They're about 125 miles apart in opposite directions.

Blue 2002 LS model, Torsen, 6 spd, no ABS, tan leather interior with ratty driver's seat but otherwise clean, 125k miles, asking $7k. Cars for Sale: 2002 Mazda Miata MX5 SE in Danbury, CT 06810: Convertible Details - 374464673 - AutoTrader.com






(slight chin damage)


(not a fan of those bolt-on plastic bits behind the wheels)













Black 2004, base-model, no ABS, cloth interior in good shape, 100k miles, asking $8k.

Cars for Sale: 2004 Mazda Miata MX5 in Rensselaer, NY 12144: Convertible Details - 369485531 - AutoTrader.com

















The Rooster crows at midnight.

 

We would need your plans/goals to make decision. They're close, but I think I'd probably lean toward the 02 with the 6sp and torsen.
paying 1k more for almost same miles and 5sp/open just cause its a couple years younger doesn't make any sense.

 

Agreed with part 1.

Part 2, the black one just looks much, much cleaner overall.

 

Do you have to buy one up north and right now? NB's are so cheap down here in SC compared to those prices.

 

But it won't stay that way. Black cars are very labor intensive to keep looking good.

 

right, but mileage is mileage, use is use, and I just don't see the fact that one is washed, vacuumed, and cleaned up better........but with inferior drivetrain being worth 1k more.
maybe if the paint on the blue one is fading vs on the black one being mint.....but that doesn't appear to be the case.
or fly to CA and get an even better car even cheaper

 

Plans / goals for right now are to buy a reliable car and drive it about ten miles a day, rain shine or snow. The only "mod" I have planned right now are a set of 14" steel wheels and studded tires. I will probably paint the wheels pink, or Rainbow Dash, or something like that.

In a few years, once I have a garage again, I'll probably do something really silly involving a needlessly complex ECU system and a reasonably-sized turbocharger.

I consider the 6spd to be a disadvantage, as it merely requires more shifting. I only just got the steel rods removed from my right hand yesterday.

I'd like honest feedback from those with actual experience as to whether an LSD is a help or a hindrance on snow and ice. After I installed a T1 in my turbo '92 years ago, I learned that when traction is marginal, an LSD means that neither wheel slips until both wheels slip, and then you go sideways. I've never driven a Miata (or any RWD vehicle other than a moving truck) in snow before.


Yes, I need a car within the next week or two, and I don't have time to go down south. I'm familiar with the price difference, and willing to pay the North Tax.


Ironically, I've never owned a black car. Lots of red ones, a few blue, one silver. Are they really that bad? What I like about the black one is that it has cloth seats (see my previous thread) and it doesn't have those stupid plastic butt-implants. My girlfriend, who is Puerto-Rican, already has an epic ***. I don't need a car with booty as well.

 

My vote is the 2004.

I never liked the LS models. The added body parts look like crap to me. The lighter 5 speed base models are faster out of the box.

If you get to the point where you need heavier drivetrain parts, upgrade them then.

 

After that post I'm thinking you should probably stick with 5sp and open. The torsen is great if you want to seriously attack some twisties, or get the car sideways in the rain on command. The 6sp is obviously only cool for track and/or holding down torque, neither of which it sounds like you'll be pursuing any time soon.

That said, I still don't think 8 grand is a good deal for that 04. Around here you can get a super clean super low mile nb2 for 9, and a super clean uber low mileage msm for 9-10

....and black is terrible to keep clean.

 

You know you want that cloth. I just want you back in a Miata.

All colors take washing to look good, but it only takes, like 10 min to wash a small car.

 

Oh and just for the record, I think my suggestion would be more along the lines of looking for yet more options, rather than just focusing on these two.

Or maybe you can talk the 04 owner down to a more reasonable price, which would make the deal good enough to tolerate the black paint

y8s sold his for not much more than these, and it was all turbo'd and really cool.

 

Hey Joe, buddy ol' pal. I have an 01 NB2 base for sale on here, you can lowball me and i'll even include the snow tires if you want. It's like half the price of these. But i still voted for #1.

 

I guess I am partial to black, and to base model Miatas.

Open diffs are not that bad. I never had problems with my open diff car sliding sideways if I really wanted it to.

 

Whichever has the least rust.

 

I have no intention of paying the quoted price. These are both small-time dealerships, meaning the cars are listed at "oh, sure, your trade is worth $3k" prices.

 

Not that it's a big deal, but you notice there's no pics of the 02 top. It would kinda suck to have a new DD that needed emergency surgery. I have no knowledge of the relative sleaziness of the dealers, but I doubt that was an oversight.

I helped a guy re-cover his cloth driver's seat, and it wasn't so bad. You might be able to change from leather if it bugs you enough.

 

This x10000

If you're foolish enough to buy a car that has lived north of VA, it should be the one that has little to no rust.

Even if there is no visible body rust, working on suspension and chassis parts will be mind numbingly frustrating.

The correct answer is what Shiuend alluded to earlier...buy a car from South Carolina or the like

 

I spent many years driving RWD cars in the New England snow and ice and can't remember getting stuck more than once. Actually, I enjoy a RWD car on snow much better. I guess I'd prefer the LSD (from experience) but could live without it.

My 2000 is a base model but I never drive it in snow anymore.

My preference would be the '04 because of the color and I hate the tan interior anyway.

My biggest advice would be to check the core support rails thoroughly for rust through from the inside out (look for the bubbling and take a small hammer to tap on the rails). That's from personal experience.... Nothing like the feeling your otherwise pristine car has cancer. The NE would make it a prime candidate.

Good luck Joe.

 

the black looks in better shape, but i dunno...

 

Just bought a black Audi for my wife , unless you like washing your cars three times a week ,don't go there .