opinion for buying a miata

[shishcabobers]

So I found this very clean white miata and I want your opinions on this one.
-power everything
-air conditioning
-adult driven
-hardtop
-no body damage
-195,000 miles
-$3500
I know the price is a bit high, other than that I guess I am more worried about the high mileage. I mean wouldn't it be worth it to get one with less mileage?

[jeffreyf]

What year and tranny? LSD?

[dwkfym]

please also list whether it has an "m" edition emblem somewhere, whether it has leather seats, etc. You want to know if it will be a good autocross car, right?

[MX5bob]

The mileage won't be an issue if properly cared for; how many owners?

[woodrufj]

Unless this is going to be a daily driver cross over, power everything and AC is a detrement in autox due to the weight and added cost of initial buy. Frankly I'd hold off for something a little more stripped. If you lose the top and skip a few luxuries you'll probably cut the price in half or get half the milage for the same price.

Think class too. Different Miata's rule different miata classes.

Jay W

[MX5bob]

Well, the hardtop and A/C + PS make this car a deal...figure $800-$1500 for a hardtop, and the rest of the car is super-cheap.

I've raced both non-PS and PS model Miatas (not often, nor have I owned them), but I actually prefer having the Power Steering. I don't particularly like the "feel" of the steering in a regular Miata, but the PS really made it feel like a more complete car rather than fighting to get the car around the cones.

Also, with A/C in a small car like a Miata or MR2, it gets the cabin cold in a hurry, not too much cubic feet of air in there to chill....it can be VERY nice, especially at a hot summer event or practice. I am firmly in the camp of driver comfort = faster laps...I'd take that over a few pounds any day.

Sounds like a good deal, I'd go for it.

Well, the A/C weighs nearly 40 pounds, most of that is the compressor and the mounting bracket, which is weight in a bad place.

[woodrufj]

Also, with A/C in a small car like a Miata .., it gets the cabin cold in a hurry, not too much cubic feet of air in there to chill....it can be VERY nice, especially at a hot summer event or practice. ....

It's a convertible you wuss!, Adequate AC=pop the top and drive. Man did you move to the wrong state.

Jay W

[kartdriver]

For the money, the mileage should be around the $2000 range. If the person is wanting more for the hardtop, $3000 maybe.

My white 1990 Miata was just sold this last April as an E stock ready car with 206,000 miles on it. It had A/C, PS, and an Autopower rollbar. All of which added to the weight. It passed smog just fine the week before I sold it and the dyno put it at 100.1HP. Not too bad for the local ES champ car in 2006. Of course there were no MR2's in class at the time.:rock2:

Scott