GAUGE REPAIRED, TIRES REPLACED

It's been months. Sent my boost gauge back to Speedhut, and they repaired it. There was a solder connection that wasn't a good connection from the factory. They re-did it, sent it back to me, and it's worked perfectly ever since. But of course I had the job of mounting it all over again. Speedhut sends a threaded ring, which the installer should place on the gauge from behind to hold it securely in place, after having placed the gauge in its mounted position. With the A-pillar pod though, there just isn't room to work that ring onto the back of the gauge. So I used some double sided tape around the gauge, and crammed a little extra in, and so far it's stayed put. I had the tape on hand because I was hoping it would hold the pod


in place on the pillar without the use of the plastic screws. Sounds unlikely? Well, I would have thought it unlikely for BMW to depend on double sided tape to hold body panels in place, but they do. Or at least did on the E30. I guess their tape is a little better than what I got down at OReilly's Auto Parts. After a few weeks, the tape between pod and pillar starting letting go, so I had to use the screws after all. All's good.



At 15,000 miles, my stock tires were shot. Yeah, I had a lot of fun the first few months I had the car (bought it with 7k on the clock, and perfectly good tires). So I started shopping - I wanted to move up at least a little in terms of performance, maintain decent performance in the rain (although I'm in the rain only rarely, I'd still prefer to avoid even the rare accident!), and maintain a decently low noise level, all for a low price. And I guess that's what I managed to do. I bought a set of Sumitomo HTR-Z II's from Tirerack.com at 79 bucks a pop. Moved up a size, from 205/40/17 to 215/40/17 - gives me a tad more sidewall to increase speedo accuracy, fill the wheel wells just a bit better, and maybe smooth a bump or two. Fast delivery via UPS. The performance, I think, is slightly better -stickier- than the stockers. Maybe next time I'll be ready to invest in significantly better tires. :)

all loaded up to go get them mounted!new tires mounted at 16,563 miles

The weather has turned decidedly cool (it's November!), and the 'Speed Miata is getting less drive time. I want to keep the miles from accumulating too quickly, so while it's too cold to enjoy top-down driving, I'll drive the alternate vehicle, my '99 Rodeo, and save the Miata fun for Spring through Fall.