Worst of the breed, my $200 Miata: Part 1

"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay) 06/29/2016 at 12:15 • Filed to: Cheap Miata, $200 miata, Decay's Beaters

5

62

Over the weekend, after realizing that the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! wasn’t quite offering me the challenge I’d hoped for, I decided to press my luck and add another project to the garage. I heard about a stupid cheap Miata through a friend and figured for this kind of money, what the hell? Why not? The backstory here is that it stopped going into gear when running and the owner, lacking the skill to complete the repair, let it sit in his back yard for the better part of a year. Now he is moving and needs it gone (hence the price). After confirming the car existed, I gave him the money without much in the way of an inspection (what was I going to do, talk him down from $200?)

Two hours later and a call to AAA saw the car in my garage. I put in some fresh gas, connected the old battery from my FR-S, and cranked her over. Life! Let her idle for a bit to get things flowing, but it sounded healthy under there, especially considering it has 230K miles! I pressed in the clutch, and nope, not going into gear. Put it in first, cranked it, and after a quick lurch there I was, idling in first with the clutch disengaged. I began to let the clutch out and while there was quite an awful grinding noise coming from the bellhousing at the point of engagement, the clutch behaved kind of like a clutch should. It grabbed in a linear predictable fashion and I was off. Now, those really awful noises continued every time I pressed in the clutch so dropping the trans to see what’s up is in the very near future, but aside from that she actually drove pretty well! Engine is stronger than I expected for the mileage, brakes work, and shocks don’t feel blown either. That said, as I drove the clutch engagement point seemed to move around at random and sometimes not exist at all (not slipping, just always engaged)

I’m excited, If I can sort out that issue I’ll actually have myself a decent little roadster. That’s not to say she’ll EVER be a looker, let’s go on a quick tour of how much Miata you get for $200

First thing I did was give her a wash and tore off the Transformer and “turbo” logos

Looking better already right? The striping (and those lines that look white were actually chrome trim) wasn’t really doing it for me so that came off. This left behind a THICK layer of vinyl glue that I still haven’t been able to totally remove with any solvent from goo-gone up through gasoline. Any suggestions guys? Either way, I think an improvement for now.

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention the fucking 18" chromies and bondo’d fender? :) I have a lead on some super cheap stock Daisys that will replace these monstrosities later this week, I hope. As for the bondo, whole car is getting rattle canned, so not a concern to me.

The interior is pretty much shot

But the previous owner seems to have put in a pretty damn decent stereo cleanly and the top is in great shape (for a $200 car, so no tears)

There is some rust on the quarter panels, thankfully the structural area behind appears to still be intact (as in I can hit it real hard with a hammer and it doesn’t disintegrate)

Engine is a little dirty, but I’ve seen way worse *cough* My 540i *cough*

Oh, and this is the key... Yes a screwdriver also works

I dug around in the glove box and found a pretty comprehensive service history, though I could use some help deciphering some Oil Can Henry’s acronyms (The following from the service history. OSC, FSC, RRD, RPS, RRS, RAD, EG, ESL, RAF, RTS, ESL)

On another note, dear god throw away your stuff before selling a car! There was stuff in the glove box with social security numbers, bank account, and routing numbers.

I also found this awesome sticker, which will find its way onto Zombie (my ‘85 Aero 50)

Oh, and I found this too

Sorry, that probably should have had a “trigger warning”, then again I didn’t get any warning before two of them crawled out of the fender liner onto my arm...

I sprayed the whole car down with insecticide and it’s living outside until I’m convinced they’re all dead *shudders*

Anyway I’ll be pulling the trans over the long weekend and updating from there, stay tuned!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 12:22

2

Man, I wish I had the luck to find something like that around here for $200 0_o....

CalzoneGolem > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 12:28

1

Ok, but did that lighter have any fuel left in it?

LongbowMkII > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 12:30

2

I kinda like the chrome striping. Accentuates the lotus Elan-ness of the NA.

Decay buys too many beaters > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/29/2016 at 12:31

4

Yeah, I couldn’t believe the price when he told it to me. I had to restrain myself from yelling “Deal!” and make it look like I was actually making a difficult decision.

Decay buys too many beaters > CalzoneGolem 06/29/2016 at 12:32

0

I found three lighters, two of them had fuel

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 12:33

2

TRACK BEATER!

Decay buys too many beaters > LongbowMkII 06/29/2016 at 12:33

0

Were it well done, I’d like it more. But a year or so outside was not kind to it and it was starting to come off in random places.

Decay buys too many beaters > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/29/2016 at 12:35

3

I wonder what kind of looks I’d get towing a track beater Miata to track days with my FR-S :)

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 12:36

1

I’ve heard something before about spiders swarming out of Mazdas. It’s a known issue.

My bird IS the word > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 12:38

1

lemons gold. that car is worth at least 200$ in scrap metal.

Decay buys too many beaters > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/29/2016 at 12:39

1

So what you are really saying is

Decay buys too many beaters > My bird IS the word 06/29/2016 at 12:42

1

Yeah, so even if I royally screw up or find out that the shifting issue is way more serious, I can’t really lose money on it. Half of me wants to just throw it up for sale and make a quick few hundred bucks, but what’s the fun in that?

My bird IS the word > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 12:42

1

I say fix the shifting issue, and throw it up for a few thousand bucks.

shop-teacher > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 12:44

2

Good buy!

I got the willies when I saw the last pic though.

Decay buys too many beaters > shop-teacher 06/29/2016 at 12:48

2

Oh yeah, severe arachnophobe here. I could “feel” them crawling on my skin for like a day afterwards.

Decay buys too many beaters > My bird IS the word 06/29/2016 at 12:50

3

Yeah, but with one added step

1. Fix trans

2. Hoon

3. Profit

My bird IS the word > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 12:50

0

An even better idea.

duurtlang > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 13:01

3

Only one way to find out!

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 13:10

1

Man, I need to score a deal like this. Then build a race car out of it.

CalzoneGolem > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 13:14

2

This keeps getting better and better.

Decay buys too many beaters > CalzoneGolem 06/29/2016 at 13:24

1

I know right? Actually found an Android tablet in the glove compartment, a cross wrench, a portable compressor, and a Proto (!!!!) 1/4" drive extension.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 13:32

1

Cars just don’t rot enough down here to drop to the price of dinner and a movie (that’s with the wife and kids). Cheapest Miata on CL today has more miles, missing parts, and a price tag 10.5 times higher.

Decay buys too many beaters > TheRealBicycleBuck 06/29/2016 at 13:37

1

Oh we don’t really get much rot up here in Oregon either. No snow or salt on the roads means the only real corrosion is from the rain (People routinely daily drive old bugs here). Don’t really know why it was selling for so cheap as scrap value puts it right around $300.

Justin Hughes > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 13:38

3

The clutch master and slave cylinders are known to stop working somewhat regularly. Check those to make sure they’re working correctly before replacing the transmission.

It starts and runs. For $200, you’re already ahead of the game.

Decay buys too many beaters > Justin Hughes 06/29/2016 at 13:42

1

So there is definitely something going on with the hydraulics and I’ll be checking them first. However, based on the rotational grinding noises, my assumption here is a broken friction disc. I don’t think the problem is with the transmission because it shifts smoothly with the car off and doesn’t have any grinds when I cluchless shift it.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 14:00

0

The Miata might tip the scales just a bit on what you’d want to tow with the FR-S. haha But it’d certainly be interesting!

Rainbow > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 14:10

4

OSC - Oil-Spill Catcher

FSC - Front Steam Chute

RRD - Right-Rear Donut

RPS - Redline Power Sensor

RRS - Retracting Radial Socket

RAD - Radio Antenna Diode

EG - Engine Glue

ESL - Extremely Small Lightbulb

RAF - Roof Actuating Fluid

RTS - Racing Tire Sensor

ESL - Energy-Saving Lever

I should know. I’m a whale biologist.

Decay buys too many beaters > Rainbow 06/29/2016 at 14:14

1

This clears everything up!

CalzoneGolem > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 14:15

2

This is rocketing into steal of the century levels.

Justin Hughes > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 14:16

1

Sounds like you’re on the right track. Good luck!

shop-teacher > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 14:21

0

I believe that!

Decay buys too many beaters > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/29/2016 at 14:21

1

Meh, what’s the worst that can happen? :)

Decay buys too many beaters > Justin Hughes 06/29/2016 at 14:29

0

We’ll see, haven’t really done any transmission work before so I’m talking out of my ass here(have an engineering degree and a decent understanding of how things work in there, but no practical experience)

However, it is cheap enough that I’m willing to dive in head first, give it a try, and learn along the way.

Decay buys too many beaters > CalzoneGolem 06/29/2016 at 14:33

1

We’ll see my actual cost once I polish up and sell the chromies. I bet there’s a Honda guy who will love them for about $180, and I found a set of 14" daisy wheels for the cost of a cheap dinner...

My personal goal is to turn this into a decent running car for under $500, all in (including registration) with a stretch goal of making it a $0 car if I can get some money out of the wheels and radio.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 14:35

1

Lol. Speaking of worst things happening, are you ever on the FRS/BRZ/GT86 Enthusiasts page on FB? If so, have you seen all that crap lately about the drama with the stanced BRZ kid and the guy he claimed hit him?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 14:40

0

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slat…

Decay buys too many beaters > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/29/2016 at 14:42

0

Oh yeah, I find the whole thing hilarious. I usually avoid that group as it houses enough rice to end world hunger and that “respect mah build bro” everybody gets a medal mentality, but I made an exception this time.

My favorite post was this one

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 14:45

1

Lol my exact same sentiment.

I try to stick to 86 Track Cars and the Upper Midwest page, since it’s specific to my region and I’m an admin on it. I had fun following Tri-State and that Mike Cina guy for awhile too. haha

Decay buys too many beaters > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/29/2016 at 14:50

0

I usually stick to the Northwest page on the forum and a few non model specific track groups on FB. But yeah, sometimes the larger groups are good for the occasional laugh.

Might have to add that 86 track cars group, hadn’t heard of it.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 14:53

0

On the Forums I stick to the Suspension, Track, and FS threads.

86 Track Cars is the best 86 car page on FB, a lot less of the idiocy you normally see and if it does pop up it’s put down pretty fast. Everyone in the group is actually interested in tracking (or sometimes autox) and analyzing/determining what parts are best for what means.

But yeah, otherwise I stick to track oriented FB groups like Track Midwest

Decay buys too many beaters > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/29/2016 at 14:54

2

I just wrote a haiku about this

Nope nope nope nope nope

Nope nope nope nope nope nope nope

Nope nope nope nope nope

Arrivederci > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 15:52

1

Wow - great find! Yes, it needs plenty of love, but you’re already ahead of the game. After you fix the transmission, clean up the interior and rattle can it, you could probably sell it for close to 10x what you paid! Or just enjoy one of the best roadsters ever made.

Decay buys too many beaters > Arrivederci 06/29/2016 at 17:27

1

Yeah that’s what I’m thinking, basically even if it breaks in half I still won’t lose money on it.

daender > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 18:40

0

You should replace the clutch slave cylinder while you have the transmission out (along with filling the trans and clutch line up with new fluids). Also, Honda 4x100 wheels are typically compatible with your hubs...including 13"s!

Decay buys too many beaters > daender 06/29/2016 at 18:46

1

I’ve already got a slave on order. Gonna wait till I have the trans out to buy a clutch kit though.

Now as for wheels I found a dude with some stock NA alloys who will give them to me for buying him dinner at our local Hawaiian joint.

DarrenMR > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 20:05

2

I paid $3200 (on ebay) for one significantly worse than yours. So you can just shut up.

Decay buys too many beaters > DarrenMR 06/29/2016 at 20:10

1

O.o How?

I have rust, mold on the interior, shifing issues, high milage, bondo, freaking spider nests, not to mention IT’S BASICALLY A DONK

Not doubting you, genuinely curious.

DarrenMR > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 20:20

1

This was my drivers floor.

DarrenMR > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 20:22

2

I bought the car with 144K miles. Cruise control didnt work, the AC didnt work, the HVAC fan itself didnt work. The rear drivers side spring was snapped in 2, the front driverside strut was blown. The passenger side engine mount was in 2 pieces. It had half an alarm system in the car draining the battery. Both of the rear quarter panels are pretty rusted out.

Edit: Also, there is something about the car that just attracts spiders. Even when I was daily driving it I would always find spiders in it.

Decay buys too many beaters > DarrenMR 06/29/2016 at 20:22

0

dear god...

Decay buys too many beaters > DarrenMR 06/29/2016 at 20:27

0

You got me, that sounds way worse.

You manage to fix it or was it DOA?

DarrenMR > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 20:27

2

An explanation, I bought it on ebay and drove 8 hours to pick it up. I was given a $100 refund because the cruise had “suddenly” stopped working. I lived in NY at the time so it had to be inspected, and failed miserably because the suspension bits that were broken. I didnt think much of that at the time, and by the time I realized the car was fucked it was too late to do much about it besides soldier on. I owned the car for 8 years, it was my daily for nearly all of that. Ive recently sold the car to a friend and its a toy for him. It has a new floor welded in, and the rear quarters are about to be fixed up.

It was the first car I bought on my own, and paid off on my own. I definitely learned to not buy cars on ebay sight unseen unless they are really cheap.

Decay buys too many beaters > DarrenMR 06/29/2016 at 20:33

0

Well, you’ve got me paranoid now. Haven’t checked my floor pans yet, just know they don’t feel too soft and a hammer didn’t go through the center. Hoping that it being a west coast car saved it from much of the rust people see around the country.

DarrenMR > Decay buys too many beaters 06/29/2016 at 20:34

1

What year is yours? Its pretty easy to pull the lock cylinders out of the doors. The code on them is the absolute best way to get some new keys made.

Decay buys too many beaters > DarrenMR 06/29/2016 at 20:42

1

It’s a ‘93

Honestly, with it being a convertible and all, having doors that lock is way low on my priorities list. I’m not really in the habit of locking doors anyway, people here break windows when they find a door locked.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Decay buys too many beaters 06/30/2016 at 00:24

1

Huh, I had never heard of Oil Can Henry’s until I found a receipt in my Fiero after I bought it. It also documented that the car had done about 1200 miles in the last 6 years. Including my test drive and driving it home, which was about 100 miles.

Decay buys too many beaters > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 06/30/2016 at 00:33

3

They’re all over the place here, I actually just called them and went over the service codes. Looks like my car was serviced pretty regularly back to at least 2012

CalzoneGolem > Decay buys too many beaters 06/30/2016 at 08:59

1

I’ve never been this excited about a miata before.

Phillipsaur > Decay buys too many beaters 08/10/2016 at 13:48

3

Brown Widows? Fun!

Decay buys too many beaters > Phillipsaur 08/10/2016 at 13:49

1

Yep, hadn’t ever seen one before. Feels like I’ve met enough to last a lifetime now lol

Phillipsaur > Decay buys too many beaters 08/10/2016 at 14:15

2

The Black brethren have made my parents garage their home. I found one in my room a couple weeks ago. They have stepped foot into my lands; I feel a war is coming.

Decay buys too many beaters > Phillipsaur 08/10/2016 at 14:20

1

I’ve already resorted to chemical warfare.