Red Miata no longer being sold...

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
04/09/2019 at 17:22 • Filed to: None

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Remember when I said I was THIS close to buying a Miata? That it was just a smog check away from being mine? Well it turns out the smog check passsed BUT the seller has decided to no longer sell the car. His daughter’s car had just broken and he was now going to give the Miata to her instead. So now it is back to the drawing board to find another Miata for me. I just cant get any luck with this Miata buying process!

Some options I am eyeing right now include:

2004 in Silver with 162k on it listed for $4900. Looks pretty clean although I dont like that color. Communicating with the seller to figure out a time to check it out since it could be a good option:

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2005 in Red with 157k on it listed for $4400. Also looks clean and in a better color. Unsure about this auction company selling it but I have sent a request for information to find out if there’s any maintenance history. Seems like a pretty good deal though if it is a clean title:

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2002 in Yellow with 123k on it listed for $6800. I had contacted this one in January but was away on a ski trip and hadnt gotten back to it. Still listed though so I figured it might still be for sale. Too much money for any Miata but I might as well ask, id pay a little bit more for a yellow one and if its in mint condition:

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And I will keep hunting. I have the money on hand now so that is both a bad thing and a good thing. Bad thing in that I am impatient to not be collecting interest on the money. And good thing in that I won’t miss out on opportunities that come up.

DISCUSSION (30)

CaptDale - is secretly British > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 17:45

But you could buy my GTO $16k *wink wink*

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 17:47

Road trip.

https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/port-townsend-2002-crystal-blue/6846235443.html

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 17:52

Nice to see Miata’s creeping up in value. I’ve not looked at them in a while. Also don’t give up. When you find the right one she will come to you.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CaptDale - is secretly British
04/09/2019 at 17:59

Please present me a detailed report on how a GTO and Miata are similar beyond “RWD” lol

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/09/2019 at 18:04

Ive never been a huge fan of crystal blue. And in general I’d be worried about rust buying anywhere that sees weather. I’d definitely travel for the right one at a low enough price. I already think $5k+ is crack pipe. And the motor could have 50k or 200k, its not going to really matter to me. I have a motor to rebuild so the body being as close to perfect is my goal moreso than low mileage.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 18:07

They are both 2-door

Kinja'd!!!

And have taillights!

Kinja'd!!!

CaptDale - is secretly British > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 18:07

Manual, has 4 cylinders, is imported from another country, has 2 seats, is super fun on backroads, 3 pedals... I am sure much more

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 18:08

Dang dude! Sorry to hear about this! Just keep looking, although I’m sure it is getting tiring.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
04/09/2019 at 18:09

Well yeah this one finally was the right one lol. Should have just tried to buy it without a smog report and gotten it before he kept it. But oh well, that was too risky to go and do for me. But yeah, I still have hope I will find one. Its just hard to find a decent one that isnt crack pipe priced. Or is crap AND crack pipe priced. There seems to be no bearing on quality to price. What people think they have is generally vastly different from what they actually have.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CaptDale - is secretly British
04/09/2019 at 18:11

Has four wheels, runs on gasoline, has glass windows, has a 12V electrical system. The list goes on!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
04/09/2019 at 18:14

Shit like this is comical and at least there wasnt anything wrong with the car this time. It just increases the chances I will end up buying a hoopty as I lose patience. Definitely considered some sketch craigslist ads due to the low price possibilities but man theres some real garbage out there lol.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 18:18

I would still hold out if you can. There are so many bad cars, and just not worth the headache. I took about 6 months off when I was looking. Then randomly found the right one. patience, young one dot JPG

CaptDale - is secretly British > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 18:24

See!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
04/09/2019 at 18:25

I also am of the opinion that if it doesnt have rust, it is inherently a good one. And I mean if I can save 1-2k, thats enough to fix anything non-cosmetic. The problem ends up being that poorly cared for cars seem to have both bad motors and bodies. That red one I linked looks pretty good though, it might be the right balance of things if it actually runs well. Its the more boring normal miata red but it looks in decent shape.

But yes, I will not buy any of the $2k miatas I see that are slammed, crashed, and 200k miles on them lol.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 18:37

That seems like a fair compromise. It seems easier (imo) to fix mechanical things than it is cosmetic or structural issues.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 18:48

Maybe someday you’ll find each other again. In the mean time look to the horizon and what tomorrow may bring. Ok I’m done lol. Yeah though I think that’s life looking for any car. Sometimes if you want a car bad enough you may have to over pay or keep looking . I’m going to be doing the reverse of what you're doing: shopping for a daily before next winter so as to not continue driving the miata in conditions that want to destroy her.

BeaterGT > CaptDale - is secretly British
04/09/2019 at 18:52

Damn, that’s a good price!

BeaterGT > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 18:52

Somehow I doubt I can find a Miata near me without rust. I’ll just live vicariously through the rest of Oppo

CaptDale - is secretly British > BeaterGT
04/09/2019 at 18:55

Yeah not too bad

AestheticsInMotion > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 19:12

Okay, I’ll help. You’ll be in Seattle anyways, why not drive back! It’s b rutal to say the least, but you CAN drive back in a day!

Honda V6 is honestly the best motor swap for a DD. Cheap too!

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/seattle-miata-with-v6-swap/6840831050.html

This green NB has some nice parts and a decent price. Open to offers!

https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/d/marysville-1999-mazda-miata/6852106440.html

If I had a job right now this would be sitting in my parking space already.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/d/puyallup-2002-mazda-miata-special/6845389994.html

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > BeaterGT
04/09/2019 at 19:24

Unfortunately they just rust too easily. Its why im pretty deadset on finding one near home right now. Rust just straight up doesnt exist here.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion
04/09/2019 at 19:29

Lol drive back in one day. While I dont want to use vacation time, I certainly would in that case haha. Even doing it in two days sounds miserable, im not one to cannonball; especially in a miata. Still worth considering though for sure. The v6 swap sounds cool but would never be legal in Cali.

What the hell must be wrong with the yellow one for it to be so cheap??? I guess the mileage but damn son that looks too good to be true. Ill definitely contact for more photos. I am just looking for a clean shell anyways really. I will be rebuilding my motor slowly but surely either way. I’d be concerned about rust but it cant hurt to inquire.

BeaterGT > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 19:37

Now I know why you really moved out there. Seems like you have better price offerings too, this one has 225k on it !

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
04/09/2019 at 19:39

It’s funny you say you want a daily to drive the miata less. Meanwhile one of my goals with a Miata is to daily that more so that I can drive the Subaru a little bit less. While the Subaru makes a better daily driver in general, its not like I have winter here or even any sort of “weather” all that often anyways. Its just more comfortable/quiet versus a setup for the track miata. But seeing as I just paid $3.95 for 91 yesterday, getting better mileage wouldnt be a bad thing! And I really would like to save the Subaru for snow road trips like I bought it for. At least sharing the daily driving mileage would be nice. Putting mileage on a Miata is effectively free considering the relatively low price they go for. Whereas if I end up with 200k on the Subaru in a couple of years, the repairs as well as lowered value will definitely hurt.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > BeaterGT
04/09/2019 at 19:42

Oh man, when people say “highway miles” like its supposed to mean something.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 19:52

Haha yeah you are going the other way with that. I’ve just spent way too much money and time on this car to continue to let salt and other bs destroy her underbody. The idea is to get (possibly a Subaru lol) something that I will spend less than 2,500 on and will be reliable mechanically. Don’t say Miata lol.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 19:55

But you are right. Newer Subaru’s as nice as yours hold their value very well. Makes sense to preserve it. I don’t know I’m really sentimental about my car I guess

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
04/09/2019 at 20:01

I see no issues with owning two miatas! And yeah rust prevention is definitely a valid reason to not drive the currently not rusty car. I still wont drive in rain here for sure since its easily avoided.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/09/2019 at 20:17

Damn Californian. If I avoided driving in the rain. I would leave home maybe 1 month a year of accumulated time.

I will in all probability end up out west in the next 3 years tho. Arizona or something like that. Not sure of California’s bs laws and cost of living lol. But it is so beautiful all the time

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion
04/09/2019 at 20:45

Yellow one got back to me, purports that it runs well and has no rust. You wanna take a look at it for me? I am curious if its a waste of time or if its actually nice. I suppose my flight home is only $69 so I could skip it and drive home in a 300k mile miata instead. What could possibly go wrong?