Miata Mailing List: December 1994, Message #109
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   From: manson@fred.net
Subject: Re: Got one!
   Date: Sun, 4 Dec 1994 15:51:01 -0500

Maria,
On Sun, 4 Dec 1994 you wrote:

> Second, I'm now considering an alarm.  I'm also caught up in the "to lock,
> or not to lock" dilemna.  What aspects of an alarm lower insurance?
> What features should I make sure that I get?  Is Lojack worth it?
> It seems that there are a lot of Viper users.  I just don't want something
> that annoys neighbors at 4 am.

I would get the alarm if I were you.  I don't think that the brand makes 
much difference, but more significantly the convenience that you want.  
Mine is as about as cheap as they get, but if anyone were to open the 
doors or trunk it sets it off.  It is supposed to have a two-stage shock 
sensor too, but I have never thought that was worth adjusting for my 
needs.  I don't lock my car at all, but only set the alarm when she has 
to be left alone.  I usually park it where the alarm will attract some 
attention.

> Third, is it worth adding the K&N (?) air filter to gain the extra horsepower?
> I bought a used '93 with 13000 miles, so it only has a 1.6 liter engine.

I can't remember the cost of the K&N, but when you do consider HP 
increasers, consider the cost/HP as the evaluating criteria.  I'm still 
considering an exhaust change myself, only because of the slight HP gain, 
the advent of a slightly louder exhaust note appeals to me.

> Fourth, I seem to have a 3500 RPM hesitation when I first start the car.
> Is this familiar to anyone else?  Is there a service bulliten on this, or
> do I just need to get a tune-up?  It started happening about two days after
> getting the car. (Of course.)

This is the first I have heard of such a condition (but then I have a 
lousy memory).  I guess my next question to you would be: what does 
"start-up the car" mean?  Does it mean 10 seconds, 1 minute, 10 minutes, or 
what?  Are you sure that it started two days after getting the car, or 
did you just notice it two days after getting it.  I suppose it is 
possible that the condition is what caused it to be traded in.  Is there 
any noise associated with the 3500 rpm effect?  That is the typical 
range for the infamous buzz.  But the 'buzz' had no real power/hesitation 
impact.  The car should not need any kind of tune-up at 15000 miles in my 
opinion unless there is something that was intentionally changed by the 
previous owner.  One potential 3500 rpm effect might be the cat, but it 
is usually accompanied by a gravel-in-a-pipe sound.

Good Luck, and if you want more sidewalk supervisor advice feel free to ask.
Tom