Getting an auto transmission for towing and mileage is just dumb.
Just put the clutch in if it needs it and enjoy the car. You have a good
car for a good price and if you get 24 instead of 26 or 28 MPG so what.
Figure out the gas cost vs. purchase cost.
People get freaked and act stupid about MPG and do stupid things to try to
get 2 or 3 more MPG thinking long term they are saving money. In most cases
they don't after they run real numbers of gas cost savings vs. purchase
price of a vehicle to get a few more MPG.
Larry
White Knight 1991 Crystal White #99 CSP
Silver Bullet 1992 Silverstone #17 SM2 FM I+ Turbo
Honey B 1992 Sunburst Yellow #99 SM2L JR Supercharger
Whooosh 2004 Titanium Mazdaspeed MX-5
LowCountry Miata
http://www.lowcountrymiataclub.net
Masters Miata
RAGS 074
From: miatapower-bounces@???
[mailto:miatapower-bounces@???] On Behalf Of Chris
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 4:29 PM
To: 'Robert McElwee'
Cc: miatapower@???
Subject: RE: NMC - OTM Subaru MPG question
the ramp is unimproved and needs awd for traction in the sand. plus i do a
little more towing than that occasionally. 4wd/awd required. renting a
truck is no option, thjios ramp is right at the end of my street and its a
convenience. throw the skiff in, enjoy the bay, yank it out and park it. i
also use the same trailer (with box on it) for dump runs, motor moving,
whatever, and towing a small homebuilt plane to the airfield).
also the miata as much as I love it, is a automatic '92 which means that
towing would almsot certainly break the diff, and maybe strain the
transmission as well.
IDEALLY with enough money, we could prob get away with 2 Miata's, one being
a 94-97 Torsen with FM2 kit for fun, plus an old AWD for the occasional
towing which would also make a good snowy day car or 3rd car when one of the
Miata's is down.
OR we could have a WRX plus one Miata, but then fuel costs become a factor
again.
one new development is the subaru I just bought may be coming up on a clutch
replacement eventually. a stock clutch kit is only $165 but to go anything
heavier duty goes right to $500 for an ACT or similar.
arghhhh if I knew it would get 24mpg I woulda got an auto trans! maybe
sell it and go that way?
anyway thanks for all the subaru input from everybody
_____
From: Robert McElwee [mailto:miatamail@???]
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 2:13 PM
To: Chris
Cc: miatapower@???
Subject: Re: NMC - OTM Subaru MPG question
If you are only towing a small 1600# boat to the end of the street now and
then I would borrow the neighbor's truck and spend the $1600 (plus the extra
insurance/tax $$$) on an FM2 kit for your Miata...
I am not a boat guy, but can't you tow a 1600# boat up a boat ramp with a
230 HP Miata? I know you probably shouldn't take something like that out on
the road due to the relative weight, but to the end of the street @ 10 MPH
is a whole different thing. If you do sink the Miata, make sure you have
your roll bar cam turned on so we can watch it on youtube.
On Sun, Aug 31, 2008 at 12:25 PM, Chris <chris@???> wrote:
any thoughts or experiences on a OTM that has AWD and can do light towing
(at least 1200lbs)?
if I didnt need AWD, I'd get a 94 - 97 Miata and put in big brakes and
obviously some kind of FM power mods and have a do-it-all car, but the end
of my street is a water access point and I like to put my small boat in
there every so often. and we get snow a few times each winter.
--
Robert McElwee and Blue Flash
"The 50 MPG Miata"
www.lightweightmiata.com/mpg
Lightweight Miata Forum:
www.lightweightmiata.com/forum
The Miata Trailer Project:
www.lightweightmiata.com/trailer
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