Notices
General Miata Chat A place to talk about anything Miata

Buying a $2K Miata

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 6, 2013 | 08:32 AM
  #1  
Sal_the_man's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 10
Total Cats: 0
Default Buying a $2K Miata

Hey guys, I'm Sal and am in the market for a NA miata or E30 BMW. I have test driven my friend's NA and I loved it, so have been on the search recently.

I have been reading many of the stickies on here, and they have been very useful. I found this specific one to be very helpful:

https://www.miataturbo.net/useful-sa...ig-post-10821/

In addition, I have come across this turbo miata and would appreciate opinions on the deal. I have been reading that 5psi is a safe boost amount to run without IC, and it looks okay but it's priced much lower than the turbo miatas I have seen for sale.

1991 Mazda Miata

Thoughts? I am going to see it tomorrow and am going to take a buddy with me however I don't know the miata from top to bottom. I have read a lot in the past and now, and am definitely a mechanically inclined person but would really appreciate some guidance.
Old Jul 6, 2013 | 09:10 AM
  #2  
thirdgen's Avatar
Slowest Progress Ever
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,029
Total Cats: 304
From: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
Default

I'd say it's a decent deal...buy it, then buy an intercooler, injectors, and a megasquirt. Also scrap the style bar and put a real roll bar in it.
Old Jul 6, 2013 | 09:13 AM
  #3  
Sal_the_man's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 10
Total Cats: 0
Default

Thanks. Yeah, #1 item I would get after purchase is roll bar. The other items would gradually come if it's mechanically sound. If not, then yes
Old Jul 6, 2013 | 10:06 AM
  #4  
Tekel's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 851
Total Cats: 37
From: Beckley, WV
Default

Looks like someone many years and several owners ago loved that car. I think it's on borrowed time from just hearing about the issues it has and haven't been fixed.
Old Jul 6, 2013 | 10:31 AM
  #5  
FRT_Fun's Avatar
I'm a terrible person
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,174
Total Cats: 180
From: Arizona
Default

I thought this thread was going to be about buying a S2000.
Old Jul 6, 2013 | 11:48 AM
  #6  
thirdgen's Avatar
Slowest Progress Ever
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,029
Total Cats: 304
From: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
Default

Originally Posted by FRT_Fun
I thought this thread was going to be about buying a S2000.
I did too at first. I was like, an S2k Miata?? First thought was f20c converted Miata.
Old Jul 7, 2013 | 03:36 PM
  #7  
Jwind's Avatar
Newb
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
Total Cats: 0
Default

Posting was deleted: so tell us, are we one member stronger?
Old Jul 7, 2013 | 03:54 PM
  #8  
Sal_the_man's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 10
Total Cats: 0
Default

My bad should have created a better title. It was a turbo miata going for $1900. It was sold yesterday and I was confirmed to see it today -__-

ha yeah, I'm still on the hunt for a miata. Actually I'm choosing between an E30 325i and a NA gen miata to start as a build for a track car. I'm shooting for $2000 for a solid car and am pretty confident I can at least find a decent miata. A decent 325i is hard to come across. Drove both and liked them, just comes down to the best deal I find

This is what I am looking at right now...either this E30:

1987 BMW 325is pearl 5spd

Or this Miata:

1992 Mazda Miata

I bet I can negotiate the E30 owner down a tad bit to what I want, miata seems clean, but will only find out when I see it in person
Old Jul 12, 2013 | 03:38 PM
  #9  
Efini~FC3S's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,317
Total Cats: 99
From: Charlotte, NC
Default

In my experience, buying a completely rust free car is worth spending a extra couple hundred dollars.

Also, in my experience, spending a few hundred extra to get a bit nicer car is also well worth it.

Finding a decent miata in Ohio for $2000 is extremely difficult. I don't know how it is in your neck of the woods. I paid less than $3000 for a 120k mile rust free '96, but it needed/needs some work and I kind of wish I would have spent another $800 to ge the absolute nicest car I could...

Last edited by Efini~FC3S; Jul 12, 2013 at 03:38 PM. Reason: grammar fael
Old Jul 12, 2013 | 04:12 PM
  #10  
Joe Perez's Avatar
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 34,402
Total Cats: 7,523
From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Default

My first thought:

"Look at Mr. Moneybags here, flaunting his wealth and paying $2,000 for a Miata."

Then I remembered that some places have weather, and that for some reason, the worse the weather, the more convertibles cost.

(Which seems really weird to me.)
Old Jul 14, 2013 | 10:28 PM
  #11  
Sal_the_man's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 10
Total Cats: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Efini~FC3S
In my experience, buying a completely rust free car is worth spending a extra couple hundred dollars.

Also, in my experience, spending a few hundred extra to get a bit nicer car is also well worth it.

Finding a decent miata in Ohio for $2000 is extremely difficult. I don't know how it is in your neck of the woods. I paid less than $3000 for a 120k mile rust free '96, but it needed/needs some work and I kind of wish I would have spent another $800 to ge the absolute nicest car I could...
It's hard to find a rust-free miata over here (DC) as well. Most of which you have to pay a premium for - which I don't have the funds for lol. But, will manage something hopefully
Old Jul 14, 2013 | 10:35 PM
  #12  
18psi's Avatar
VladiTuned
iTrader: (76)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 35,821
Total Cats: 3,482
Default

Originally Posted by Joe Perez
My first thought:

"Look at Mr. Moneybags here, flaunting his wealth and paying $2,000 for a Miata."

Then I remembered that some places have weather, and that for some reason, the worse the weather, the more convertibles cost.

(Which seems really weird to me.)
+1
I thought it was weird that so many non CA folks fly over here and drive our miata's back home until I looked at the terrible crap buckets they sell in the rust-ridden states and what they ask for them.
Old Jul 14, 2013 | 11:55 PM
  #13  
Stein's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,729
Total Cats: 166
From: Nebraska
Default

Originally Posted by Sal_the_man
It's hard to find a rust-free miata over here (DC) as well. Most of which you have to pay a premium for - which I don't have the funds for lol. But, will manage something hopefully
If you can't afford a "premium" stock Miata, how do you plan to fund a track car? Hot hating just wondering...
Old Jul 23, 2013 | 11:54 AM
  #14  
susom's Avatar
Newb
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2
Total Cats: -7
Default

Did you get that 1992 Miata? Or is it still for sale?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Frank_and_Beans
Supercharger Discussion
13
Sep 12, 2016 08:17 PM
b&t
Meet and Greet
3
Sep 22, 2015 09:32 AM
pineda92
Meet and Greet
4
Sep 20, 2015 09:22 PM
p51ofaces
Meet and Greet
6
Sep 17, 2015 09:08 AM
SuperSneakySecretSquirrel
Meet and Greet
5
Sep 6, 2015 08:30 PM




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:55 PM.