Thinking of Selling a Fantastic Miata, Need Advice
 

Hey yall (yes, from texas)

I have fun into bad financial times, laid off twice this year and a court battle over my kids all at once.

I have just finished fixing up my 'dream miata', painting it POWDER BLUE, the only powder blue miata in the world that i know of...

I am wondering what i should ask for a car like this with all these goodies (pics below also), and should i even THINK about selling this car?!!! The guy that owned it before me that did the turbo, etc, had about 14k in the car, and i have put another 6k+ in it...it's a totally unique miata with this incredible list of goodies...see below and the pics!

Mileage: 79,200 miles
Engine Size: 1.8

• The body is in perfect shape (No rust!), as well as brand new paint. I painted a black miata (which needed no new paint) POWDER BLUE very professionally on outside and in the door jams. It looks great and like it came that way from the factory.
• The top and interior are in excellent condition.
• Brand new tonneau cover from Moss, but it has not been installed yet.
• Momo steering wheel and black voodoo shift knob
• Alpine head unit (can hear just fine at speed)
• It has a very unique Mini Cooper hood scoop duct in the front bumper, along with turn signal intakes, making it look very ‘shark like’ from the front.
• New 15x8 Rota RB (flat black) with 205/50/15 Potenza RE11 tires. (less than 4000 miles on them) (the flat black with powder blue combo makes the car look fantastic!)
• Fatcat motorsports coilovers with 550f/325r springs on stock valved bilsteins, this includes his tophats, bumps, etc.
• 949racing endlinks.
• RB hollow front bar.
• Flyin' Miata stainless steel frame rails.
• Harddog sport bar. No diagnals. HD Bolt-In Harness Bar (was going to take the car to the track, but never did that, and did not yet install actual harnesses)
• Full Flyin' Miata FMII turbo kit with gt2560 and upgraded 3" stainless downpipe. Poly exhaust hangers. (Fall 09)
• Megasquirt MSPNP 94-95 and upgraded it to Hi-res 10G Winter 09
• Koyo radiator.
• New timing belt, water pump, tensioner, idler, cam seals, front main, cas o-ring and valve cover gasket in fall of 08 at 62xxx
• Steel braided hoses for oil and coolant lines (winter 11)
• Innovate LC-1 wideband with blue DB gauge wired correctly, with spare o2 sensor.
• Deatschwerks 600cc injectors. (68xxx, Fall 09)
• Brand new Flyin' Miata stage 2 clutch and new rear main seal (Winter 11)
• No muffler (the turbo itself acts as a muffler and makes it sound just right like a retro sports car should, with the coolest ‘burble’ I have ever heard on a car).
• Coolant reroute kit from Flying Miata (Fall 10)
• MazdaComp motor mounts (Fall 09)
• DDMWorks stainless 3 gauge surround
• New summits LED gauges, but the oil pressure gauge does not work
• Brand new brake system with steel braided lines, new rotors, calipers, pads (Fall 10)
• Bosch H4 headlight KIT from Flying Miata
• Dyno4mance in Calhoun GA fully tuned the car after installation of the turbo kit. They were recomended by Jerry at DIY and had a DynoDynamics dyno at the time. Car made 222 whp at 14 psi with a very very conservative timing map. (This number would compare to roughly 240ish on other dyno's) (October 09) (Note that I have since I bought the car I turned the psi down to 10 for long term reliability).

Help me out, what can I get for a car like this? Where should I advertise other than miata.net and this forum?

Thanks
Randy
:)

7k? And I'm probably being optimistic.

Gorgeous car though, do want.

It seems that on miata.net stuff is more expensive, so I'd start there. If your willing to do it, parting out would yield you the best return. I notice theres a Charger (R/T?) in your driveway, I assume you need it for a DD, but why not sell it and buy something cheaper and keep the miata?

I'll be honest, but it's gonna hurt. Your car is in no way special and the paint job will make it appeal to even less people. The list of parts is very typical for a long-term project vehicle selling on this site. I've seen a couple dozen cars that are modified almost exactly like this one... which is to say "extensive", but also typical.

I would say you will be extremely lucky to get $7k out of this car, but $5500-$6000 is more likely. If you cared to take a look in the classified at CJERNIGAN's '99 that's been for sale for about a year now... he's down to $8k and it's a '99 with a built motor and similar mod list. Your's should not be worth near as much as his.

As was said, you'll probably get as much money parting the car COMPLETELY and taking the shell to a junkyard than you will trying to sell it. That's just the reality of putting a shit-ton of money into a car that is worth $1500 stock.

Holy shiat! Glad to see my old car is still around and in one piece, hope you are well Randy. If it was still black, I would offer to buy her back. Good luck with everything, hope you don't part it.

edit: Guess I really need to update my sig...

The Charger is my dad's car...my other car is a 03 Ford Focus ZX3 (yuck!)

Well, this is really disconcerting
 

I figured 8k minimum for such an awesome car...

HATE to sell it too, and parting it out seems nuts...

I just posted it over at Miata.net also...

I won't sell it for less than 7.5K or so, that would just be too crazy, but i need the money with my current situation badly...so, keeping the miata just doesn't make sense right now...

It's not only got all the mods, but new brakes, new paint (and totally unique paint), etc, etc...can't imagine it being worth less than what i paid for it a littel over a year ago after i put over 5K more into it...

Randy

You don't understand the value of a car with aftermarket parts. You never get what you put into it, sometimes you can get a bit more, but not a lot. You marketing to a limited group, and an even smaller target with having a ton of mods. So either you have to wait it out and hope to get the "right" buyer who is willing to pay more, sell it for market value of a stock car + some parts or part it out. If I could sell my car for the parts in it and what I've put into it since owning it...then I should ask $20k for it.....that's absurd. $7.5K seems about right if you're willing to sit on it a bit.

Tip- Clean the shit out of that engine bay...and I don't mean spray some degreaser on it and spray it off, get in there with a bucket of soapy water and a cloth and wash it down properly.



Oh and Miatas have been painted very similar colors before.

The problem is these cars (bodies) are so cheap relative to the Go-fast parts we install to make them fun to drive.

I'd either keep the car and get through this hard time, or revert back to stock and sell the car but keep all the turbo shizz for the next miata. You will never get back what you put into the car, maybe 60%.

Well look and seen that a nice NB here is listed at 8k. He has been trying to sell the car since January and it has a built motor with no real bites. So chances are you will not get anything near 8k for yours.

plus that color should knock off $1,500 from the value alone. just sayin' :)


If the motor was built, I could see your $7.5, maybe if you can find a girl with a lot of cash, otherwise, this is in the 5-6K range.

Makes me sad to think what mine is worth -- I just typed a list of parts/upgrades.

You might get $7k-ish. That color is more likely to hinder than help though. May be better if you put a nice orange, vinyl stripe down the center.....

I'll say it again. Your car is not special, nor is it "awesome". It's TYPICAL of a long-term project Miata. It is a well thought-out build and obviously a lot of time and money has been put into it, but the paint actually de-values it somewhat as it reduces the demographic of who it appeals to, and the economy sucks, and there are a ton of turbo Miatas for sale at any given time.

If it had a fully built motor and a slightly better parts list, and if you were a known quantity in the community that people would vouch for and could recommend you and your car, then maybe you'd get your minimum of $7.5k after a long wait (but I know the market and it'll never happen)... THIS CAR https://www.miataturbo.net/showthread.php?t=55051 has been for sale for almost a year and it's twice as good as yours and hasn't been able to get a bite at $8k... and the owner is somewhat of a big deal around here.

These cars are your competition:
"Typical" $5k
https://www.miataturbo.net/cars-sale-trade-6/1994-mazda-miata-%24%245000-obo-60798/

Fully built motor custom setup $7900
https://www.miataturbo.net/cars-sale-trade-6/1992-mazda-miata-%248400-59880/

"Typical" w/bad paint $4k
https://www.miataturbo.net/cars-sale-trade-6/1992-turbo-miata-%244000-philadelphia-58730/

"Typical" $5500
https://www.miataturbo.net/cars-sale-trade-6/1994-mazda-miata-%245-500-a-58233/

"Typical", but qualifies as AWESOME! $7k
https://www.miataturbo.net/cars-sale-trade-6/1990-mazda-miata-%24%247-000-a-56650/

Built motor, custom turbo, equal parts list, seller is veteran $6k
https://www.miataturbo.net/cars-sale-trade-6/1991-mazda-miata-%246000-obo-58947/

"Typical", but definitely awesome, veteran seller, $6500 w/no hardtop
https://www.miataturbo.net/cars-sale-trade-6/cspences-1992-mazda-miata-%246700-tuckin99-n2-6ul-cf-ht-49882/

Again, your car is "TYPICAL", but not awesome, has stock motor, standard upgrades, no rep... the evidence/history says you'll be lucky to get $6k assuming you find a local buyer who really loves the paint. But there are far better options on this site right now for less money, built motors, good history, better parts, etc... It's just the facts.

See, it's a matter of preference. There are 1 or 2 of those cars I'd consider over his (color aside). He's just going to have to find the right person. I'd guess it won't be a MT person though at any rate.

Put it on the pointy board and Craigslist and/or ebay. See what happens. The worst that can happen is that you keep a nice car that you obviously are fond of.

rainman, you have more going for you than most. You do have quality parts bolted up. The paint though...

Did cjernigan ever get his car tuned? I asked him about it 6 months ago when he was asking $8900 and he said it had been in a previous accident (rear ended which was fixed) and he was working too much to get it tuned, but said it would limp home just fine. So those two things made me pass on it.

Honestly OP I'd keep the car because everyone is right, you'll be lucky to get kbb + $500 for it, especially around here where there are so many sellers with similar, and honestly more interesting builds. In this market if it's less than perfect you're going to sit on it, and perfect by the standard of the buyer, not the seller.

A set of black stripes would do wonders for this car. At the moment, it looks too much like a big robin's egg.

Seriously, if I sold the MOAB, I'd be interested in this car...at $5500. Parts list is good, install looks clean, but the things that make it "special" to you as the seller are not the same things that make it special to a buyer.

I fucking love the paint!!!!! But not the mini scoop or the painted TSIs. Yeah, selling it will be tough.

I built the car, and even though most of you may not recognize the name because I don't post often, I am an extreme lurker and learner. So it does have somewhat of a rep on here, although not much. Here was it's for sale thread when I sold it. Looked better in black IMHO...

Category: Import
Status: Clean Title

I have a 1995 Mazda Miata for sale, in USA - Tennessee.

Mileage: 71xxx miles
Engine Size: 1.8


Asking price is $7600OBO

Here is what all I have done to it in the past two years.

R-package front lip, smoked running lamps, Mini Cooper hood scoop duct in front bumper.

New 15x7 rota slipstreams (were black, painted bronze) with 205/50/15 Kumho Ecsta XS. (less than 2000 miles on them)

New timing belt, water pump, tensioner, idler, cam seals, front main, cas o-ring and valve cover gasket in fall of 08 at 62xxx

Fatcat motorsports coilovers with 550f/325r springs on stock valved bilsteins, this includes his tophats, bumps, etc... Also RB hollow front bar.

Flyin' Miata stainless steel frame rails.

Harddog sport bar. No diagnals.

Megasquirt MSPNP 94-95 and upgraded it to Hi-res 10G Winter 09

Koyo 37mm rad in prep for turbo.

DDMWorks stainless 3 gauge surround

Isspro water temp and oil pressure gauges

Innovate LC-1 wideband with blue DB gauge wired correctly, with spare o2 sensor.

Deatschwerks 600cc injectors. (68xxx, Fall 09)

MazdaComp motor mounts (Fall 09)

Flyin' Miata stage 2 clutch and new rear main seal. (Fall 09)

Redline fluids in diff and tranny, only Mobil1 and wix filters in the car since I've owned it with changes every two to three thousand miles. Less miles inbetween since turbocharged.

Full Flyin' Miata FMII turbo kit with gt2560 and upgraded 3" stainless downpipe. (Fall 09)

Custom 3" exhaust (magnaflow round muffler) built and installed with turbo kit. Poly exhaust hangers.

Dyno4mance in Calhoun GA fully tuned my car just after installation of the turbo kit. They were recomended by Jerry at DIY and had a DynoDynamics dyno at the time. Car made 222 whp at 14 psi with a very very conservative timing map. (This number would compare to roughly 240ish on other dyno's)
(October 09)

This car has litterally been my child since I have owned it. I haven't put more than three to four thousand miles on it since I turbocharged it due to the winter and work. There is not a more loved miata out there, I have never raced or abused this car. I haven't even had it at the local drag strip Lol.
I love this little car and will hate to see it go, but my attention has changed.

There are some things that I was going to include with the sale, but can keep to lower the price. Here is a list.

Slipstreams and tires can be traded for stockers with some 80% toyo T1R's
I can keep my rx7 clutch type LSD that I have pulled apart, spec'd, and cleaned
I can also keep my 949racing endlinks that I have yet to install.

If you don't want these items, then knock the price down $600...
Which puts you at

$7000 OBO!
And I do mean Or Best Offer when I say that. I am willing to negotiate some.
Yes, the new Momo wheel and alpine head unit are included.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1319121780
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1319121780
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1319121780
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1319121780
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1319121780
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1319121780
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1319121780

+1 to this. Most people looking to buy a miata that age are enthusiasts or have no money. If they're enthusiasts they either want it a) unmodified, or b), in as close to stock form as possible. Even if you were to take all those goodies out, that paint job is going to screw you for trying to sell it. Now if the buyer is just looking for something cheap, then they don't care at all about what the car looks like/has in it, just as long as it drives. But you'd have to drop your pants.

The way the car is right now, I don't see any possible way you could sell it if you part it out. You're going to just have to hope that you find some sucker who really likes what you've done to the car. Most people wanting a modified old car though are going to want to do the work themselves, and build the car themselves (as that is part of the fun). I'd probably start at $5000 and start lowering from there as time goes on.

I hate to say it but in my opinion that paint job is horrid. It completely devalues the car, and I definitely wouldn't even consider it if I was in the market. Like if it was some crazy expensive custom paint job it would be a different story. You've just painted it a really plain, ugly colour instead.

5K is too low. he could take the shocks off and sell with a stock suspesion for 5K then the FCM seperately for another 1K.

OK I'll agree with that.

My thoughts (which aren't much different than anybody elses):

1. To realize the most money, return it to stock and sell car and parts separately.
2. It seems that the car is worth more to you than its value, which is probably true for all of our turbo Miatas. Maybe you just need to get comfortable with that and keep it. Weather your financial storm in some other way. Is it reliable enough to DD? If it is, wait for a gas price spike and sell your Ford. I DD mine BTW.
3. The color is kind of blah. But, that color with an orange racing stripe + a Gulf oil decal . . . that would be cool!

We like your car, BTW. It looks like a nice build. We're just trying to be realistic.

A) I'd beg to differ with you on that.

B) What's the point of building a car with reputable parts, having it tuned and knowing that it's a reliable car all day long at WOT and then not using it? Just because a car sees some track time doesn't mean it's abused. Abused would be not keeping up with maintainence, beat bodywork, McGyvering parts that break because you're to cheap to fix it and shit like that. If I were to ever put an ad up for my car, I'd proudly say that the car has been on track, across the country on road trips and is a daily driver to prove how reliable it is. I'd be more weary that a car was newly modified and not driven.

Yes, it did look much better in black, though the blue isn't bad at all...I kinda like it.

If I were in the market for a car with mods, I'd consider it..for a slightly lower price.

I just put my car in the for sale section...Ive put a hell of a lot more into it than I'm expecting to get back...

actually, the price I'm hoping to get is the exact price I paid for it 2 years ago Jan -- completely stock.

I said it wasn't abused, not that it wasn't used. ;) As you yourself point out there is a difference. I never said that I hadn't driven the shit out of it. I was however very particular with it and did not abuse it. :makeout:

Well, I am a little stunned at the prices I am hearing. Man. I would love to keep it long term but I do really need the 7.5K-8K right now...

I personally LOVE the color along with the flat black everything else, always loved that color on any car, but especially a sports car, and there is not another powder blue miata in the world i am aware of, so that makes it pretty unique in that regard...

I will look at various alternatives and post it shortly in here, but i won't sell it some rock bottom price, certainly not less than i paid for it, and won't consider parting it out, if it comes to that, i will keep it...

It's very well done and with the unique color (which i think is awesome) i figured i coudl easily get 7.5-8k for it if i waited for the right buyer...

Randy

Also, if i keep it, note that my new job along with kid requirements forces me to drive a total of 80 mile round trip to work and back each day...not really what i want to do to this car, put 60K on it in three years...

So, driving it to work would be a sometimes thing, so it made more sense to keep the ford and beat the crap out of it while i am in this situation the next 3 years...

Randy

I DD mine about that amount (actually, a bit more) on back country TX roads. It's usually the highlight of my day.

I'm sorry, no offense, but aside from hot pink that has got to be one of the GAYEST colors in the universe. That's going to take a huge hit on your resale IMO.

On the other hand: Sam is stuck on Chris Jernigans car and how its cheap and hasn't sold.
NEWSFLASH: there are tons of others sold before and after his for more. I don't know what the deal is with his car that everyone seems to back out of it, but there's got to be something wrong or bad that drives everyone away.

I sold my NB for way more than that and the buyer was from jernigans area and still chose to fly out all the way to CA to pick up my car. So please for the love of miata's stop using his car as an example.

And yet ON ANOTHER NOTE, OP I really think you're crazy for wanting 8k for a stock block mediocre powered na. I mean you could pick up a very similarly sorted one from Brain for half the price, and tons of others for under 6. I think at best you should consider 6500 or be prepared to sell it for years. Or part it out.

My .02

If that is the case take it apart and sell it piece by piece. You will get very close to if not that amount. I would say it would get about $5K unless you get lucky and find the absolute right person for that car. These cars are not worth much to others in one piece I have noticed.

Maybe throw it on ebay with a reserve and see what people would pay for it?

+1!

Man, good thing I never plan to sell my gay colored NA.

Part of owning a miata is personalizing it. I just spent the last few weekends depersonalizing my miata from the PO. A stock one is definitely going to appeal to the wider audience. Parting will help you recoop some of the cost of your "fun" upgrades but selling it entirely at a premium will likely have you waiting a while and end up negotiating down anyways...

Maybe you have a point. I mean this guy is asking 6k for this piece of shit.

https://www.miataturbo.net/cars-sale-trade-6/1990-mazda-limited-edition-%246000-61569/

lol

I clicked this thread, with the intention of saying the same thing lol.

I am keeping it
 

Well, based on yall's comments, i have pretty much decided to keep it and enjoy it...:)

AND i LOVE the color, its NOT a gay color, its a wonderful retro 60's sports car color that for some reason no one paints sports cars this color anymore...so there! ;)

Randy
:)

Good. Right decision.

Caught an old racing clip on Speed. Showed the old GT-40s in their heydey in full Gulf livery. Looked great. Same color as yours (with the orange stripe).

You need an orange strip with a big gulf logo on the hood