Was given a 93 Miata to settle a debt...
 

Hi Everyone!

Been lurking around for quite a while.. I guess it's time to de-noob myself.

Couple weeks ago, I was given a 93 Miata in pretty bad condition to settle a small debt. When I got the car home I asked myself several times why I had even accepted it as collateral in the first place... But then something hit me.. That feeling I got when driving it home reminded me of another 97 Miata I had in 2009. At the time I was picking up cars, performing minor fixes, and selling them for a profit to get myself through college. However, out of all the cars I had ever driven be it modern twin turbo BMWs or a tuned 350z.. Nothing felt quite as good as the steering feel behind the wheel of a Miata which I feel is quite similar to that of a Lotus I once had the opportunity of driving. I was initially planed on parting the car and its "budget" after market parts out... after all, it's a 1.6L with a "weak" drive-train and I would be better off starting with a 1.8L platform if I were to actually use the car for any tracking events.

The only problem is... Everyday I come home from work and open up my garage I see this little roadster sitting there looking at me with its frog eyes whispering to me, "I could be more..."

At this point my gearhead buddy say I'm delusional.. I think I might need professional help.. What should I do?

Other than my dilemma. I'd like to say I have learned so much from MT over the past weeks and hope that someday I may contribute to this growing community of valuable information and knowledgeable members!


Jeff

This is the little 97' I picked up and drove around for a couple months in my college days!

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1464896524

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1464896524

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1464896524

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1464896524

post pics of the beater!!!! :)

These cars grow on you. It's futile to resist. You're either a Miata person or you're not. You are I'm afraid.

The good news is you'll still be driving your beater in 15 years and will have saved a ton of car payments because nothing else really does it for you.

The bad news is . . . well, no bad news really.

Well the negative is he is about to drop some serious cash on his miata to put an even bigger shit eating grin on his when he drives it around.

Drive it 'as is' until the wheels fall off :2cents:

Ditch the 1.6. Get a beater 1.8. If you hunt hard (sounds like you know how) I bet you can get out of the 1.6 and into a 1.8 for minimal extra money.

Good looking car. Doesn't fit my beater description. It will be fun to drive as is but lots more fun after you spend stacks of cash. Have fun....

The day I drove my beater home, my neighbors cats were waiting in my backyard..... strange.....

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1464902977


Car posted above is obviously not the beater.. it's whats left of a good memory from an earlier time.

Sneak peek of the beater.. will get you full pics when I get home today.

Yes, a wheel fell off on the way home because the previous owner forgot to torque the lug nuts... fun experience all in all... :doh:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1464902977



I'm done having "car payment" as a part of my list of monthly expenses and I'd rather be driving a fun, reliable, economic, and easy to maintain car like my mia... *ahem* PRIUS!!

Yep... Sent you an e-mail a week ago and found out you were on back order for months so I guess I'll have to put together myself a kit or go with Begi. Will most likely be picking up an MS3x this weekend, hopefully everything goes well with that!

Exactly what I was thinking, except I might keep the 1.6 for my wife to learn manual just for laughs. I've had my eye on a couple black 1.8 in reasonable condition, I don't see the point in getting a super clean interior or top since I will be removing those anyways. My main concern is engine compression and transmission health. Given, at this point the majority of 5-speed miatas have all been abused in one way or another.

Do as he says, not as he does.

As requested.. pics of the beater 93' Miata

I'm attempting to undo the damage that was done on the right rear quarter panel, we'll see how this goes as I have no experience whatsoever with body work.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1464938578

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1464938578

Welcome to the forum.

That strange sensation in your nether regions when you drive the car is called Faefae, the magical Miata pixie of interesting feelings we just don't understand. He has touched many.

Cheers!

This is the perfect donor car for building an eliminator. Google it- I doubt more fun can be had for under $50k. Hookers included.

:bowrofl:

Finally scored one with 74k miles for a decent price... Now I just have to figure out what to do with the other one..

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...a94eae2167.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...c06ad22131.jpg

Wow, pristine score! Maybe keep the second car as a parts car? Especially as your backup car is black. When my drivers door was damaged, it was hard to find an OEM black door as good condition as mine.

Just FYI, to straight the headlight covers, just pull up on them in the spots where it is uneven.

hood/light alignment - MX-5 Miata Forum

Problem is I don't see any parts that I would use from the 1st car on the 2nd. Will likely sell the car as is with it's mods and start fresh with the 2nd car. I actually found an OEM black door in great condition along with interior trim which I was planing on installing on the 1st car but then the 2nd one showed up so I couldn't let the deal pass. Now I'm stuck with heaps of parts.