Any Miata owners?

[oldnslow]

I am thinking about getting a Mazda Miata. Most likely a first generation model (with the hidden headlights) due to finances. I know that their reliability is well documented, but is/are there any things to be aware of while shopping? I will be shopping for a manual transmission with soft top model.

Thanks, Mike

 

[Rudyjo]

A very good place to get almost any question answered about the Mazda Miata is www.forum.miata.net.
I bought a 1999 Miata that has just about every option on it. They are a great car to drive, if you ever had an old English MG, Healey, Triumph, Sunbeam etc. then it's every bit as fun to drive without all the problems, mainly no Luca's electrical system.
If I had it to do it over again, I think I would have been better off with the earlier model as you are thinking about. No power windows, door locks, cruise control or A/C. just keep it simple. Not that I've
ever had any trouble with any of it, but all that stuff does add weight.
If I recall, there was a problem with the front bearing that was troublesome, most should have been replaced by now. The forum goes into that, the early models were the NA model, they have a separate
tread for each model.

 

[MEAirhd]

Bought a 1990 red one for my wife's birthday, [had a good yr.], garaged winters had no issues with reg. maintenance for 8 yrs. till we sold. Reminded me of the Sunbeam Tiger briefly owned in my youth....not '260 V8' fast but stiff, tight, responsive and a blast to jam on the back roads with the top-down. Loved the flip up lights, crank windows, stopping to pull the convert top as rain started, ..'Old School' ....I say Go for it,

 

[wvpc]

I have owned a 99 Miata since new. Not sure where you are located but Miata's are not much fun in the winter. Sure they have great balance and with 4 snows will go anywhere there is ground clearance but they are a 3 season car at best. If you are a tall person 1st gen has a bit more interior room. An average size person fits well in 1st and 2nd gen. Look for an older owner who has a no winter use cream puff. Join your local miata club cause those guys and gals know where those creampuff cars are. A/C is a must for me as it helps on a hot day. These cars can become mobile saunas. Mine has power windows which I like to use to control windflow/temp. Roll-ups are a pain. Cruise is great for those longer trips. The radios are mostly useless. 15" wheels are the sweet spot.

These car a fairly easy to work on at home. They are cheap to run. You can pack a weeks worth of luggage in the trunk. Mine is a keeper.

 

[TonyaVS]

Good luck with finding one! We searched of a 2nd gen for about 8 months. We were being pretty particular; we wanted manual, with 40ish k mileage. We were being patient, and had an appointment to see a 2004 with 24k on it and had already talked general price...and then we found a 2005 BMW Z4 with 31k on it for just a few thousand more! It was meant to be...I am LOVING it!!! Any way you slice it, a convertible is awesome!!!

 

[xlarry]

we found a 2005 BMW Z4 with 31k on it for just a few thousand more! It was meant to be...I am LOVING it!!! Any way you slice it, a convertible is awesome!!!

How are the maintenance costs on that Z4?

 

[TonyaVS]

How are the maintenance costs on that Z4?

Maintenance costs on a Miata would have been much lower, but my fianc? has had 2 Z4's and can do a lot of the work on it. It was maintained and taken care of very well according to service records so we took the leap!

 

[jdubick]

I have a 93 that I bought to tow behind my Class C RV. I looked on the net to see what could be flat towed and the Miata fit the bill for low investment and low maintenance. My wife thought I was crazy but the first time she drove it with the top down she fell in love with it. Can't get her back on her bike. She rides a BMW 650cs. I have had it two years and the only expense has been routine oil changes and I put new tires on it when I bought it. It is really fun for short trips to the store or golf course etc. Almost as much fun as a motorcycle and even though I am 6'3" and 200lbs it is comfortable to drive. I would suggest you have someone who is familiar with them to inspect a prospective purchase so you have no surprises and go for it!!

 

[BCKRider]

A few years ago my wife found herself hankering for a sports car convertible - recalling when she owned one in her 20's. Had and still have a 2001 Subaru Outback and 1987 Ford pickup - both very useful vehicles but hardly a thrill to drive. So we bought a new 2008 Miata. (Told her she should scratch that itch while she could still get in and out of the vehicle.)

We both loved the acceleration, handling and great 6-speed manual shift, but neither of us fell in love with top down driving. I found it was only REALLY fun on curvy roads in the summer - and even there it wasn't as much fun as the bike. Good sound system too - which you could enjoy when polishing it. Too noisy to listen to music when driving. A couple years ago we traded it for a turbo diesel VW Passat and have never regretted it. The VW seems as responsive in handling, has excellent acceleration and is QUIET! First car I've owned where you could listen to music at less than levels which threaten your hearing and enjoy it.

What I found with the Miata was that "a car is a car." Cars and trucks are very useful and even necessary. (I can't ride my bike in the snow and ice, nor can I haul a load of firewood or manure on it.) But the bike is the way to go if I want "getting there" to be part of the pleasure as opposed to being cocooned in my very nice and quiet car.

 

[jduke55]

We bought a 90 in 1999, and loved it. Put lots of miles on it and replaced the timing belt (second time) at 115,000. After we bought it I flushed the radiator and found that rust was the only thing holding it together, so we installed a new one as well as belts and hoses. We painted it and put a new top on it, by the time we sold it the plastic back window was faded. It had a little noise in the right rear which would "settle" and disappear after it was on the road. Also had a little noise which was diagnosed as a throw out bearing, never tried to fix either. Tons and tons of fun at very low costs. My wife and I enjoyed it immensely, and I sold it a few years ago to buy my first motorcycle.
Even as much as 24 years old now I'll bet there are inexpensive gems out there. Good luck

 

[jduke55]

Forgot one thing, and notably the only negative: not a good car for rainy wet roads. Even with new tires she hydroplaned horribly

 

[jdubick]

I hope you notice the NAY sayers are from Canada. Up there you can only put the top down for one week in July.

 

[BCKRider]

I hope you notice the NAY sayers are from Canada. Up there you can only put the top down for one week in July.

He's right - and it is hard to predict which week that will be. Part of our national anthem has the words "the frozen North, strong and free."

There ARE Canadian motorcyclists. We all run studded tires on our bikes year round. Don't venture across the border on your bike (or Miata) even in the middle of what you call summer south of the 49th parallel unless your tires meet Canadian standards.

Just amazing how weather knows the borders between our two countries.

 

[rdhudson]

We bought a '95 Merlot special edition 13 years ago and plan to let the kids inherit it when we die. It had 80K miles and except for tires, fluids and a timing belt and water pump it's going strong. It has never been in snow and never will be. Ours has a lifter that ticks a bit as it starts and first runs but goes away when filled. This car has to be the most fun you can legally have with 4 wheels rolling. I know there is more fun to be had but you should stop for that. Last owner did the top replacement and the rear plastic window is clear, paint looks good, and it still brings complements and comments like "must be good to have $$ for a new sports car." The style will never grow old! Had many triumphs and MGs in our day but none compare with this car. Get a first gen and give it a bit of TLC. Your grandchildren will envy you but the sheer joy the car brings will be the real reward.

 

[rd400racer]

I just sold my 96 M version a couple of weeks ago. I owned it for a year and it was a lot of fun, but I have to admit that it beat the hell out of me. I bought the Miata because I was having so much trouble with my 86 Alfa Spider...I averaged 10 hours of maintenance for every hour of driving! The Miata was a quick fix but the honest truth is that I just didn't like the ride quality. Handling was superb and zero maintenance except oil and tires. I hate to admit that I don't really miss it.

I picked this up instead...1990 325is

 

[rdhudson]

You've moved on ..... but going to a higher profile tire and lowering the air pressure in them does wonders for the Miata's ride- like Yokohama S.drive 195/55R15. Combine with a softer shock and you might have gotten used to the sports car ride. It will still feel like it is stuck to the road and corner great. Not for track days though. Those other Miata's will be low and wide and corner faster'n hell.

 

[jdubick]

You are right about tire pressure, it is amazing what a difference a few pounds make in the ride. My 93 has the original wheels and I run 26 psi for a softer ride but it still handles great in the twisties.

 

[rdhudson]

Back to the origional question...
The batteries on these cars are in the trunk, are AGM, in an odd size, and are very spendy! They do last a long time but don't think your everyday Interstate group 1 is gonna do it. Also it is a bad idea to jump start them so charge up the battery if it seems low and let it start the car.
There are weep holes behind the doors in the body which drain water from the soft top down to the wheel well area. Clean them out to avoid the dreaded mushroom effect and smell of death mold.
Many cars have been fitted with a glass rear window... it is a great improvement.
When you fold the top be aware the fabric can pinch between the body and the top frame and make holes. Read the directions for folding the top... you don't just push it down. It's easy but unclip its perimeter, unzip the rear window, and the top lasts a long time.
When the timing belt is changed the water pump should be changed too, they are not expensive.
The valve covers have a tendency to weep oil and smell when it gets on the header. A new quality gasket and RTV silicone gasket sealer (in certain points) can fix it... tightening it probably won't.
The hood is aluminum don't ever press down or sit on it.
Buy the best example you can find as the price for a well cared for low mileage car is way cheaper than fixing a problematical one, and they are not expensive anyway. Avoid the pre 95 1600cc cars as the special edition and post 94 1800cc cars are a heap more fun.
Can't wait for spring in NH and the chance to drive ours and ride the bikes!