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Fun, beater car for under $5k

stan23 said:
My internet powers gather that the OP is not looking for a project. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.:)
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This. Not looking for a project lol. I can do routine maintenance and some light mechanical work, but nothing I'd need a shop or lift for. I'm honestly leaning towards the Miatas. I wanna test drive one so badly, I've never driven one. I wanna see what this hype is all about :thumbup
 
stan23 said:
My internet powers gather that the OP is not looking for a project. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.:)
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being azn, your math skills are probably the reason for your prowess at reading minds over the interwebs. thus far, all i have been able to deduce is that OP has no idea what he wants, or what he's getting into

jh2586 said:
This. Not looking for a project lol. I can do routine maintenance and some light mechanical work, but nothing I'd need a shop or lift for. I'm honestly leaning towards the Miatas. I wanna test drive one so badly, I've never driven one. I wanna see what this hype is all about :thumbup
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i'll leave my initial post for dick points.

miatas are a hoot. i'm 6' and have a spare tire or 2. still thought it was a hoot.

the only thing i found more amusing was my mini truck, because i could floor it around corners just like in the miata, but i could do it with a bike in the back.
 
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auntiebling said:
being azn, your math skills are probably the reason for your prowess at reading minds over the interwebs. thus far, all i have been able to deduce is that OP has no idea what he wants, or what he's getting into



i'll leave my initial post for dick points.

miatas are a hoot. i'm 6' and have a spare tire or 2. still thought it was a hoot.

the only thing i found more amusing was my mini truck, because i could floor it around corners just like in the miata, but i could do it with a bike in the back.
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if I had to choose between a Miata, and a mini-truck I can dump suspension on, I would choose the truck!
 
Not sure what they go for now, but I had two MkII Golfs in my youth, one of which was a GTI. That car bone stock is still to this day one of the more fun I've ever owned and the hatch is practical as hell. It was also old enough ('87) that everything was manual so I never experienced any of the electrical bugs that seem to have plagued VWs since the 90s. Manual windows, manual sunroof, don't even remember if it had AC.
 
stan23 said:
Forgot to answer your second question.

The GSR is about 500lbs lighter.

Both accelerated about the same, but most found the peppy B18 motor much more enjoyable.

I was doing a lot of SCCA autocross events back then, and you would rarely see a 5th gen prelude, but tons of Integras.

I stopped thinking about Hondas when I moved over to my DSM, and FD turbo cars in the late 90s, but that's a whole nother chapter in my life.

The only car I wish I kept was my 2nd gen GSR in teal green with the B17 motor. for the longest time that was the highest HP per litre motor ever produced. That car, along with my FD were the only cars I would get 'if you want to sell, call me' cards on the windshield.
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Ah, so you owned a 2nd gen. I always liked the looks of those, but they seem much rarer than the 3rd gens

500 lbs lighter though? Maybe vs. a loaded 5th gen lude, but that's a different time period.
 
Ive owned 2 3rd gens as well, including a fully built one with cage. My comprison was with the 3rd gen. As in a type sh is 500 lbs heavier than the 3rd gen.

People are often amazed at my bike knowledge when selling a bike, but I know 1000x more about cars. :)
 
OK I want a Miata now. Is the difference between the 1.6 and 1.8 noticeable?
 
jh2586 said:
OK I want a Miata now. Is the difference between the 1.6 and 1.8 noticeable?
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I've driven both and it's noticeable but I'd make a decision depending on the condition of the 2 examples you might be looking at over the engines. It's not a fast car either way and I could forego the 1.8 for other things. I'd rather be in a 1.6 year example with better kept interior and paint than a 1.8 with ripped seats and some oxidation. Similar condition cars and not a huge difference in price, sure get the 1.8. I think it's worth a little extra coin.


To me, it's like the S2000 2.0 vs 2.2. The 2.2 is nice but for a better kept 2.0 year model, I'd be perfectly content.
 
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stan23 said:
Ive owned 2 3rd gens as well, including a fully built one with cage. My comprison was with the 3rd gen. As in a type sh is 500 lbs heavier than the 3rd gen.

People are often amazed at my bike knowledge when selling a bike, but I know 1000x more about cars. :)
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That's cool, I may begin looking for a 4th gen lude or a 2nd gen teg. I'm growing a little tired of my 330i, I thought it was fun initially, but it's really too big and heavy. It's time to get back to my FWD shitbox roots, lol.
 
Everything you want to know about the miata here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_MX-5

Some add'l info
http://wiki.miata.net/tiki-index.php?page=Checking+Out+a+Used+Miata
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bsflx9aopd5s95k/miata_faq.pdf?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yxtbtocu4fyjyfh/Miata90-97A3.pdf?dl=0

As stated previously, yes, there's a noticeable difference between a 1.6L vs 1.8L (variance of 15 hp); but I would base my decision more on upkeep, condition, maintenance, etc. Also, all things equal, I'd try to get a 94+ miata for the torsen LSD.

OP, get on this so we can be twinsies
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4699776782.html

this seems interesting, but dunno about smog tho
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/4706954647.html
 
Reli said:
That's cool, I may begin looking for a 4th gen lude or a 2nd gen teg. I'm growing a little tired of my 330i, I thought it was fun initially, but it's really too big and heavy. It's time to get back to my FWD shitbox roots, lol.
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Only problem is finding a nice non riced out one. Oh and preventing it from getting stolen. Haha
 
Now I too want a miata. gonna have to sell the prelude and look for one.
 
Wait for the rain and the prices will fall--leaky roofs and window seals never looks good when you're trying to sell your Miatata. :laughing Also, if you're looking at that age/mileage range, set aside money for a soft top replacement(Robbins) and a timing belt job if it wasn't done yet. To maximize fun, consider picking up adjustable sway bars and if you're really serious about handling think about the butterfly brace (especially if you pick up an NA Miata): http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?stocknumber=13-69920

It will also probably need new shocks but I'd personally install the sway bars and get to know the car a bit first unless they're just flat out dead. This will let you make a more informed decision about if and how much of a suspension upgrade would make sense for you especially if you want to change vehicle dynamics beyond what the sway bars will do for you.
 
jh2586 said:
These are the main contenders:

http://goldcountry.craigslist.org/cto/4651229111.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4699932062.html
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Similar miles, the Blue one comes with the hard top which is a nice throw in.

At about 150k miles my Miata started having the common valve lifter noise (common upon startup) but I cured it with running some Marvel Mystery Oil for the last 500 miles of a dino oil fill, dumped it, have run synthetic oil since and the valve clatter has been absent for the past 40k miles.

The Blue one looks like it's got 15inch wheels which offer a far better choice than the stock 14's in terms of sticky rubber.

Have fun. :thumbup
 
Silence said:
Wait for the rain and the prices will fall--leaky roofs and window seals never looks good when you're trying to sell your Miatata. :laughing Also, if you're looking at that age/mileage range, set aside money for a soft top replacement(Robbins) and a timing belt job if it wasn't done yet. To maximize fun, consider picking up adjustable sway bars and if you're really serious about handling think about the butterfly brace (especially if you pick up an NA Miata): http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?stocknumber=13-69920

It will also probably need new shocks but I'd personally install the sway bars and get to know the car a bit first unless they're just flat out dead. This will let you make a more informed decision about if and how much of a suspension upgrade would make sense for you especially if you want to change vehicle dynamics beyond what the sway bars will do for you.
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Good news about the Miata in terms of the timing belt is that it is a non interference engine so if the belt snaps you simply coast to a halt rather than having to replace the engine.
 
I personally prefer not to be stranded (in god knows where) but having a motor that won't grenade itself is quite nice. :laughing

I believe the NC generation is an interference design but comes with a cam chain.
 
GAJ said:
Good news about the Miata in terms of the timing belt is that it is a non interference engine so if the belt snaps you simply coast to a halt rather than having to replace the engine.
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+1 for non-interference engines. I know a lot of the earlier Toyotas are designed that way.
 
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