple where they go (probably only one or two 
places) and go there.  (In Seattle that place is:  Puget Sound Tire, Gregg 
Fordahl ).   ---JCG.