Looking to purchase a MX-5 Miata

"duurtlang" (duurtlang) 05/03/2015 at 17:50 • Filed to: None

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What should I pay extra attention to? NA Miata only. The one I’ve got an appointment for looks perfect, yet both windows don’t work for some unknown reason. Edit: 1.6i, 90hp engine? What?

Why a Miata? Because the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is always Miata. Also because the 205 in that link was more pricey (and nicer) than what I had anticipated.

(actual car)

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > duurtlang 06/02/2015 at 17:38

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Rust on the rocker panels behind the doors... along with shitty modifications such as a cold air intake with the filter next to the exhaust manifold

duurtlang > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen 06/02/2015 at 17:39

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Rust is something I’ll be very suspicious off. It is a Mazda after all. Modifications are a big no-go. The picture below is from the ad of the car I’m going to look at. Looks good to me.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > duurtlang 06/02/2015 at 17:40

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These are backbone chassis vehicles, so rust that would be nothing more than a hole in normal cars can impact the structural rigidity of it. Some friends of mine own one and we could never figure out why it always felt so bad at autocross until they got some braces from flying Miata and got under it to find a ton of rust. Turns out that the frame was flexing pretty badly. The reinforcement they got that’s supposed to add a bid of rigidity completely transformed the car because instead of adding some rigidity, it was pretty much holding the thing together.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > duurtlang 06/02/2015 at 17:40

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Check body gaps, sometimes windows not working is being knocked off track in an accident. Seems like a long shot but its worth a look.

LongbowMkII > duurtlang 06/02/2015 at 17:40

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bad center switch i’d assume. many times mine wouldn’t work unless I pressed it ~100 times/ just the right angle. Mine would eventually work so I neglected it. /goodmiataowner

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > duurtlang 06/02/2015 at 17:41

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Check the rockers and if they don’t have a bumpy texture to them, they aren’t stock... just ask them about it if they don’t look stock

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > duurtlang 06/02/2015 at 17:41

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Damn, that’s impressive. That’s bordering on “I don’t believe them” clean.

duurtlang > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/02/2015 at 17:46

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The whole car is very clean... and cheap. With a 11k km ago timing belt swap.

For Sweden > duurtlang 06/02/2015 at 17:48

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gimmie

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > duurtlang 06/02/2015 at 17:48

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What year is that? Is that a ‘91 special edition? That will probably be worth something someday.,

EDIT - Nevermind, it’s not. Still awesome, though.

duurtlang > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/02/2015 at 17:51

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First registered 1995.

duurtlang > For Sweden 06/02/2015 at 17:53

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A man after midnight?

/sorry. Blame your name.

LongbowMkII > duurtlang 06/02/2015 at 17:54

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did they swap the water pump while they were in there?

duurtlang > LongbowMkII 06/02/2015 at 17:55

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Not a clue. I’m merely mentioning what’s in the ad. Will ask when I’m there, but I can’t imagine they haven’t given the little additional cost and the cleanness of that engine and the overall car.

LongbowMkII > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/02/2015 at 17:57

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??? they are unibody. there’s the PPF that braces the transmission to the differential, but no seperate “backbone” chassis.

LongbowMkII > duurtlang 06/02/2015 at 18:02

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worth an ask. check for a possible oil leak on the back of the intake side of the valve cover. The cam angle sensor seal there is a relatively common oil leak. cheap to fix but a tight spot to wrench.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > LongbowMkII 06/02/2015 at 19:43

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LongbowMkII > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/02/2015 at 20:32

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yes. a power plant frame. not a chassis.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > LongbowMkII 06/02/2015 at 22:19

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Isn’t that what a backbone chassis is? It’s not truly body on frame, but it does provide some structure to it. I could be wrong. I’m basing it on descriptions of the Elan’s setup as being a backbone chassis, and it seems like the same thing -

LongbowMkII > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/03/2015 at 07:54

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the PPF is only held in 4 bolts (2 in transmission, 2 in diff). Without the drivetrain the miata setup there would be entirely unattached. the suspension/wheels are mounted to the subframe, which the motor is attached to the transmission which is attached to the PPF, then diff, then rear subframe then rear suspension/wheels. on the Elan and other backbone chassis cars the suspensions are attached to the same structure.

GhostZ > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/03/2015 at 18:10

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Yeah I think you got the terms mixed up, they aren’t ladder chassis or body-on-frame, but your point is valid: They’re unibody with minimal subframe strength and are thus extremely prone to frame rust. This shows the frame better:

and an NB with a roll cage:

Basically the parts that rust are holding it together, yes.

GhostZ > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/03/2015 at 18:16

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The difference is that a backbone chassis has the body panels and components mounted onto it. A Unibody has components either attached to the body panels itself, and/or uses subframes connected together and mounts the body panels onto that, so the subframe takes the majority of the body stress. In the picture you posted, the connection between the front and rear suspension is not load-bearing for the rest of the body (and it’s obvious given how thin it is).

The 240Z is another example like the Miata:

This picture basically explains why anyone who buys a 240Z with rear quarter rust is dancing with the devil.

The rear suspension is attached to a subframe on the Z:

Which is then mounted directly to the body panels. No backbone.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > GhostZ 06/03/2015 at 20:42

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Why the link between the tranny and diff then?

GhostZ > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/03/2015 at 21:06

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Probably to keep the drive shaft aligned when the body flexes.