Hi, NOOB in Northern Virginia, looking to buy a miata.
 

Hello,

*UPDATE - I bought a 96 PEP with hardtop on Friday - for pictures scroll below

My name is Mike and I am here seeking knowledge for a turbo build. First I have to find a miata. But after seeing one, a built car for sale, I am on the fence about doing a build or buying turnkey.

I'll be 40 this year and this would be my third miata, once I find it. This will be my first "toy". I'm finally to the point where I can get a second car just for fun, start doing SCCA events and heading out to Summit Point for track day events.

My goal was to start out with a good base model. Since I have not been having much luck in Virginia I though I would buy from Meadow Lake Motors in Texas so I can get a rust free car. This would be followed up with my focus starting on suspension and chassis. After I learn more about motor builds then I would focus on that.

Right now I am trying to find the build-up threads so the "search" will be my best friend.

Thanks,
Mike

Great first post. You're lucky where you live. The largest concentration of Miata turbo gurus lives in the DC area. They can help you with your education and finding a car.

Thank you Sam. I read through the stickies before I started the introduction.

One day later and I am now the owner of a white 1996 miata, 77k, w/hardtop. I am happy with the car and well aware of everything that is wrong with the car. The seller was a good guy and told me everything that was wrong.

Some dings and bad dent repairs (bondo), compression is okay. No smoke, etc coming out of the tailpipe. Can easily be a DD but it was bought as a project for me.

So now it begins. I have to make a list for myself, do the reasearch and meet all the gurus in this area. My first thing to do is take the damn aftermarket alarm off the car.

I saw one of the forum member's car on sale on CL, he gave me the website information and my eyes were opened. Between here and the other forum I hope to meet everyone in the area.

The beauty of building a turbo miata out of a car that is not mechanically 100% is that miatas are super easy to work on. You can pull the whole drivetrain out in one piece including both subframes and literally swap it into a different car or swap a different drivetrain into yours or anything in between.

And as far as the people in this area, all but one of us love good beer.

I love that you love good beer.

Here is some pictures. 1996 with 77k mile and a hardtop (defrosters, etc) and I think it is the PEP.

The good... I excited and my new project (posted all this at another forum that helped me find this car). Maybe too excited and need to get more of a life.

The bad... Virginia DMV is closed until tuesday so I can't enjoy the car this weekend.

Good beer is good beer. Okay, taking a quick break from typing to get a beer.

Got beer, here are pictures

A couple more pictures