Buying an used car

cool_name

cool_name

Active member
im looking at a 1990 miata as my first car but i just found out that it has one claim for 500 back in 99, does this really matter?
 
Cant help with your question too much as i have no experience there but it seems like it wouldn't be any damage that would still be affecting it now but like i said take that with a grain of salt...

what i would like to say is that you are making a good move by buying that car. you can go any route with it if you decide to start modifying it (autox, drift, canyon carver, etc) plus with a little body work you can make them look sick to avoid the whole "you drive a gay/girl car" vibe from the people who know nothing about how a miata drives
 
Get it, kids on NS have no idea what they are talking about. There is a reason the Miata is the worlds best selling roadster. Just treat it right. One claim for 500 isn't that big of a deal.
 
Take the car to an auto mechanic and pay the mechanic to do a full inspection. You are truly a sucker if you don't take a car you are interested in buying to a trusted mechanic. They can tell you if there is anything at risk and if the car is in the right condition. If its not, you can not buy it, or use it as a big bargaining chip to lower the price.
 
Do it and swap a.327 into it. Yeah i know blah blah perfect weight balance auto cross this and that but youll have a car that can do donuts in a double spot garage
 
Can we get a ruling on "an used car". I know an before vowels but I just can't say it, it sounds so wrong. Thanks and back to the thread good luck with your miada.
 
This. And if the seller doesn't let you take it, tell them to take it to your mechanic (having alerted your mechanic beforehand). And if they refuse, don't buy it. They're scamming you.
 
I would say this is an instance where you would use the alternate pronunciation of the word "a". in stead of the usual "aw" I would use the "aye". an sounds totally wrong.
 
well that fully depends on how it looks.

No:

untitled-2253.jpg


Yes:

2nd_Mazda_Miata_--_05-28-2011.jpg
 
only a fucking moron would suggest an NB over an NA miata based on "looks" shut up and stop posting.

op. bring the car to a mechanic to get it inspected (make sure nothing major is wrong).

I wouldn't worry at all about the claim. That's typical cost for something like a bumper respray.

If the car drives well and checks out mechanically, do yourself a favour and treat yourself to one of the most sublimely driving cars ever built.
 
Also, there is like an association of miata clubs with chapters all over the US. Should be one by you and they will be a wealth of resources: good mechanics, where to get performance parts (if that's what you want to do), even might have listings. Look into that.

Also, rust on a car that old if you're in a wintery area is something to watch out for.
 
oaky nice that is what i wanted to hear.

and to the person who said i should put a 327 in, that is my plan for when i have alot more money, but make it a lsx
 
what is the claim like a ticket or something because if their is something that was never paid you will have to pay it
 
Title?

Until you have the title in hand, you don't own the car.

Also, be sure to get a bill of sale (DMV has these, piece of paper you both sign transferring responsibility).

 
Personal Opinion: For your first car, don't get a Miata. They are RWD (sucks in winter time if you have snow in the winter), and they are not that reliable / if something breaks you will have to order the part from somewhere and it will take ages for you to get your car running again. Since it is an older car, expect things to go wrong.

I bought a 95' Prelude SR-V, which is almost the same class as a Miata. Both are 2 door sports cars, differences being the 'lude has more a bit power but is FWD. Being a Honda, however, the reliability is top notch. Although when things break, (such as someone hit me in a parking lot and broke my fender) it is not easy to get a hold of new parts without paying ridiculous shipping. Just be careful, Japanese cars tend to be frustrating when you require replacing parts.
 
I have looked into miata's and they seem just as reliable as honda's plus there are tons of them so parts arnt that hard to find, also both my parents have cars which i have access to all the time and could use to get to the mountain/ or the 2 days a year we got snow in vancouver. I understand it isnt the most practical first car but if i wanted to be practical i just keep driving one of my parents car and save my money.
 
dp giggty...

to the asking what the claim is, it is a comperhimsive insurance claim and the value is the amount paid to fix it
 
How the hell are you going to drive a miata to the mountain? Your not going to have the skill yet to drive it in snow and slush. I've been only driving 5 years in Northwestern Maine and I know I wouldn't be able to drive a miata in a snow storm
 
as i wrote above i will still have access to both my parents cars and plan to keep using my dads sequoia when i go skiing, which means i can throw common sense out the window and buy a 2 seat convertable
 
Yeah the whole borrowing parents car thing is going to last a month tops. You are also going to probably be stuck with what ever car you buy till it dies.
 
Buy a car for its utility not just because its cheap a miata wont even fit your skis in
 
I have a 1990 miata that I got from my grandpa. it's a money pit but it's good on gas and gets me from a to b. I don't drive it in the winter though. cassette player doesn't work anymore :(
 
WOW.. dont listen to this guy..

RWD is not worse than FWD, actually, since weight shifts to the rear of the car under acceleration, RWD cars have a small traction advantage over FWD, FWD cars have an advantage when it comes to stability, since the front is pulling the rear it helps keep the car straight. but your also asking the front tires to do two things at once when your turning.. turn and accelerate, which is why FWD is so prone to understeer, especially in snow, and understeer is much worse than oversteer in snow, with oversteer you at least have some element of contol over where the car is going.

if you have any driving skill you will be able to drive a RWD car in snow, just get GOOD snow tires (A MUST FOR ANY CAR YOU WILL TAKE SKIING!!) and if you cant handle a 2000lb 100hp car or at least not learn very quickly, you shouldnt be driving anyways.

as for reliability and parts, miatas have some of the best support for both OEM and aftermarket parts, you will have absolutely no problem at all locating anything you need, and for a good price. reliability wise, from my experience, they are just as reliable as any honda, toyota, etc.. they are very robust, well built cars.

my friend has a miata track car thats very low, has very stiff suspension, and he drives it everywhere in the snow, skiing, back roads to go camping, state park "offroad" trails in a foot of snow etc.. and its not a problem. with good snow tires its more capable than an awd car on all seasons.

go with a miata, its a perfect first car, well balanced, not very fast, reliable as hell, cheap to fix, its a manual, its perfect for learning how to drive and control a car. people that buy a brand new subaru lame mobile with traction control and an auto for a first car suck. basically ensures that you will always blow at driving..
 
Which is good when your accelerating from a complete stop, but once the car is accelerating the weight is shifted to the rear.
 
I dont think so, I probably wont need to borrow their car as much but they will insist when im going skiing and i have had my licence for a couple months now and very rarely couldn't use one of their cars when i wanted to
 
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