This is not a mistake.  You cannot return to the mere appliances
that pass for cars.

>I can overlook the myriad of impracticalities that give this little
>magic thing so much character, save the trunk issue.  I have to have
>enough trunk for a small amount of equipment, or I run into an impasse
>in trying to justify this.

>So I’m wondering about the viability of freeing up trunk space by
>tossing the spare, and putting on some type of run-flat tire.  Is
>there any trunk in a Miata with the spare tire gone?

There are kits which relocate the spare to under-the-trunk.  It
fits there quite readily, and is not visible from the rear.  The
muffler has to be replaced/relocated to do this, and people have
reported having a muffler shop do this using a smaller muffler from
a Camaro (which runs two mufflers).  The kit actually places a fake
tailpipe in the stock tailpipe bumper cut-out, and the real tail-pipe
cowers under the bumper on the left side of the car.  Those doing
the Camaro-muffler-tailpipe-reconstruction put the muffler on the
right side, with the real tail pipe where it belongs.

>Failing this, has anyone ever secured luggage to the so-called luggage
>rack?  How did that work?  I see a lot of racks, but none in use.

The weight capacity of these units is relatively low.  Something like
20# only – more weight than that and the luggage dents the trunk lid.

Without the spare, I can carry 2 paper-case boxes or one large,
soft-sided suitcase – with the lid full-closed, and that doesn’t
count the volume surrounding these objects – which may be filled
with other small bags or loose items.

From what I read from Goodyear and Michelin the average ‘premium’ for
a Run Flat tire is around $5-7 per tire now. $30 was about right a
year ago when the Vette and Caddies were the only takers. Now it’s
becoming commonplace.. the trick is finding the right size to fit your
needs. Also, the stiffer carcuss and materials tend to make them
slightly heavier and DO decrease the ride comfort (they are working on
the latter). Grab a can of fix-o-flat and give the technology about 2
more years. Things will settle in by then and sizes won’t be an issue
anymore.

Funny.. out of hundreds of millions of sperm *we* were the quickest!

http://www.mindspring.com/~vdragon
Remove *nolamers* to e-mail.

Matt
’99 Miata

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

John Bobincheck wrote in message <6gh0os$8t…@news.ncal.verio.com>…

>Scott Szwast wrote in message <352bfd63.978…@news.mindspring.com>…

>>So I’m wondering about the viability of freeing up trunk space by
>>tossing the spare, and putting on some type of run-flat tire.  Is
>>there any trunk in a Miata with the spare tire gone?

>There is the option to put the spare under the car by aligning the exaust
>differently.  Check Miata.net for details.  I currently do not have a spare
>in my trunk, not the best of ideas, but I need the room (no, the clubs
still
>do not fit).

Matt is right, the original poster ought to get the sensors to go along
with the tires. I heard a figure of $300 to retro-fit the sensor(s) to
cars without one. Add the run-flat tires (which command a premium of
around ~$30 over regular tires), and you are looking at something close
to $400 for this particular modification. Might be worth it, be sure to
let us know how it goes.

I am sure the prices will come down once run-flats become more popular..

–
Reply to: taa at superlink dot net

There is the option to put the spare under the car by aligning the exaust
differently.  Check Miata.net for details.  I currently do not have a spare
in my trunk, not the best of ideas, but I need the room (no, the clubs still
do not fit).