Anyone in Seattle area want to look at a Miata for me?

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678) 04/10/2019 at 12:57 • Filed to: None

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Thanks to AiM, I have another impractical listing to try to try to chase for a Miata. Unfortunately, its nowhere near home so I cant realistically check it out. I emailed the guy and while it has 276k miles on it, it is reported to be running well and have a near perfect body. I love the sunburst yellow miatas so its exactly what I am looking for. It is listed for $2700 which makes it 100% what I would buy if it were local.

I’d consider buying it when I fly up there for Oppo PNW meet and would take it to the meet rather than get a rental car. Then I would drive it all the way home to LA. Sounds risky to do with a Miata with that many miles, but sounds like fun also. So if someone has the time to go look, I would love some help. I really just want to know if it is truly as clean as claimed and has ZERO rust. 

jminer > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/10/2019 at 13:25

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I’m not in Seattle, but I do love how the phrase zero rust varies from place to place. In the Midwest (my home) it means no panels have rusted through and only minor structural rust.  The west is wonderful and you actually run into rust free cars in the regular.

RPM esq. > jminer 04/10/2019 at 13:29

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Yeah “zero rust” in the PNW means, y’know, zero rust. If there’s a few little bubbles around the windshield or surface rust on the exhaust or something, people usually note it.

Aremmes > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/10/2019 at 13:48

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That’s Vivid Yellow, Sunburst is an NA color.

*looks at ad*

Holy shitballs, that’s a good price.

*looks again*

Ok, 276k miles. Still...

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/10/2019 at 13:49

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I like this idea. Get your other engine rebuilt and you’ll have a spare powertrain if this one dies.

AestheticsInMotion > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/10/2019 at 13:53

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I'm not volunteering because there's a decent chance I'd buy it. Sorry! 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion 04/10/2019 at 15:29

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Lol and that’s a bad thing how? You could always buy it and then sell it to me for a profit! 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > RPM esq. 04/10/2019 at 15:30

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Yeah that difference in definition is what concerns me. If its ACTUALLY rust free and the paint is in good shape, then this is a really good option.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Aremmes 04/10/2019 at 15:31

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Exactly. If it runs enough to make it home, I would be happy. I probably wouldnt want to track it very long at that mileage but I do have a lower mileage motor that I plan on rebuilding anyways. My concern has just been finding a good body which is difficult to do for a good price. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 04/10/2019 at 15:31

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You mean WHEN this one dies lol. I cant imagine tracking a car with almost 300k on it and having nothing break. 

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/10/2019 at 15:46

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I would assume it needs (or will need soon) wheel bearings, bushings, etc in short order

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 04/10/2019 at 16:18

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I would sure as hell hope those arent original haha. But yeah if they arent roaring or wobbling, they should be alright enough. Its only a slightly long drive home from the end of the oppo meet route. Good way to shake down the car for problems at least. 

I also have to figure out if cars keep plates in WA or if they get temp plates or something and more importantly if I can drive that into Canada and back without issue.

AestheticsInMotion > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/10/2019 at 16:40

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they keep Washington plates

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/10/2019 at 16:56

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I almost bought a cheap Miata while I was Seattle to drive back to St. Louis. The water pump was starting to leak so I didn’t feel confident it would make the 2000 mile trip back. So I’m partially telling you to do this since I never did lol

daender > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/10/2019 at 17:52

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As Aremmes said, ‘02 SE Blazing Yellow Mica is not Sunburst Yellow/Vivid Yellow. Blazing is metallic (hence “mica”) and is a more faded than the gloss yellow found on ‘92 SBYs or those rare ‘02 Vivid Yellows.

I would be extremely cautious about rust behind those side skirts as they are known to tap moisture and hide rocker rust. Given the climate of Seattle, there’s a higher than average chance metal-cancer might be there. The radiator cap doesn’t look like an OEM unit. If I was going to drive it home, I’d yank the cap off my own and bring it with me. That said, the radiator looks like a replacement so that’s good.

The seller left their Bluetooth OBD2 reader plugged-in in one of their interior pictures, that makes me wonder if they were trying to diagnose something or clear fault codes.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > daender 04/10/2019 at 18:12

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Yellow is yellow as far as im concerned lol. But thank you for the clarification. I knew the ‘92 yellow was different from the ‘02 yellow but its definitely a TIL that there are more than one yellow for the ‘02.

Yeah those are definitely things I would be wary of. I think the tupperware always looks stupid to begin with. And a thorough inspection (including removing the tupperware probably) would definitely be needed to convince me to buy the car. I am less worried about mechanicals but I would get a thorough report from the seller hopefully about what has been replaced in the last 100k or so. And if that didnt include spark plugs, wires, cam sensor, crank sensor, radiator, and other odds and ends; id plan to do all of it roadside before driving very far.

It still seems like a fantasy idea to even try, but if its still being sold by the time I get there and I actually consider it, I would probably pay to check a bag on the flight and bring a tool bag with me with enough stuff till I hit the 50 pound limit.