Miata Mailing List: June 1996, Message #305
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   From: scannon@earthnet.net (Skip Cannon)
Subject: re: Ummm!  Leftovers!
   Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1996 23:43:43 -0400

>Any comments from Lance and Bill or other friends in high places? How about
>those who have travelled cross-country and passed through Colorado? Did you
>notice any dip in performance?

I brought two Miatas from LA to Denver, and neither of them seem *that*
much slower than at sea level.  Pulling the grade to the Eisenhower tunnel
on I-70, I had to downshift to 4th, but no one passed me, and no one stayed
with me.  I was doing a little over 70 mph when I got to the tunnel which
is around 11,000'.  I did notice a lack of power, but using 4th gear meant
I didn't slow much.

OTOH, driving through Death Valley at several hundred feet below sea level
didn't seem to make the Miata noticably quicker either.

IMHO, part of the credit for the minimally *noticable* power loss at
altitude is due to the altitude compensating ability of the fuel injection
system.  Older cars I've owned with carburators did not do nearly as well
when climbing to high altitudes (15 mph wound out in 2nd on the same hill
in the old VW camper), and often needed re-jetting if the car was to stay
at the higher altitude.

The manufacturers used to (still?) sell high altitude cars with different
jets, timing curves and other enhancements.

BUT, after driving Bill's turbo and SC cars at 5,000', I just want more
power, doesn't matter much whether I live at sea level or mile high Denver,
just give me more HP!

>I'm not disputing your impressions, Joseph. I just want to make sure that
>what you say is true, so if I ever decide to move back to Colorado I can
>start saving the msu's for a turbo and a visit to Bill. ;-)

Save your msu's for a turbo anyway, the extra HP is worth it, no matter
what altitude you drive at.

Just my (high altitude) $.02 worth.

Skip Cannon