B Gordon
Well-Known Member
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- #1
Back in 2015 I purchased a new GT with automatic transmission.
At the time of purchase I was considering adding a supercharger once they became commercially available.
By the time 2016 rolled around and I had the funds saved up to do a supercharger install, the little voice in the back of my head started talking a different tune so I bought a 2000 Miata as a beater/daily driver to keep my Mustang clean and happy as a weekend ride.
As time went by I found out that the Miata was the car that I prefer to drive simply because it is such a fun and engaging ride. Part of the fun has to do with the Miata being a convertible but even beyond that the car just puts a grin on my face when I am behind the wheel.
After a year of driving the Miata and doing research I started driving the Mustang as my daily driver and spent 8 months dropping an engine and transmission into the Miata. Bought and engine and T56 manual transmission from a salvage 2000 Z28 and the rear differential from a Cadillac CTS-V and a bunch of parts from a place called Flyin Miata. Put it all together. Currently it weighs exactly 2720 lbs and is putting down around 320 HP to the rear wheels. With a cam swap it would be simple to run it up to about 380 at the rear wheel, almost the same as what my Mustang puts to the ground in a car that weighs around 1200 pounds less.
This is not a drag race or road race comparison but rather a comparison of the two cars as a fun daily driver.
As of right now I can say for sure that the Miata is faster in a straight line but probably slower around corners and in braking performance because I have not upgraded the brakes & tires yet. Gotta save something for a Winter project.
Pluses for the Mustang
...It has a back seat and a decent sized trunk, which can be a huge plus sometimes.
...It gets better fuel mileage and works just fine on 87 ocatane, which makes it cheaper at the pump.
...It is much more comfortable for a drive of any length.
...I get more complements in the Mustang as many people are a huge fan of the 6G Mustang styling.
Pluses for the Miata
...It is just plain so much fun to drive because it honestly feels more like a street legal go-kart than a real live car, particularly in this age of jacked up club cab pickup trucks.
...The Acceleration at lower speeds is just plain brutal in the most fun way possible.
...My first convertible and I am loving the experience.
...The car is a true sleeper with no external cues to the performance except for the sound of the V8 engine, which can only be hidden so much.
Do I regret not following my original path and supercharging the Mustang?
So far not at all.
Putting a supercharger on the Mustang is less expensive than dropping a V8 into the Miata.
The fun factor of the Miata outweighs the higher cost to do the swap.
The Mustang has the luxury and comfort of a newer car so I intend to leave it stock.
At the time of purchase I was considering adding a supercharger once they became commercially available.
By the time 2016 rolled around and I had the funds saved up to do a supercharger install, the little voice in the back of my head started talking a different tune so I bought a 2000 Miata as a beater/daily driver to keep my Mustang clean and happy as a weekend ride.
As time went by I found out that the Miata was the car that I prefer to drive simply because it is such a fun and engaging ride. Part of the fun has to do with the Miata being a convertible but even beyond that the car just puts a grin on my face when I am behind the wheel.
After a year of driving the Miata and doing research I started driving the Mustang as my daily driver and spent 8 months dropping an engine and transmission into the Miata. Bought and engine and T56 manual transmission from a salvage 2000 Z28 and the rear differential from a Cadillac CTS-V and a bunch of parts from a place called Flyin Miata. Put it all together. Currently it weighs exactly 2720 lbs and is putting down around 320 HP to the rear wheels. With a cam swap it would be simple to run it up to about 380 at the rear wheel, almost the same as what my Mustang puts to the ground in a car that weighs around 1200 pounds less.
This is not a drag race or road race comparison but rather a comparison of the two cars as a fun daily driver.
As of right now I can say for sure that the Miata is faster in a straight line but probably slower around corners and in braking performance because I have not upgraded the brakes & tires yet. Gotta save something for a Winter project.
Pluses for the Mustang
...It has a back seat and a decent sized trunk, which can be a huge plus sometimes.
...It gets better fuel mileage and works just fine on 87 ocatane, which makes it cheaper at the pump.
...It is much more comfortable for a drive of any length.
...I get more complements in the Mustang as many people are a huge fan of the 6G Mustang styling.
Pluses for the Miata
...It is just plain so much fun to drive because it honestly feels more like a street legal go-kart than a real live car, particularly in this age of jacked up club cab pickup trucks.
...The Acceleration at lower speeds is just plain brutal in the most fun way possible.
...My first convertible and I am loving the experience.
...The car is a true sleeper with no external cues to the performance except for the sound of the V8 engine, which can only be hidden so much.
Do I regret not following my original path and supercharging the Mustang?
So far not at all.
Putting a supercharger on the Mustang is less expensive than dropping a V8 into the Miata.
The fun factor of the Miata outweighs the higher cost to do the swap.
The Mustang has the luxury and comfort of a newer car so I intend to leave it stock.
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