New to the miata world, need help on which platform to look purchase
 

Hey, newb here..obviously from a meet & greet post.
About me.. I'm 25, have had 5 vehicles('88 land cruiser, '01 mustang, '03 ranger, '01 Lexus gs430, and current daily '08 cobalt non-ss). My wife has promised me my dream car at our 10 year anniversary, but I'm gonna give her at least 15 haha..93-95 supra 2jz-gte w/ v160 tranny..but I'm looking for something to work on for the time being. Miatas have an extensive network of parts and owners and thought this would be the perfect place to get back into wrenching before the dream comes.
I'm looking possibly to go NA, who doesnt love pop up freaking headlights.., but I've read it's more beneficial to go 1.8L when wanting to turbo due to its increased strength and stock output.
Just looking for input and/or a link to a thread(couldn't find one) on this topic. Help me figure out what options I should be looking for and things to avoid. TIA

Avoid: 90-93.

Buy: Not a 90-93.

Haha, thanks for the advice. Reasoning? And I think I was looking around 95 for a reason I can't remember atm.

90-93 has a 1.6. The motor itself isn't any less strong than a 1.8, but everything else around it is. Get a 1.8 car. Any 1.8 car. This would be 94-05.

This suggestion only applies if you want an old car.

Thanks. Anything to look for when buying that only die hard miata owners know? I know things like leaky top(prefer hardtop anyways)..but things mechanical or electrical that are common issues?

Not really. These cars have been around for 29 years, so there's no secrets. Only tons of exactly the information you're looking for everywhere no matter where you look.

Well put. Dumb question actually, I'm the Google king and was so caught up I figured I'd ask haha. Thanks for the info though

I don't. I hate them :)

Ya know..the 97+ isn't too bad looking if you put aftermarkets in.

If you're into rice, point your browser to www.miata.net

Nooo..haha. I like a nice set of lights, but don't think I'm here to put underglow, lambo doors, and fast n furious Tokyo drift body kit on the thing... I'd rather walk.

I thought they only served wine and cheese there? now they serve rice too?

Every aftermarket headlight for the 99-05 (Don't call it 97+, a super simple 5 second bit of research will tell you why) looks like hammered dog butthole. The only exception is the 99-00 Craft Square units, but it's not likely you've run across those in the nearly-zero research you've done so far. :)

he gun retrofit pop-ups onto an nb, then do demon eyes. duhh

Good to know, headlights were never the focus. I did some* research on engines and components and power handling, I admit that. My project car direction changed a few times, and haven't had too much time to research more. But thanks for that terrible mental picture. 😣

Put that Supra outta your mind, youngblood. By the time you've saved up enough, you won't have saved up enough, if you catch my drift.

P.s. Don't worry if you don't catch my drift, I usually can't catch it either, especially on track :skid:

Trust me I know..thats why I said at least 15..i know it's gonna end up being a mid-life crisis thing haha

A big question is going to be emissions requirements where you are.

Eg, I'm in NY so it was favourable for me to find an NA that was pre OBDII (94-95 are 1.8 and pre OBD2 so that is what I looked for and found) so I don;t have to deal with the emissions testing mess and can go full standalone. If FL is a no emissions test state, then rock on, pick whatever.

Yeah, they're more worried about Florida Man striking again before they start testing emissions.

The best platform to start is an nb miata. 99-05

unless you love the pop up headlights. Then 94-97 is all the same.