Thoughts/advice on Miatas?

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin

Offline

• Aug 28, 2019

• #1

I'm deciding on selling/keeping the Midget,or possibly
replacing it with an older Miata,while they're still cheap.If I
got one,it would be a daily driver,as I commute about an hour
each day to/from work.Plus the Midget is getting harder to get
in/out of.
I went & looked at the one below.The owner told me that
he bought it for $4000,& put a fair amount of work into it.It has
a new top & tires,& includes a new set of vented rotors,& brake
pads.
The downside is that it was repainted ( a decent 10 ft job),
& the muffler is a little on the loud side.He said the he'd take $3000
for it.
Your thoughts?

http://lynchburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/bedford-1995-mazda-miata-na/6958779426.html

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NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin

Gold

Online

• Aug 28, 2019

• #2

Doug - why is he selling it after only one year of ownership?

*Might* be worth $3000 if he fixes all the things he's disconnected and shows you they all work.

Check the car's history - ownership, maintenance, accident records, etc.

Tom M.

 

JPSmit

Moderator

Staff member

Silver

Offline

• Aug 29, 2019

• #3

Doug, we should never ever confuse a hobby with transportation. If you need a daily, get a corolla/ Kia/ Hyundai - it will start everyday - you will be able to drive family and you won't need to climb down into it.

Yes the Miata is miles more reliable than anything British - but, it's still a hobby car. Stick with the fun of the Midget for cheap.

 

waltesefalcon

Yoda

Silver

Online

• Aug 29, 2019

• #4

Doug, go for it. I've thought about picking up a Miata for a daily driver myself, of course I used my 79 Spit as a daily driver for nearly five years.

 

OP

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin

Offline

• Aug 29, 2019

• #5

NutmegCT said:

Doug - why is he selling it after only one year of ownership?

*Might* be worth $3000 if he fixes all the things he's disconnected and shows you they all work.

Check the car's history - ownership, maintenance, accident records, etc.

Tom M.

Click to expand...

He was building it as a track day project,but he has too kids,and
no time to enjoy it.I might buy it,if he fixes things.The stereo,& A/C stuff is
behind the console,but are all there (except for the A/C part listed).

JP,

I'd only consider another convertible as a replacement,unless I found
something interesting,like an early GTI for the same price,& that's unlikely
to happen.

I did drive it,& was impressed with how well it drove.

 

EricG

Jedi Trainee

Offline

• Aug 29, 2019

• #6

Sounds like that Miata was run hard and put away wet. I used mine as a daily driver to go 40 miles for work every day for 6 years and NEVER had anything go wrong. They are really reliable, get good mileage and most of all-fun to drive. Find a one or two owner car with records and low mileage and you will do just fine.....

 

LarryK

Yoda

Offline

• Aug 29, 2019

• #7

My Rover has been more reliable than my brother-in-laws Miata.

 

OP

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin

Offline

• Aug 29, 2019

• #8

Looks like he sold it (not to me),or decided to keep it.
If anyone knows of a nice one for sale,for a good price,please
let me know.

 

Bob Claffie

Jedi Knight

Offline

• Aug 29, 2019

• #9

My son (in Maryland) has four of them and autocrosses the daylights out of them, three drivers 3 or 4 events a month . they are virtually indestructible. I have a '92, bought new, and is still going strong, NEVER been in a shop for repairs although I have had to do some fixes. great car for fun or for transportation. You should be able to source a good older 100000 mile car for $2500-$3500. Bob C

 

OP

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin

Offline

• Aug 31, 2019

• #10

Thinking about looking at this one.A little more money
than I'd like to spend,but might be worth it.

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/d/kernersville-1997-mazda-miata-very-clean/6964675502.html

 

Mickey Richaud

Moderator

Staff member

Gold

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• Aug 31, 2019

• #11

From the pictures, that looks pretty good. Falls in the middle of NADA low-to-average price guide: https://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/1997/Mazda/MX5-Miata/2-Door-Convertible/Values

 

Bob Claffie

Jedi Knight

Offline

• Aug 31, 2019

• #12

Check on the timing belt service date. Pretty expensive maintenance item, $400-$600 ave. Otherwise looks OK. You could do better price wise and miles wise if you backed down a couple, three years.

 

OP

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin

Offline

• Aug 31, 2019

• #13

Looks like these are starting to go up in value,so I don't
think that's too bad of a price.It's in much nicer shape
than the Black one I was looking at.

 

Last edited: Sep 3, 2019

Bob Claffie

Jedi Knight

Offline

• Sep 1, 2019

• #14

That original car you looked at was a "base" model. Had crank windows and probably no power mirrors (like mine). On the early cars there were three models with varying levels of trim. One important difference, some had a limited slip diff others didn't. Don't pay for a loaded car and get a stripper

 

OP

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin

Offline

• Sep 3, 2019

• #15

Looks like I've made a deal on the one near Greensboro (the red one).
I got for a great price.
It's had the timing belt done recently,the A/C compressor's been replaced,
and the tires only have about 7000 miles on them.

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waltesefalcon

Yoda

Silver

Online

• Sep 4, 2019

• #16

Congratulations. I can't see the attachments though.

 

OP

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin

Offline

• Sep 4, 2019

• #17

Try again....

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Bayless

Yoda

Silver

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• Sep 4, 2019

• #18

Looks good.

 

HealeyRick

Yoda

Silver

Offline

• Sep 4, 2019

• #19

Looks like a very nice car. I toyed with the idea of doing a V8 Miata to go with my V8 Healey, but I decided against it. This has to be the ultimate Miata, and the price shows it: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2016-mazda-mx-5-miata-10/ Good luck with your new ride.

 

Mickey Richaud

Moderator

Staff member

Gold

Offline

• Sep 4, 2019

• #20

Very happy for you, Doug - have fun with it!