High mileage miata opinions
06-24-09, 12:22 AM
#1
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High mileage miata opinions
Hey,
I recently found what looks to be a decent deal on a miata. 1994 for $2000. However, it has 143000 miles. No other problems. Is there any black clouds that follow miatas at this age?
I recently found what looks to be a decent deal on a miata. 1994 for $2000. However, it has 143000 miles. No other problems. Is there any black clouds that follow miatas at this age?
06-24-09, 12:42 AM
#2
As long as there has been proper maintenance, the Miata's engine is bulletproof. Mine has about 150k miles, and runs good as ever.
One major thing to check for is that the 100k/120k maintenance was done. If they've never replaced the timing belt, that needs to be replaced NOW! The parts aren't expensive if you do it yourself, but if you have a shop do it expect a good $500-700 bill. When I bought my car it wasn't done, but I got a hell of a deal on it so I didn't care.
Also, if they have never changed out the shocks, they are probably dead. Stock Miata shocks only have like 30k miles life in them, but many owners have no idea they are busted since it still handles better than most other cars. The exception are the Miatas that have the "hard" suspension. They use Bilstein shocks that seem to last forever.
One major thing to check for is that the 100k/120k maintenance was done. If they've never replaced the timing belt, that needs to be replaced NOW! The parts aren't expensive if you do it yourself, but if you have a shop do it expect a good $500-700 bill. When I bought my car it wasn't done, but I got a hell of a deal on it so I didn't care.
Also, if they have never changed out the shocks, they are probably dead. Stock Miata shocks only have like 30k miles life in them, but many owners have no idea they are busted since it still handles better than most other cars. The exception are the Miatas that have the "hard" suspension. They use Bilstein shocks that seem to last forever.
06-24-09, 12:48 AM
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Alright, does it sound like a good price then? Sure seems like it to me, after shopping around here. I'd imagine that this stuff has been done, the guy who is selling it is a big miata junkie with a miata turbo, and this was just his DD.
06-24-09, 02:53 PM
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yeah price is good. timing belt isnt a big deal, its a non interference engine, so if it breaks, you are just stuck.
the early miatae are the best cars mazda made since the gsl-se, they are fun, reliable, and really usable in the real world. they are nice and light, and have a good suspension. if you put the same average driver in the FD and then the miata, and time laps, you will see that the FD isnt faster.
the early miatae are the best cars mazda made since the gsl-se, they are fun, reliable, and really usable in the real world. they are nice and light, and have a good suspension. if you put the same average driver in the FD and then the miata, and time laps, you will see that the FD isnt faster.
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06-24-09, 10:15 PM
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As long as there has been proper maintenance, the Miata's engine is bulletproof. Mine has about 150k miles, and runs good as ever.
One major thing to check for is that the 100k/120k maintenance was done. If they've never replaced the timing belt, that needs to be replaced NOW! The parts aren't expensive if you do it yourself, but if you have a shop do it expect a good $500-700 bill. When I bought my car it wasn't done, but I got a hell of a deal on it so I didn't care.
Also, if they have never changed out the shocks, they are probably dead. Stock Miata shocks only have like 30k miles life in them, but many owners have no idea they are busted since it still handles better than most other cars. The exception are the Miatas that have the "hard" suspension. They use Bilstein shocks that seem to last forever.
One major thing to check for is that the 100k/120k maintenance was done. If they've never replaced the timing belt, that needs to be replaced NOW! The parts aren't expensive if you do it yourself, but if you have a shop do it expect a good $500-700 bill. When I bought my car it wasn't done, but I got a hell of a deal on it so I didn't care.
Also, if they have never changed out the shocks, they are probably dead. Stock Miata shocks only have like 30k miles life in them, but many owners have no idea they are busted since it still handles better than most other cars. The exception are the Miatas that have the "hard" suspension. They use Bilstein shocks that seem to last forever.
Also, Bilsteins came on special edition miata's and MSM miata's only, you had to order them through the dealer otherwise.
OP: That would be a good price, if it has no rust. Worse comes to worse just yank the rear end and put it on the 7 for fully independent
06-26-09, 02:10 AM
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The body is very straight. There are many small problems with the car, but nothing amountable. The only that is kinda scary is that the air bag light is on, with a code 34 which means its probably the module. It'll also need new tires. Everything else on the car is good.
Still seems like a decent deal, but maybe I'm just blind because I want a miata so badly.
Still seems like a decent deal, but maybe I'm just blind because I want a miata so badly.
06-26-09, 10:44 AM
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The body is very straight. There are many small problems with the car, but nothing amountable. The only that is kinda scary is that the air bag light is on, with a code 34 which means its probably the module. It'll also need new tires. Everything else on the car is good.
Still seems like a decent deal, but maybe I'm just blind because I want a miata so badly.
Still seems like a decent deal, but maybe I'm just blind because I want a miata so badly.
06-26-09, 10:46 AM
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06-27-09, 07:45 PM
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Well guys, I got the car. It needs some work, but I got it for 1900. In my area thats about as cheap as you can get a miata.
First impressions-I think this car is better than my rx7 in every way. Sorry guys, but this car performs amazingly. Bury your head in the sand if you want, but the car feels faster, handles better, and gets way better gas mileage all at once. Go figure.
First impressions-I think this car is better than my rx7 in every way. Sorry guys, but this car performs amazingly. Bury your head in the sand if you want, but the car feels faster, handles better, and gets way better gas mileage all at once. Go figure.
06-27-09, 08:07 PM
#17
Well guys, I got the car. It needs some work, but I got it for 1900. In my area thats about as cheap as you can get a miata.
First impressions-I think this car is better than my rx7 in every way. Sorry guys, but this car performs amazingly. Bury your head in the sand if you want, but the car feels faster, handles better, and gets way better gas mileage all at once. Go figure.
First impressions-I think this car is better than my rx7 in every way. Sorry guys, but this car performs amazingly. Bury your head in the sand if you want, but the car feels faster, handles better, and gets way better gas mileage all at once. Go figure.
Seriously though I've been thinking about getting one a daily driver, good luck with it!
06-27-09, 10:03 PM
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I'll get some pics when it isn't dark or rainy. The more I'm looking the more miatas I find with very high mileage so that is re-assuring. Infact, this was one of the lower mileage miatas I could find.
FbDrift-I think you (and everyone else with this opinion) would find that the miata isn't a chick car if ya drove it. The stock motor is actually pretty good, I can only imagine how awesome one of these cars is with a turbo and a prepped suspension.
FbDrift-I think you (and everyone else with this opinion) would find that the miata isn't a chick car if ya drove it. The stock motor is actually pretty good, I can only imagine how awesome one of these cars is with a turbo and a prepped suspension.
06-29-09, 02:29 PM
#21
With the racing heratige that the Miatas have already established, one would expect it to out handle a 1st gen. After all, it is a newer design and was developed to handle well.
Fwiw, when the 64-1/2 Mustang was introduced, it's target market was secretaries as a small affordable car. Look what it's become now. Had Mazda decided to rotorize the Miata, who knows what it could have become. The Miata shares some of the same design ideas that went into the 3rd gen 7s. Had Mazda followed some of the design/performance upgrades that went into late 60s Mustangs, i.e., the Boss, , the Mach 1, the KR series, the Cobra, the GT 350/500s along with the the engine upgrades including the 429/428 cu. in. versions we would have never had to suffer through the RX8s and the Miatas would have been the top dog on the street.
Fwiw, when the 64-1/2 Mustang was introduced, it's target market was secretaries as a small affordable car. Look what it's become now. Had Mazda decided to rotorize the Miata, who knows what it could have become. The Miata shares some of the same design ideas that went into the 3rd gen 7s. Had Mazda followed some of the design/performance upgrades that went into late 60s Mustangs, i.e., the Boss, , the Mach 1, the KR series, the Cobra, the GT 350/500s along with the the engine upgrades including the 429/428 cu. in. versions we would have never had to suffer through the RX8s and the Miatas would have been the top dog on the street.
06-30-09, 01:00 PM
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Well guys, I got the car. It needs some work, but I got it for 1900. In my area thats about as cheap as you can get a miata.
First impressions-I think this car is better than my rx7 in every way. Sorry guys, but this car performs amazingly. Bury your head in the sand if you want, but the car feels faster, handles better, and gets way better gas mileage all at once. Go figure.
First impressions-I think this car is better than my rx7 in every way. Sorry guys, but this car performs amazingly. Bury your head in the sand if you want, but the car feels faster, handles better, and gets way better gas mileage all at once. Go figure.
07-01-09, 07:32 AM
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High mileage on a sporty car like a Miata, 240, etc, is a little bit more worrisome than on a family hauler. They've probably been 143K well-enjoyed miles, if you get what I'm saying.
That being said, I wouldn't worry about 143K, that's not a whole hell of a lot. I work for a race prep shop building Miatas for a Performance Driving School, and some of our cars have more than that, and they've been track-only for at least half of their lives. Just run a compression check on the motor, and change the belts and fluids if/when you get it. Oh, and at that age, if it's not leaking a little bit of oil from the rear main seal (coming out the bellhousing weephole) then you've got a problem.
That being said, I wouldn't worry about 143K, that's not a whole hell of a lot. I work for a race prep shop building Miatas for a Performance Driving School, and some of our cars have more than that, and they've been track-only for at least half of their lives. Just run a compression check on the motor, and change the belts and fluids if/when you get it. Oh, and at that age, if it's not leaking a little bit of oil from the rear main seal (coming out the bellhousing weephole) then you've got a problem.
07-01-09, 08:06 AM
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common sense prevails....
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Miata = GIRL CAR
Don't believe me??? Here's affirmation!
http://cars.about.com/od/helpforcarb...cars_women.htm
http://www.beaterreview.com/?p=68
http://www.miata.net/misc/girlscar.html
http://www.automotiveblogger.net/dud...ht-a-girl-car/
http://www.tunerzine.com/view_articl...girly-car-what
http://forums.motortrend.com/70/7571...rly/index.html
http://forums.motortrend.com/70/6242...ars/index.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...3140231AAGnoKW
http://www.modernracer.com/history/m...tahistory.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/mazdamiata/index
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Miata
Don't believe me??? Here's affirmation!
http://cars.about.com/od/helpforcarb...cars_women.htm
http://www.beaterreview.com/?p=68
http://www.miata.net/misc/girlscar.html
http://www.automotiveblogger.net/dud...ht-a-girl-car/
http://www.tunerzine.com/view_articl...girly-car-what
http://forums.motortrend.com/70/7571...rly/index.html
http://forums.motortrend.com/70/6242...ars/index.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...3140231AAGnoKW
http://www.modernracer.com/history/m...tahistory.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/mazdamiata/index
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Miata
07-01-09, 10:37 AM
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Have you ever driven one? Or better yet, driven a mildy-prepared one around a track? There's a reason I saw a Miata running faster times around a 2.9 mile road course than a Ford GT last weekend. In the hands of a good driver, they're very capable cars, and great platforms to learn road racing. Not to mention traditionally a very competitive autocross platform.
The "girl car" stigma is useful to guys that race Miatas as it filters out the people who have no idea what they're talking about.
The "girl car" stigma is useful to guys that race Miatas as it filters out the people who have no idea what they're talking about.