so how is it ok for you to own a 12k car now, yet after selling it you can't replace it with even a 5k miata?

I'm not understanding this

You're telling me. Even a little part of me says "I like Portland and LSx engines, maybe I should trade my Miata for a sleeper GTO cause that'd be fun". But no, in this case it's even more practical to keep a Miata and that's not something I get to say too often. GLWS!

Good question. Here's why:

1. When we bought the GTO, we didn't know my wife would be going to school. Our car budget was higher.
2. Our finances have been drained by her schooling, moving in, and rent is expensive here (for us). So we've just been trying to catch up.

But the biggest reason....
Sure, I could go out and get a $5k Miata. I'm sure I could. Problem is, I don't want a $5k Miata. A $5k Miata would be slow and I'd still have a payment. An $8k Miata (specifically, lightly modded MSM) would be sufficiently quick and payment would be affordable, but not til we get caught up on a couple things. Also, a $5k Miata doesn't remain a $5k Miata for very long with the mod bug.

Basically, I need to either buy a beater Miata (like the one that is in the classifieds for $1k) or some beater from work and then buy a nicer Miata later. If by spring things are going well enough that I could afford a DIY turbo kit, I would buy a $5k Miata from your brother and one of your spare turbo kits, come down there on a weekend and pay you to help me install and tune it, then happily drive home.

That will be an option in Spring but not now.

Is Joe's old Miata still abandoned in that parking lot waiting for someone to just "take" it?

^no, someone snapped that up right quick.

That car looks 1000x better without the spoiler, those pictures made me want to steal the one off my friend's GTO.

Agreed. Took me all of 5 minutes to remove, ordered some decals that are paint matched to cover the holes. So much better.

I'm gonna miss this car a lot. Lol we will see what happens. They're not exactly in great demand so we will see if it sells.

I don't quite understand the "can't have a miata", "must have beater" dogma.

You're in the NW. If you get a NW Miata, which is 99% of them on CL, they're completely rust free. I just sold one with a mint interior, great compression, and a decent body, brand new catalytic converter, and a 1.8 open diff for $1600. Needed a rear main seal job.

You can find deals out there, and this is the perfect time to buy a Miata, since no one else wants one.

All available for $2000:
1994 mazda miata
Mazda Miata..recon title.
1992 Mazda Miata

Throw some stock parts on (easy to find) and they'll make great DD. I seriously loved that stock '90 I sold.

I do a lot of work on these things, I have arm rests, a glove box, a million brackets and bolts, fans, a steering wheel, and many other OEM parts in my garage. The trick is fixing a lot of little easy problems, which add up to a shitty DD experience. Find missing bolts, loose bolts, broken bolts, small painting projects, etc, and it'll be a nice car.

You know miatas, don't be afraid to look at the stance cars. Make sure they're not scraped to hell on the bottom, make sure the engine and transmission work well, and just replace the shitactular suspension.

Get a honda for now, save up and buy the car you want later. Then you will always have the cheap beater for DD duties while you rip into the miata to add boosts.

I'll sell you my teg for $1,800. It has new timing belt, water pump, radiator, clutch slave/master, sway bar bushings, motor mounts, KYB struts all around, sick intake (yo!), a header, stock exhaust, 175k on it and runs like a champ.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1386348441

Thanks for the input guys. Curly, of those cars the only one that is of interest to me is the '94, especially at that price. But right now I can't buy a $2000 beater. I don't have $2k cash and I'm not taking out a loan on a '94 Miata.

I'm looking for a BEATER. Like, I'm planning on spending less than $1000. I sell cars. We take in trade-ins for $500 that are still decent cars. I will most likely be buying one of those. Unless the GTO doesn't sell and I sell a lot, this is my plan and I haven't much of a choice otherwise. Gotta get myself in better financial shape.

Fireindc, that looks like an awesome beater. I'd be very interested, but it's hard to rationalize traveling all the way down to NM to buy a beater :D by the time I buy a plane ticket and gas home, I'm looking at over $2k and at that point I might as well buy a beater Miata.

If I can find a running Miata for under $1000 I'm there. Otherwise, I'm going to be firmly in horrible beaterland for a bit.

Still need to PM Vlad and start making a game plan for spring.

OK so I just took in a 2012 GTI 6-speed 5-door on trade. Super nice car. Was excited to take it out on a drive.

When I first hit the gas, I was like... "uh, that's IT? I thought I remembered these being faster and torquier..." After driving it for 20 minutes or so, and in some parking lots, it definitely felt better as I got more used to how it wanted to be driven, but shoot, my GTO has spoiled me. I'm so used to going wide open at 65 and getting a solid shove, no matter what gear I'm in.

New plan: Sell GTO (still). [drive beater for a bit if necessary] Buy NB SE. Buy turbo goodies. Install and drive forever. :party: off into the sunset, boosting and around 240 whp which would be plenty for me in a Miata.

EDIT TO ADD: A FWD performance car is a paradox. Really sad. As good as the GTI is, it's a great DD but really not a great performance car. Tried to push it in turns and just got frustrated.

You gotta know how to drive it.

Slow in, fast out.

That GTI i told you i drove could stick to my ass through the dragon without breaking a sweat. Seriously impressive considering my car is pretty much built for that kind of driving.

Oh, I know how to drive it. I just didn't like doing it. I like: go in, hit the throttle to neutralize the balance and bring the tail out a bit, ride out of the corner in a slight drift. ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

They're quick on a winding road, no question. Just nowhere the fun of a rear drive car. Everybody knows this but it's been a while since I drove a higher performance front drive car in any sort of anger.

I have updated my ad with interior photos and took some exterior photos today. Nothing professional but hey, not too bad for shooting with my cell phone I think.

If you're bored, check them out, tell me what you guys think. I have become quite smitten with the way this thing looks.