View Poll Results: Which one?
Blue 2002 LS
14
42.42%
Black 2004
19
57.58%
Voters: 33. You may not vote on this poll
Make my decision for me.
#1
Boost Pope
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,050
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Make my decision for me.
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.
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.
#6
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
#7
Boost Pope
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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.
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.
#9
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.
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.
#11
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.
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.
#12
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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.
#15
Boost Pope
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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.
#16
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.
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.
#17
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
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
#18
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.
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.