Anyone know Miata's?
 

Looking to run over cones in parking lots and maybe some DE's and thought a Miata would be a good, relatively cheap car for that purpose.

Does anyone here know what years and options would be the best for that purpose? What is the enthusiast website(s) for Miata's?

Any other suggestions for a good, cheap, fun, street/AX/DE car?

TIA. -Jim

Jim,

Miata.net and specmiata.com are the go to places. The 1.8 first gen (NA) and the second gen (NB) have proven to be very reliable cars. Early 1.6L cars had a potential keyway issue thaty can cause a crank wobble.

I have a 2002, 6 speed SE that I just love. The 5 speed box has better feel, though. Some say the NA's are better Miatas while the NB is a better car, a statement that I would agree with. For a daily driver, the NA lacks seemingly trivial stuff like a trunk light, decent interior light and other things that make a daily driver hospitable.

Good deals are out there. I got my no stories SE with 24,000 miles for $11,700, but it was a lucky deal since the PO got a good deal through Mazda (he worked for Keystone Plastics in Detroit).

Hope that helps a bit.

Only the very early cars have the potential crank problem (90 and 91, I think).

I'm on my 3rd Miata, each bought used with under 40K miles for under $8000. Mine sits outside, unlocked all year. It's great to have an economical, fun convertible that you don't need to worry about.

It's a great, fun street car, and lots of people (but not me) use them for AX and DE.

Thanks, Mark. What years are you refering to with NA and NB? What's in the SE package?

I'm kinda thinking that '99 and newer is the way to go (updated, styling, older but not "too" old). Trying to stay around $5-6K. No idea if that's realistic.


EDIT: When was the 6 speed introduced?

1st gen cars were 90 thru 97. 2nd gen started in 99. (There were no 98 models).

Jim,

I had a 96 NA Miata and loved it. The best shifter I have ever driven.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/index.php?

This is a pretty good forum that I enjoy. The key for the Miatas etc. is weight. Each generation piles on 120#s or so (NA:2200#, NB:2350#, NC:2480# all approximate). That being said, I like the NB the best, especially the MazdaSpeed varient. They will introduce a NC MazdaSpeed with PRHT (electric hard top). Now that may be the best one yet, but the weight will be a porky 2600# :( :(

If you have not considered the Toyota MR2 Spyder for auto-x, you should look at them. They are lighter, and .....mid-engine. Corners much better than the Miatas. Lotus territory. Very little utility, but for auto-x etc. that doesn't matter, right?

Have fun.

CP

[QUOTE=
EDIT: When was the 6 speed introduced?[/QUOTE]

I think they made the 6 speed for the anniversary model with the blue top, somewhere in the 99 (2000 model).

jimbo;
I recently saw a Boxter that the dealer had gotten at auction for $8K. It had 104000 mi, and the air didn't work. I thought about buying it and stripping out everything that didn't make it go, stop, turn, or make it street legal. I figured it would be an awesome auto-x car...

I've had two Miata's... a '93 and a '95. My '93 saw extensive years of autocrossing... some of the most fun 6 years of my automobile life. I have driven some of the newer generation models and while more power has been added to compensate for the additional weight... I still kind of preferred the lighter simplicity of the 1.6 L years.

Everyday with a Miata was a fun day...once you have one you'll "get it"... I think short of some issues of the very first years, (and even those "problems" at the time weren't universally prevalent) you really can't go wrong with a Miata.

Let us know what you find...:cheers:

A few notes/questions for those who responded. (Thanks, BTW, for taking a moment to help.)

Rick- Trying to minimize both initial cost and maintenance as well as having something to primarily AX and DE, but also to kick around town in with the top down, have the girlfriend drive and teach her daughter to drive stick, so a stripped Boxster might not work out overall.

HN- I take it that everything from 1999 on is 6 speed?

Mark- What does your SE package have?

Pong- What's the Mazdaspeed varient? Looked at the Toyota Spyders and, while I see your point about the mid-engine, they're kinda ugly to my eye. I really liked the MR2 coupes of the 90's, but they seem to have a fairly high price and I'd like to have a ragtop (with a roll bar...) so I can sunburn the top of my pointy little head. :)

David and Pong- I hear you on the weight issue and I would probably find the NB a pretty good compromise between weight, comfort and the ability to find something that hasn't been completely wrung out.

I am not sure. I bought a brand new one in 99 and within a year later they offer the 6 speed only to the anniverary model at the time. After that, I have no idea.

Jim.

MazdaSpeed Miata:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...iata_road_test

That is the last 2 MY of the NB Miata. Factory installed go-fast parts, including a charger. But the suspension and tarnny up-grades are great as well.

BTW, forgot to mention, when hunting for the Miata, be sure to look for one with the LSD option. Oddly enough, with Miatas, the LSD is part of the leather-seat option package (at least for the NA, I believe it's true for the NB as well).

Here is a review of the MR2 Spyder
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t_drive_review

In fact, every mag comparo I read between the Miata and the MR2, the MR2 won, mainly due to it's superior mid-engine platform. That is one main reason I bought a Cayman. It is a mid-engine Porsche that will 'out-fun' the Miata. Albeit at a much steeper price. The MR2 and Miatas deliver the most fun/$ in my book.

CP

I can't recommend the 1st gen 1.6's enough. My car pictured has 205K on it and has never been apart. It is a '90 and has been absolutely trouble free and is very competitive in any class I've run it in (SCCA SOLO). This is mine at the San Diego National Tour, 2008. They are a blast, you won't regret it.

Can't go wrong with a Miata. If Porsche didn't have their "prestige" hangup, we'd undoubtedly have had a nice 914 successor. But a Miata would still have done 98% of the job for 50% of the price.........

One thing I'll mention is that I absolutely, positively SUCK at driving my SM. And it's a former national pro champ car that held 4 track records when I bought it. It requires a skill set that I just don't care to acquire given everything else I have. But I still enthusiastically recommend them!

I miss my '00 NA. New glass top, Frenzy bar, lightest Konig Helium wheels wrapped in the best Toyo T-1S tires, Tokicos, K&N intake, Branstorm dual exhaust (sounds better/more obnoxious than my 993) R-134 upgrade, Hawk HP pads, chrome knob, 60K service and diff done, 89K miles. Gave it away for $3,900. Now I have space for it again after selling my Bronco :banghead:

Shown in front of Trump's Golf Club in Palos Verdes near Los Angeles.