Future Miata Owner with Questions...

[LilPixieMama75]

I'm on the hunt for a Miata on a budget. As much as I'd love a new one, I'm going to have to stick to an older one that needs a little TLC. My main thing is that I want it running and in fairly decent condition. I have found one and am going to look at it this week. It's a 1990 with 121,000 miles.

Here are some issues it has...

- It needs a new passenger side front fender because the one on it is crinkled. Where would be the cheapest place to get a new one?
- The dashboard is in good condition but the gauge surround is gone. It looks like the buttons for the Hazard Lights & Headlights are gone along with the button on the left side of the steering wheel. Also the trim around the stereo and the cup holders appears to be missing.

Where would be the cheapest place to get those things?
- He also said the top has 2-3 small tears in it & he replaced the window somehow. Where would be the cheapest place to get a replacement top with a glass window?

Also...Is it an interference engine? I just asked the owner if the timing belt has been changed. He said he hasn't changed it and put the last 8k miles on the car. I'm going to assume it STILL needs a timing belt change unless I notice otherwise when I look at it.

I am trying to price out the parts it's going to need in order to determine how much I want to offer him for the car knowing what it needs. I appreciate any help you all can offer.

 

[aMaff]

The timing belt and water pump you definitely want to do new.

If you want to join SoloAtlanta.com or the grassroots motorsports forum, talk to Metalman (Kurt) for the parts. He basically runs a miata graveyard out of his garage / driveway. Send me a PM if you end up needing anything and I can get you his e-mail as well. I've got a feeling he's got fenders, trim / etc coming out of his @$$. He's local (to me) in Lawrenceville, so you generally don't have to worry about shipping or any of that.

 

[nate0123]

hope it's pretty cheap with the issues you mention

the engine is non-interference

 

[LilPixieMama75]

The timing belt and water pump you definitely want to do new.

If you want to join SoloAtlanta.com or the grassroots motorsports forum, talk to Metalman (Kurt) for the parts. He basically runs a miata graveyard out of his garage / driveway. Send me a PM if you end up needing anything and I can get you his e-mail as well. I've got a feeling he's got fenders, trim / etc coming out of his @$$. He's local (to me) in Lawrenceville, so you generally don't have to worry about shipping or any of that.

Sweet! I'll keep you posted. I'll probably end up looking at it this weekend.

hope it's pretty cheap with the issues you mention

the engine is non-interference

Thanks. It's a good deal for what it is...If it is what it is.

 

[LilPixieMama75]

Wow!

I just had a Carfax pulled on this car and it's last reported odometer reading was 212,230 miles on 06.21.05. So...Taking this into consideration along with the issues I mentioned above...What would you pay for this vehicle? He's offering it to me for $1000.

 

[kcbhiw]

I just had a Carfax pulled on this car and it's last reported odometer reading was 212,230 miles on 04.05.07. So...Taking this into consideration along with the issues I mentioned above...What would you pay for this vehicle? He's offering it to me for $1000.

$1000 is a good price. Maybe try to talk him down to $900? But it's still pretty hard to find a Miata for a mere grand.

 

[LilPixieMama75]

$1000 is a good price. Maybe try to talk him down to $900? But it's still pretty hard to find a Miata for a mere grand.

Thank you. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't paying more than I should for the mileage on the car.

 

[aMaff]

121000 on a 1990 isn't really that bad, and the engines will last forever if taken care of. $1000 for a running car really isn't too bad.

 

[LilPixieMama75]

121000 on a 1990 isn't really that bad, and the engines will last forever if taken care of. $1000 for a running car really isn't too bad.

The Carfax said it had 212,230 on 06.21.05 and he told me he put at least another 8k on it since he's had it (04.05.07). It's got to be around 230k now.

 

[aMaff]

oh... your first post says 121k, not 212. Looks like you had a brief spell of keyboard dyslexia

 

[bazooka joe]

I just had a Carfax pulled on this car and it's last reported odometer reading was 212,230 miles on 06.21.05. So...Taking this into consideration along with the issues I mentioned above...What would you pay for this vehicle? He's offering it to me for $1000.

looks like you didn't read all the posts now did you!!!

 

[MiaTurbo]

$1k ain't bad as long as the mechanicals is ok. For what it's worth, when I pulled the head on my 91 at ~190k miles, the cylinder bores still had the cross hatch pattern.

Do the timing belt and water pump. It'll be a good idea to inspect the crankshaft keyway on that short crank nose engine. It might need some attention at that mileage.

There is no trim on the cup holders. The cup holders drops right into the center console in place of the ashtray. If you shop around, the radio surround and gauge hood can be had cheap.

The top, you can get something like this. It has a 1 piece top and eliminates the seam making it look better, as well as removing 2 extra points where the top can eventually leak. it's hard to describe unless the original top is in front of you. but that's what I'd get if i was looking.

 

[kcbhiw]

If for some reason you ever have to replace the engine, used 1.6L typically go for about $250 with as low as 100k miles. FYI.

 

[nate0123]

is $1000 his first offer? any counter offers? I'd try $750

the less you can get it for, the more you can put into fixing it up

 

[LilPixieMama75]

If for some reason you ever have to replace the engine, used 1.6L typically go for about $250 with as low as 100k miles. FYI.

Thank you for the info. BTW...I was just going through your GRM builds on your $2006 & $2007 GRMC Miata...Awesome work. My husband was in awe! LOL!

I figure if I have to replace the engine, I'd do the 1.8L swap.

is $1000 his first offer? any counter offers? I'd try $750

the less you can get it for, the more you can put into fixing it up

First...He offered it to me for $1,700. That was too high to me knowing what it needed. Then, he told me he'd be more flexible on the price if he was able to get his hands on a certain '95 Eclipse he was looking at. He said he was having a problem transporting the non-running Eclipse to his house. So, the wheels started turning...We have a car dolly...We offered to help him move the Eclipse in return for money off the Miata. So, then, he dropped it down to $1,200. I then pulled the Carfax telling me an estimate of the REAL mileage - compared to the 121,000 he told me - and he then dropped it down to $1,000.

I now have the car sitting in my driveway! Sure enough the odometer says 122,000 miles on it. He told me - after I told him what the Carfax said - that they told him the engine had been replaced. He has no formal proof of it so he really doesn't know. We're going to go through it and check it, I'm sure we'll be able to tell if it's been replaced. I found his bill of sale from it in the glove box...He paid $1,500 for it and was telling me he put another $1,200 into it. I'll post up pics in another thread with all the details.

I appreciate you all helping & giving your opinions. This is going to be my project car...And...I hope I can get it Autocrossing next Season.

 

[MiaTurbo]

if the engine was replaced, you need to double check what they replaced it with. Look at the crank pully. If it has 8 slots in it, like below, then you have a long crank nose engine from a 91.5-93. if it has 4 slots in it, then you have the short nose crank from a 90-91.5. It's important to know which when you order your timing belt/front seal/etc.

 

[LilPixieMama75]

if the engine was replaced, you need to double check what they replaced it with. Look at the crank pully. If it has 8 slots in it, like below, then you have a long crank nose engine from a 91.5-93. if it has 4 slots in it, then you have the short nose crank from a 90-91.5. It's important to know which when you order your timing belt/front seal/etc.

Thank you for that info! I will definitely check for that. It's going to get a timing belt change (& everything that goes with it), oil change, & tranny fluid change right off the bat.