Is the answer ever "$1,000 Miata"?

"Just wear your damn mask..." (jimal) 12/11/2014 at 15:38 • Filed to: None

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I'm looking for a beater to have some fun with next spring while not putting miles on my leased '14 Jetta. Since the answer is always Miata, I've been searching for an older Miata that I can tinker on (when I'm not tinkering on my old 4x4) and buzz back and forth to work on the cheap.

I stumbled upon this offering in northwest Connecticut. The ad reads:

"1992 miata with about 190,000. Needs to sell ASAP. Serious buyers only. The car is it decent shape for a 1992. Has a new driveshaft, radiator, muffler and tires. Car needs a water pump and pipe for muffler small hole. Has a few dents and one crack that could be fixed. For the water pump and pipe under $100 for the parts. The is a great little car and major gas saver. Has a strong tranny and motor in it never any problems. Great teen car or nice for summer rides. $900 cash serious buyers only no low ballers."

I priced out a water pump and an entire exhaust system, and neither are expensive, at least from Rock Auto. I'm sure my wife will hate the idea, until at least she gets to take the car to work or down to her mother's...

Somebody talk me out of this.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Just wear your damn mask... 12/11/2014 at 15:43

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Most of the things that have been replaced seem rust related and these get super sketchy once they rust because the body provides quite alot of support to the backbone chassis. Rust that is essentially cosmetic on other cars becomes a structural issue on Miatas. For something less sketchy once rusted for super cheap, you can always go in the AW11 route.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Just wear your damn mask... 12/11/2014 at 15:44

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My best friend bought a cheap used Miata once, it broke down quite a few times in the approximate year that he owned it; including having the battery (which was relocated to the trunk) catch on fire... while he was filling up at a gas station. He actually had to hit the emergency shut of switch at a gas station! Check that one off the bucket list.

Despite all of that, it was a ton of fun.

Just wear your damn mask... > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/11/2014 at 15:45

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That is what I was thinking, but sometimes a second set of eyes can help restore sanity.

Just wear your damn mask... > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 12/11/2014 at 15:48

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I can fix the mechanical and electrical (relatively) cheaply and (somewhat) easily. My bigger issue would be rust.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Just wear your damn mask... 12/11/2014 at 15:50

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That'll be any cheap beater though.

My plan for a winter beater for next year is to fly out to AZ to see family and drive back a cheap 22re Toyota pickup or 4Runner; so I can store the FR-S to keep it safe from the salted roads of Illinois.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Just wear your damn mask... 12/11/2014 at 15:52

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Yeah, I mean I'm all for getting a cheap beater of questionable quality to play with and tinker with, but I don't think that this is the one you want if you're looking for something cheap that will stay cheap. The rust isn't even that huge of a deal breaker since flying miata sell bracing for it that can be installed (friend of mine has a Miata with rusty floorboards, installed the FM butterfly brace, and it was like driving a different car), but it adds up pretty quickly.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Just wear your damn mask... 12/11/2014 at 15:53

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So you leased a car but don't want to drive it?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 12/11/2014 at 15:54

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It matters more with some cars than others. Old 22r Toyota? Who cares. Rust adds character! Miata? Your light open-top roadster how has a chassis that twists like a wet noodle.

Just wear your damn mask... > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/11/2014 at 15:56

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I don't know if it has to be cheap-cheap. I'm being a tightwad on the front end, but I don't mind wrenching. If I can get into the car for less than what my estimate overage would be if I keep driving the Jetta every day, I'm still ahead. And if I can unload it later for more than I paid for it, even if I don't recoup the work? All the better.

Pixel > Just wear your damn mask... 12/11/2014 at 15:56

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If that is the "crack" he is talking about, that is paint/bondo cracking off major rust. Poke that area with a screwdriver and I be it'd go right through.

Also that might be rot holes at the front of the sill in the 2nd photo. Jab at that too. If those are both majorly rotted you are looking at welding work to make the car safe.

If you can get it cheap enough, use it as a parts donor for this one and combine them into one better miata.

Margin Of Error > Just wear your damn mask... 12/11/2014 at 15:56

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The real answer is "$1,000 Panther"

Just wear your damn mask... > Margin Of Error 12/11/2014 at 15:57

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The answer never has the word "Panther" in it.

Just wear your damn mask... > Pixel 12/11/2014 at 16:00

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Shoot, that other one is in the town I grew up in. For this cheap, I'm not sure I'd even be concerned with the salvage title, as long as I could get it insured. I might just squirrel away some money and bide my time. I still have truck parts to sell.

Just wear your damn mask... > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 12/11/2014 at 16:03

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The problem is I've driven it way too much. It was supposed to be my back-and-forth-to-work car, but extenuating circumstances that involved 1) my wife's car and 2) a deer, pressed it into longer haul service. My options are to go over on the mileage and pay the fee, buy extra miles, or pick up something else to drive when the weather is nice. I'd consider a motorcycle, but not on my commute. Those guys are crazy.

Local Miata Bro > Just wear your damn mask... 12/11/2014 at 16:30

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My answer was $2000 Miata...

E92M3 > Just wear your damn mask... 12/11/2014 at 16:42

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I think if you could save up another $800-$1000 you'll be better off and get a much better car. Then you stand a real chance to detail it and sell it for more when you're done with it. Unless you know how and enjoy welding I would stay away from rusty cars. It gets expensive when you pay someone else to do it.

ACESandEIGHTS > Just wear your damn mask... 12/11/2014 at 16:48

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It takes a rich man to drive a poor man's car. $1,000 car is a trap.

Just wear your damn mask... > E92M3 12/11/2014 at 16:58

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Definitely not looking for anything to weld on (I want to drive it right away). I don't have a particular budget at the moment so I can play the waiting game.

TDogg > E92M3 12/11/2014 at 18:22

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I second this. Find somebody with one listed for a bit more ($2000-ish) and talk em down a little & you'll probably save yourself some headaches.

Martin Logan > Just wear your damn mask... 12/15/2014 at 00:33

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This will make you all hate me..... years ago in the early days of craigslist, I put up a "want ad" basically saying "Miata wanted", and hey if you're about to trade yours in or whatever, let me know first. Next day I get a reply from a lady who had her Miata since it was just a couple years old, and was about to buy a new MINI. She described the Miata, it sounded good, so I went to see it. She was a little off on her description, because it was like new. '90 red (of course) A pkg 5-spd with a newish top, all the original stuff like the boot cover, floormats, MAZDA keys, etc. PLUS some sweet "period correct" 15" alloys and no rust. Had about 100k miles. When I asked about price she said "well the MINI dealer thought it would be worth about $1,000 trade in, so that would be fine". Needless to say I all but threw the $$$ at her.

AdverseMartyr > Just wear your damn mask... 01/10/2015 at 16:50

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But I see those guys on tv using the front suspension from panthers all the time...