MMTX

1) brought it right and paid cash 2) insurance is cheap 3) 4500 miles, completely unmodified and untampered with 4) never driven in rain 5) in new cosmetic condition, never autox or raced 3-5k miles are very unusual for a Mazdaspeed Miata. I don't even know if they are any left with under 5k on them, but untampered MSM's with low, Tamper with one and you get to lose $6k or more on the sale. And, yes, I have sold cars previously for more than I had in them. including a couple that I put 30-40k miles on. So it can be true.

Hi Steve, I'm not sure what is really wrong with only putting 400 miles on the car. I have a 04 Mazdaspeed Miata that I bought new that still has less than 4500 miles on it. It spends the rest of its life in a temperature controlled garage, being treated better than many humans. I just drive it when I want to, but never did get it to drive much, not did I expect to. I still love the car, and it costs me little to keep it. It also has never been worth less than I paid for it, even including the expenses over the years (insurance, gas,oil). If you really like your Cat, you should keep it, even if you don't get to drive it as much as you want. It sounds like you'll miss it if you sell it. (All IMHO, of course.)

Hi Loren, Looks nice, ominously like another black one we know of... BTW, fender mold done. Full half round. Waiting on some new type mold release I am moving to, so I should be molding a fender next week.

Is it a Seven?... Or a T-Track roadster?...:willy_nilly: The guy who said Yuck! I agree. :puke:

"new" seller is actual seller. A friend listed it for him before. As to the ID plate, it is the same plate, just a better picture. He updated the engine info to what I told him was in the engine bay. Wonder if the seller will continue to insist on a deposit and promise to buy just to drive the car. I could be more sarcastic, but I'll leave that to your imaginations. :banghead: :rofl:

Yes, and much stronger and more durable IMO, although some of the upgraded T9 transmissions should be very durable, but $$$.

I should also note that the Vulcan is not owned by the same person as owns the Robinhood.

I drove down from DFW to look at the Vulcan a few days ago. Fortunately, I had some other business in the Houston area, or I would be even more annoyed. Still, I did drive down to see the car. Unfortunately, I could not find any info on the Vulcan before the trip. It appears to be a rare bird without a home, or a parent anyway. So I make a 50 mile trip (each way) from the location I was staying at to go go check out the car. And that is after the 300 mile trip from Dallas. And the only way the owner will let anyone drive the car is to give him a deposit to buy the car. You have to agree to buy the car before he will let you drive it! He thinks he has some very rare desirable antique. (It was made in November 1997, according manufacturers plate.) He wouldn't even open the hood, or start it. His excuse was that he wasn't a car dealer. He couldn't understand any reason anyone would have to drive the car. You put a deposit down on the car, then you get to drive it. (Deposit not refundable - Or one expensive car rental) The only thing I really found out down there is that it uses Triumph Herald brakes. It looks like Caterham or Birkin parts are not an interchange, so I don't know where or what parts it uses without a lot of matching. He succeeded in scarring me away from it, but really more from him. At this time, I don't even know if it runs. I was there about 10 minutes, left right after he demanded a deposit. As the Brits would sarcastically put it... BRILLIANT!

I always did like out of sync webers. :banghead:

Anyone come up with anything on the NZ Vulcan, other than it is not the 1st officer on the Starship Enterprise?

I got to drive an S2K with the 2 liter Honda in it today. I have written previously that the 2 liter Honda S2000 is really a problem because of the lack of good torque below 5000 RPM. However, I have also written on this site a theory that I have had that the same anemic torque band experienced in the 2600 pounds of the S2000 could actually be an advantage in a 1200-1300 pound Seven. The need to control lots of potential wheelspin off the line and in low speed maneuvers with an engine that produces abundant low end torque can certainly make actual performance suffer, or at the least be much harder to control, even though it can also be a lot of fun. Well, I finally got to test that theory today. The results were better than I would have thought, especially with my dismal tests of 2 L (not 2.2L,which is much better) S2000 Roadsters. First, unlike the experience of the 2600 lb S2000 Roadster, you don't have to rev it high to drive around, nor do you have to stuff your foot in it to get it to move. In fact, at lower engine speeds it feels like a normal motor. So you can cruise around without any feeling like you are either lugging it at low engine speeds, nor do you feel like it will have any problem accelerating from low engine speeds. If you want lots of wheelspin it will still easily do it when provoked, but it is very easy to modulate the throttle to get all the usable power to the ground in the straight or in a sharp turn. It will still happily disconnect 245mm wide treaded racing tires if you want to, but the way the power develops in this engine, you have lots of ability to modulate the throttle. I did find that it was not necessary to run it past 5000-6000 RPM to have an enjoyable, spirited drive that would still be faster than most production cars. And, yes, they really do light up about 5000, but I did find that you didn't have to run it past 8000, well below the redline, to even feel the sticky rubber slip at 80 MPH. (BTW, I did do this in a safe place, on a deserted country road.) In a Seven, that motor really does come into its own. As a plus, the transmission ratios feel reasonably well spaced, the shifter is extremely smooth with very short throws, and even more important, the transmission is very strong and durable. In this last regard, I would consider the Honda 6 speed more like the Nissan rear drive boxes, which can handle up to 700 hp. Having driven the 2L in an S2K, it may not be my all time favorite, but it is right up there. We just need to take them all out of S2000's, where they are doing less good. (kidding) Oh, and if you really want all that low end torque, they are supposed to take nicely to superchargers. Lots of torque by 2500 RPM, I was told by the owner of the car I drove that a supercharged version is still very controllable. He also has the SC. BTW, this may be a very nice simple settup, as the S2000 engine uses the stock EFI and computer. Simple (for EFI) and reliable. 240 + reliable HP, dead stock, but w/o such a careful need for delicate throttle control. I really like the Birkins and Caterhams I driven with Zetecs in them, and felt the power in an SC Stalker was copious, and mostly manageable, but this does seem to be one way (of many) to get the best of both worlds.

I have written previously about the "need to rev for action", as you say, in regards to the 2 liter Honda S2000 on this site and on Miata.net. However, I have also written on this site a theory that I have had that the same anemic torque band experienced in the 2600 pounds of the S2000 could actually be an advantage in a 1200-1300 pound Seven. The need to control lots of potential wheelspin off the line and in low speed maneuvers with an engine that produces abundant low end torque can certainly make actual performance suffer, or at the least be much harder to control, even though it can also be a lot of fun. Well, I finally got to test that theory today. The results were better than I would have thought, especially with my dismal tests of 2 L (not 2.2L,which is much better) S2000 Roadsters. First, unlike the experience of the 2600 lb S2000 Roadster, you don't have to rev it high to drive around, nor do you have to stuff your foot in it to get it to move. If you want lots of wheelspin it will still easily do it when provoked, but it is very easy to modulate the throttle get all the usable power to the ground in the straight or in sharp turn. It will still happily disconnect 245mm wide treaded racing tires if you want to, but the way the power develops in this engine, you have lots of ability to modulate the throttle. I did find that it was not necessary to run it past 5000-6000 RPM to have an enjoyable, spirited drive that would still be faster than most production cars. And, yes, they really do light up about 5000, but I did find that you didn't have to run it past 8000, well below the redline, to even feel the sticky rubber slip at 80 MPH. (BTW, I did do this in a safe place, on a deserted country road.) In a Seven, that motor really does come into its own. As a plus, the transmission ratios feel reasonably well spaced, the shifter is extremely smooth with very short throws, and even more important, the transmission is very strong and durable. In this last regard, I would consider the Honda 6 speed more like the Nissan rear drive boxes, which can handle up to 700 hp. Having driven the 2L in an S2K, it may not be my all time favorite, but it is right up there. We just need to take them all out of S2000's, where they are doing less good. (kidding) Oh, and if you really want all that low end torque, they are supposed to take nicely to superchargers. Lots of torque by 2500 RPM, I was told by the owner of the car I drove that a supercharged version is still very controllable. He also has the SC. BTW, if you're a non-mechanical person, this may be a very nice settup, as the S2000 engine uses the stock EFI and computer. Simple and reliable.

Glad to hear it Dennis, Scott

What about the Focus SVT Zetec, particularly using the original EFI, harness and ECU, which I have seen used in another built car. It worked really well in that car. An aftermarket piggyback is available to tune it like you would a Haltech. Anyone put one of these in a Seven? If so, I'd love to hear from you. I have a low mile SVT available to me. (Too bad I can't use the 6 speed Getrag transaxle in a Seven. Hey baby, nice box.)

Curious, what's wrong with 7500 RPM and more torque?