Originally posted by jlanger:
If the rotary miata actually happens it will probably be better then the MS Miata. The rotary should be quite a bit lighter then the 1.8 and will be able to be mounted in a more central location like the RX8. I would worry about reliability though, that 1.8's been around for years and is fairly bulletproof, even with the turbo. We all know how finicky the rotaries can be, even with regular maintenance.



The only problem being that the rotary doesn't fit in the current or past generation Miata's engine bay. How guys can cram a Ford 302 in there with no or minimal firewall modification yet the rotary doesn't fit I don't know. Next gen in a couple years might be a different story. Certainly something I'd look for.

The 1.8 is bulletproof because it's a slightly punched-out version of the 1.6 motor that powered the old 323GTX turbo rally homologation special. Mazda kept everything the same when they dropped the motor into the Miata except for the turbo, so it's way overbuilt for n/a application. That's why there was so much success in building turbo'd 1.8 last-generation Miatas putting down 250-300hp to the wheels reliably with simple bolt ons and good engine management (either the Link or better the TEC III). That's where Shiv Pathek (sp?) of Vishnu Performance, one of the top Evo turners, got his start, was turbo TEC III Miatas. The compression bump in the current generation made that a whole lot harder to do. I'll shut up about Miatas now.

Scott

Troll! '99 BMW 328i