I'm crushed UPDATE (spoke to owner)
 

:EDIT:

Check edit at bottom of post

Most of us know that I am saving for a Miata (or sports car, according to my sig). The car I've been looking at is a '90 White with a JR kit and some goodies. I have been so stoked to find a local car that I could afford on a low budget, that comes with enough aftermarket parts, to be fun on my first drive. It's been great. Telling myself I'm gonna get a fun car and finally be able to lay down some track time.

While out running errands, I was in the area by the car. Its a little outside of town, but I was out that way and wanted to stop by to talk to the owner. I also wanted to check out the car again and get everything finalized along with a plan for how I'm going to go about getting it. Turns out, the owner wasn't there, but the car was. So I went up to take a look at it. Well... This is where I found a surprise. Almost like walking in on a new girlfriend while she's going down on another guy. I mean. I didn't cry like a little bitch and yell, "I HATE YOU!" But I felt a little part of me die inside.

What's the big deal? What the eff am I talking about? I walked up the driveway and noticed the car was parked out of the way. Not a big deal, but it had the racing wheels and slicks on and was hidden behind another car by the house. Not how he usually has it, since its pretty much a daily car. I made my way around and noticed some blemishes in the paint were patched over with evidence of a lazy 5 minute rattle can job. Figured thy guy was going around spraying some parts so he could sand and finish some sort of maintenance paintwork. Then I got to the passenger side. This is what I found...

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Dammit. From the looks of it, he hit a tire wall. Probably out at Hallett. I only say that, because its like 45 minutes to an hour away, but it could have been another track. One of two things will happen from here. Either I can call him up and see if he's interested in selling for considerably less (I take care of damage myself) if the car's chassis isn't effed to Hell. Or, I keep saving my money and look for another car.

:EDIT:

Alright. To clarify. I misinformed you. Rather, the details weren't laid out. The "Seller" actually offered me the car. He found that I wanted a fun sports car and after learning that I had an interest in Miatas, he offered me the car. The terms of the sale were that if I wanted the car, I could pick it up when I got the money. I've been working like a dog, to find ways to get closer to buying it. Its only been about a month though IIRC. If I didn't buy it, he would keep it and continue driving it. He in no way, was holding the car for me personally. Due to recently purchasing an NC, he decided that he might want to sell the NA sometime and he happened to run into me. The car wasn't reserved for me. I'm saddened nonetheless.

Here is the link for more pics if you want. http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...Miata%20Crash/

Yeah, don't buy that unless he strikes you ONE HELL of a deal. If he was selling the car to you, wtf was he doing with it on the track?

Keep searching, there are better deals out there.

I wouldn't give him a dime for being so irresponsible with a sale.

+1, keep looking. I wouldn't pay more than 500 bucks for that thing. I swear if you get the money and just sit on it and wait, a SMOKING deal will just fall in your lap. Time and money. If you have both, you're set. You'll hate yourself if you "settle" for something and then 9 days later that perfect miata is for sale near by. What may seem bad now may turn out to have been for the better down the road. I mean people find damn 100K mile miatas that are stock and in damn good condition for 1500 ish, some with hardtops! Just gotta keep looking.

Well, I was only a prospective buyer and he didn't have the car up for sale. He offered it to me one time when meeting me at my job. He told me about it and I said I'd be interested in buying it if I get the money. That was the extent of the agreement, really. I did test drive it and go out to his place a few times to look at it, so he knew I wanted it, but it wasn't up "for sale". Still sucks...

What would you offer for a car like this? I think white is boring anyway, so if I can pick it off him for cheap and redo it all in a different color, I'd go for it. Maybe a dark anthracite or metallic black. Mmm. Maybe- just maybe- I'd go for a pearl white. Hell, if I got the car for cheap enough, I'd strip it for all the parts it has and find a suitable platform to put it on. Maybe find a later BP NA and sell the JR kit for something better.

Before:

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After:

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:mad::vash::bang:

Was that a 1.6? Cause the 94 is the best year overall if you're looking to build cheap reliable power.

Yeah. 1990 with a good little mods list. Mentioned it earlier. I'm considering calling him up just to see what he's wanting to do with it now. I'll see if I can offer him a low price, just to take it off his hands or something. I mean. If I determine it's worth the time. If not, then I'll look around again and continue building my savings. I'd like to have Sam's car too, but its just not feasible at the moment. Getting a loan right now would be hard, at best. Other than that, I'll have to wait. Not unless someone is willing to let me give them payments... Yeah. I didn't think so.

I bought a car and made payments on it and the owner didn't mind one bit. I paid 100 every 2 weeks till it was paid off. When I got done paying it off, I got the car and title. I'd talk to Sam, he has a badass car. You're buying it for probably 20 cents on the dollar of his time and money invested. A sweet deal for the money.

Quoted for truth

What makes a 94 better than a 95, other than the oil pressure gauge.

C

lower compression (positive or negative depending on how you look at it)

Paul can better answer this question, but I'll try.

OP gauge as you mention
For some reason "most" 94's have a torsen from the factory. Ontop of that it's suposedly a different type that's "better".
No idea what else. 95's probably aren't bad either, that would be the next year of choice I guess.

ODB1 + 1.8 engine.

It was the first with more chassis stiffening. I think that's the year the PPF was introduced. The car also stayed almost as light as the earlier ones because stricter crash test standards came later.

I think*

95 also is obdI. the 95.5 change the electrical system up a bit which makes aftermarket ECU's a lil trickier.

all miatas starting with 1989 had a PPF. think about it sam, what would happen to the trans and diff if there wasn't a ppf supporting them?

94 and early 95 motors were 8.8:1 compression.

Mazda did go nuts with the new Torsen in 94 putting them in all models except the base and automatics.

not that it matters much but 95's did away with all the airbag sensors in the front end and only retained the 1 sensor under the dash on the firewall.

I'm always getting a second or third miata. PM me on what you wanna give for one. I'll see if I can find one around here.

So does this car have the jackson racing S/C on it? And how much does he want for it since it was smashed?
I can't tell by the picture, but is the quater panel smashed beyond your ability of repair?
You don't want to buy a car like this and carry it to the body shop.
But from the picture changing the door would transform this car. But watch for the latch area. if it is pushed in. FORGET THE CAR.

Otherwise, you might could get a good deal.

Luckily for you 944, the miata was the best selling sports car for a good decade. There is plenty more to be found ;)

I was at the track when that car took the wall, lol. I was also there when he was steam rolled by JohnWag (123whp, lol).

His buddy asked Machismo "that black miata (JohnWag) makes some power, huh? Turbo? Supercharger?"

Machismo: "Um, it makes 120whp, lol."