We’re offering our inexpert advice in all things automotive.
We might discuss your question on our podcast. Yes, this means that we’ve run out of ideas for episodes and are too lazy to do research.
Edit: Thanks for the questions everyone. We didn’t have time to answer all of them on the show but I’ll try to answer all of them on here. The episode probably won’t be out for over a month since we’ve got a backlog of editing to do.
Why is adding power to a car terribly expensive? I want 200whp in my Miata, but that’s $8k away ($5k turbo kit, $2k installation, $1k for clutch and cooling system upgrades installed diy). It’s so slow
Adding power to a naturally aspirated engine will always be expensive. If you want cheap tuning you’ll have to start with a turbocharged car. A GTI can gain 70+ hp with just a $500 software flash. For what it’s worth though, I’ve had way more fun on track with a slow Miata than a 300 hp GTI because lightness is more desirable than power.
Miatas aren’t slow. I mean they are, but you shouldn’t be trying to drag race them, that’s not the point. They’re a copy of the classic British type sports car, made for driving on britains b-roads and country lanes. This pedigree shows, on narrow twisty roads miatas come alive, they don’t feel at all slow then.
Also driving a slow car fast >> driving a fast car slowly.
I used to have a Miata and was planning to put a turbo on it, but that started looking like too much of a hassle so instead I bought a WRX.
That said, there’s lots of good information on https://www.miataturbo.net/ if you want to go the cheaper DIY route instead of a kit, and I still have a MegaSquirt ECU that I could sell you for a couple hundred bucks. An if you can install a radiator or a clutch, you can probably install a turbo yourself.