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Rear Window only - $450, includes all labor for installation. They need to take the top off, cut out the old window, stitch the new window on, and reattach the top.
Top and Window - $600, non-Robbins though. I may wind up going this route.
I guess just shop around and see. Let me know if you find any deals...
Eddie
bill
i'm trying to buy my first miata - i found a clean, black '94 with 75k miles for $6000. my question is -is that too many miles? i drove the car today and it seems like its in good shape. the timing belt was changed at 60k miles and it looks like the current owner has taken good care of it. tomorrow i'm taking it to a mechanic to check out for any hidden flaws - is there anything special i should have him check out?
thanks for the feedback.
In the process of personalizing my baby, when it's complete i'll post a link to pics. So far, i've replaced the gauge faces to metallic blue, cluster is now brushed stainless steel, replaced the vinyl shift/brake boot with blue leather, ordered the blue carbon fiber trim, just painted the center console royal blue (but may have to redo this in blue vinyl, because despite prepping, priming and everything, the paint still feels very delicate and easily chipped), next week i'll be swapping out the stock stereo system
thanks again everyone for much insight and inspiration, this is definitely a keeper
http://www.miata.net/garage/garagetops.html
and see if it's something you think you can handle. If not, I've heard good things (second hand, not third) about the PBC shop outside of DC. It may be worth the drive!
http://www.miata.net/garage/garagetops.html
and see if it's something you think you can handle. If not, I've heard good things (second hand, not third) about the PBC shop outside of DC. It may be worth the drive!
I use it plus a chamois.
David: 75k miles is not too high for a 1994, especially given the maintenance records.
I finally bumped my timing this weekend. Been meaning to do that for almost a year now. Went from 10 BTDC to 14 BTDC, and the difference feels minor, but you can feel a little extra at the low end. Taking off at 3200rpm, she now can brake the wheels loose a bit. Before it took a few more rpms.
I also got an RActive front strut tower brace from aieonline.com for $58 delivered, and put that on. Haven't really had a chance to push it yet, but I should in the next day or so.
-juice
good luck
I GOT IT! finally, after a million ages I drove my new (new to me) Miata home. I always thought you people who say you can't stop grinning in it were kind of weird. I found myself half way home with a giant grin on my face! I LOVE it! cheers!
Then you may want to get a baseline on all the service. Do you have receipts from the previous owner? If not, I'd do a full service so that you know how old each component is:
oil and filter change
spark plugs, plug wires
air filter
fuel filter (it's not in the engine bay)
PCV valve
O2 sensor
differential oil change
transmission oil change (or ATF flush)
Also consider bleeding the brakes and an alignment. Then you can drive worry free.
-juice
THX
The Miata is probably noisier and smaller than the TT, but that's why it's more fun to drive. The Audi is a dressed up VW Golf (not a slam - just a fact. The Golf is a great car). The Miata is a Miata. It is derived from nothing else.
I can't comment on winter driving in the Miata, but I know people who live the snow belt that use them year round. However, an AWD TT will definitely be the better performer in this case. I drive my Miata (a '93 with 111K miles that I've had since new) down an interstate every day and I love it. My wife likes it on a pretty day with the top down, but doesn't prefer it at other times.
In my opinion the hardtop becomes less of an issue with '99 and later Miatas since they come with a glass rear window. The consensus seems to be that while the hardtop gives better vision (the back window is bigger), it's noisier (due to resonance) and takes up a lot of space in storage. There are ways of dealing with this aftermarket though.
Miatas have superb reliability. TT's and Golf's are better than average but don't come close. Parts are also much cheaper for Miatas than Audi's.
Miatas are loads of fun. They're easy to customize. They're nearly bulletproof. Cheaper to repair/maintain.
TT's offer a little more exclusivity. Better winter driving. Gorgeous styling (Inside and Out).
Really your talking about two completely different cars though. The Miata's only true competitor is the Toyota MR2 (but the Miata is more practical). The TT competes most directly with the MB SLK.
Hope that helps some. Check out:
www.miata.net
to see how attached Miata owners become to their cars. Miatas have the single largest club for one MODEL (not make) of vehicle in the world.
The TT is a wonderful car. Its real-time AWD system works well enough to make mincemeat out of wheelspin and of course being a coupe or convertible with rollbars, and lots of airbags, the chances of surviving an accident is much higher. (I don't buy the fact that you can actually avoid most accidents in a Miata...if anything, the TT's AWD system and stability control will allow you to get out of the way faster). It's much more refined and usable as an all-round car.
But of course, you lose the "involvment" of a Miata. In terms of pure fun, the Miata is leagues ahead. It is far easier to afford/upkeep and you aren't paying for many frills. And it's reliable compared to a typical Audi. That's all part of its charm.
Miatas have low insurance rates so they're definitely not death traps.
However, with all the airbags and the rollbars, the Audi definitely offers more safety features which leads, at the very least, to a better perception of safety. If you feel safer in it that's all well and good, but that same logic can be carried to buying an SUV over a Miata.
I don't think there's a huge difference between the two cars in a real world situation - at least not enough to be a deciding factor. Yes, the TT has AWD and stability control, but the Miata has better reflexes, therefore I think it's a wash.
If it's a primary car you'll use year-round, a TT Quattro roadster is probably a better choice. Of course that's why it costs more. I find they are gorgeous, especially inside.
Quattro is NOT standard, though. The base roadster is FWD and has 180hp, and costs about $7500 more than a Miata SE.
The TT Quattro roadster gets 225hp and AWD, but the price difference bloats to an eye-opening $13,220, plus the Miata may have rebates.
In fact, my $40 grand would buy a Miata LS 6 speed and a Subaru Outback Sport.
-juice
Agree to a degree. The TT is very sporty. With all the Golf comments, I was surprised at how different it was, feels nothing like a Golf, every bit a sports car. Even the shifter is nice and precise unlike other VW products. Handling is also very predictable and turn-in is quick. So I don't really think the Miata really has any significant degree of agility over another very sporty car like the TT.
Does anybody else really believe the Miata is as "safe" as a TT?. I don't believe it's unsafe but certainly you can't compare it to a coupe with AWD, side curtain airbags and stability control. Driver skills matters but there are lots of accidents in this world that don't have anything to do with driver skill. A friend of mine was rear ended by an Explorer. I'd take the TT over the Miata in that case. Another example, the only time I really needed active safety was when some idiot decided to run the red light and I had to accelarate out of the way. In these kinds of cases, AWD is a far nicer because it maximizes available traction and gets you moving faster. So I still believe in the real world, the TT is safer. This isn't so hard to believe isn't it?
-juice
Even though the Miata is extremely stable, it can flip if you get off the road or hit some object sideways.
As for highway driving, I was expecting it to be much louder the way people go on about it. It's no lincoln, but it ain't supposed to be. At 160km/h the noise was very tolerable, and the wind was not bad at all. The noise that is there is not annoying like the buzzy engine of my last car. Add in the three cases of beer which fit in the trunk - This car is impressing me in every way. :-)
Miata DE - appeared to be rather sluggish in the power department, and the ride comfort was terrible. The flat position of the seats really took a toll on my poor lower back. After 48 miles and over an hour of driving in a variety of circumstance (stop and go, highway, twisties) I felt like I was beat to death. It was a nimble little machine and I did not think the road noise everyone complains about to be bad at all, even at highway speeds. I purposely ran neck and neck with a couple of semi's to see if that would be daunting. I felt no significant apprehension.
The stop and go traffic was a nightmare. Are the clutches always this tight on the miata or is this just because this car was not broken in?
TT - there is no comparison as to the looks of course. Even though I only drove a 180, it had a nice kick to it and felt more powerful. I know the 0-60 times are very similar but the higher torque on the TT made it feel much faster. The interior is larger and the seats are much more comfortable. The climate control seemed to do a better job at keeping the car cool, it was over 90 outside, than the miata's which seemed to struggle,(and the a/I seemed to drain a lot of power off). The TT was comfortable on the interstate and did not seem so small and vulnerable. The seats were much more comfortable and I did not feel the pain in the lower back like i did in the miata. The TT has a non functional backseat, but at least it is a place to store stuff. It also has storage area in the hatchback. There is precious little room in the miata.
Hands down the TT is the better car. But the price difference- ouch. about 10k. Of course the TT will hold value better than an SE I think, somebody correct me if you know different. the big problem is there is they will not negotiate on the TT. The best I get them to come down was 600 off MSRP. But there is only one dealer here in KY.
So anybody have any other advice? I am going to pull the trigger tomorrow on the TT.
Miatas like to be revved - they don't have as much torque down low. Neither would the TT without a turbo.
The clutch should loosen a little over time, but it can be a pain in stop and go traffic.
For $10K more, I would hope the TT is a better car. As I said before, they're not really competitors. It's like comparing a vintage MG to a vintage Jaguar. They may both be small convertible sports cars, but they're not in the same league (nor were they intended to be).
Miatas actually hold their values well, though I can't say that I know how well the Audi holds up. I DO know that when I first bought my Miata, I kept track of its resale very closely until I had it paid off. I always owed less than it was worth and that was with a 5% down payment and 6.5% over 60 months. Not many car's financing work out that way.
Two more points, not only is the Miata cheaper to buy up front, but much cheaper to operate day in and day out. Second, torque make you lazy.
Last thing, for where you appear to be at, you might consider driving a 3 Series coupe as another reference point. Good luck.
The real issue is the money. Though the TT is better, I am not sure if it is 10k better. Actually more because the Miata has a 4.9 finance rate and dealer cash, so the bottom line is alot lower. The difference in payments is something like 225 a month. For that I could just about buy a Jeep for the bad weather.
This will be my primary car, but not my only car I do have a 10 year old Toyota corolla wagon that I can use for groceries, etc. and it runs well in the snow.
I am going to give the Miata one final test drive just to make sure. To be honest I hit the dealership yesterday expecting to drive out in the BRG SE
That's great to hear that someone as tall as you thinks the Miata is comfortable. I am only 5-10 175 and it feels like I am wearing the car, which is not all bad.
I am not sure what caused the lower back pain, but I thought it probably related to the low flat profile of the seat. It sits nearly on the floor and it seemed as if my feet and butt were at the same level. But I had been in and out of about two other cars on test drives prior to the Miata so it may just have been fatigue catching up. That is why I am going to go again and do a drive of just the Miata.
You have a point about the sales force. Unfortunately this is a Audi/Mazda dealership. I think the salewoman I am working with has really been pushing the TT more, since the dealer profit on the TT is outraegeous. They have to deal on the miata's more with the dealer cash and all. An interesting note though. I have been watching the inventory at this dealership pretty close to see what moves and what does not. The miata's are selling, they have moved at least one SE in the last week, but the TT's are gathering dust. They haven't moved one in at least the last month. So that may have to do with the push on the TT.
I am never one to drive in and drive off with a new one, I like to ruminate about qa purchase and analyze what happened in the negotiating process just so I can pick out the subtle crap the sales force tries to do. Of course it is easy for me because this is the same crap I deal with in my biz day to day.LOL.
Any other thoughts from anyone are well appreciated.
THX
So my questions are,
1. On a budget of about $5k, what should I be shooting for?
2. How are the older Miatas holding up today? I know they were holding up wonderfully back in 1999 when I last looked at a used MX5 but obviously it's not 1999 anymore.
3. What sorts of issues should I be aware of regarding the 1990-1994 Miatas, which I assume are what I'd be looking at? I'm wondering about things like the convertible top, body rust, etc.
4. What do maintenance costs look like, realistically? I've read the good experiences, so I'd like to hear some of the horror stories. I don't want to do this unless I'm able and willing to handle the worst case scenarios.
5. Any tips on how I should go about looking? As a fairly experienced buyer of used Preludes in the past I'm well aware of how some sports coupes can be seriously misused by previous owners. I'm wondering if this is something I should stay aware of regarding the Miata.
6. How is the power output on some of the earlier Miatas? I'm not expecting a racer, I'll state that up front. But I'm wondering if you'd characterize it as anemic, adequate or above average.
7. Should this car be garaged? I have space for one car and think I'd choose to house the 2001 Prelude in it over the used Miata, but then again the Prelude can take a beating indoors and outdoors. Can the Miata or should I pamper it more than the Prelude?
I might have a bunch more questions but I'm hoping the collective experience here can help me with the important ones above. I'm almost certain this (and not buying a new Miata, Solara, Sebring, etc.) is the right thing to do; in fact I almost spent as much money on a new Miata as I had on my Prelude just a few days ago only to catch myself and realize that I'd rather have an M3 in three years and a decent used Miata for occasional fun, until then.
sphinx99 - check out:
http://www.miata.net/faq/usedmx5.html
It's a good place to start for used Miatas. Also, check out the regular FAQ page on that same site for differences in models from year to year.
Short answers to your questions are:
Miatas are still some of the most reliable cars on the road. A properly maintained one will go 200k miles without much work.
For $5k you probably are looking at a '94 or earlier car. Unless the car was garaged, don't expect the top to last much longer on one that old. If the top's on it's last leg, expect to pay between $200 - $600 (depending on type of material, type of window, and quality) for a new one. Don't be afraid of mileage if the maintenance schedule has been folowed.
TO be honest, I haven't heard any horror stories. Even abused Miatas can be rejuvenated with some TLC.
The '94 had a power bump (due to a 1.8L engine rather than a 1.6) and had a passenger side air bag added along with some chassis bracing. They're not incredibly faster because they're slightly heavier. The 1.8 sounds different than the 1.6. More performance parts are available for the 1.6 (but not by much).
Most Miata owners fall into two camps regarding its power - not enough and just right.
Being a convertible, the Miata will require less TLC if it is garaged, but it won't require any more pampering than your Honda (and probably less) mechanically. Miatas of that vintage dont' have clear coats so a good coat of wax is essential to keeping them shiny.
Hope that helps! Really everything you should need is on miata.net :O)
kylawer: my last suggestion is to see if you can attend a local Miata event. Then look around, see if you can get a ride in a few. That way you can sample different mods and suspension setups.
Though you seem to be in love with the TT. Do not buy a Miata unless you feel with a few mods it would reward you with similar passion.
Sphinx: I just bought a used '93 last year with low miles, after a lot of research. From what I've read:
1. $5k will get you an early (90-93) Miata with maybe 70k-100k miles.
2. They hold up well if you take care of them. You would not believe mine was 8 years old.
3. The only "issue" early Miatas had was the crank problem on some 1990s.
4. Maintenance costs are lower than average. I do all that stuff myself, and for the most part it's easier on the Miata than on any other car I've ever owned. The exception is the hard to reach oil filter (use left hand and some yoga).
5. This is a tough one. I just looked for a "virgin" Miata that was not raced. The seller was the proverbial little old lady, a school teacher even. She had only 26k miles and all the service records, 30k service done early, even. I paid a bit over your price range last fall ($7800), and it passed inspection with flying colors, even the headlights were aimed properly! I was lucky.
6. Power with the 1.6l is what I would call adequate. Mine is bone-stock. The only thing I've done is advance the timing to 14 degrees BTDC, which seemed to improve the low end a bit. GReddy kits group buys start at $1080. :-) My previous car was an Escort with the same 1.8l engine in the 94 and later Miatas, and it definitely had better torque.
7. Mine stays outdoors most of the time. That's fine as long as you're willing to put the top up each night. It takes me 15 seconds to put the top down, about 20 seconds to put it up. Piece of cake.
Good luck. I think the trick is question #5. Drive a few and make sure yours feels tight.
-juice
It started to rain on the way up in several short showers, though not very hard. It turned out that the car and I stayed perfectly dry inside so I didn't even bother stopping to raise the roof.
The only complaint I have so far is that the tonneau cover doesn't stay hooked on in the back so it flutters around a lot in the wind.
I haven't driven anyone yet who has not been impressed in one way or another by the car. It's just too much fun!
ace
If there is light rain, as long as you're going relatively fast you're OK. The trick is if it picks up you can't stop - until you find an overpass to stop under and put the top up.
-juice
There is a perfect tire for each individual, because priorities are different. For example, I want almost the exact opposite as you. I want a summer tire, with zero regards for wet traction, because when it rains I drive my Subaru anyway. I want ultimate grip and handling, with no regard for road noise or tread life.
So if we got the same tire, one of us would be delighted and the other would be thoroughly dissappointed.
For you, stick with the Turanzas, and then next time around consider a new set of Turanzas or those Michelins you remember fondly.
-juice
http://www.miata.net/products/wheels/
For other Miata owner's opinions.
ace
One final question, don't laugh, but I am fairly young single guy and all I hear is "don't buy that car, it is a chick car" from my friends. Is that true is it a mostly female demographic that drives miata's? Have any of you ever gotten that line?
Also, I really thought I was sold on the TT, but after negotiating a little, I got the following offer from a couple of dealers. $26230 for the SE with ABS, Tape and Hardtop, at 4.9 for 60 months. Is that a fairly good deal on the SE?
THX again for all the advice.
63% of owners are male
68% married
68% went to college
47 is the median age
$82,400 is the median income
So, we are middle-aged affluent men, demographically.
Anyone that calls it a chick car is probably just jealous. I've only heard that once, from my buddy that used to drive a Jeep and now drives a minivan. Seriously.
Any how, women are far more practical buyers than men, so it shouldn't be seen as a negative anyway.
-juice
PS No data for the TT
Think VW Cabrio, 69% female.
-juice
Ask yourself one question. If you're driving down the street and somebody turns their head to check you out, would you rather it be a guy or a girl?! Personally I'd rather impress the girls.
The greatest feature of the Miata is that it is truly free of attitude. It's just a fun, well built, classy roadster in a league of it's own. Once you're driving it you won't care about anybody's opinion because you'll be having to much fun to listen to them!
-juice
I bought my A4 just because I liked the "prestige" associated with German cars, but getting the Miata gets back to the roots, FUN! and nothing else. Also plan on getting a WRX (no prestige, pure driver oriented experience) and demote my Audi to my wife duty.
I usually insist that friends drive it a bit to see how fun it is. With an SLK I'm not sure I'd be doing that.
After a test drive, noone ever criticizes the Miata.
-juice