Okay let me say this first, This is my first Miata and i am not very mechanically inclined, but im 100% trying and willing to learn.

Anyways this car is going to be a DD/Track car for the first year of its life and hopefully up to spec to a TTE car but the end of the year going into next year, after that who knows. Maybe PTE if that's still around then or something.

Here are some pictures of the car the day i bought it, which was two weeks ago but I'm making this thread a little behind so bare with me.

Here is a quick history of the car... The car has 78,000 miles on it today. It was owned its whole life since 1999 by a woman in Indiana and she never drove it once in the winter and she waxed it before and after each winter when she stored it in the garage under a cover. The car has been worked on its whole life by Shane over at AIM tuning for every small little maintenance she needed done. And i somehow picked this car up for $5,000.

 

Wow, sounds like you scored a great deal on that car. Looks nice.

I was in the same place you were about a year ago with regards to Miata/mechanical noobness. I feel pretty comfortable working on Miatas already.

 

Thanks, i think i got really lucky as well, but yeah I've never been to great mechanically wise, I'm more of a driver. Its just intimidating reading through some posts and just being like... what....?

 

That thing needs a new radiator STAT. lol

 

Yeah. It seems like that's always the first thing to replace on these 10+ y/o stockers, even the ones that are well maintained.

 

Great looking car

 

Thanks!

 

Why would you say that?

 

When they turn brown/yellow/green and gross looking, they are telling you they're ready to bust open and puke your cooling system out.

 

I did not know that, what should it look like?

 

Let me google that for you

(black)

 

It's suppose to be black.



Pickup an aluminum core aftermarket replacement

 

Funny that in images all the first results are aluminum aftermaket radiators.
Which is what OP needs to buy.

 

 

The car looks superbly clean. If needs a new radiator, nothing to worry about.
Although the subject can be another thread.

I think its a superb score.

Not because of the miles, but because the vehicle is 1999, I would change the timing belt, if it has not been done.
The most its going to do is leave you stranded, these are non-interference engines.

It should be a game, find that spec of oil and you win.

 

Sorry for the slow updates guys, My brake pads, spark plugs, and oil all came in the mail today so I'll finally have other pictures and things to post later today.

By the way I just got NGK Iridium spark plugs, G-Lock R8 brakes, and good ole 0w40 Mobil 1 oil with a Wix filter. So nothing too crazy yet but I also have some used Bilsteins with sport springs on the way so that will probably be coming next week, along with the much needed new Koyo aluminum radiator.

 

Nice! ABS on an early NB is pretty rare.

 

I'm going to be putting them on the car today. They are the R8's so they're not the most aggressive pad but they will still be much better than the stock stuff i have now. Will post updates on how they feel, sound, and perform later.

 

sorry for the late response, anyways the brakes feel nice and responsive are much better warmer rather than cold, which are both obvious.

but they are pretty noisy, not as bad as the hawks i had on my old car and the noise is much more of a bearable squeak rather than the hawks. overall i really like the pads and im glad i got them over the ebc yellows and the rest of the hawk brigade. i give them a solid 7.5/10 given i can't rate them higher granted i haven't had them on the track yet.

And more good news i have a set of bilsteins on the way along with new bushings and rear pads .

 

Get them rotors resurfaced asap or buy new ones before you waste pad material for nothing.