The Mazda Miata Performance Handbook is a 160 page soft-cover, B&W book that offers a holistic look at owning and modifying the world's best-ever selling sports car. (The Miata is known as the MX-5 in some markets such as Australia.)
Written by an ex-Mazda engineer who helped conceive and create the first-generation Miata during the 1980s, Norman H Garret III, the book offers a rare insight into the motives and processes behind Mazda's decision to produce the Miata. It tells us how and why the car is such a success by giving us an insight into the minds of the people who created it. Even someone who is not expressly interested in Miatas would find this first chapter, 'The Miata Development Story', very interesting. Much of this general information on the designer's philosophy and efforts to make the Miata as 'pure' as possible with regard to the suspension and driveline layout, gives a sound footing for what comes later.
From here, MMPH goes through the Miata system by system - and explains the pros and cons of modifying each. Unlike many other books on single-marque modification, this one gives plenty of reasons why some systems shouldn't be modified in a particular way. For instance, the author has a particular distaste for large wheels and tyres on the Miata, but qualifies his opinion by saying, sure, go for it for looks, but don't expect the same balance in the car's handling - or life from your suspension - as you would from a car with more modest wheels fitted with upgraded tyres. That wisdom makes sense, even for other makes and models of car.
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Chapters
- The Miata development story
- Driving a Miata - Fast
- Modification issues
- Wheels and tyres
- Suspension and chassis
- Brakes
- Engine overview
- Ignition
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- Induction system improvement
- Exhaust system
- Internal engine modifications
- Drivetrain
- Forced induction
- Racing a Miata
- Appearance items
- Mentionable Miatas
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There are some pearls of information in the book, such as how lightweight the original alloy wheels are - lighter than any aftermarket wheels - but also some potentially dangerous info - such as the inference that readers can competently cross-drill their own brake rotors. That might get some keen DIYers into deadly trouble, we reckon. And only in America would anybody consider replacing the Miata's fuel injection system with a pair of twin SU carburettors taken from an MGB and actually tell someone about it...
In fact, the coverage of engine management modification is one of the thinnest in the book. The overview of the factory systems fitted to Miata over the years describes the basics such as injector flow rate and fuel pump problems - stuff you'll find in most general 'EFI Basics' style texts - but the nuts and bolts of modification to support major hardware changes is left somewhat wanting. Aftermarket management systems - of the type many Australian performance car enthusiasts are familiar with - are mentioned only in passing with reference to their expense.
However, with the exponential rate at which aftermarket systems are gaining sophistication, it's probably best that readers interested in this extent of modification make their own enquiries in their own markets - the info would be out of date as soon as it is published! On the flip side, the book claims - and who are we to argue - that the factory system is capable of supporting the vast majority of modifications that most owners are likely to make. But for the big-tune cars, you'll have to look elsewhere for more specialist modification advice.
Possibly this 'it ain't broke, so don't fix it' philosophy is due to the author's obvious affection for, and involvement with, the Mazda's basic (basic as in 'background', not 'simplistic') design and engineering as a staffer at Mazda in the 80s. But it leaves the more significant modifications - that many more serious people may want to attempt - wanting for info.
Body/chassis and suspension enhancements are covered, with details of wheel alignment settings, discussions on dampers, corner weights and ride heights discussed. There's also information about model-by-model changes that can be swapped in or replicated in earlier model cars to gain the benefit of the later-model design improvements, such as non-power steering racks (actually, that discusses early racks into later cars!) and suspension subframe/body support braces.
I would stop (only just) short of saying the MMPH is the absolute bible of Miata modification. It is very comprehensive in its content - the Driving chapter, something I normally ignore in a book such as this, is a good inclusion with relevance to anyone who likes pedalling fast - and the book really only misses the mark with those minor issues discussed above. Perhaps, too, a few more DIY-style pictures would help the first-time Mazda modifier. For instance, the text intimately describes suspension disassembly, yet illustrates it in only three pictures.
However, the book is an excellent and entertaining read about the Miata and 90 percent of the modifications and enhancements a keen owner would want to make for fast road and weekend track work. With its easy-to-read text and educational discussion, it also has plenty of information and background that will appeal to anyone interested in modifications for higher performance, no matter what make of car.
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