Possibly the weirdest of all Miatas?

If it sounds like a Miata I'll eat my hat, as they say!

I've sent him questions on the curb weight and the 0-60 time, both of which I think are important questions. Pretty whacky though, a $50k 1997 Miata ;-)

Chris

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He says the project took 3~ 4 months. He says that in the process, the car gained about 300lbs. He says the springs were changed to compensate for this. The system is capable of producing around 100hp. He doesn't know what the 0-60 time is but he guesses not allot slower than a stock Miata.

Interesting at the very least, interesting.

Chris

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it is indeed interesting. but it is just so expensive. if you consider a good condition '97 can be had for about $5k, i can't help but think how much gas one can buy with the other $45k of the purchase price. but it is great to see people making the effort to retrofit cars with electric. this sort of effort only helps makes alternative fuel cars practical and affordable. ps. i assume it is an automatic, right?

The ad said 5-speed. I'd guess he just leaves it in fourth all the time.

I wonder how many people have shown up just to drive it. Definitely interesting. No way in hell on me spending $50K on it, but that actually applies to anything besides a house for me right now, maybe forever.

Pat

you could play miata engine sounds through the stereo - except starting up, i suppose.

There are actually serious discussions about mandating that electric cars produce a minimum amount of noise by adding electrical noise-generation at low speeds.

The worry is that they're too quiet for pedestrians (blind and otherwise) to hear coming.

He said that he traveled from Flagstaff to Phoenix, Arizona on one charge. Since Flagstaff at 6900 feet and Phoenix is at 1100 feet, that trip is mostly all downhill if they went I-17. I would like to see a more varied terrain used as a test for distance per charge.

Abyss

Good point! I hadn't thought about that 'downhill' thing. Wonder if it could make the return trip on 1 charge, don't think so.

cd

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As crazy as it sounds this is true and I think of it almost every day when I walk across the street at work. I can't see real well to the left and I have a tendency to trust my ears, and I always think about the article I read about this issue and I take a double take to be sure.

Chris

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Even while driving my car it has shocked me to look over and see a hybrid that has crept up beside me with no noise that I could hear.

I am used to a pretty noisy car that helps let people know where I am and driving that silently would take some serious getting used to.

Pat

That's for sure, as many of you know I do a lot of my getting around on a mobility scooter and those things are silent and faster than walking so I constantly sneak up behind people. I doesn't help that a scooter/wheelchair is legally a pedestrian so I'm on the sidewalk.

I have to be careful not to startle people, I use the "horn" but it's often ignored since it's just a little beeper so I holler a lot!

How fast do those go? Is it white? Finally, does it have tail fins?

Pat

The little one goes 6mph, it's blue, no tailfins and fits in my van.

The monster goes 8.5 mph, it's black, no tailfins and is too big for the van. Both go beep beep when I really need H*O*N*K!

Two words: AIR HORNS

Do ya'all remember the youtube videos of the automobiles with the train air horns or whatever they are!? People walking down the sidewalk, practically melting in place when that sound (and accompanying fear / confusion) hits them!

Maybe get one of these :-)

cd

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Problem is that I'm not really in any postion to piss anyone off. I'd like something louder but not loud enough to startle them so I use a very polite, "Excuse me, asshole, would you please move your fat, ugly body? Thank you!"

Any yet they still seem irked, I have no idea why that might be?

Well, that is not very nice of you.......... :-)

Pat