Is it just me or has the typical dumb Honda ricer taken over the Miata scene? Just really noticing it lately as I have been in the market for another Miata. They seem to be buying stock Miata's, throwing ebay parts at them, thrashing the **** out of them, then trying to sell for the same or more money they paid for them. I know this seems like an old man post but holy crap there is some high priced junk on craigslist. Cars that I consider decent shape now I would have passed on just a couple of years ago.

Examples
1991, 160k, 2400.00
Put a ebay lip, ebay mudflaps, and ebay racelands on it. Blew the motor, clutch, needs belts, broke the finish panel, etc.

91 Mazda Miata

1991, 190k, suspension damage, no title, had a drift accedent

91 Miata Obo

1992, 177k, 3800.00, every ebay **** part he could order

Mazda miata for trade or sale

1990, 135k, 3000.00, primered and wrecked, custom gauages

1990 Mazda Miata for sale $3000

1991, 57k?, 2500.00 salvaged title, frame damage, rattle can/sanded paint, purple wheels

1991 Mazda Miata BRG

In a period from 2005-2009, I probably bought 10-15 Miatas to drive, flip, race. It really does seem like tons of craptastic cars out there compared to just 4 years ago. WTF is going on?

 

been this way for a while now.

the past year or two have gotten SIGNIFICANTLY worse

 

Might I introduce you to Club Roadster.

 

Think about it. These cars are 20+ years old. Who else is going to be buying them up?

 

Why I love my cherry 94 R even more.......



Hopefully in 10-15 years, I can treat her to a ground up refinishing.

 

Not just you. They have also been migrating to WRXs since they are so cheap these days too. There are tons of ugly china part/ebay specials running around all over the place.

That one in the link above has the ugliest steering wheel I've ever seen in my life.

 

Wow. Every last one of those is completely horrible. Just wow.

And ugliest steering wheel FTL. It frightened me.

 

Clubroadaster doesn't even scratch the surface anymore. Do a search on instagram for miata or other similar terms. What will e seen can't be unseen.

 

Hooray! Houston!

There was a listing for an $1100 '90 in full yellow/grey primer rollin' on spare tires, with full-*** body kit. So tight.

While I think the price is a bit high, this seller seems to have a brain-

1999 Mazda Miata

"The previous owner had installed an S2000 start button in place of the 12V power outlet. I've undone the mod"

Many listings that end with the phrase, "Hit me up"

If you commit to print "Hit me up" I'm going to assume you're a ******* idiot.

 

I'm going to list mine as a drift car when I sell it in a few months.

 

If I could find a '99 with ~100k miles, with roll bar and hard-top, rust free, in Ohio for $5k I would jump all over it.

How far is it to drive from Houston to Ohio...?

 

come to CA and pick one up for 3k

 

fortunately they made enough of them that we wont have them dry up like CRXs and such, I've picked up all my miatas for 2k or less.

Gotta remember asking price doesn't mean they are gonna get that much for them.

 

From what I've seen, this is happening to many 20 year old "tuner" cars. I've been very involved in the 300ZX Z32 community and the difference in cars for sale between today and 2006-09 is a totally different world. NA's would sell for $4000+ and TT's for $9000+ and most were somewhat well maintained, 1-3 owner cars. Now you can find running NA's for $1500 that have been owned by 3 kids in the last year and have the full AutoZone maintenance kit with all the eBay chrome upgrades. As enthusiasts I think we just have to stay strong as a community and keep building quality cars.

 

LOL I just picked up a '92 for mere hundreds and thought about tossing on some herrafrush Diamond Racing wheels, GV knockoff lip, an intake, and selling it to one of those scene idiots for mad cash yo. Because capitalist.


Hopefully the Hondoodlers will abandon this trend once they figure out there's no power to be made cheaply on these motors n/a

 

It's why I'm here. #stance

 

Hmm. Just found a 1990 with what looks like a (relatively) clean body, a dirty but complete interior, and a torn top for $1200 in running/driving condition (we'll see what that means). Might have to snag that one.

 

It might be time to sell my beater daily to one of these kids. I've complained for years about 240sx prices. I miss my S14 somedays, but they are still too much $$. The price for them hasn't changed since I was in high school 15 years ago. Like high school girls- mid 90's cars get older, but stay the same price.

It's sad that my daily that is almost embarrassing to drive as a guy in his 30's is so mad tyte to herrafrush. Wish I could do a re-shell on the cheap. Everything here is beat more than mine or far too much money. Why would anyone pay so much for a 1.6?

 

I 100% believe that there's a profit to be made by doing this. Buy shitty Miata, spend a weekend cleaning it up.

Install used Racelands, Diamond Racing steelies or XXRs, stretch some Walmart "maypop" brand tires on it, $50 GV lip, ghetto intake, cheap ebay woodgrain wheel, "wink" mirror, and sell it for $7k.

 

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?