Hey guys I am looking to buy a miata in a couple of months. I currently drive a 1990 Toyota Celica gts.(was looking for a gt-four but couldnt find one worth buying)Basically its a fun car...but its fwd and i was looking for the awd one. Anyway Ive always been a Toyota guy (Owned two) but now i want to try out a Miata! I hear nothing but good things about this car so i figured id get one for myself. So basically I am planning on spending 3,000-5,000$ on a miata, possibly more. What i need to know is what kind of shape, miles etc am i looking at in that price range, and would you recommend going to the second gen miata or is the 1st gens better? And if you guys could let me know common problems or anything to look out for when looking to buy a used miata. So yeah just respond to this post and let me know what you guys think :] I am really stoked to Join the mazda Fam! Thanks! Also it HAS to be manual haha

 

Buy a 94-up.

You can get a really nice first generation (called an NA) for $4-5k, and a pretty decent 2nd gen (NB) for $5k if you look. They are both good and reliable cars with extensive parts interchangeability. The NB is heavier but has a slightly better breathing cylinder head than the NA, so you end up with a zero sum gain there. Both will be nimble. What you think is most important from a comfort versus performance will drive the decision.

Unless you happen to get an NB already equipped with factory Bilsteins (they are yellow), you will want to upgrade to a good set of shocks and maybe springs. Plan on it and budget for it. My old, worn out stock shocks and weak springs made the ride unbearable when I first got the car. It was constantly crashing into the bumpstops at the slightest undulation. It drove like a different car after I got the suspension sorted out. It is both fun an capable. A brand new set of properly valved Bilsteins runs about $500, but there are used ones in good shape for $300 pretty regularly. For a few bucks more, the folks at 949Racing are coming out with a shock and spring combo called the "tecna" that should be perfectly matched to spirited street driving, very comfortable and capable.

In case you are interested, 949Racing's Xida shock/spring offering is the very top of the line track suspension system, but many owners use them in dual duty on the street/track.