In the spring of 2016 we introduced the original Offroadster -- a 1994 turbocharged, track-rat Miata -- turned offroading beast. It was the next "logical" step in product development following the success of our 3" lift kits. Fast forward to 2023 and we've sold nearly 50 of these serious Miata kits to some seriously wild individuals and big kids at heart! Recently, we sat down and completely redesigned the fabricated components in favor of tubular construction using the same proven suspension geometry of the original kit. Offroadster 2.0 is now stronger, lighter, and sexier than ever!
Offroadster 2.0 is here!!!
How'd you do it? Details, please..
This project’s key focus was to develop a complete replacement suspension kit to transform a first or second generation Miata from normalcy to a streetable, Stadium Truck style, serious off-roading machine. That’s quite a tall order for a car designed for almost nothing NEAR that capability. Using the factory suspension hard points at the subframes and 31×10.50-15” tires meeting the Earth, everything in between those two givens became fair game. Many, many, MANY hours were spent measuring, drawing, modeling in 3D CAD, prototyping, revising, and testing to result in the Offroadster Kit. The suspension and steering geometry were continually developed and tweaked throughout the process to ensure the best compromises in camber curves, wheel rates and wheel frequencies, bump steer, Ackerman, etc.. The result is a complete, nearly 100% bolt-on set of components which provide some VERY impressive stats:
15” of ground clearance
12” of wheel travel
5” longer wheelbase, 13.5” wider track
Complete set of 8 CAD designed tubular control arms with custom upper shock mounts
Custom valved AFCO coilover shocks/springs package
Extended length, stainless steel braided brake lines
Heavy Duty, custom extended axle shafts from The Driveshaft Shop (‘94+ differential required)
Optional 5.38:1 gearset compensates for 30-31” tires, maintaining acceleration
Custom machined tie rod extensions
Heavy Duty steering rack relocation brackets
Machined steel steering column extension (welding required)
Optional steel fender flares package to allow up to 31” tire fitment
This is an extreme kit for seriously wild builds.
However… the proof, as they say, is in the pudding… Climb in an Offroadster and you’ll quickly forget about stats, numbers, laser-cut this and CNC machined that, and pretty much everything else except feeling like a small child again with the coolest toy on the block. Build your own Offroadster, and go conquer stuff.
How do I buy?
We thought you’d never ask!
Check out pricing details below, or click the button to go to the shop page!
Offroadster - Base
Base Conversion Kit
$4999
- 8 Powder Coated Control Arms (with new front upper ball joints)
- 4 upper shock mounts
- Steering rack spacers
- Steering shaft extension tube (welding required)
- Tie rod extensions
- Front and rear sets - Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings
- Extended stainless braided brake lines
- All hardware required
- End user will need full set of suspension bushings and shocks/springs of their choice to complete the kit, as well as extended axles. We can help customize your kit to suit your needs! Contact us!
Offroadster - Conquerer
Everything needed to conquer the offroad!
$8499
- 8 Powder Coated Control Arms (with new front upper ball joints)
- 4 upper shock mounts
- Steering rack spacers
- Steering shaft extension tube (welding required)
- Tie rod extensions
- Front and rear sets - Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings
- Extended stainless braided brake lines
- All hardware required
- AFCO custom coilovers
- Driveshaft shop custom extended axles with new CVs
- Fender flares and cut templates package
- 5.38:1 Ring and Pinion for 7” diff
Offroadster - Custom
Spec out your own kit!
$4999/ Starting At
- Everything from the base Offroadster kit. ($4,999.00)
- AFCO custom coilovers ($1,699.00)
- Driveshaft shop custom extended axles with new CVs ($1499.00)
- Fender flare package ($299.00)
- 5.38:1 Ring and Pinion for 7” diff ($449.00)
- End user will need full set of suspension bushings and shocks/springs of their choice to complete the kit, as well as extended axles. We can help customize your kit to suit your needs! Contact us!
Offroadster FAQ
Yes, the steering rack is relocated a few inches to maintain good Ackermann geometry and to minimize bump-steer, but you will have the same power or manual steering that you started with.
Depending upon the size of the tires you choose (up to 31″ will fit the large fender flares) you will notice some loss of acceleration performance due to taller overall gearing. The available 5.38:1 gearset for the differential brings gearing back to factory specs when using 31″ tires, but the overall larger mass of the wheel/tire combo compared to factory sized street tires will still have a negative effect on acceleration.
Mostly yes. Some localities have more strict requirements on fender coverage over tires, so check your local laws to be sure.
This will vary upon your capability, shop equipment, and haste, but this kit can be installed over a weekend with capable hands. It’s a complete, permanent transformation of the car, so it’s NOT for the faint of heart or skill. You’re replacing all of the factory control arms and coilovers, relocating the steering rack with bolt-on brackets, replacing brake lines, adding bolt-on extensions to the tie rods, cutting and welding an extension into the steering column, and cutting the body for the weld-in fender flares. You’ll need to do body work to blend the flares into the factory sheet metal, repaint those areas, set desired ride height on the coilovers and do a 4 wheel alignment.
You will need your desired wheel/tire package, but everything else is included in the kit.
Yes, the large tires will reduce acceleration, but the available 5.38:1 gearset brings overall gearing back to nearly factory specs.
Acceleration will be reduced, but the available 5.38:1 gearset compensates nearly 100% for that using 31″ tires… Handling will be quite different than before. This is now a serious off-road capable car, and has a much lower wheel rate and lots more body roll. The suspension geometry has been designed to work fine on the street and highway, however, and the drivability is surprisingly good for such an extreme set of modifications. With a proper alignment, the car won’t do anything surprising or unexpected on the street. Care needs to be taken at high speeds when changing lanes on the highway, but a bit of careful practice and a few miles behind the wheel goes a long way. No reason that an Offroadster can’t be driven daily. The biggest difference overall is how much attention you will draw to yourself driving such a beast!!!
Gas mileage will suffer for sure. How much though?? That’s tough to quantify, but expect a very significant drop in mileage. Larger tires with more rolling resistance, a big drop in aerodynamics, and more torque required from the engine in city driving all contribute to lower MPG.
This is a guarantee, as far as we’re concerned… Expect to spend at least 10-15 minutes at the gas station answering questions and for picture taking, continuous thumbs up and shout-outs from passing admirers, and lots of people speeding up to take pics on the highway. Be careful driving your young children around in this thing, as some folks can’t help but pull up at stoplights next to you and start yelling random expletives as they try to figure out what sort of awesome just filled their field of vision…
It’s not completely necessary to upgrade the brakes, though the added mass of larger wheels/tires will make them work harder. A street/track hybrid pad is recommended, and for anything beyond street/moderate speed off-road use, the factory brakes should be ok. If you’re entering the Baja 1000, please upgrade to the 6 piston Wilwoods like on our shop car, available from Flyin’ Miata.
YES!!! Unless you are only putt-putting around on the street showing off and never putting a wheel off the pavement, get a roll bar or a roll cage. It’s a good idea in ANY Miata.
The lightweight nature of the Miata and the ground clearance provided by the Offroadster Kit make it a good contender in the mud. Much of it’s capabilities will depend on your gearing and choice of tire.
Roughly 75-100 lbs, plus the difference between your existing wheel/tire package and the ones you replace them with.
