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DeltaAir423

DeltaAir423

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I have just turned 173k on my 2000 Mustang that I use as my daily driver. I'm planning on getting another 127k out of it. (who says Ford can't build a reliable car) I think after I hit 300k, it'll be time to replace the Mustang. One car that keeps coming up in my mind as a nice replacement is a Mazda MX-5. My Dad bought one of these about 6 years ago, and it is a joy to drive. Almost as fun as my Spit.


Gah! Is it this bad to be looking at a replacement even when I'm planning on putting on even more mileage on my dd?
 
My '92 GMC Sonoma is nearing 450,000 miles...time to get it painted!
 
Its never too early to look!

You can use that time to familiarize yourself with the car and take a long leisurely approach, maybe even test driving a few different ones and talking to the owners about them. I presume there's a car club for them.

It all helps make an informed decision.

And if you start looking before you're really ready to buy one you might get very lucky and find something ideal sooner than you would otherwise. For something as common as an MX5 it probably doesn't matter a lot... but for more unusual ones (like my Rochdale) I found a great one about a year after I was "kinda" looking and about a year before I really would have had the space and money like I'd thought and intended.

It never hurts to look... much. :devilgrin:
 
JamesWilson said:
Its never too early to look!

You can use that time to familiarize yourself with the car and take a long leisurely approach, maybe even test driving a few different ones and talking to the owners about them. I presume there's a car club for them.

It all helps make an informed decision.

And if you start looking before you're really ready to buy one you might get very lucky and find something ideal sooner than you would otherwise. For something as common as an MX5 it probably doesn't matter a lot... but for more unusual ones (like my Rochdale) I found a great one about a year after I was "kinda" looking and about a year before I really would have had the space and money like I'd thought and intended.

It never hurts to look... much. :devilgrin:
Click to expand...


That's the thing, I know what a good first gen MX-5 looks and drives like. The only issues I have ever seen with those cars it the timing belt issue, and during winter months, the need to keep the headlights in the up position (there's a switch for that). When I bought my Mustang was looked around for a year or so, and even looked at some other car models before ordering mine new (sticker was 18,600 and I paid 14,400). I still want to get the mileage out of my Mustang, but I really don't need to start looking around right now. At the rate that I drive my car, I should hit 300k in a little less than six years.
 
By the time a car reaches 200K around here usually the floorboards, rockers and suspension mounting points are rotten away. Heck, by 80K you cant turn any bolts underneath, and by 100-120 there's probably rust bubbles all over the place, if not outright holes, and all the brake and fuel lines are starting to leak one by one....
Stinkin salt.....
 
That's the beatuy of living down south! :laugh:
 
mehheh.

Rob said:
Is it this bad to be looking at a replacement even when I'm planning on putting on even more mileage on my dd?
Click to expand...

See my .sig file. :smirk:
 
DeltaAir423 said:
That's the thing, I know what a good first gen MX-5 looks and drives like. The only issues I have ever seen with those cars it the timing belt issue, and during winter months, the need to keep the headlights in the up position (there's a switch for that).
Click to expand...

Are you talking about timing belts, or the short nose crank issue? Belts are a 60,000 mile replacement item, which is typical I believe. If one does break, the Miata engine is a non-interference design so no damage will occur. As for the short nose crank issue, that had something to do with the woodruff key slot not being long enough, and they could strip. Avoid cars built before-I think-1991 or so.

Popping up the headlights all winter? My '96 has been a daily driver for the last nine years, all year long. I only bother to pop them up if I'm leaving the car overnight when we're expecting more than an inch of snow, of if temps will be below about 10 degrees fahrenheit. I've never been in Atlanta in the winter, but unless your winter weather is similar to that in Chicago, then you have no worries.

Thought I'd clear that up!

-Wm.
 
Hey William. Thanks for the info. I was referring to the timing belt being a 60K item. I've never owned a timing belt car, they've all been timing chains.

As far as winters in Atlanta, our winters are considerably shorter than up north, however we get some lovely ice storms rather than the snow. I've had it where my car has been completely frozen shut. In a first gen Miata, I can see where the headlight switch will come in handy down here.
 
Yeah-if you're expecting an ice storm, or significant snow, pop up the lights. Otherwise they can stay down. Like I said, I only do it if we're expecting more than an inch of heavy, wet, snow, because usually the snowstorm ends and we get a big temp drop, turning it to ice.

Anyway, happy to help. If you have any other questions, just ask. I've had mine for almost a decade now, so there's not much I've not encountered!

-Wm.
 
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