Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » NA miata, 1.6 vs 1.8 preferences? inspired by owners thread 1 2 3 4

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  April 27, 2011 11:55 a.m. WilberM3 HalfDork

  Since i see lots of multi generation and multi-displacement ownership among grmers, which NA miata engine does GRM prefer for overall ownership and why, assuming it is to be kept naturally aspirated with only mild mods?

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  April 27, 2011 11:58 a.m. Javelin SuperDork

  1.8, period, end of thread. The 1.6 sucks, they are all older, the CAS will fail, and they all have crank snout issues. Also, you can't get the Torsen or bigger brakes. And there's no tuners availble for the 1.6. Also, they suck.

  

  Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin 360 / GoKart / 86 944 Sport / 01 Grand Prix GT / 06 Mazda5 M5

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  April 27, 2011 12:01 p.m. dyintorace SuperDork

  You should check miata.net. There's a wealth of information there!

  Gainesville, FL

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  April 27, 2011 12:05 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

  1.8 FTW!!!!!

  Also: @ dyintorace

  SCAVENGE THE SEA FLOOR FOR NUTRIENTS

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  April 27, 2011 12:05 p.m. alfadriver SuperDork

  In reply to dyintorace:

  Well, it may degrade from a NA1 vs. NA2 to NA vs. NB vs. NC....

  Thankfully, the miata.net separates each of the versions. Including the not yet born ND.

  As for the CAS- Joey- did you find a virtually perfect Miata with a broken one of those that you got for a song? Sometimes, you can work faults into features!

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  April 27, 2011 12:05 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  I'm sure djhives has his OWN opinion about that and isn't afraid to use it.

  All my Miatas have been 1.6s, haven't had many problems with any of the engines. Only real problem I've had with one was the one that the PO caused by unqualified bolting on of a cheapo turbo kit.

  I'm sure he'd done a better job if he checked on http://miata.net/ first.

  Sanity is vastly overrated.

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  April 27, 2011 12:09 p.m. Xceler8x SuperDork

  I've got a 1.6. I don't think they suck but the 1.8 is a better starting point imo.

  The 1.6 does rev a bit faster but the 1.8 will put down better numbers.

  You are what you do, when it counts.

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  April 27, 2011 12:09 p.m. monark192 Reader

  I have a 91 1.6 - it was cheap and has been dead nuts reliable. 135,000 miles

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  April 27, 2011 12:11 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

  I like the idea of a worked n/a 1.6 with the lightest clutch/flywheel package i could possibly find with ITBs and a short gearset.

  Beyond that. Meh.

  SCAVENGE THE SEA FLOOR FOR NUTRIENTS

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  April 27, 2011 12:15 p.m. Raze Dork

  You guys are too much, stop making me laugh at work...

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  April 27, 2011 12:19 p.m. Joshua Reader

  I have a 1.6 and love it.

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  April 27, 2011 12:20 p.m. Javelin SuperDork

  Well according to miata.net there's virtually no price difference between a 1.6 and a 1.8 car, so you might as well get the bigger, better engine (and brakes, and differential, and clutch, and interior, and wheels).

  Also, I have driven both a lot and I've never found a 1.6 to "rev quicker" than a 1.8. I think that was a myth started by 1.6 owners jealous of the 1.8's superiority. Though it might rev quicker after the crank snout breaks off and there's no longer any accessories or balancer to spin...

  Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin 360 / GoKart / 86 944 Sport / 01 Grand Prix GT / 06 Mazda5 M5

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  April 27, 2011 12:20 p.m. WilberM3 HalfDork

  i'm familiar with most of the differences between the NA1 and NA2 cars (at least the drivetrain/chassis stuff), and of course the larger engine is usually the better choice for making more power, but i have only driven n/a 1.8Ls and a turbo 1.6L, so without any apples to apples experience, i was wondering about other's opinions, and maybe why they have own/race a 1.6 vs 1.8 (of course that'll likely mean it was the cheapest one they found on this board)

  Dave

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  April 27, 2011 12:27 p.m. failboat Reader

  Just get a 94-95 (pre obdII) with a torsen and be done with it. I had a 1.6 for years, then borrowed my friends 94 for a day. The extra torque is real nice to have. I do feel that at 4k+ rpm the 1.6 revs faster though.

  I was pulling 31mpg every day commuting with my 1.6. I hear most people say the 1.8 isnt quite that good on gas.

  boosh.

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  April 27, 2011 12:34 p.m. MCarp22 HalfDork

  I have a 1.6 and i'm basically swapping everything over to the 1.8 parts as they break or wear out.

  I should have just started with a 1.8 car.

  Mike Carpeter - 1991 Miata base

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  April 27, 2011 12:45 p.m. motomoron HalfDork

  1.6 car was historic tag legal - no inspection ever, cheaper tag, practically free insurance.

  128k 1.6 motor w/ new gaskets + seals + plug wires + header/exh/intake motivates the car just fine.

  I can drive my weedy little 1.6 WFO about all the time which is fun. My crazily built '98 M3 is miserable on the street - you never even scratch the surface.

  When the 1.6 pops I'll buy a '99 1.8 and put a cold side supercharger on and try a totally different Miata experience, but now a momentum car is a nice diversion.

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  April 27, 2011 12:48 p.m. nderwater HalfDork

  I've owned a 1.8 NA and a NB. The cars were pretty similar in character, but my NB has been the easier car to own because the bits are all newer and there isn't any undercarriage rust. I'm also partial to the interior and exterior styling of the NB, but that's completely subjective.

  Auto photo blog: http://motomania.tumblr.com

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  April 27, 2011 12:49 p.m. tuna55 SuperDork

  failboat wrote: Just get a 94-95 (pre obdII) with a torsen and be done with it. I had a 1.6 for years, then borrowed my friends 94 for a day. The extra torque is real nice to have. I do feel that at 4k+ rpm the 1.6 revs faster though. I was pulling 31mpg every day commuting with my 1.6. I hear most people say the 1.8 isnt quite that good on gas.

  I love OBD-II, why would you avoid it?

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  April 27, 2011 12:49 p.m. joey48442 SuperDork

  alfadriver wrote: In reply to dyintorace: Well, it may degrade from a NA1 vs. NA2 to NA vs. NB vs. NC.... Thankfully, the miata.net separates each of the versions. Including the not yet born ND. As for the CAS- Joey- did you find a virtually perfect Miata with a broken one of those that you got for a song? Sometimes, you can work faults into features!

  Wowza... Can't believe you remember, but yeah, we bought a nice 1991 with high mileage and a bad cas.

  Worked great till it got in an accident...

  Joey

  Oh yes use the longest screwdriver in the toolbox,use my shop voice and wing the rest!

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  April 27, 2011 12:50 p.m. alfadriver SuperDork

  nderwater wrote: I've owned a 1.8 NA and a NB. The cars were pretty similar in character, but my NB has been the easier car to own because the bits are all newer and there isn't any undercarriage rust. I'm also partial to the interior and exterior styling of the NB, but that's completely subjective.

  Yes, but if you consider the NC, and even the ND when deciding between a 1.6 or 1.8l NA.....

  (OTOH, I agree. Which is why I got the '99 so fast. Well, except I do have some rust)

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  April 27, 2011 1:10 p.m. mw HalfDork

  I like the 94-97 cars, but would convert back to 1.6 brakes, 1.6 flywheel, and 1.6 interior carpet (much nicer)

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  April 27, 2011 1:18 p.m. Xceler8x SuperDork

  Javelin wrote: Though it might rev quicker after the crank snout breaks off and there's no longer any accessories or balancer to spin...

  Well...yeah.

  You are what you do, when it counts.

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  April 27, 2011 1:24 p.m. failboat Reader

  tuna55 wrote: I love OBD-II, why would you avoid it?

  Sometimes I feel like it is out to get me.

  boosh.

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  April 27, 2011 1:25 p.m. EvanB SuperDork

  I love my 1.6. I will never own a 1.8, they are HORRIBLE, worse in every way!

  
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  April 27, 2011 1:32 p.m. Duke SuperDork

  tuna55 wrote: I love OBD-II, why would you avoid it?

  Because at least every 2 years I have to remove my supercharger, intake tract, larger injectors, and standalone engine management, reinstall the stock parts, putt through the emissions and inspection line, then put all the fun bits back on.

  If the PO had started with a '94-5, it would not need to be OBD-II compliant and it would be a LOT easier to get inspected.

  Junior Brown is my hero.

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