"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
04/23/2019 at 09:25 • Filed to: Miata, Selling, who wants it?, Craigslist
5
78|
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
04/23/2019 at 09:25 • Filed to: Miata, Selling, who wants it?, Craigslist | 5
| 78 |
I can’t say that I’m happy about it, but it’s time for me to move on from my Miata. I’m currently working on saving up to buy a house, and I can’t really justify owning 2 cars right now. I’m taking it to the car wash today, and then in the coming days I’ll be working on cleaning the interior and getting it posted on the local Craigslist. I figured I’d try posting a rough draft of the listing here first in case people had any advice. Oppo discount would apply for anybody here that wants it. Formatting may change and I’ll include pictures once it is clean. Car is currently in PA but delivery is negotiable.
For sale:
1994 Mazda Miata
1.8L engine, 5 speed manual transmission
The car came with option package B which includes 7 spoke alloy wheels, cruise control (which still works), and a Torsen LSD.
98,000 miles, although this will increase slightly as I still drive it about once a week.
Clean carfax, no accidents.
Car was inspected in November 2018 and passed.
New tires (Bridgestone Fuzion Touring) were installed in March and have maybe 200 miles on them at the time of this writing.
Aftermarket CD player/radio installed by previous owner. It still works fine, and the factory power antenna still works too. The pop-up headlights still work great.
Heat and air conditioning both still work great.
Valve cover gasket was replaced in 2018.
I purchased this car in 2015 when I lived in North Carolina, and it has always been a second car for me. It has been garage kept since I moved to PA and it has never been driven on snowy or salty roads in the time that I have owned it.
This car is in good shape, but it is 25 years old and it has been driven. The black paint is in good shape for its age. The soft top still works and does a pretty good job of keeping the water out, but I have sealed a few pinhole sized openings with silicone. The seams around the rear window have also been treated. I mostly drive it with the top down, so I’m not particularly worried about how the top looks as long as it keeps me dry.
The airbags do not currently work. If you want to fix them, it needs a new airbag control module. Airbags are not required to pass PA inspection so it’s up to you decide if you want to fix them.
This is a fun car that I hope someone else will be able to enjoy for years to come. The 94 Miata has the added power of the 1.8L engine (the 90-93 Miatas only had a 1.6L), but still retained the classic look of pop-up headlights.
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 20:53 |
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Man, that's gotta be heartbreaking
I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 21:07 |
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Why are you selling/how much, if you don’t mind the ask?
BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 21:07 |
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Where are you and what’s the asking price?
MM54
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 21:09 |
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I am very interested but in no position to be buying another car right now :(
Best of luck with the sale!
Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 21:11 |
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Must you sell it, though? MUST you?
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Chuckles
> I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
04/22/2019 at 21:14 |
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I’m selling because it’s a second vehicle (I also drive a 2012 Fiat 500), and I just can’t justify owning 2 cars right now. I’m currently renting but trying to save up to buy a house.
I’d love to get $5,000 as that seems to be where the market is at right now around here. I would accept a lower offer but if someone offered me 2 grand I’d rather just keep it.
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Chuckles
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
04/22/2019 at 21:17 |
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Allentown PA. I was thinking of listing it at $5,000 as that seems to be where a lot of local ones are priced. I would sell it for less than that here but it would have a reasonable offer.
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Chuckles
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
04/22/2019 at 21:18 |
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I have made peace with it. I still enjoy driving my Fiat, and it means that I can move on to the next fun car in a few years.
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Chuckles
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/22/2019 at 21:19 |
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If I ever want to move out of this rental, yes. And it means I'll have room for something else in a few years.
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Chuckles
> MM54
04/22/2019 at 21:20 |
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Well I'm going to list it but if it doesn't sell, maybe you can buy it at some point down the road.
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Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 21:21 |
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I support the long game.
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Chuckles
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/22/2019 at 21:24 |
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Thanks. I know I'll miss it if I sell it, but I know it's for the best.
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MM54
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 21:27 |
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I don’t think you’ll have trouble selling a clean NA in Pennsylvania!
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Chuckles
> MM54
04/22/2019 at 21:28 |
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That would be nice.
Captain of the Enterprise
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 21:32 |
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The listing looks pretty good to me! Good luck with selling it.
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I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 21:33 |
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I mean, if it’s been in PA its whole life, I recommend (this is gonna hurt to say) listing it in a rust belt state. You’ll be sending it to a premature death, but people are willing to pay a premium just a state over in Ohio for a rust free car.
But, realistically, I don’t think you need to sell. If it’s paid off, insurance can’t be that bad each year. Or, better yet, let the registry slip and throw in on jack stands in a storage unit. You will get more money for it in a couple year minus storage cost than you will if you sell it now. NAs are going to the scrap heap in the sky. Every year less are on the road and demand keeps going up.
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Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 21:35 |
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I sold thr ee cars when we bought our first house... Sacrifices must be made.
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Chuckles
> Captain of the Enterprise
04/22/2019 at 21:35 |
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Thanks! I've only ever sold cars for like $500 on Craigslist before so this will be new for me.
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Chuckles
> I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
04/22/2019 at 21:41 |
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To be fair, PA is a rust belt state. But this car isn’t from PA. I bought it off of a dealership in Delaware after someone traded it in. Then I owned it in NC for a while before moving to PA.
The car is paid off. And you're right, insurance isn't too bad. At this point I'm trying to simplify my life a little bit and selling this car would help. If I can't sell it, I'll keep it a bit longer. I'm not going to get rid of it for dirt cheap.
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I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 21:54 |
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That does sound reasonable. I wouldn’t really call PA rust belt though- you guys use a different salt that’s not as corrosive as ours, I think
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Chuckles
> I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
04/22/2019 at 22:01 |
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I drive past the old empty Bethlehem Steel plant on my way to work everyday. I consider this area to be in the rust belt. I’m not sure about the salt issue, but I keep the Miata off of the roads when the salt comes out.
Cash Rewards
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 22:02 |
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I wouldn't pay 5000 for that, but I think it's a great price to list it at.
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Chuckles
> Cash Rewards
04/22/2019 at 22:03 |
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It's Craigslist, so I assume that you're never going to actually get your asking price.
daender
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 22:05 |
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Take pictures of it from underneath to show the lack of rust as proof but o therwise, the listing looks good !
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Chuckles
> daender
04/22/2019 at 22:07 |
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Thanks. I plan on getting some good pics of everything before I post it.
Chariotoflove
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 22:23 |
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I think that’s a pretty good draft. If I were writing this, I’d search CL for what common deficiencies of other roadsters (and especially Miatas, of course) pop up with. Then, I’d make sure I’d include how those things are good in my car as contrast. For instance, if lots of NAs have lost their headlight motors, I’d make sure to put how the lights on mine still pop up and down.
Just a thought. Good luck.
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Chuckles
> Chariotoflove
04/22/2019 at 22:26 |
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That is a good idea. I should definitely read some other ads.
Cwilliams1999
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 22:40 |
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Hw much would you want for it
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Chuckles
> Cwilliams1999
04/22/2019 at 22:43 |
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How much do I want? I want a million dollars, but I'd be happy getting $5,000 for it.
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Cash Rewards
> Chuckles
04/22/2019 at 23:09 |
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Then you got it priced right for sure
Clown Shoe Pilot
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 00:06 |
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Were it my ad, I’d leave off the valve cover gasket thing unless there was a deluge of oil dripping down the side of the block prior to replacement, it’s still visible, and you need to explain why it’s not a problem . Otherwise, i t’s not important WHY there are no leaks, just THAT there are no leaks.
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Chuckles
> Clown Shoe Pilot
04/23/2019 at 00:09 |
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That's a good point. I would need to look into it, but my understanding was that a valve cover gasket replacement on old Miatas was a fairly typical repair, so I wanted to let the buyer know that the work had already been done. But maybe it's not as common as I thought.
Friendlyghost1
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 00:31 |
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Who inspected your car? Was it a reputable person or car shop ? Hopefully it was the later.
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Chuckles
> Friendlyghost1
04/23/2019 at 00:32 |
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Are you asking because of the airbags?
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Chuckles
> Friendlyghost1
04/23/2019 at 00:49 |
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My mechanic in PA is a family friend that we have trusted for years. The valve cover gasket needed to be replaced as it was leaking oil. If you’re asking in reference to the airbags, they’ve been that way a while. They passed inspection at a Mazda dealership and at my mechanic’s shop. Airbags are not needed in PA to pass inspection.
Elliotny
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 07:35 |
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I didn’t notice which model option level the miata is (i.e. base, A package, B package, etc.), the color, whether the car was a manual or automatic transmission and whether it has air conditioning or does not.
If I was a buyer, I’d want to know how long you have owned the miata (years and milea ge) as well as the maintenance history during your ownership. Thats really up to you though.
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Chuckles
> Elliotny
04/23/2019 at 07:50 |
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I did mention near the top that it was a 5 speed manual transmission, but I can add the other things. I will repeat this some time today after I've added the things that people have suggested.
Bryce
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 09:11 |
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Who’s your mechanic? And do you feel like they really understand the Miata? I'm looking for someone in the Lehigh Valley
Cyberspots
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 09:23 |
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And the asking price?
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Chuckles
> Bryce
04/23/2019 at 09:24 |
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I go to Pete at Two Brothers Auto on Union Blvd in Allentown. He is not a Miata specialist, but I trust him with my car and my family has sent all of our cars to him for the past 8 or so years.
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Chuckles
> Cyberspots
04/23/2019 at 09:25 |
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I'm asking $5,000 for it.
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Chuckles
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
04/23/2019 at 09:27 |
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Aren't you somewhere in the middle of PA? I was out there a few weekends ago to check out Gold Mine road and PA 125. It's a nice set of twisty roads.
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BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 09:40 |
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I’m actually not far from you, in Pottstown. 125 is up near Tulpehocken, right? I’ve heard there’s some great driving roads out there.
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Chuckles
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
04/23/2019 at 09:44 |
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I started right near where 78 and 81 meet, and finished up in Shamokin. You go up and down like 4 mountain ridges.
Pottstown isn't far at all. I go to the Railroad Bar and Grill in Linfield maybe once a month or so. They have a great pinball room.
Arrivederci
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 09:44 |
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Timing belt, water pump are common maintenance items and radiator is a common repair item with the older Miata s now. If you’ve addressed any of those (and when), I’d want to call those out as they’d let a buyer know if it has been kept mechanically tip-top.
I think your target ask is a little high, but everyone is going to try and bid you down of course. Maybe start at $4950 or something to get away from that $5k mentality for someone searching.
SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 10:30 |
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Price?
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Chuckles
> SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
04/23/2019 at 10:38 |
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I'm asking $5,000 on CL, but if an Oppo wanted it we could discuss it further.
TLW1991
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 10:56 |
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Very interested I'm close by please text me 5705349101
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ihm96
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 10:58 |
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Damn I love it and Im close, but I already have a second car and should realistically only have one
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Chuckles
> TLW1991
04/23/2019 at 11:03 |
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I would prefer not to do this by text, but you can send me an email at chucklesw16@gmail.com
I wasn’t planning on posting it publicly for sale until next week (I’m busy this weekend and still need to clean the interior/take pics), but feel free to send me an email if you want to talk about it.
It looks like your kinja account is new. I'm curious: how did you find this post?
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Chuckles
> ihm96
04/23/2019 at 11:04 |
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How close? I haven't met many eastern PA Oppos.
Mercedes Streeter
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 11:16 |
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It has 4.6k unique views, so something tells me that Kinja’s SEO strikes again!
Mmmmm...If I had the cash, I’d happily take that Miata home with me. Good luck with the sale!
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TLW1991
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 11:17 |
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I will email you, I found the post on my Google feed, random. So I made an account. I’m in Lebanon county Pa. So not far. No need to take pics, I could just come see it in person and make and offer to take it off your hands.
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ihm96
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 11:20 |
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I live right outside Philly, but I go to the Lehigh C&C a lot. I went to school there and we would row in allentown (its where Lehighs boathouse is)
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Chuckles
> Mercedes Streeter
04/23/2019 at 11:29 |
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Yeah, a handful of new accounts with no commenting history have replied to it so I figured something was up.
HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 11:29 |
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Of course i’m interested, however i am terribly broke :(
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Chuckles
> ihm96
04/23/2019 at 11:34 |
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Nice. I'm south of the river, between Allentown and Bethlehem. I still need to try going to the local C&C.
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Chuckles
> HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
04/23/2019 at 11:35 |
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You are also very far away.
Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 11:36 |
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I’d make sure to include whether or not any rust is present, since thats the first question I ever ask when looking at ads for any car. Probably too many words for the average craigslist user but I always prefer more information like this rather than less. It might be cleaner to just use a list format though and organize it “pros” and “cons” with maybe a short header paragraph of ownership history. I just bought a miata so ive been looking through tons of these listings. 99% of the CL ads were garbage so you’re already a step ahead as is.
GLWS!
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Chuckles
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/23/2019 at 11:40 |
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My hope is that the words might weed out some of the "will you take $250 for it?"people. I was even considering adding a "please include the word 'oppo' in the subject line of your email to show that you read the listing" line in there. I'm not interested in the "I work on an oil rig and will send you a check immediately" folks.
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HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 11:44 |
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Sigh, yup
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Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 13:49 |
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Nothing will weed out those jackoffs unfortunately, just the nature of dealing with craigslist. Did CL start charging for vehicle for sale ads yet? I know that is supposed to be a thing soon.
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Chuckles
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/23/2019 at 13:52 |
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I figured if I buried the line about email somewhere in the middle, it would make it easier to just trash all of the replies that don’t follow directions. That might weed out a few people.
I'm not sure if they're charging yet. I'm busy this weekend so I'm not going to post it until next week.
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Chuckles
> Mercedes Streeter
04/23/2019 at 14:01 |
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This is by far my most viewed post. It's madness.
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Mercedes Streeter
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 14:13 |
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Holy crap it’s n early doubled in views since I looked at it!
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Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 16:13 |
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Oh, it already started as of April 15th. So now its $5 to make a listing on there. https://www.craigslist.org/about/help/posting_fees
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Chuckles
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/23/2019 at 16:26 |
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Fine by me.
iNvDrZiM
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 16:34 |
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I’m with Wrong Wheel Drive here, a quick- list version to lead off the posting would be beneficial for those quickly skimming the postings, followed by your (awesomely comprehensive ) write-up of the vehicle.
Y ou’re always going to get those ‘undesirable’ people anyways, unfortunately . Your method of having them include specific terms would run the risk of turning away someone who sees the car (which you seem to have a great deal of care for), is so enthusiastic about purchasing it that they don’t bother to RTFA.
One last thing, while you’ll probably show it in the pictures, it doesn’t seem you mentioned anything about the interior.
Something like this is what I picture for your ad :
————————————————
The Short:
> 1994 Mazda Miata
> ~98,000 Miles
> Clean Carfax, No Accidents
> Passed Last Inspection (2018 - Pennsylvania)
> 1.8L engine, 5-Speed Manual Transmission
> New Tires
> Working Heater & A/C
The Long:
The car came with option package B which includes 7 spoke alloy wheels, cruise control (which still works), and a Torsen LSD.
New tires (Bridgestone Fuzion Touring) were installed in March and have maybe 200 miles on them at the time of this writing.
Aftermarket CD player/radio installed by previous owner. It still works fine, and the factory power antenna still works too. The pop-up headlights still work great.
Valve cover gasket was replaced in 2018.
I purchased this car in 2015 when I lived in North Carolina, and it has always been a second car for me. It has been garage kept since I moved to PA and it has never been driven on snowy or salty roads in the time that I have owned it.
This car is in good shape, but it is 25 years old and it has been driven. The black paint is in good shape for its age. The soft top still works and does a pretty good job of keeping the water out, but I have sealed a few pinhole sized openings with silicone. The seams around the rear window have also been treated. I mostly drive it with the top down, so I’m not particularly worried about how the top looks as long as it keeps me dry.
The airbags do not currently work. If you want to fix them, it needs a new airbag control module. Airbags are not required to pass PA inspection so it’s up to you decide if you want to fix them.
This is a fun car that I hope someone else will be able to enjoy for years to come. The 94 Miata has the added power of the 1.8L engine (the 90-93 Miatas only had a 1.6L), but still retained the classic look of pop-up headlights.
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Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 16:36 |
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Thats a pretty good price considering the details!
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Chuckles
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/23/2019 at 16:38 |
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Do you think I'm selling it short and should set my asking price on CL a little higher?
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Chuckles
> iNvDrZiM
04/23/2019 at 16:43 |
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Thanks. I wrote this on my phone so it ended up being a bit disorganized. When I make the actual CL post I will do so on my laptop and have it formatted similar to what you did.
I realize that by including a term that they need to include in their title that I might lose a few potential customers, but it might be worth it to weed out people who aren't willing to read a paragraph before buying a car. Those people are more likely to ask questions that the ad answered already.
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Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> Chuckles
04/23/2019 at 18:09 |
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No, im saying its a fair price. You shouldnt take much lower than asking, although of course you will get offered less. Its annoying that people cant just see a good price and pay it as is, unless something unadvertised is wrong and quantifiable. It depends on the region too, Miatas seem to go for more here in California. It looks cheap for me seeing a 1.8LNA with under 100k and isnt ruined. But that might be high in PA, not sure. You might be able to get more, maybe making it like $5200, so someone who “HAS TO MAKE A DEAL” can get it for $5k. And just ignore all of the fuckers who want it for less than $4k.
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Chuckles
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
04/23/2019 at 18:13 |
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I think at some point in your car search I mentioned that you should buy mine. I would have gladly delivered it to California for you.
I'm in a good position because I am motivated to sell but it's not like I have to sell it this week to pay my bills. I can wait and try to get close to my asking price.
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> Chuckles
05/10/2019 at 15:59 |
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10,000+ views, oppo way better than craigslist.
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Chuckles
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/10/2019 at 16:12 |
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It’s madness. One person (not an Oppo) did contact me because of this post and offered 4k. I declined.
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daveIT
> ihm96
05/11/2019 at 08:59 |
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Sweet Miata! I’m about 2 hrs north of Philly. I’m buying a Miata as soon as my kids are out of the house. I really need something with at least 4 seats while they are around. :(
When is
the Lehigh C&C normally held?
I haven’t seen a Mustang crash in awhile!
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ihm96
> daveIT
05/11/2019 at 09:24 |
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Lol I don’t have a miata, I have a Z3 Coupe and an old ass E34. The cars and coffees are once a month on a sunday. The facebook page always has the details
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daveIT
> ihm96
05/14/2019 at 16:52 |
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Ah, I’m not on Facebook, but thanks for the info.