about to take the plunge!
 

hey guys ive been lurking here for a while researching and trying to decide what my next car would be. ive decided on a NB and will be test driving two this weekend, id like some help deciding which to purchas.

my first choice is a 1999 with 100k 5 speed manual emarld green w/ tan top/interior oem lip/sills/mud gaurds price $3500

2nd choice is a 2002 with 110k auto white w/ black top/interior $4500

im debating between the upgraded visuals of the 2001 and the vvt engine or the five speed and extra features of the 1999 aswell its lower miles. if the 2001 was manual it would be no contest, but im thinking with the cheaper price and the 5 speed the 1999 will be the one i choose.

also im not gonna track the car or do any upgrades other then basic bolt ons for a long while but hopefully future upgrades include 6spd tranny and turbo/supercharger. so what do you guys think would be my best bet?

Hi firemunkie, enjoy your stay :)

You don't mention whether you are a man or woman. If man, then I would suggest the '99 due to manual transmission. If you have a vagina, then by all means buy the automatic.

$3500 for a stock '99 w/appearance package and 100k is a good price if the car is in good shape. I would not let the difference in the heads sway you in any way while naturally aspirated. There are arguments both ways when considering what is the "best" head for boosted applications, either superior stock flow of the '99-00 vs. the VVT (which you have to control) of the '01+ cars.

FWIW, there are quite a few guys who have cracked the code on bolt-on 150+whp '99 engines... it's pretty easy. Does the '99 car have a Torsen?

Thanks for joining, firemunkie!

A woman named greg? Interesting. Well I don't know why you would buy an automatic...

But if you plan to buy a 6-speed then I guess it doesn't matter which one you start with. Consider that it might take a bit more work to convert from auto to a 6spd than 5spd to 6spd due to the clutch pedal. but its not really too difficult

Welcome to the forum and all that!

Lol. While I don't have a vajayjay, an auto is very convinent for my girl who will undoubtedly want to drive my car(and I'd prefer she didn't blow the clutch).

Now if the 99 has a torsen I will choose it for sure. But how do I know(assuming its all original)? The info in miata.net wasn't very clear, do I look for a certain number on the tag in the door jamb?

Any other features i should look for that would sway your opinion? Or its an auto pretty much a no go on this site?

Base and Touring = no LSD on 99's. Nardi wheel means you don't have a "base" car.
If the passenger door sticker says "Hard S" you have the Sport package and have the LSD. Not many Sport cars were sold.

So assuming you don't have the Sport package car the step up from base is Touring. I suspect that was the most common version of the car with the black cloth interior.

Next would be do you have factory installed cruise, the power antenna, and the windblocker. If yes, then you have the Popular Equipment Package. In that case you do have the LSD if you have a manual transmission. No auto with the LSD.

If you have leather and manual you also have the LSD as all leather cars had the Popular Equipment Package as part of the leather package.

Terrible... teach her to drive a stick. I can't think of an easier car to learn to drive stick on than a Miata... unless she has no legs or some shit. On stock power, I can't imagine anybody being so hard on a stock 1.8 clutch that you could "blow" it short of intentional abuse.

Driving a manual transmission is a "life skill" that parents should teach their kids before junior high. I have friends who are no shit FIGHTER PILOTS in the US Navy who land on aircraft carriers who can't drive a stick... guess what they all drive? That's right, BMW 3-series with fagotron paddle-shifters.

if you buy an auto miata, ill ban you. :)

That's right, don't do it!!!!!!!!!!:rofl:

SHEW!!! I thought you were about to get married. I was going to say RUN.

But, now that I see what you are asking. I would go with the one with the best engine.

my girl is a terrible drive in an auto i can just imagine how much worse she would be driving a stick. im sure she can learn but she isnt willing nor will i push it cus i really want this car all for myself. lol.

@atank im looking at two diffrent cars a 2002 auto and 1999 manual and leather so it sound like it might be lsd.

im already leaning towards the 1999 but unless it has a crap engine im not buying it. i might not buy either if i dont like the way they drive. we shall see. and thanks for the comments guys.

Sam, we only tell you that you are our friend. It's all a ruse. We hate ANYBODY that tells us what to do, especially guys living in a dark, flying tube filled with radar screens.

My wife can't drive a stick either. This is a feature. I watched dumbfounded yesterday while she backed my Poncho G8 GT (which SHOULD have a manual) into an object. No amount of waving, shouting, jumping up and down on my part could stop her.

Sigh.

I can only imagine how painfully slow an automatic stock miata must feel.

I'll let u know Soviet

qft!

I so both those cars were busts. The 99 was beat up. The 02 sold I could see it. Drove 400 miles and 6 hrs to look at a 2000 limited with 120k for 4500 and while there i saw a 2001 6spd with 120k for 5500 and chose that one pics later. Thanks for the input guys

i drove an automatic na with a 1.8.......my 5speed 1.6 would whoop its ass, idk about the nb, all their engines have little upgrades if im right...right