Hello & Where to find question
 

Hello everyone,

I surfed into this site while looking for Miata information. I am looking to buy a Miata with the intent to turbo it. I've always like light weight good handling cars, and am surpised I've never owned a Miata before. I've turbo'd a vw scirocco and owned a bunch of gti/gli's. I learned that too much power and front wheel is a bad idea.:bang:

I am currently looking for a Miata, and am keeping an eye on craigslist and ebay. Does anyone else have any good websites to watch (other than this one of course)? I live in Maine so finding a car without rust is key.

I've kind of narrowed my search to the 94-97 models as they came with the 1.8L and better brakes.

Did Mazda intend to turbocharge the Miata at some point? It seems wierd that they would only use a 9:1 compression ratio. It's like they wanted you to turbo or supercharge it..

Thanks for any info.

the motor was originally a turbo motor off the 323. Get a 94.

I see. Why a 94, are they better than later ones?

Also, is it possible to find Miatas without rocker rust? All the ones I see out here have rocker rust. I think I'd rather get on a plane and drive one back than deal with rust.

How durable are the stock engines? VW's can be a piece of junk in a lot of ways, but the engines are very durable. I was able to double the stock output (240WHP) on a 170,000 mile engine with only a head gasket spacer. The engine was still running 5 years and 3 owners later.

Welcome to the Forums. I vote for getting 94-97.

Oh, and per the sticky at the top of the forum...

A little about myself. I am kind a car junky that gets stuck behind a desk because I am good with numbers. The turbo kit on my vw I built from scratch and tuned with SDS. I haven't really had a project car in a few years, but am looking for something to tinker on.

I really like light weight cars that handle well. I considered a porsche 944 turbo, but they are too expensive to maintain and getting pretty old now. I like the simplicity of the Miata. The only downside is in the Northeast everything ends up being rusty, so I may have to drive to find a good one.

94-95 pre OBDII if that matters to you. If you don't have state inspections, don't worry about it. You also want to watch for a car with the Torsen rear if possible. All of the 94+ cars will have the 7" instead of the 6" in the 93- cars but many are an open diff. One tire fire FTL.

94 is ODB-I, bigger motor, bigger brakes, bigger clutch, bigger rear.

95.5+ is ODB-II plus the above.

Ok thanks guys! Obd II isn't an issue up in maine.

I am definately looking for the Torsen. I had enough of 1 tire fires on the VW Scirocco. Nothing quite like doing a 50mph rolling burnout.

I am searching craigslist and ebay. Are there any other classifieds worth searching (other than here of course)?

None of them have rust here unless you've been driving on the beach. Seems like Georgia and the Carolinas would be good for non-salted roads and therefore nice bodies. But I'm sure you can find one closer than that.

BTW that was a very nice opening post. We know your goals and your skill level, it was obvious you had researched some already, and you didn't ask some of the same silly questions we often get asked over and over from noobs. Glad to have you on board.

EDIT: Double the whp is easily attained on a stock engine and triple the whp is possible with forged internals and a few special pieces.

That's about it to get a deal. Everything else (cars.com and autotrader) are full of overpriced cars that will never sell at a reasonable (cheap) level. That said, I did sell a 90 on autotrader with 222,000 miles for $2,500. Guy just wanted a cheap convertible. I did put a top and shocks on it though.

Use searchtempest.com to search CL easier if you aren't already and open your distance up.

You might check the classifieds on miata.net, but again they are full of cars that people know what they are worth.

Still looking. Everything I find up here has the fender rust.

Got the TIG welder fired up this weekend. Got some practice with it, but I there is still some lots of work to go. Now I just need a car to put a turbo on...

Still looking. I am finding lots of them with rusty rockers in around $3K... What can I get a 1994+ one for down south? I am not opposed to flying down to find one without rust. The only thing I care about is that it has a/c and the torsen.

Also, how do I tell if it has the torsen? I don't want to build a car for a 1 tire fire...

South is your best bet. SoCal and FL cars seem to always be nice.

For you guys that live in the south, what are they going for down there for a 94-97?

With searchtempest, you could specify a FL ZIP when it asks, and see for yourself...

FWIW.


BTW, like your screen name. I'm in the middle of building a '83 GTI that will be more than ready for a turbo, but I may not even do that now. Got the Miata bug (no pun intended).

Not affiliated with this, but-

from orlando craigslist:
1994 R Package Miata - $2500 (Metrowest)
Date: 2009-08-19, 2:04PM EDT
Reply to: sale-khkmp-1331476400@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

It's time to grow up and sell the toy. I have a 94 Mazda Miata R Package with 125k. The top has been replaced with one that has a glass window. The clutch was replaced shortly before I bought it and I got the tires right after I bought it almost 2 years/8k ago. The air blows ice cold and, overall, the car runs great. Like I said, I need to sell it because I'm buying a house otherwise it'd be keeping it's place in the garage. You can either email me here or call me at 602-770-7597

* Location: Metrowest
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

http://images.craigslist.org/3k73o83...be952d100c.jpg
http://images.craigslist.org/3n03ke3...eb70511030.jpg


PostingID: 1331476400

wow, thats is exactly what I am looking for.

cheap man i would not pay more than 4 grand for one at the most but hell im patient.

Fly down, pay cash, drive it back. Three day weekend coming up soon...

The above CL ad is pretty much ideal.

Great price, has torsen, bigger brakes, bigger motor, OBD-1, Bilstein shocks, stiffer sways and springs, and depowered rack.

Holy ... that a great find.. Get it before someone else does!!!

Damn, called the guy and someone left a deposit and is picking it up on Tuesday... The search goes on..

showing up with a wad of hundred dollar bills trumps any deposit imo.

Yea, but it's hard to buy plane tickets and show up hoping the car is still there ;)

Is an "r" package worth huting down? How much more should I expect to pay for an "r" package? Is the Bilstein suspension a significant improvement or the standard models? How does it compare to other aftermarket suspension packages?

I found this, but the price is a little higher than I was hoping to find one for.
http://columbia.craigslist.org/cto/1338808780.html

Thanks again for all the info guys. I appreciate the comments.

Shit! You can buy one that already has a turbo for that money. Keep an eye on our classifieds if that is what you want. Are you using searchtempest to search craigslist? If not, try it.

Thanks, I am using that site. I just need to widen my search because the ones out here are over priced rust buckets.

billsteins are pretty awesome and perform with most of the moderate suspension upgrades available.

The white "R" package from Florida was sold. : (. Still looking using searchtempest, craigslist, but not really finding much. Do more examples pop up during the fall and winter months?

about $3,000 to $4,000 in alabama

Can you tell if a car has a torsen by year & options?

Found this blue green one with leather in mass.
1997 Mazda Miata

Not sure if it is the popular equipment package or the "STO" (the STO doesn't have torsen).

Am I the only one who finds some peoples ads retarded? This guy in VT apparantly spent a lot of money modifying his car, but can't seem to explain what exactly it has. It's like it would be a privelage to purchase this car off of him....

one more time read carfully 1994 fully built miata

1994 mazda miata was getting ready for running in limerock CONN in the mazda series so I have two of them for sale the red one is a road worth needs nothing and is very cherry fully rebuilt 1.8 with no cost spared and done right chryo tranny gears and same weights on both cars wanted to be top ten cars red car has drilled and slotted rotors ceramic pads 17"motegie 13lb wheels toyo tires ready to drive away new top this spring with no leaks just look at what people are asking for old 1.6 sohc cars these older cars had 80+ - horse power to the 1.8 dohc 130 I also have a bunch of after market goodies that will go with one or the other car like rear posi brace both cars have a special aftermarket cosi rear limited rear slip differential that gives full traction under power but unlocks and allows slippage under heavy cornering and brakeing to keep from looking the other way at the end of the straight the best part about the rules is the motors can be built but have to retain stock so to make more horse power and reliability they are both balanced internaly to keep them running very smooth like set a glass of water on the intake and you barely see the rippels in the water both motor are just past break in and are getting 32-34 mpg wich has to do with the set up time of the car the red car also has legal coil over adj shocks and fully adj suspension and I have way over a grand in brand new parts to the highest bidder want them gone 4500 for the red one 3500 for the black hard top email me for pics I am on dial up and takes for ever to down load into there site please no dickering I have over 10K in red car and 8k in black one but are very easly driven on the street and last longer and get better mpg and handle way better than a stock one dont be fooled these are the real deal not fakes or freebees i know its tough out there and thats why I am selling these off to many riggs in the drive way email me for pics but ask spacific questions on what you want so no time is waisted fall is on its way and once the leaves change you will want one

The owner of the '94 is obviously an illiterate child. You should expect childish things from him. He may have spent a lot of money on parts and it might be a good deal, especially since he appears impulsive.

Leather cars typically have torsens if I remember correctly. M.net has a breakdown of all of that crap somewhere. I don't go over there much, so I don't recall where.

Usually, from past experience if the seller can't adequately describe what they have put on the car after spending $,$$$ thousands then they usually aren't worth dealing with.

Regarding the other car, usually cars with leather had the torsen, unless it's an STO edition. I don't know what color it is from the picture. Aparantly all STO's were the same color-Twilight Blue Mica.

From Miata.net:
"The following were not available from the factory on the STO:
cruise control, ABS, Torsen LSD, Premium Sound System, electric antenna, factory hardtop"

Can someone look at the picture and tell me if thats Twilight Blue Mica?

Thanks!

Is this color twilight blue mica

http://images.craigslist.org/3k03p63...721c8417dc.jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/3n33kb3...683d6b155f.jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/3n03k13...ba51b21847.jpg

^Nope. Montego Blue. That car has a Torsen. It is the loaded with all the options model. Looks just like my loaded with options car.

It has the electric antenna, premium sound, elec mirrors, elec windows and most likely cruise control.

Good find.

Thanks Sixshooter!! Thats the information I was looking for.

So after talking with the owner he mentioned there is a rust bubble in the rear quarter. Maybe I need to look down south. Damn northeastern cars always have rust!!

Not to stray from the original topic too far, but...

All Montego Blues have a torsen? Or is it just that year?


I have a '97 that I believe is Montego Blue; would it have a Torsen?

The tan leather seats and some of the other options accompany torsens in the original option groupings. Check m.net for the detailed answer. They have entire option tables on there.

Here is the best options table I have found. Very informative.
http://www.miata.net/faq/Miata90-97A3.pdf
Thanks again guys for all the info. Someday I will find the right car.