Miata Mailing List: March 1998, Message #171

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A number of people have commented that the 99 is more rigid than the
90-97 cars.  Interestingly, the last issue of Miata Magazine described
the changes that increase rigidity.  The 99 has only 1% more torsional
rigidity and  about 6% more bending rigidity.  Not much.  However, by
increasing the stiffing in four places arround the floor at the
corners of the floor and at the transmission tunnel (by welding at the
corners of the floor) the car has a subjective feeling of rigidity
since less vibration is transmitted through the seat (see picture
on page 69 of the last issue of 1997).  It might be possible to add or
weld the same or similar type bracing to the 90-97 cars but it would
require removing the seats and the carpeting and center console. 
Interesting idea that you can impact the sensation of rigidity without
increasing rigidity very much.

Herb Samuels