I accidently backed into a piece of lumber (don’t ask how…) and gouged
three little chips out of paint in the rear right fender of my new ’96
Montego.  Ouch.  Not scratched, mind you, but gouged out, like if you
stabbed your fender obliquely, hard, with, say, a piece of wood.  ;>  
Each missing chip is about the size of a paper match head (1/8 " square),
drilled all the way down to the fiberglass.

What should I do about this?  A full-blown paint job is silly.  I just
want to protect the fiberglass from <whatever it is that eats unpainted
fiberglass> :> .  Is a little touch-up paint sufficient?  Several layered
dabs, then wax it in a month?  Is that the right thing to do?

Thanks in advance,
Doug

I am considering buying a set of Miata rims with Bridgestone tires to
mount on my Protege.

Are the Bridgestone’s all season tires?  I’ve get the impression
that most Miata owners are not satisfied with these tires.  What
are the specific complaints?

Thanks

–
Chris John
chris.j…@nortel.ca

I have a 91 Miata with 30k on it.  I hear a semi hi-frequency rattle
coming from under the car near the clutch/trans area when the car is reved
to around 4k.  The rattle is not constant.  While revving, the rattle is
only audible for less than a second, but is heard everytime I accelerate
past the 4k range.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

don

Can anyone tell me what it will cost to replace the clutch on my AC
compressor?  Or is it better to replace the whole compressor?

If I engage the AC when the engine is above 2500 rpm it squeals for a
couple of seconds.  It also does this when the clutch engages
automatically during hard acceleration (about 4000 rpm).  Appreciate the
help.

–
Life’s an adventure that could end any day.  So make the most of it!!

The material over the middle bar on the roof has come unglued on my 1991
Miata.  Any suggestions on what type of glue will work best on the top?

I live on Guam so temperatures get very hot on the poor top.

(I don’t know if my messages ever get read as I have posted 5 or 6
messages all without ever receiving any replies.)  If someone reads this
I would appreciate a response just to let me know this darn thing works
from Guam.

Thanks

-Sam

The Miata Club of Minnesota is raffling a 1996 Miata.  You can get info
about the raffle at http://www.miata.net/raffle/raffle.htm.  Don’t be
fooled by the words "April" on that page.

The raffle was supposed to end in April but not enough tickets were
sold.  It has been extended until the end of September.  

It’s a great chance to win a brand new Miata.  Only $25 per ticket and
only 1000 tickets will be sold.  If not all 1000 are sold, the money
will be returned.

Why am I letting you know?  I’ve bought several tickets myself and don’t
want this thing to be canceled.  We need all tickets sold so you and me
can have a chance a winning.

You can go to http://www.miata.net/raffle/raffle.htm or call the Miata
Club of Minnesota and get details.  

________________________________________________________________________Miata Enthusiasts

The Miata Club of Minnesota is happy to announce that we are raffling a
brand new 1996 Miata

The drawing raffle date has been extended, because we didn’t allow
enough time to get the word out about the raffle. We will extend the
raffle drawing date until we sell all the tickets.

Alot of people are just now getting the word about the raffle and with
summer finally just around the corner, we hope to see interest in cars,
driving, raffles and etc. pick-up.

        Only 1000 tickets will be sold,
        at a price of $25 each!
        What great odds!

What a great chance to own the best sports car going! A portion of the
proceeds will be donated to "Sharing and Caring Hands", a wonderful
organization dedicated to helping those in need, based here in
Minnesota. The raffle is sponsored by our club, in conjunction with
Morrie’s Mazda of Minnetonka, MN. and we hope to have "Sharing and
Caring Hands" participate in the drawing of the winning number!

The grand prize is a new 1996 base level Miata.

Morrie’s will make arrangements for the winner to pick-up his/her new
Miata at their local Mazda dealer (any upgrades or options, including
color, can be negotiated with the dealer). We realize that there is not
much time to get the word out about this raffle, so we may be forced to
extend the raffle drawing date, if that happens we will notify everyone
with a notice on the Miata internet site and by mail.

For any additional information, FAX the Miata Club of Minnesota
President, Joy Terrell at (612) 476-8655 (no cover letter needed) or  
E-mail Vice President Greg Jones at: GJo…@aol.com

   THE RULES

     1. Mail checks or money orders only to: Miata Club of Minnesota, PO
Box 185 Wayzata MN 55391. Checks or money orders MUST be made payable
to: Miata Club of Minnesota.

     2. Mailed entries MUST be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped
envelope.

     3. Only 1000 tickets will be sold.

     4. Void were prohibited by law.

     5. You must be 18 years old to buy or redeem a raffle ticket.

     6. Open to U.S. residents only.

     7. Tax, License and delivery charges are the responsibility of the
winner.

     8. The drawing to be held at Morrie’s Mazda,13700 Wayzata Blvd.,
Minnetonka MN.

     9. The raffle is sponsored by Miata Club of Minnesota and Morrie’s
Mazda.

     10. All tickets, transactions and winners are subject to rules and
game procedures of the Miata Club of Minnesota and Minnesota state law.

     11. If all 1000 tickets are not sold by September 30,1996 the
drawing will be held immediately after the last ticket is sold, or      
the drawing will be cancelled and your money returned.

     12. You need NOT be present to win. The winner will be notified by
phone the night of the drawing and by mail.

I’ve got a 1990 Mazda Miata, 5 speed, Air, Package "B".
It’s even got the factory removable hardtop. Lugguge rack also.
Red with Black interior and pinstripe. Excellent condition.
NADA is 9700. Selling for $8500. Car is located in NJ.
Call Scott Neuman at 908-505-3646 or leave email and I’ll call
you back. I can ship car anywhere in the USA.

Hello all
I going to purchase my first Miata this month.  What has been the going rate
for ’96′s?  I’m lookinng at the base model, which the dealer lists at $17,500
US dollars (equivalent, I’m actually in Canada) for the base model.  Are there
any opinions on a good price to negotiate or tips on how to do so?
Thanks…………..Doug

I’ve got over 40 Mazda Miata’s available to me. I will ship anywhere
in the country. I can take advantage of the Mazda Lease Program for you.
If interested, please email sneu…@autoboard.com with your name
and number and I’ll call you back.

I’ve just purchased a ’91 silver Miata with 48,000 miles on it.  What a
lovely little fun machine.  I have three questions I hope you can help me
with:

1.  This car will garaged when not in use.  Having not had a convertible
before (used to have an X1/9, but targas don’t count, right?), is it a
no-no to leave the top down (assuming it is dry, properly stored with
window protected, boot on, etc.) while the car is in the garage, say,
overnight?  Or is the proper thing to always put the top back up when
you’re done for the day?

2.  I live in the Chicago area, and (having recently moved here) it
appears that almost all gas stations sell gas that (according to stickers
on the pump) contains up to 10% ethanol.  I know from reading the
miata.net material that this is not a good thing.  For my first fillup I
used Amoco super since their pumps only indicate that their lower two
grades contain ethanol.  My question is, I’d like to avoid spending money
on premium if it isn’t necessary–is it true that if the pump doesn’t
have a sticker on it, the gas will be ethanol free?  There is a Phillips
76 station near me that has no stickers, and I’d use that.  Any
Midwesterners out there that can help?

3.  Is there a proper way to fasten the boot?  In other words, do you
slip the plstic pieces on first, the snaps first, or what?  It seems
difficult to do the snaps last.

Many thanks.
—
Irwin Shur

Rhyming disclaimer:  “Here I only speak for me, and not at all for APV.“