SHOULD I BUY A MIATA

Serious question. Our neightbors have a 1990 Miata they purchased new. About a month ago they put a $2200 paint job on it. Original red color like my MG. I have rode the car many times since we moved here and it is loaded, air, cruise, power windows, power door locks, and even has the hard top that has very seldom been on the car. The soft top is in excellent condition as is the rest of the car. It has really been babied. Oh, it does have 109,000 miles on it and was just driven to California and back a few months ago. They came over last night and asked me if I wanted it because they are going putting in a swimming pool and the sale of the car will go toward the cost of the pool. Their price to me: $4500.00. Their asking price if they place an ad for others: $5500.00. I would "like to have it" but I told them the hubby and I had some expert friends and, if they would hold it to tonight, I would let them know whether I would buy it or not.

Of course you don't have to guess who the "experts" are because they are you! What would you do? I'm now waiting on your opinions and will go with the flow. The MG stays with me no matter what. YOUR TURN AND I'M REALLY COUNTING ON YOU TO BE HONEST!

Long distance advice is always a tough call, Naomi, but I would say to go for it. Can you get a mechanic to check it over?

I'm certainly no expert on Miatas or pricing, but that sounds like a bunch of money for a 13-year-old car with more than 100,000 miles on it.

But my question would be: Why would you want a Miata when you've got a perfectly nice MGB? And do you really want your B to start feeling bad and acting up on you?

Naomi,
According to NADA http://ww.nadaguides.com a 1990 Miata in North Carolina with 100k miles should sell for between $3175 (low retail) and $5000 (high retail), with an average of $4200. So if you believe those prices, then your neighbor's price sounds fair, but not especially a bargain. Remember though that there are regional variations -- you should go and check it with your zip code instead of mine!

I must say that I agree with Kim -- that Miata may be a great car, but you've already got a little convertible sports car. Do you need two? (Of course I tend to accumulate Bs, so take my advice for what it's worth...)

And if you do, your B will definitely sulk for a while! ;-)

Kim is right. The presence of a Miata will affect your MGB in a very negative manner. Think about it.

I'd say go for it, Naomi!

I had a 1990 Miata when they first came out and _loved_ it. I found, however, that it did nothing to my love of LBC's, and so I ended up with a Midget as well.

Get the Miata for weekends when it is just to hot for a convertible; you'll still have a great-handling car to drive with A/C. You'll also have a comfortable long-distance car with no leaks or problems. And you've got a 'new' classic which, I bet, will follow the B in terms of appreciation and club support.

Keep the B for all other occasions. I think you'll find, like I did, that the B is not going to suffer from Miata ownership. If you've got the space and the $$$, one of each is the best of all worlds!

I'm reminded of the Nigel Shiftright comic strip in which his MG breaks down, and the MG puts Nigel on a guilt trip because the MG found a Miata brochure in the map pocket.

The price of this car at edmunds.com works out to be $2792. At kbb.com it's $3600. Someone else posted the nada price. I'd say it's worth an average of these prices so I'd let them try and get $5500. In the mean time you could look at other Miatas.

Richard

Naomi,
I just had another thought. You've apparently decided that you have at least $4500 disposable income right now, else you would not be considering this car. So, what else can you get for $4500? That'd buy a nice BGT. Or a nice vacation. Or fix up the house. I guess what I'm saying is that, for me at least, it would not really be a question of "Is $4500 a good price for this car I want," but rather "Is this what I want to spend $4500 on?" Of course, if I'm off the mark, please ignore me! ;-)

Cheers!

I don't know about southern VA, but up here in MI you can get the old Miatas all over the place for under $5,000 - my buddy (1980 MGB) was looking for one and found a red '92 with 60,000 miles for $4,500 from a used car dealer so I would say your price is a little high. I would also have to ask why it was repainted?

Just my 10c

Naomi, assuming you like your neighbors and want to continue to have a good relationship with them, I would not buy this car. Seems like a lot for the mileage and age, and if major stuff starts to go wrong, how would you feel about it and them? I would let them try for the $5500, then help them enjoy their pool!

Dan D

Naomi,

In my humble opinion, I would save my money. For a lot less than 4500 you could have a second MG. This is assuming you already have a so called "regular use" car for trips and the like. I guess it all depends on how you will use the Miata. In any case, the Miata is so much like the MG I would pass.

Lot's of opinions on a Miata. Knowing the car was well taken care of should be worth a small premium over an unknown car. However, the 1.8 cars are selling for ~4500 in most areas and have noticable more power than the early cars. A friend picked up a very nice 94 this spring for $4500 with both tops and in pretty nice shape. You might not notice the better brakes of the newer cars, some like the old style brakes just fine. Also, early Miata's have crankshaft issues, at the pulley, check that out. Lastly, make sure you have records of timing belt replacemt. It's not a bad job, but will leave you stranded if it breaks. One good thing about a Miata is a new long block can be had at a dealer for ~$1600 or so, worst case of course. If you are serious about it take it to a reliable mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection and have them go through it for an hour or so.

That said, they are much better cars than an MG for daily driving. 30+ years of progress goes a long way. That said, there is still just something about that old MG.

Miatae are neat cars. My brother has one (with a supercharger!), and "Spec Miata" is one of the most popular classes avalable is SCCA Club Racing. They even have a Semi-Pro group. If you really like this particular car, buy it. If you just want a Miata in general, pass on this one and watch for a better deal. Over a hundred thou is a lot of miles, and thirteen years are a lot of years. New paint is good, but has the engine been rebuilt? I'm inclined to think this car is going to need at least a couple of thousand in mechanical work in the next year or two, and that done by a pro mechanic. They aren't like our little cars; there's a LOT of stuff under the bonnet!

Since I just bought a Miata a few months ago, I'll chime in here...

I paid a little over $6000 for a '95 with under 20,000 miles. No hardtop; but automatic, CD, cruise, headrest speakers, AC. Based on this, I think you could be patient and find a better one for the price they're asking. Low mileage Miata's are fairly common. A ton of 'em were sold, and they were often a second or third car used mainly for a toy (like the way most of us use our MGs).

My concerns would be, like Chris says, the issues with the early 1.6 engines with the short-nose crankshaft (although since this one's gone 100K miles already, that might be a non-issue here)- and the repaint job (how will it hold up). The mileage shouldn't be a problem if the car has been well maintained - 200K or more on these cars is common.

That being said.........I love my Miata, and would highly recommend owning one. It's almost as much fun to drive as a 'B. It sure is nice to have AC on those midsummer days in traffic. And you'll love how easy the top is to lower and raise! It's so easy, I'm surprised they sold very many hardtops....

Miata's are pretty simple cars though. Mabye it's my age/experience, but the Miata is much easier for me to repair than my MG. SU? Huh? Distributor? Where do I get the engine codes? :)

Re: SHOULD I BUY A MIATA
No.

That's what I was gona say Iggy...

I own a 1990 as well. I also agree with Joe- the 109k is not really a significant factor for a Miata purchase- you're thinking in MG terms. Many of the cars on Miataforum.com have 200k-250k miles with no significant mechanical difficulties- they are real cars owners use everyday. Mine is at 92k now. I've replaced a clutch slave cylinder. It starts everytime and has brought me from MA to TX partly through I-81 in VA and back many times.

Having said that- $5500 is certainly at the top of the price range and I suspect the seller is trying to recoup some of the expenditures for the paint (sort of like a dreaming MG owner trying to recoup 'restoration' costs for a slightly above average car). The hardtop itself is worth bet. $750-$1100 on the open market- the only hitch is trying to ship it. I sold mine for $1000 2 years ago- Spec Miata racers are after them. Alternatively, you may enjoy the hardtop- it makes the car much stiffer and quieter. Up to you. As it sits, it's about a $3700-4000 car (we are in the middle of summer after all- there is a slight premium for that alone), depeding on the extent of the records produced. Joe's deal is a bit above average and probably a good bit harder to find, I'd say.

1990 did have a 'short crank' issue, but if the timing belt was changed at 60k as it should have been, the car is probably not affected. Check for pulley wobble. It may be best to just get a mechanic to lok it over- but you should do that with any car.

I agree with other posters- if you want a Miata- keep looking at other cars- there may be better deals out there. As one poster suggested- there are also sensitivities b/c of the neighbor relationship. However, the 109k does not scare me, the hardtop is worth a good chunk of the purchase price, etc. As the summer wears on it will be harder and harder to get $5500 for it, if they ever do. You may be able to make a better bargain come fall.

Things to think about anyway.

Iggy......could you try to be more concise :-)

For what it's worth here's a reference point.
<Mazda Miatas For Sale
carbuyer.com>

No opinion other than if you want it, what the heck!

whay does hubby think of this deal?

buy a GT

Try again! <http://www.carbuyer.com/search/miata/index.html>

Oh what the hell.........buy it....sell the hardtop on Ebay for a grand........then you've got a nice little $3500 car that you'll easily get another 100K miles out of.....and if it needs repainting again after a few years, so what.....eventually you could have an entire fleet of red sports cars.....

Buy a Miata. It's definitely a ladies car.

I ain't gonna buy the Miata. The vote total was "5 Yes", "8 Neutral, and "12 No. Thank all of you for your great input and "expert" advise. I would mention names but, most likely, would forget someone. Everyone had excellent advice, some funny, some serious, and some with just great comments. Anyway I just told her that it was a bit much and I was willing to pay $3500.00. I was turned down. I guess I'll just sit at my own pool at watch the Miata sit in their yard with the $5500.00 For Sale sign on it. Thanks again to all of you. Kinda sad because I did kinda want the car. Who knows, they might come down and then I'll have to ask all of you again. Take care now and have a great night.

$4500 for a 13 year old Miata? I don't think so.

But just think, Naomi, you have a far more beatiful,REAL classic, and if the two were parked side by side, and you had to drive away in one, you know what door you would open!

You did good, girl!! :o) I wouldn't have bought it, but I'm real cheap!!! :o)

You can do better on price, but they aren't just way out of the ball park either at $4500 depending on how nice it is.

I have to admit I am in love with the new style miata. Sleak, seamless transmission and clutch, FAST, electric windows and locks, dependable, quiet, slip differential optional, leather, suspension that is smooth and tight at the same time. Yes the tops are a breeze compared to the ten step MGB tops. Mostly, I may have been intoxicated by new car smell. Never bought a new car before. I was very close to a 2002 Miata.

I had previously been looking at early 90s models and found a handful in the $3500 range that were in good condition. Many can be found below that too, but you have to be meticulous about pre-buy inspection.

MGBs are great too. They are different creatures entirely unless you park them both next to a big ford truck. In that light they serve the same purpose. I wouldn't double up personally.

i think Miatas are a car that everyone wants to have even if they don't know it. i mean.. a tiny little sports car, hell, in theory you could practically put that thing in your back pocket while you're not using it. yet ready to jump in and run whenever you're ready. i didn't think much of them for a while but i can definitely see the fun that they hold.

i play this game sometimes called Gran Turismo 3, i'm sure some of you are familiar with it, but they have street cars in the game and yes they have Miatas.. and the best part of the game is buying new parts for your cars and increasing perfomance almost indefinately. A little tiny Miata sompletely souped up...... wow...maybe increased to about 4 or 500 horses?? whew... weaving outta traffic like it ain't no thing. well sorry, had to ramble for a minute.