Where can I find information on my 2001 Mazda Miata MX-5?

I just bought a 2001 Miata MX-5. This is my first manual so I need major help! Main things I need to learn: At what RPM should I be shifting, what is the best way to come to a stop, etc..? Any website or personal insight would be greatly appreciated.|||Go to google and type in club miata or miata club and you could find forums for your car and others who have the same car and can share experiences and such.|||There's a lot of wrong answers here. First, don't ever hold the clutch pedal down longer than it takes to get the car in the gear you're aiming for and let go. When you're stopping, put the transmission in neutral and coast, and let off the clutch pedal. When you are just driving around town, you don't need to rev to 4000rpm or even 3000 to shift, shift when it's comfortable. If you need to accelerate a little more quickly, wait for more RPM's before shifting. If you don't, shift lower. I shift most of my cars below 3000, and sometimes below 2500 because it's unnecessary and wasting fuel. I'd rather save the revs and the fuel for when the road turns fun and I want to drive at the cars limit. Holding the clutch pedal down wears out the clutch quicker (and makes your leg tired with some clutches). Also, don't use the clutch to slow the car...that's what brakes are for and they are much cheaper and easier to replace. However, it is ok if you just let off the gas and use compression braking if it's just slight changes in speed, IE you're doing 70 on the highway, and catch up to a car in your lane doing 65, just let off, you don't need to use brakes for that. Also, one thing I forgot, don't bother putting it in neutral unless you are coming to a complete stop, or anticipating a complete stop. Otherwise, just slow down like you would an automatic, and if the RPM's drop below 1500~ RPM, go to the next lower gear (from 4th to 3rd, etc.). From there you can learn a lot more, but worry about the basics now and just go drive it. Spend a whole day just driving around practicing.|||It takes a little practice and will depend on weather you are climb a hill or going down it. Most of the time you can shift at 3-4,000 rpm's. You can tell by how hard you have to press on the gas. If the car doesn't accelerate in the gear you are using drop down to the next one. You can downshift to help to slow down when coming to a stop. Push the clutch in and shift to first as you roll up to the stop. If you are on a slight incline use the hand brake to prevent from rolling backwards until you get use to it.|||You want to shift some where above 3 (K) and below the dark red numbers.


When using the clutch, push it all the way to the floor. Adjust the seat so that when you leg is extended it can press the clutch all the way down to the floor board with a little bend at the knee. You don't want to have to get the last bit of clutch by pointing your toe.


When stopping use the brake and clutch together.|||just push a few more keys you find. google. get specs.|||This isn't really a Miata-specific question, you just need to learn how to drive a stick.





1. If you live in a heavily congested area, contrary to popular belief, I find it's a great learning experience to drive in that situation. The driving isn't very fast, and the the hardest thing to learn is how to get the car from completely stopped into gear. You find that switching gears when the car is moving is easy. Driving in congested areas will allow you tons of opportunities to stop and go. As long as you keep 1 car length's distance in front of you, you won't lurch forward and hit the car in front of you. Just keep the RPMs below 3000, and the Miata is very easy to control.





2. The easiest place to practice starting the car on a incline or hill is in a multi-level parking garage when it's empty. The incline is pretty good, you'll be safely hidden away, and you can have a friend watch from outside the vehicle, so you can gauge how far you're rolling back before you start moving. The rolling back is what scares most people and you'll realize it isn't that much as you'd think.





The Miata is a high-revving engine. It can safely and happily run to 7000rpm without problems. At 7000rpms, the fuel will cut for a second, letting you know that's it, but you won't destroy the engine.





Being a revvy engine, it has far less torque/power than most cars at lower RPMs. Daily driving, it is typical to shift at around 3000-3500 rpm. When you become a faster and more confident driver, you'll notice that the car takes on a very different, more confident, powerful character as you start shifting anywhere above 4000rpm. You'll notice this if you floor the gas, and as you reach 4000-4500rpm, the engine start to pull a little bit stronger, particularly in 3rd gear.





There are many, many Miata clubs throughout the world and in the states. Many have access to Miata-techs and Mazda dealership discounts. Miatas are also easy to work on and members typically will have car runs and tech days to allow you even more top down fun.





When you're ready, I hope to see you on the Miata.net forums (http://forum.miata.net/vb/)!