How much for a beater Miata?

"Harrycarry250" (Harrycarry250)
12/12/2013 at 22:54 • Filed to: None

How much should I expect to pay for a beater Miata? I would like to get one to do random projects on and slowly fix up. Looking at Craig's I'll find cars going from 900 dollars to 20,000, what have yall found to be a good price point for a running vehicle?

Also, I don't want someone else's project lol

DISCUSSION (14)

EddyE > Harrycarry250
12/12/2013 at 23:04

Seems like if you look hard enough you an find a runner for under $1,500. There are a few stories on forums about people finding cars that just needed one particular fix that the previous owner wouldn't/couldn't do.

It depends where you are, too. Here in Rust-land, Ohio, they (especially the ones wiht little/no rust) seem to be a little more expensive than SoCal.

$2500 seems to fetch a decent NA without too many woes in my neck of the woods.

If you can find a cheap one with a hardtop you can sell the hardtop to recoup some costs. There are still some people out there who don't know that the hardtops are worth 800-1k in good shape.

Good luck!

Mathias Rios > Harrycarry250
12/12/2013 at 23:20

When I was looking for my 500 dollar project car, I looked miata first. No dice. Recently I found basically a miata rolling chassis for 1k. Miatas are sort of expensive.

Harrycarry250 > Mathias Rios
12/12/2013 at 23:24

I found a runner for 900 bucks but that is still a bit too much.

Mathias Rios > Harrycarry250
12/12/2013 at 23:36

Link? What's your budget? I ended up buying a porsche 924 which needed brake lines and that was it. Obviously different than a miata but cheap

Harrycarry250 > Mathias Rios
12/12/2013 at 23:41

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/cto/423974…

I'd go for anything really.

Bird > Harrycarry250
12/13/2013 at 00:29

I live in SoCal, and with a bit of patience and perseverance, you can get a decent one for around $1000-$2000. I've bought 3 in that range.

#1 - 1991 - $1600 - Daily drove/tracked it for a year after $1k in maintenance items, then lost compression in #3 during a particularly hot day at the track. Still drove it 120 miles home. Now a shell sitting next to a very expensive, fully built engine and turbo...I should really put them back together...

180k

1.6L Later VIN with 'Long Nose Crank'

Dented door and fender

Rough top

No major accident damage

Clear title

Clean interior/uncracked dash, but missing the 'tombstone' (radio and a/c surround)

Rough paint, but looked a lot nicer after a quick buff

#2 - 1990 - $1300 - Current daily. Needs more suspension work. Bushings, tie rods etc.

134k

1.6L (replaced at some point with later 'Long Nose Crank' engine)

Dented fender

No major acident damage

Originally an auto, but now manual

Clean title

Cut springs (off the car the night I got it)

Clean interior, uncracked dash, missing tombstone

Rough paint, buffing won't help

#3 - 1995 - $1000 - Rolling parts car. Bought it for the engine, Torsen LSD, and brakes. So cheap I had to buy it.

Salvage title

Bondo over 1/2" thick, cracking and peeling

Major accident damage

Door latch spaced out 1/2" with washers so it will latch. Approx 2" driver door gap.

D > Harrycarry250
12/13/2013 at 00:37

One of my friends bought one for $700. All it needed was a timing belt.

Harrycarry250 > Bird
12/13/2013 at 00:39

Very helpful, I have a better idea of what I will get for my money.

Bird > Harrycarry250
12/13/2013 at 01:00

No problem. I probably spent 3 months checking craigslist every day obsessively to get those. Anything that cheap gets bought pretty quick. Usually by a flipper.

Stef Schrader > Harrycarry250
12/13/2013 at 02:18

Heh, that looks like the beater off of FinalGear.

I'd budget $2K to get one in decent mechanical shape just to be on the safe side. Some folks get lucky and find them for cheaper—one of the Chump workers 'round theses parts ended up with a hail damaged one for a few hundred, IIRC. NAs are going to be the cheapest generation, too. $2K will get you a craptastic NB if you want, but a pretty nice NA, IIRC.

Or get a 944. ;o)

WolfmanJimCBW > Harrycarry250
12/13/2013 at 08:43

Mine wasn't a beater, but needed a new top so I only got 1800 when I sold it and it was a 1990. I've only seen a couple around my town that I would called beaters and they are all over 1k.

Harrycarry250 > Stef Schrader
12/13/2013 at 09:02

I'd go for a 944, I dont know much about them though.

Harrycarry250 > Stef Schrader
12/13/2013 at 09:26

If I am looking to turbo charge the vehicle I would be getting am I better off waiting to find a 944 turbo?

Stef Schrader > Harrycarry250
12/13/2013 at 11:03

I don't know. There's a factory turbo Mazdaspeed Miata, too. Both are good. One's just got a hardtop over a convertible top and is a bit older.