Club Sport

    The 2003 Club Sport is a great choice for a STR Miata, and probably a better choice than a 1999 Miata.  A few Club Sport Miatas appear for sale occasionally, and a great example is here.

 














This model was only available in 2003, and a limited number were sold and only available in red or white.  Soft top is deleted and air conditioning was an option.

Manual steering, no stereo, and no cruise control.  You would think this model should weigh less than a 99, especially without a top, but the 2001 and newer cars (NB2) have a few changes that make the car better and stiffer.  Extra under side chassis bracing and body reinforcements have been made and larger brakes and wheels are used.  Reports indicate that a race prepped Club Sport model still weighs a bit more than a comparable 99 Miata.

The 01+ Miata engine has a higher compression ratio and uses a different head that has VVT, or variable valve timing.  Tuning the VVT has proven to gain good midrange torque without sacrificing top end horsepower.  However, revving the engine much above its factory set 7200 rpm limit can be an issue as there have been reports of engine damage at higher rpm. I plan to run my 99 Miata past 7700 rpm which should keep me out of third gear and avoid 'riding the limiter' for most autox courses.

So why did I not buy a Club Sport or convert a standard 2003 Miata instead of buying a 99 ?

1. Cost.  It is about twice the price to buy into a similar condition 2003 Miata, and if doing a package conversion you will need a hardtop and manual rack and pinion, adding about $1500 to the cost.

2.  Rev limit.  The increased rev limit on the 99 may give me just enough room in second gear, especially on some of the faster courses we may see in the SoPac division.

3.  Weight.  The information I have gathered shows the Club Sport to be about 50-80 pounds heavier. I wish I could verify this data though, as my calculations say both cars should weigh the same with identical preparation.  I believe the Club Sport may have thicker gauge metal and more structural reinforcements built into the unibody to address torsional rigidity, especially from the transmission tunnel to the rear bulkhead.

4.  Daily driver.  This is my only car and daily driver.  It is bad enough not having AC and dealing with a racing seat and stiff suspension.  At least I have to keep the stereo in the 99.