What will life without the Miata look like..?

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
01/18/2020 at 15:43 • Filed to: None

Hopefully something like this. The best (reasonably priced) Tacoma on Seattle CL IMHO. 6 cylinders. 5 manually shifted gears. 4 driven wheels. 3 pedals. 2 previous owners, and 1 of the coolest toppers out there. $6000 obo.

Bonus points because my highschool girlfriend was gifted a pristine 2002 Tacoma from her dad and threw a fit because, and I quote-

*sob*

“It’s gold! it’s so ugly dad! Do you hate me?! I’m never driving it! I hate you! I don’t want a truck! People will think I’m poor”

*sob*

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Option 2: Rebuilt title, with a replaced bed is how you find one of these for under 4k. I’d risk it. The Miata is at or near 400k on a rebuilt title with zero issues (despite my best efforts) and.... oh. confirmation bias is a bitch... this taco still looks pretty good. People don’t normally take cars to Stew’s Self Service Garage if the cars aren’t cared for.

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Option 3: That rusty firewall worries me. And this is another rebuilt title, buuuuuuut but but- It’s the proper transmission, the good engine, a good color and one of the best trims. In other words... $$$$

After owning two Rangers though, I’d prefer to try Toyota.

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Option 4: I’ll preface this by saying I know nothing about Astro Vans, but after seeing a mint one at Fred Meyer recently... I took a liking to them. Provided they have the awesome 3 part doors in the back!

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Option 5: Someday I’ll make a stealth camper van. why not... someday soon? rip out everything from the previous owner, give it a deep clean, replace windows with pop in panels... I like the heater idea but I’d be curious to see if there’s a stealthier way to do it.

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Option 6: I assumed these Express vans would be cheap and plentiful. I was half right, there are a TON for sale. pretty spendy though, both new and used. This was the cheapest one I could find that didn’t look like it had been parked in a neighborhood known for meth.

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*the Miata will be replaced with something like the above, AND a bike. If I hold off long enough I might buy both at once. More likely the bike will come in the coming months and the utility vehicle will be picked up before the rainy season starts up again.

Having money saved up for a vehicle is dangerous, because it makes all of these fantasies potential realities. I dread the day I wake up and realize I just imported a JDM Land Cruiser to go along with my 90's 4-cylinder 250cc superbike found on CL. Or something to that effect...

DISCUSSION (25)

lone_liberal > AestheticsInMotion
01/18/2020 at 16:06

I think the price of the Express is due to a combination of being useful and being a good source for LS engines. I looked on the local CL and there’s one of similar vintage with a 6.0 for $5k, though it has 220k miles on it.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion
01/18/2020 at 16:11

I’d put money down that you will buy a newer Miata.

sony1492 > AestheticsInMotion
01/18/2020 at 16:17

What about Colorado's and manual Frontiers?

AestheticsInMotion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
01/18/2020 at 16:26

Eh. NCs don't interest me enough to pay anything more than pennies for, NDs are fun but so far down the list of things I'd choose for new car money, and NA/NB's... Probably not going that route again until I get a garage.

AestheticsInMotion > sony1492
01/18/2020 at 16:27

Colorados are too spendy. Manual frontiers... Are probably worth looking at? Like most people, I forgot about them lol.

sony1492 > AestheticsInMotion
01/18/2020 at 16:38

I specify manual because the automatics seem to be on craigslist with dead transmissions all too often. More importantly the truck was available in gold

M.T. Blake > AestheticsInMotion
01/18/2020 at 16:59

Gold Tacoma is gold.

The Tacoma is the perfect example of ‘good price because the color sucks’. You click on the link and all the best priced examples are Periwinkle. I do not want a light purple truck. Not for a deal. Not for a steal. I do not like Periwinkle .

AestheticsInMotion > M.T. Blake
01/18/2020 at 17:04

I love that pale purple Toyota color . So rare. Much unique. I’ve only seen it on the occasional 4runner.

Unless your talking about the gorgeous dark, deep metallic purple that they put on a Land Cruiser..?

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > AestheticsInMotion
01/18/2020 at 17:32

I've never understood the aversion to gold cars.

slipperysallylikespenguins > AestheticsInMotion
01/18/2020 at 18:26

I’ve looked into the express vans a lot. Those 6.0 and Duramax versions hold their value very well.

ranwhenparked > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
01/18/2020 at 22:13

Me neither.

Kinja'd!!!

ranwhenparked > AestheticsInMotion
01/18/2020 at 22:14

The cap on that Toyota is fantastic, would make a perfect camping rig.

M.T. Blake > AestheticsInMotion
01/18/2020 at 22:45

The pale purple was the color we dreaded to find when trying to find a clean Toyota as younger men. Not a fan.

Nothing > AestheticsInMotion
01/18/2020 at 23:25

I would say the non working window on the Taco is because it’s a replacement door, so who knows why it was replaced. Clean title seems suspicious on that one.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion
01/19/2020 at 00:03

Oh you mean that awesome purple they used on the 1999-2000 Land Bois? My favorite.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion
01/19/2020 at 00:07

For reasons that not need be discussed, you’ve figured out how this area works.

Stigma when driving a pickup for work: zero. You might be the carpenter. Or the tile guy. Or an inspector. Or the owner of the construction company. Nobody knows.

Stigma when driving an unmarked Chevy van: you know.

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
01/19/2020 at 02:18

Isn't it gorgeous? I've only seen one, and it was immaculate

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > AestheticsInMotion
01/19/2020 at 06:38

Those Express vans haven’t been changed in ages, so they’re like a 4Runner with less cachet. They also suck mightily, I hate driving them so much. Would rather drive an old Econoline any day.

Digging that regular cab Tacoma. As always, my lack of garage space is the only thing keeping me from all these tempting vehicles.

Quite a few of these would be a good base for a trail/snow rig.

Did you get out to your usual winter spot before all hell broke loose up there this year?

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
01/19/2020 at 06:42

Too close to beige and they were hip from various manufacturers as “ Champaign” long enough ago that a substantial number of old-but-not-classic regular cars are that color.

It’s like silver/grey for early-00s to today cars will be in 15-20 years.

Burnitalldown > M.T. Blake
01/19/2020 at 16:01

Insecure much?

Burnitalldown > AestheticsInMotion
01/19/2020 at 16:03

There is only one other that I’ve seen other than mine in the entire Boise area. She’s pretty easy to find in a parking lot.

M.T. Blake > Burnitalldown
01/19/2020 at 16:05

Insecure. Paranoid. Weak. Distracted. Oh and lazy. Many things.

E92M3 > AestheticsInMotion
01/19/2020 at 21:24

Is it just me or is the paint not 2 different shades on the passenger side of the gold one?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > AestheticsInMotion
01/20/2020 at 09:35

15,000 views.

ObeyTheNoodle > AestheticsInMotion
01/20/2020 at 12:41

I was checking out that gold T aco with the topper last night on FB marketplace. I’ve got a 98 Taco and was browsing for random parts...