which turbo option for the $$$$

[mattywood]

Hi All,

i am looking to buy my first mx5 and drove a mates turbo NB8a. I'd like an NB and I know i can get a turbo kit or a DIY turbo kit for an NB. The budget doesn't stretch to an SP or to get a kit fitted. I'd like about 130kw.

What is my best option? Buy a kit and fit myself or DIY turbo? Do I need to get a DIY turbo engineered? I was thinking of buying the turbo parts as i got the extra money after buying the NB.

Or should I just buy an NA turbo or turbo an NA myself? If i sound confused well.............help

[Alex]

hmm
hard choice, but i'm sure the \"just buy and SE/SP\" guys will be here shortly

but there are quite a few members who have turboed their own cars as well which I'm sure will be happy to help you out

either way it will need to be engineered to be legal on the streets

[Tezzax5]

Na and NB are different beasts...I love my Na but there is no way i could use it as a daily driver....

Talk to your local club(members opinions are worth something) or start taking a few different models for a test drive...

[silvermiata]

just buy a SE

[Fatty]

you say \"best for the $$$$$\" but you haven't mentioned what sort of \"$$$\" budget you have to spend.

have you been for a drive in a na?


na and nb are very different cars. further to that - na6 and na8 are very different.

i think you need to do a bit more research out in the real world first..... go for a drive in a few different cars. driving your mate's nb8a is a good start! find a few more mx5's to test drive (or just be a passenger at a club run an get a ride in a few different cars? )

[stevesports]

seriously buy an SE. The improvements are just behind the small power and large torque increase. You get a torsen diff, stronger chassis, larger brakes, larger wheels etc etc. In other words, you get a better car =].

[Fatty]

seriously we can't all afford an SE.

without opening a COW .... throw a turbo and a bit of money on other mods (eg suspension) at an NA and it can more than hold it's own against an SE at a racetrack.

it's a LOT cheaper, altho resale may be an issue . so many pros and cons to weigh up in a debate like this.

[Fatty]

You might not be able to afford an SE but you will spend as much as one by the time you get your NA or NB to a similar level,

no way. i've gone head to head aganst 2 SE's at winton and been faster than them.... and my car has a lot more room for improvement.

driver experience is also a big factor but trust me i'm not that crash hot.

i'm not trying to grandstand here, but that's just my experience.

[mattywood]

How much do you have to spend and how fast do you want to go? How do you want your power delivered, with a pillow or a baseball bat? And when?

My opinion, if you dont want an SE, get an NA8 or NB8A with a torsen diff and add an entry turbo kit from Flyin' Miata or Begi (or a JRSC or FFSC supercharger). You will get almost 130wkw and already have a diff, street decent brakes, some bracing, wheels.

Make sure you drive a supercharged car, they are really nice.

My budget is around 15k. So I can get a great NB but no turbo or pick up an NA already turboed. Ya I know the cost of convert an Na6 will be prohibitive except if i get second hand gear.

I like the idea of turbo an NA8. Is there anything i have to upgrade?

I also like the supercharger conversion. I hear they cost about 3k. Is that true? What else would I need to do? There is this little beauty but she is red (no offence any one)
http://www.carpoint.com.au/used-car/MAZDA/MX5/Queensland/csn5497438.aspx


Is engineering costly?

[stevesports]

ah sorry i misunderstand. I thought you wanted a turbo NB, not a value for money turbo MX5.

in that case, a AVO turbo NA would be your best bet.

[mattywood]

ah sorry i misunderstand. I thought you wanted a turbo NB, not a value for money turbo MX5. in that case, a AVO turbo NA would be your best bet.

I do want a Turbo NB but beggars can't be choosers. Is there any cheaper options for increasing the grunt in an NB before i go turbo? exhaust, pod, chip?

If I can't get a good NB with grunt then I am still looking for an NA6 or 8 with a turbo. No hurry I just want to get the best for my $$

[Tezzax5]

As an owner of a very pristine Na clubbie if i were to do it again i would still buy a clubbie that had all the good bits on it.

One that wasn't so pristine and spend the extra money on a supercharger.

Take your time and you will find the right car for you

[Benny]

If you go the NB route, you'll need around $20K to start.
Around $15K for the car and AT LEAST $5K for the turbo kit, if you fit it all yourself, and yes, you will need an engineer's certificate to have it legal.

Then you'll have a car that will trade for about $10K, as dealers are reluctant to buy hotted up cars because they can be very troublesome.

If I were you, on a limited budget that couldn't stretch to an SE or SP, keep your eyes out for a nice NA that has already had all the work done to it.
It'll save you a fortune and it will probably be a better turbo kit than you can afford.
If you really want to do it yourself, still buy one that is already done, and take it apart and put it back together again!
There are some very nice turbo cars offered for sale on this forum from time to time, who's history is known by club members, and I'd be taking my time and finding just the right car.

Just my 2c worth.

[bruce]

Do a Search. This has been hammered to death.

[mattywood]

The search feature on this site is useless so head to miata.net and use their search.

Thanks yes the search function is useless on the site. You can't find such common words as AVO or manifold.

I like the advice of buying a turbo that is posted on the site that way i know its histroy is kosher or perhaps a nice NB with a better exhaust or pod filter.

Thanks guys.