Well, I finally bit the bullet and got out of my '08 Speed 3 GT. I decided that there were more important things to spend my cash on than car payments, which I had a year-and-a-half left on. Additionally, it needed a shock, had an undiagnosable brake noise, and was fast approaching the mileage (56k) where things start to go, so I figured it best to get out of it. While a whole lot of fun and usefulness, I was never quite "in love" with the car.
So, after a few months of looking around at just about everything under the sun (trucks, SUVs, luxury cars, sports cars), I found a '94 Miata M-Edition with hardtop and only 56k miles for a reasonable price. Went to check it out, and though it needed a bit of minor work (top repair, stereo, tires), it drove beautifully and the paint and interior are in spectacular condition. The M-Edition was only produced in 3000 units for each year, and in '94 came with specific Montego Blue Mica paint, tan leather interior, tan soft top, polished wheels, and Torsen LSD, in addition to all other available Miata options. Previous owner installed a Racing Beat spoiler, Koni Yellow shocks, and a front strut bar. Originally asking $8k, I got the dealer down to $7k.
Combined with the $13k he gave me for the MS3, it worked out to only $1300 out of pocket, and I now have no car payment and a $600 less a year car insurance bill. Fuel economy will probably be better too, since I could never keep my foot out of the MS3. No regrets...it feels good to be back in a RWD car with flip-up lights. It'll never be a dedicated track car (much rather state with a no-power-anything base model), but just a competent and fun street car.
Plans for the Miata: 15x7 Enkei '92s in gold (already ordered), repair or replace the soft top, complete stereo system, 60k maintenance job, LED tails (either just replacing the bulbs or the factory-style ones from ClearCorners), springs & sways, maybe an intake and exhaust. Eventually hope to turbo it in a year or two.
I'll still be around the 24/7 forums, just in a different area haha.
Best of luck to everyone with their Speeds.
Here's a picture of the two together. And yes I've already removed that hideous front plate bracket.
So, after a few months of looking around at just about everything under the sun (trucks, SUVs, luxury cars, sports cars), I found a '94 Miata M-Edition with hardtop and only 56k miles for a reasonable price. Went to check it out, and though it needed a bit of minor work (top repair, stereo, tires), it drove beautifully and the paint and interior are in spectacular condition. The M-Edition was only produced in 3000 units for each year, and in '94 came with specific Montego Blue Mica paint, tan leather interior, tan soft top, polished wheels, and Torsen LSD, in addition to all other available Miata options. Previous owner installed a Racing Beat spoiler, Koni Yellow shocks, and a front strut bar. Originally asking $8k, I got the dealer down to $7k.
Combined with the $13k he gave me for the MS3, it worked out to only $1300 out of pocket, and I now have no car payment and a $600 less a year car insurance bill. Fuel economy will probably be better too, since I could never keep my foot out of the MS3. No regrets...it feels good to be back in a RWD car with flip-up lights. It'll never be a dedicated track car (much rather state with a no-power-anything base model), but just a competent and fun street car.
Plans for the Miata: 15x7 Enkei '92s in gold (already ordered), repair or replace the soft top, complete stereo system, 60k maintenance job, LED tails (either just replacing the bulbs or the factory-style ones from ClearCorners), springs & sways, maybe an intake and exhaust. Eventually hope to turbo it in a year or two.
I'll still be around the 24/7 forums, just in a different area haha.
Best of luck to everyone with their Speeds.
Here's a picture of the two together. And yes I've already removed that hideous front plate bracket.
