Printable View
When buying a miata, what are some specific things one can do to inspect a car themselves... if I'm going to a car lot to look at a car, what are things I should look out for..... I've always bought used cars based on mileage, gut feeling, and overall condition. Problem is, I'm looking at high mileage early 90's Miata's with mediocre bodies, so my system isn't gonna help me here.....
Thanks in advance, Simon
Crawl under it and look at the frame rails, A-arms, and other misc things that get bent in accidents but not necessarily repaired.
Check the oil for shavings & water, check the coolant for oil, check compression if you can...
Lots of good info here too.
http://www.miata.net/garage/garagebuying.html
thats all standard stuff... i was thinking more make specific problems... for instance on the 2000 ford zx2 s/r's there were a LOT of cases of crankwalk....Quote:
Originally Posted by channelmaniac
I've heard of crank issues on early 90's miatas... any other things like that?
And here for TSBs - http://www.miata.net/garage/tsb/index.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by sammm
If you want more info than you need Miata.net is the place to lurk. ;)
You weren't specific in your first post. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by sxk122
Quote:
Originally Posted by channelmaniac
Sorry... I appreciate the advice either way.
I'm just looking forward to finding "THE" car.
In fact, I'm even closer than I thought... got a $500 check in the mail........had had the tv repairman out because of an intermitent problem on my TV (under warranty). They decided it is cheaper to refund me the cost of the TV. So, thats almost a new paintjob through my friend on whatever car i do get :)
Arghh...
I'm starting to get frustrated. I'm always a bit too late it seems. Every car I go after gets sold.
I'm watching Craig's List, Ebay, and Autotrader..... along with here and miata.net
Any other places to look?????
Craigshelper helped me find my miata because it allows you to search specific cars in your price range throughout different cities. Things to check for would be rust on body panels, I know you have the paint body work hook up but you really don't want rust bubbling up though your new paint job. Timing belt will help you determine how good the persons maintenance was if dealing with a private seller. Alot of problems can be felt out through the test drive, a good miata will have no play in the wheel and will feel really structurally stiff unless you are looking at the earlier 1.6 cars which will feel a little less stiff. the car can make some rattles and squeeks and what not during the test drive but their shouldn't be any loose sloppy feelings to it. Smoke on start up and valve ticking for a long time past start up are also a bad sign (valve ticking while cold is completely normal for these old cars but it should dissipate when at operating temperatures).
There was a 99 Sport here in Austin for $5900 IIRC the other day.Quote:
Originally Posted by sxk122
Chris
Take a vacation to So.Cal and I guarantee you can find a Miata cheap. Ship it back for $500 and you still have a good deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by sxk122
::BS::Quote:
Originally Posted by CosmosMpower
I tried to ship a 93LE from Bezerkley a year ago.
Shipping was $1300 and that was a kinfolk deal.
It would be well over 2k now.
Want to see my receipt? I shipped my LE from LA to Mesquite hub to hub with DAS including all surcharges and tax and it got here within a week. Your Kinfolk must be ripping you off.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogue
Nah, I want the phone number where I can get that same deal. :clap:Quote:
Originally Posted by CosmosMpower
That is smoking! ::Blowup::
Keep in mind that was over a year ago when gas was cheaper (not sure how much though). I'll look up the # when I get home.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogue
:clap:Quote:
Originally Posted by CosmosMpower
Quote:
Originally Posted by CosmosMpower
How long ago, or better yet how many cents per gallon ago was that? Also have to think about if the transit is on a flatbed, an inclosed trailer, or one of those fancy trailers used for shipping BMWs.
Just my ::2Cents::.
But back to the topic at hand... Just stay on the lookout.. When your driving through town, your neighborhood, anywhere. That is how I found my 90. I got a heck of a deal on it with just over 100K, hardtop, and few cosmetic things that needed to be addressed for less than $1500.
So just keep your eyes open, and good luck in your search.
It was on an open air car transit semi on the top level, I could definitely see an enclosed transit of that mileage costing $2,000 plus. I'll find my receipt and the details when I get home if anyone is seriously interested.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted the Red
Yeah, thanks for the Miata specific tips... I don't want to go near a rusted out car-- that can be a nightmare. I've bookmarked the Craigslist city page, and i've been checking Cities in Texas/ Oklahoma/ Arkansas/ and Louisiana.... Unless its a *wow* car I don't want to drive 400 miles to say no....Quote:
Originally Posted by JuanoTejano
I saw that, its a bit more than i wanted to spend and I really want an NA; I like the pop-up headlights. I'm hoping to spend $2500-3k for an OK car-- I want something to work on. My factory warrantied Lancer is boring me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Miatamaniac92
I'm gonna go try look at this Sunday--
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/718575638.html
I'd be looking to talk him down a bit-- it has 191k miles-- a bit more than i was wanting-- but we will see
That does not look like a stock steering wheel, so perhaps the car was in an accident that popped the airbag. It could have been minor or it could have caused issues with the frame. You should look at it closely and make sure that it is not a salvage title.Quote:
Originally Posted by sxk122
I like this new guy. :clap:Quote:
Originally Posted by sxk122
Thanks!!!!!
wow... i notice it now that you point it out; the stock steering wheel should have a rectangular center, right? As for a salvage title, that should be easy to spot.Quote:
Originally Posted by jrj512
Stuff like that was exactly why I need y'all, lol
One thing that did kinda make me go "hmm" was i Googled the phone number, and he has quite a few cars for sale... but when i called and asked what times his dealership was open he said he was a private seller...
Anyone with miata knowledge free Sunday, lol
That thing has been for sale forever, and a NB too. :punchout:Quote:
Originally Posted by sxk122
It looks like that blue NA is parked next to the car in this ad with the same phone number, and it looks like it is Mayhill Motorsports in Denton. If so, that would be the same guy I bought my Miata from. He didn't have the Miata parked at the lot, though - he kept the convertibles at a house away from everything (seen in this ad) so they didn't get vandalized. He may also have had some pictures mixed up - at one time he had two blue NAs listed, a '91 and a '92. Notice how the pictures in the current '91 ad match the pictures in the previous '92 ad? I would call and get the VIN so you could verify the year (maybe using this link).
Guess I got a little link happy today.
Hope this helps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogue
Im confused... do you mean that is a NB... or he also has an NB for sale....
I like links..... makes things easier. Thanks Walsted.... How was the guy to deal with (Mike, I think?) Did your sale go ok? Did he seem straight forward?
Thanks all!!!
diseregard last post... answer found http://www.mikewalsted.com/Miata.html
;)
putting the carriage before the horse, but what are y'alls views on painting Miata's non OEM colors..... If i end up with a blue car, I think I want to repaint it the same color as my old car once i get a ratsback lip kit and some TSI's... kind of an homage to her.
It's your car, do what you like. I would say depending on the color you get it, decide then what color to paint it, unless your going all out and getting the engine bay etc also done.
Looks like the other blue one is listed again.
Well for $3k you can definitley find a good car, maybe even a 94-97 with the 1.8. Don't let the higher miles discourage you, I got my 95 M-Edition with hardtop with 178K for $3,500 in February and I have been happy with it so far. Have put about 7K miles on it so far and about to put another 2k on it here in a week and haven't any troubles with it other than it eats about a half quart of oil every 3,000 miles.Quote:
Originally Posted by sxk122
And you still might wanna look at Hankshelper.com that's the one I was thinking of that lets you search within a mile radius instead of by city so you should set it to look as far as you are willing to go because you may find really low prices that would be worth driving for. I know I saw alot of good ones on there that I would've driven to Austin for because they were so cheap but as soon as I saw em and called the guy It was sold.
I'll take a look at that...
I went to look at the blue miata at Mayhill Motorsports. The guy was nice enough, but the car was a little beat.
$2500 with TTand L
Would defiantly need a new bumper and support ($150-250)
Might need new hood hinges.. hood doesn't appear to sit completely flat.($60 or so each)
Rear plastic on top is hazy as a glass of milk, but overall the top looks ok, as does the integrity of the rear plastic.
Runs a bit rough, slow on accelerating-- possibly plugged injectors.
As is the car needs work.
http://images.craigslist.org/0101050...5a6e000626.jpg
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/9...sidezw7.th.jpg
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/8...bendpt9.th.jpg
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/1...rearri5.th.jpg
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/3440/backfu5.th.jpg
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/6...riorfi0.th.jpg
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/5...nderte3.th.jpg
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/943/frontbb6.th.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5870/top2xp4.th.jpg
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/346/top1lr3.th.jpg
What are y'all thoughts? Should I wait a few months and spend $4-5k up front? I've got $2500 at this minute, and can put $800 more towards a miata each month. Would i be better off waiting and going after something like NealB's car? http://forums.dfwmiata.com/showthread.php?t=11964
All that being said, i want a car now. ugh.
Did you look at the other blue NA (visible in this picture?)
As far as waiting, it depends upon your goals. If you buy the blue NA now, that $800 a month can go into that car, getting the window cleared or new top, fixing the body, and changing plugs/wires/oil/filters, and you won't be driving a Lancer. If you wait, you will probably find a better car, it will probably still need maintenance, just not as much.
When I was looking, the real good deals got snatched up real quick. Thus, I decided to go for a reasonable deal instead of pulling my hair out trying to find an excellent deal, since the excellent deals only showed up while I was at work and had no way of getting there before they were sold. Right now, for instance, this red one on Craigslist seems to be a better deal than the blue ones in Denton, but it is probably gone if it really is a better deal. There is one that seems to be a nice one on the Austin Craigslist, but it is also probably gone by now if it really is that nice.
With gas prices going up, used miatas aren't going to get much cheaper with time, since people are realizing that the 30+mpg is a good excuse to get a roadster.
This probably didn't help, but hope it did.
The other blue car was in even poorer shape.
The red one you posted has been posted on craigslist before.... there was something wrong with it last time; i don't remember what.
As you can tell I'm torn two ways right now.
I've thought about this most of the day, and as much as I don't want to I think I'm going to wait a bit. I want a car that can eventually be damned near perfect. Unfortunately, the blue car is going to take alot of work. I talked with my body man and my guestimates were pretty close-- bumper and hood hinges along with a repaint (base and clear; non oem color) will run about $800 for me. That doesn't even touch the engine yet.
Something like this or this is more along what I ultimately want I think.
One thing I know for sure though. I want one. Driving the car to day cemented that.
Thanks all for your help... I definantly like this site :)
Regarding the unflushed hood, I think this might work.
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...ght=flush+hood
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...ght=flush+hood
That red one was at an auction about 4 months ago. I went to the auction with the intension of buying it, but passed on it. It went for $750. Someone had put a 1.8 in it, and then could not get it running, so they donated it to a charity that accepts cars and auctions them off. It had a STB and tokico springs and shocks. The AC compressor and power steering pump were sitting in a box in the passenger seat. There were holes in the carpet, seats, and top, and it looked like an animal had been living in there. There was a pile of cigarette buts on the floorboard. The rear finish panel was cracked. Both bumpers were in bad shape. There were lots of dings on the fenders.Quote:
Originally Posted by Walsted
In that case, I need to amend/change my forecast - it probably isn't a better deal, and it probably isn't gone yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus
lol. i remebered there was a reason i passed on that red one.
When i see the words "swap" i always get cautious. 9 times out of ten something doesn't work right..... in that case the whole car ;)
As for the hood, i knew about the headlights being movable and the hood being relatively flexible (aluminum), but the gapping of the hood on both sides at the windshield end was wonky enough to bug me. For $2500 I'm being too picky... for that prce the car is good, and thats why I think i need to spend a bit more up front. I want whatever Miata i end up buying to eventually be comparable to my old car.... show quality.
Hmmm...
Have you tried Autotrader.com?
Primary Information about this vehicle:
AT Car ID: AT-E96238F
http://www.autotraderstatic.com/img/...gif?2.44.61544 Close
AT Car ID
Return to this vehicle quickly by searching with its AutoTrader.com Car ID (or, "AT Car ID").
Price$2,700
Mileage159,682
Body Style Convertible
Exterior Color white
Interior Color Black
Engine 4 Cylinder Gasoline
Transmission 5 Speed Manual
Drive Type 2 wheel drive - rear
Fuel Type Gasoline
Stereo AM/FM Stereo Tape
Doors Two Door
VIN JM1NA3511L0104670
------------------------------
Primary Information about this vehicle:
AT Car ID: AT-E9613F6
http://www.autotraderstatic.com/img/...gif?2.44.61544 Close
AT Car ID
Return to this vehicle quickly by searching with its AutoTrader.com Car ID (or, "AT Car ID").
Price $2,700
Mileage 99,353
Body Style Convertible
Exterior Color Red
Interior Color Black
Engine 4 Cylinder Gasoline
Transmission 3 Speed Automatic with Overdrive
Drive Type 2 wheel drive - rear
Fuel Type Gasoline
Stereo AM/FM Stereo Tape
Doors Two Door
Stock No.TAB445
VIN JM1NA353XR0502373
Yeah... that white car was in fact my first choice.... but it, and the other car are both sold.