It's a green 1997 Miata with around 75,000 miles on it. It's a manual with tan leather interior. The exterior has the usual NYC dents and dings but it's not in bad shape. The front bumper has a hole in the right corner (probably from a trailer hitch). Asking price is $5,000 with the bumper "fixed" or 4,500 as is.

I drove by and the Miata with it's for sale sign caught my eye. I came back and double parked to check it out. I stepped out and coincidently, the owner's wife was taking out the garbage. She said her husband is the second owner and the Miata was brought from a person a few blocks away. SHe said her husband replaced the tires and the top for "2,000 dollars" (which i doubt), the tops go for around 600 dollars. As far as she knows, everything works fine and it's mint other than the dings/scratches and the hole in the bumper. The tan leather interior did look mint and the top looked new.

I wrote her husband's number down and she asked me to give her husband a call so I can come back and check it out some more and perhaps take it for a test drive.

The price is reasonable, no? I do know that Miata's go for quite a lot these days for what they are. Is there anything that I should know about when i check it out (other than the fact that "Miata's are gay")?

ghey

Perfect for me, teeheehee. :)

FC not working out?

That's a pretty good price. You can always be a typical asian and offer him
$2k for it.

Miatas kick ass.

Just found out that the timing belt needs to be changed according to the owner. Timing belts usually go around 65k, eh? Will I run into any major trouble if i decide to be an asian about it and have it break while i'm on the road?

It also has a 5x6 inch hole/rip in the front bumper. Right next to the right signal. I'm not sure if there's any major damage under the bumper cover because the owner was there (wifey showed me). Should that drop the value much? :)

/end cheap asian

Timing belt might be an easy DIY

Timing belt should be a cheap DIY. But get some bids from local shops (will probably be $500 ish) and use them to jew/asian him down with.

I very much doubt there is any significant damage behind a torn bumper cover, and wouldn't wory about having it fixed perfectly on a car that old.

Those cars are fun and always in demand. that one has good miles too. If you can get it for 4k as is you're stylin.

Do it! I would rock one. Anyone that says they're gay is insecure.

My opinion was swayed by a ride in my friend's 1.8turbo that was slammed 4 inches on coilovers and also ran low 12's.

I'd rape a Miata.

A lil update from 2-3 days ago:

I got new pictures from the owner. Seems like I didn't notice the headlight cover not lining up with the fender and bumper. The signal is also broken also. How much should the repair cost?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/anotherqx4/P4030160.jpg
I took a short look at the car today (which was still parked on the street). THe owner wasn't available but I was passing by anyways. One thing i'm concerned about is paint cracking on the passenger side quarter panel, right next to the door jamb. THe paint is cracking in about a 2x2" area. I didn't poke at it because it's not my car and the owner wasn't there. I posted a picture to show where the paint cracking is located. The Miata in the picture is not the exact car i'm looking at, just an example.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/anotherqx4/side-view.jpg

Is that an area prone to rust? What other areas on the Miata body is notorious for rust spots? I would like to know so I can closely examine it when the owner is available.
Nothing seems off other than the bumper warp/tear and the slight bend on the fender's corner (where it meets the bumper). The quarter panel has a horizontal scratch about 2 inches wide and 4-5 inches tall. No dents, just paint scratch/marring. The door edge has one of those 0.5x4" plastic stick protectors with the reflectors, possibly hiding scratches from a sideswipe. From what I can tell, the damages on the side are very minor. That makes me more suspicious of the paint blistering/cracking. The area that was blistering/cracking is not known to have rust.

The front corner damage is definitely from a low speed impact. There's

I'll try to look into it more when the owner is available. Will definitely run a car-fax report before final purchase.


I should be taking a look at the car within the next 2 days. I'm trying to hit up Miata.net and have them tell me where spots around the body I should examine closely for rust (especially in the trunk area under the covers, which I don't know how to take apart). I also want to know how to freaking open the top and the zipper window. Damn old farts over at miata.net take forever to respond.

What about your FC?

And I'm not 100%, but I think the Miata has a non interference engine.

I think the Miata is more reasonable than the FC now and especially if i can get it for a low price. The Miata is also more reliable, easier on gas, and has a gay top for warm days. I am graduating this spring and I will attend college in late summer. College will require a reliable car since I have applied to a few College out of the city.

You do have an FC, right? Didn't you pick up a TII?

Gonna sell it?

Talk to the shaolin.

Nah, that didn't fall through. :(

How about this Miata? Yes or no?

We were supposed to meet up yesterday at 6 PM. Gave him a call during the afternoon and he postponed it to Sunday afternoon... =/ .

not a bad price call mazda if it had lsd etc. get the VIN :)

ask me i have a miata oh yes. (not ghey)

btw timing belt gets expensive theres a lot to change while doing the belt. like $300+ in parts if u "do it right"

Don't you do it right. Leave that to the mechanics.

Went to look at it yesterday. I'm not good at driving manual (still somewhat new to it) so I insisted on sitting shotgun while the owner went around the block. The car has no visible rust under the body (which is surprising for a NYC car). The top is in great condition and so is the interior. The "paint peal" on the side of the car is from the owner swiping a brick wall while pulling into his driveway. The part is dented in about 2-3mm which forced the paint to crack, revealing the metal under. The metal exposed is developing surface rust.

The trunk has no major rust. The areas around the battery does have paint pealing and surface rust. I guess that's from battery acid?

I didn't get to drive it so I can't really tell if it drives fine or not. It didn't have any trouble while he drove it. THe motor is quiet without any suspicious noises, smoke or shakes.

The front bumper was damaged by his wife backing into it with a Jeep Wrangler. There seems to be some sort of thin bumper, headlight, or fender support under the headlights that buckled from the damage. I doesn't look like it's part of the front frame, probably just a thin support for one of the panels?

My "mommy" said if i really want to buy it, she's going to ask her worker's husband (which owns a shop) to check it out for me today or tomorrow. I saw a nice NB Miata being worked on at his place a few months ago, so I think he can do a thorough check up for me.

I asked for the price again, and he said $5,000 as is. I told him that his wife told me that it's $5,000 after a replaced bumper or $4,500 as is. He kept saying that his wife didn't speak to anybody but I know what i freaking heard. He went in to ask his wife, came out and changed the subject.

Psh, go buy a Miata from someone else, it's not like they are uncommon.

Or just get one with a blown engine and drop something insane in there.

http://videos.streetfire.net/vidiac.swf?video=ea1fb5bc-eacc-4f1a-91e0-99d3017de05b

Yeah, he refuses to go under $5,000. It needs the regular 70k+ maintenance like timing belt, water pump, cam seals, accessory/fan belts, and most likely other things. THe bumper needed replacement, signal light, and some sort of fender/bumper support metal needs to be pulled back into alignment.

I don't think it's worth anything over $4,000 so I asked him to let me know when he's wiling to lower it.

It's been for sale over a month now right?

He should sell it to you.

4k would be a good deal on that car. like I said, I see them bring a pretty penny at auctions regularly.

She's obviously making him sell it :P And he doesn't want to so he's gonna drag his feet :P

That's a good point.

It's Tuesday and he still didn't contact me yet. I guess I should forget about it and move on?

YOU should've driven it (no matter how badly you fuck up/stall the car). It's called a test drive for a reason.

It's Tuesday and he still didn't contact me yet. I guess I should forget about it and move on?

Contact the wife.

I'm POSITIVE thats the best way to get to the car.

If he doesn't want to sell, and she does, contact the motivated party.

I bet you could talk HER down to $4,000

And +1 to "You should test drive it"

Word for Tofu.

Talk to the old lady.

Try and talk it down lower than $4,000. I mean, it's going to need a new timing belt, and look at that bumper, a new one is going to cost, well, don't get me started. And RUST!...