Pricing: Honda kids move to Miatas
12-09-2013, 05:29 PM
#21
I paid $4500 for mine in December 2010 with 160k, a straight body and mostly clean interior (typical wear and tear). I am the fourth owner. Prior was a little old lady who had no idea about all of the go fast parts. The timing was even bumped when I got it. I'm pretty sure the second owner was the one who sprung for all of the goodies, as the first owner traded it in in 1999 (probably for a NB).
When I got the car back in 2010, I got a lot of compliments on it, mostly from women about how cute it was. Who cares, I was talking to women. I also got nods from the older gentleman "I can't afford to keep a MG running, but want a nice roadster" crowd. These days the only people that want to talk about it want to know how much lower I plan on making it (none, it's on the lowest Koni perch), if I plan on adding more camber (only in the front, and less in the back), whether I want some 0 ET wheels (no), if I want to buy some 18" wheels (hell no), if I plan on ripping out the interior for "racing" (no, I like creature comforts like sound deadening) and if I'm interested in buying their "slightly damaged" "racing beat" bumpers (read: broken in half ebay knockoff).
On the plus side, it looks like these guys stick to their own crowd after ruining a car. A quick craigslist shows a ton of clean cars (save nasty huge chrome wheels) for under $4k. Could only find one riced out one, a white 92 1.6, and he does want $3800. Riceland coil overs, Diamond Racing steel wheels painted white, "stanced", extended aluminum lug nuts, FM lip kit, "color matched steering wheel" with an NRG quick release.
Hmm. The white "slammed" car that's been driven by an idiot (has a picture of himself touching the wheel lip while driving) or the stock 99 with 100k fewer miles and no shitty mods for $600 less....
When I got the car back in 2010, I got a lot of compliments on it, mostly from women about how cute it was. Who cares, I was talking to women. I also got nods from the older gentleman "I can't afford to keep a MG running, but want a nice roadster" crowd. These days the only people that want to talk about it want to know how much lower I plan on making it (none, it's on the lowest Koni perch), if I plan on adding more camber (only in the front, and less in the back), whether I want some 0 ET wheels (no), if I want to buy some 18" wheels (hell no), if I plan on ripping out the interior for "racing" (no, I like creature comforts like sound deadening) and if I'm interested in buying their "slightly damaged" "racing beat" bumpers (read: broken in half ebay knockoff).
On the plus side, it looks like these guys stick to their own crowd after ruining a car. A quick craigslist shows a ton of clean cars (save nasty huge chrome wheels) for under $4k. Could only find one riced out one, a white 92 1.6, and he does want $3800. Riceland coil overs, Diamond Racing steel wheels painted white, "stanced", extended aluminum lug nuts, FM lip kit, "color matched steering wheel" with an NRG quick release.
Hmm. The white "slammed" car that's been driven by an idiot (has a picture of himself touching the wheel lip while driving) or the stock 99 with 100k fewer miles and no shitty mods for $600 less....
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12-09-2013, 09:18 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Pittsburgh PA
Posts: 1,163
Total Cats: 12
Hmmm....just talked to the seller. His kid's car, doesn't know a lot about it. Torn soft top window, wipers don't work, heater doesn't work*, I'm betting A/C doesn't work either. Told me if i'm interested to come by with a couple guns and see what we could work out.
*Any thoughts on typical/cheap-to-fix problems with the heater? He didn't know in what way the heater wasn't working, only that his son said it wasn't. I'm guessing that means the blower fan doesn't come on.
EDIT: Preliminary search suggests the wipers and heater could both be caused by a faulty ignition switch. True?
*Any thoughts on typical/cheap-to-fix problems with the heater? He didn't know in what way the heater wasn't working, only that his son said it wasn't. I'm guessing that means the blower fan doesn't come on.
EDIT: Preliminary search suggests the wipers and heater could both be caused by a faulty ignition switch. True?
Faulty ignition switch (if those both run hot, through the IS, to the wipers/heater), blower motor resistor, and cooling system issues are all possible. Not much a decently mechanically inclined person couldn't tackle.
We, as a community, need to start saving clean chassis. Let dumb kids ruin the ones with irreparable rot, not a clean high mileage chassis.
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12-10-2013, 04:31 AM
#24
I spend a lot of time on the curb roadster for sale section since I have gotten a lot of good deals on actually useful parts there. The swag tax on NA miatas in the recent years has been ridiculous. Also the price of hard tops in California has soared on curb roadster.
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12-10-2013, 04:45 AM
#25
I hear ya... and actually picked up a super clean NA a few weeks ago when I had the chance to.
94, Chaste White. 83k miles. New Robbins top with heated glass window and a few tasteful NB interior "upgrades" (rear view mirror and interior lights) along with SPOTLESS 15x6 NB wheels. Seriously, they look showroom fresh.
$5,300.
Needless to say, I'm happy.
94, Chaste White. 83k miles. New Robbins top with heated glass window and a few tasteful NB interior "upgrades" (rear view mirror and interior lights) along with SPOTLESS 15x6 NB wheels. Seriously, they look showroom fresh.
$5,300.
Needless to say, I'm happy.
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12-10-2013, 02:48 PM
#28
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hahahaha... Whittling you down...
I need a Miata sooner than that. :P
Edit: OK ending thread drift. Let's find more ruined Miatas and talk about how their owners are total dbags. Which they are.
I need a Miata sooner than that. :P
Edit: OK ending thread drift. Let's find more ruined Miatas and talk about how their owners are total dbags. Which they are.
Last edited by turbofan; 12-10-2013 at 02:49 PM. Reason: Edit
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12-10-2013, 03:00 PM
#29
Missed out on my $1250 gun swap Miata. Couldn't make it last night, the guy wouldn't hold it for me, it sold at 10 PM. FML.
Here's some terrible ones I could pick from.
91 mazda miata trade or sell
1995 Madza Miata
So, do you figure these two people know each other? Is there a flat-black-with-stripped-hood Miata club?
Here's some terrible ones I could pick from.
91 mazda miata trade or sell
1995 Madza Miata
So, do you figure these two people know each other? Is there a flat-black-with-stripped-hood Miata club?
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12-10-2013, 05:20 PM
#31
Hardtop with two missing latches (ie, get ready for some fiberglass repair).
The problem with that car (and cars like it) is not just that it might be in 60% condition, but that every major component of the car is in 60% condition.
A 60% car that has a 100% shell and a 0% engine has a straightforward repair path.
A 60% car like above has no repair path because the whole thing, every bit of it, is screwed up in some significant way.
The problem with that car (and cars like it) is not just that it might be in 60% condition, but that every major component of the car is in 60% condition.
A 60% car that has a 100% shell and a 0% engine has a straightforward repair path.
A 60% car like above has no repair path because the whole thing, every bit of it, is screwed up in some significant way.
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12-10-2013, 06:55 PM
#33
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Taos, New mexico
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As I get older I've started to realize that a good 70% of people who modify their cars ruin them. This is prevalent with miatas especially because they are so cheap, and are starting to become "cool" with the kids now that they are old enough to not be made fun of as "gay" and whatnot.
Anyways, i guess what I'm saying is - even I have done mods to my car that have ruined it in some way or another. At this point I'm working on making my car faster, handle better, higher off the ground, quieter, more comfortable, with more creature comforts ( i don't even have a stereo, for gods sake), and better style (probably an oem repaint + r package lip instead of the GV i have).
Vlads car is a good example of a maturely modded car that was not really made worse in any way. Most heavily modified cars end up becoming a compromise "because track car", but then the car never sees enough track time to make up for the comfort lost on the street.
Anyways, i guess what I'm saying is - even I have done mods to my car that have ruined it in some way or another. At this point I'm working on making my car faster, handle better, higher off the ground, quieter, more comfortable, with more creature comforts ( i don't even have a stereo, for gods sake), and better style (probably an oem repaint + r package lip instead of the GV i have).
Vlads car is a good example of a maturely modded car that was not really made worse in any way. Most heavily modified cars end up becoming a compromise "because track car", but then the car never sees enough track time to make up for the comfort lost on the street.
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12-11-2013, 01:49 PM
#34
I love how this thread pops up every 2 years on every single car forum that exists in this world.
Stop bitching and enjoy the fact that the car is plentiful and still has somewhat of a marketable value.
Chances are what most of you did to your cars a decade ago were what the old fogeys pulled their hair out about and complained on mailing lists/forums just like everyone here is.
Here's the alternate ending to this story:
Everyone becomes a reserved fogey, miata car scene dies out, people stop making affordable aftermarket parts, only people that modify are spec racers. Value Drops. You lose interest because everything you want to upgrade you have to spend ridiculous amounts of money or make custom. You sell it cheap which counters the point of the bitching in the first place.
Ultimately, I hate some of the erroneous **** and ghetto modifications too, but who cares... Be a hero and buy the crappy bastardized cars and save them. The market being hot for a car is a good thing... let's be honest. They aren't going anywhere.
:::shakes fist at youngster whipper snappers:::
Stop bitching and enjoy the fact that the car is plentiful and still has somewhat of a marketable value.
Chances are what most of you did to your cars a decade ago were what the old fogeys pulled their hair out about and complained on mailing lists/forums just like everyone here is. Here's the alternate ending to this story:
Everyone becomes a reserved fogey, miata car scene dies out, people stop making affordable aftermarket parts, only people that modify are spec racers. Value Drops. You lose interest because everything you want to upgrade you have to spend ridiculous amounts of money or make custom. You sell it cheap which counters the point of the bitching in the first place.
Ultimately, I hate some of the erroneous **** and ghetto modifications too, but who cares... Be a hero and buy the crappy bastardized cars and save them. The market being hot for a car is a good thing... let's be honest. They aren't going anywhere.
:::shakes fist at youngster whipper snappers:::
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12-11-2013, 02:37 PM
#38
Here's the alternate ending to this story:
Everyone becomes a reserved fogey, miata car scene dies out, people stop making affordable aftermarket parts, only people that modify are spec racers. Value Drops. You lose interest because everything you want to upgrade you have to spend ridiculous amounts of money or make custom. You sell it cheap which counters the point of the bitching in the first place.
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