Potentially Buying a Miata
 

Hello all!

I'm getting my license in June, and I'll be getting a car! Hooray.

Before I get bombarded with "you don't need a sports car", and "you don't know anything about this car", and "you're not experienced enough", etc... let me clear up that indeed I don't need a sports car, and I actually know quite a lot about Miatas, and I'm plenty experienced with driving.

Anyhow, I've been considering lots of cars. I, at first, wanted a brand new Hyundai Genesis Coupe... however the price is a little steep for a first car. Perhaps a used one, or a used RX-8. And then I thought, what about the Miata?

That led to hundreds of daily searches and research about the car. At this point, I think it's quite likely that I'll get a Miata.

My question is, what do I need to do when I get the car? Before the car, I know there's many checklists to go through regarding a used car--is it necessary I perform these checks by myself or from a friend, or will taking it to a mechanic for a second opinion suffice? Also, how often is regular maintenance on a Miata?

I've found a 2010 MX-5 Grand Touring with 10K miles in blue and beige with 6spd/MT, for $21K. It's quite a good deal, and I just wanted to know what the people of this forum thought. Are the NC models significantly different than the NA and NB models? I've heard lots of opinions about the NA/NB models being better and being a better driver's car, but never anything necessarily bad about the NC. What's the general consensus?

Thanks for reading! :)

*EDIT* - Also, how many miles is too many on the Miata? In general, I hear "under 50k" is the best for any car. What about the Miata? I've heard great things about them, specifically their durability and how long they last. If more miles is ok on a Miata, it certainly opens more doors to other possible cars.

The NA and NB are based on the same chassis. The NC is a completely different car. There are some inherent benefits to each. The NA is cheapest and lightest. Avoid the 89-93 cars because the components are not all as durable. Later NAs are light and durable. The NB is more refined but still very reasonably priced.

The aftermarket isn't as strong or deep for the NC cars yet for many of the components some of us care about (turbos, certain suspension parts) but has grown significantly in the last year or two as they have become more affordable. The NC has a larger and more refined engine by all accounts, and has a decent aftermarket for internal parts because of its shared lineage with the other Ford/Mazda cars that use that family of engines.

Funny, I'm at the other end of the age spectrum, I'll be 65 next Sat... but I just bought a 2007 Miata Touring with the PRHT and 70K miles for $11,500. This is my first Mazda. In the SCCA I raced a 1980 Fiat X1/9, SCCA Spec Racer, 1987 MR2 and a 1991 Geo Prizm (same running gear as the MR2). I quit racing about 1997, moved to Florida, sold my 1988 Supercharged MR2 street car, bought a van and a 21' Proline boat. Now, 15 years later I'm going to try my hand at autocrossing so I got the Miata.

I hope you have fun with yours too. BTW, I seriously considered a 2011 Genesis Coupe 3.8L Track with a 6 spd. But then I started reading about a lot of manual transmission issues with all GC 6 spd manuals and decided I like the old reliable Mazda instead!

Well, welcome! You are right down the road.

If you decide you's like to try your hand at Sebring during an open track day for street cars, I'm over there pretty often. They have multiple levels that involve open or limited passing, including several that are point-by only and some that are only with point-by on designated straights if you choose that level. I'm running a turbocharged '96 because it is cheap fun.

Hi Steve,

I'd love to do a track day at Sebring every now and then, sounds like great fun. Thanks for asking. What kind of safety gear do you need? Like 4 or 5 point seat belts? Any certain grade of helmet? Fire resistant drivers suit? Fire extinguisher? When is the next time you plan on going (assuming you have plans that far out)?

Do you autocross with your car? I met a guy from Venice who drove down to Ft Myers (Buckingham Airfield) for a Gulf Coast Autocrossers event last weekend. He had a nice looking late 90's Miata. And another driver had an early 90's Miata with a newly installed turbo.

It's funny, I drove up to the Tampa area just last Wednesday to look at a 2008 Sport, 5spd, PRHT, black with 70K that was asking $11,500. We were negotiating my trade in (2002 van and 1988 boat) and it ended up sold before we reached a deal. So I started looking again and Friday I found a 2007, Touring, 6spd, PRHT, black with 73K that was asking $12,900 at a local dealer. On Saturday I closed the deal for $11,500 without any trade-in.

I haven't decided yet what upgrades I'm going to do and in what order. I think I'd like to do coilovers with adjustable struts and camber plates, maybe a short throw shifter, a tuned ECU. And I was just reading a thread about a new electric motor driven super charger (no belt drive). It looks like a very cool unit.

It's nice to find another enthusiast nearby.

For non-competitive (just for fun) trackdays involving street cars, factory belts are all that are required, along with a Snell 2000 or newer helmet and a rollbar for most convertibles (most don't have factory rollover protection). Long non-synthetic pants are the minimum clothing requirement.

I choose to use a 5 point harness and a firesuit, but this isn't "racing" but rather "High Performance Driver's Education". They also have real racing events during the weekend but I'm not that interested in racing in a series. I'm still developing the car and my skills. I tinker with modifications for fun and to see who I can catch and pass on the track.

I run with these guys: National Auto Sport Association - Florida Region | Fast fun for everyone!

One of the head instructors for the newbies at the NASA Florida events is a marine biologist with a supercharged Miata. His name is Josh but he goes by the forum handle Coral Doc.

Now wait a second. I have a 93' and I've driven across country with it 12 times. One breakdown which was a fuel pump relay. That said, I do wish I'd bought a 96 or 97. OBD II/1.8 and yes, probably a little better made. Most models, should they not become obese, are a little better in later model years as design flaws are amended.

Then again, my 93' has a feel that 94's and later don't have.

Stock rear end?

There is nothing wrong with a '93 after you change the rear end, add a variable TPS, ditch the AFM, and a few other things. And they are lighter and more nimble.

Completely stock. Greddy turbo for the last 8 trips.