For a daily driver I wouldn't go with manual steering.
For an autocross car I wouldn't go with manual steering.
For a track car, maybe, the manual steering might be better.
My car has power steering and, while it's very light and direct, it seems a little bit TOO light and sensitive on fast sweepers (I recently had it aligned when I put shocks on it, so I don't think that's the issue). Now, I'm not complaining or anything, BUT I've heard that the manual steering is a whole different animal. Having owned several old RX-7s with manual steering, I can see how the Miata would be suited to a manual rack. So... I'm actually thinking of swapping out to the manual rack. Am I mentally challenged? Do I need to just stop bitching and get used to it? Does anyone have anything to weigh in with on this debate - power vs. manual?
For a daily driver I wouldn't go with manual steering.
For an autocross car I wouldn't go with manual steering.
For a track car, maybe, the manual steering might be better.
Thomas
V-to-the-Dub
I disagree with Miatamoto, my car (when it ran ) had manual steering and I loved every minute of it. Later, when I drove a NA with power steering it felt extremely loose. YMMV
Another option is depowering your current rack.
90 MX5 281k miles! - euro spec, Porsche Riviera Blue w/black hardtop, 97 motor swap, vintage Borbet rims, GC, FM shock hats/frame rails/rear sub-brace, AGX, sway bar, stb, Fidanza/ACT combo, EBC Yellows
92 COMMA SM - new paint coming soon...
One thing to keep in mind about the manual rack is that it has a slower ratio than the power unit.
My '99 had a factory manual rack. I loved it at the track and on longer autocross courses, didn't like it at all on tighter autocross courses. On the street there were times I liked it and times I didn't.
Personally, I'd try to find someone with a manual rack and drive their car before you make the switch. You may love it, you may hate it, but I'd rather find out before I went to the trouble of swapping them.
Iain
"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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Interesting... I like the thought of de-powering the power rack, since the ratio seems to be just fine. However, I'd like to drive a car with the regular manual rack before I do anything. Wouldn't mind driving a de-powered car too... hmmmm.