Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

ateixeira

I have a hardtop option - a 2nd car! :-)

-juice

thel

What do you fellow Miata owners do to keep your top looking young? I've heard that Meguiars makes a vinyl treatment but I haven't really looked into it yet.

On a side note, what do you all recommend to make the seats in my OTM more comfortable. It's a 1990 CRX and the seats are very hard, it sometimes makes my back numb on longer trips.

freddy_k

Today is a sad day. Summer is over. My hard top is on. I figured I may as well install it since I'm not the kind of person to wear three layers just to have the top down. Looks awsome though, I now have one of the nicest coupes on the road :-)

Thel: Meguiars will help, along with regular cleaning. No matter what you do though, it will age - vinyl isn't the best material to use for a roof - which is fine with me, BTW. I'm glad they put the money into more important places then roof material.

ateixeira

What's wrong with wearing 3 layers? :-)

-juice

thel

I kinda like driving with the top-down when it is sub-60/50. Feels neat to drive with a cap and gloves on.

freddy_k

To each his own, but it ain't for me. If I want to go fast in the cold, I'll do it on my snowboard!

ateixeira

I got a beret and wire-rimmed glasses. Looks sort of French, some have told me.

Merci!

-juice

dgraves1

Shifty, any updates on your Miata project?

Mr_Shiftright

Yeah, DG, I have "upgraded" it to a set of jackstands! I did clean it up mightily, though, and that is encouraging. Next I'm going to have the body completely buffed out and two dents in the nose banged out IF possible. I'd hate to have to buy a new nose, that would kill the budget. But I think it can be finessed.

I've got a good machine shop lined up to do the head but I'm trying to get my buddy to moonlight some weekend and pull the head for me. I'm just too busy to do it and he's about 20 years younger than me so he can bend over 90 degrees all day long.

I figured if I could get the Miata to look better cosmetically, and then if we pulled the head and peered down and say something very scary, well, we could throw the head in the trunk and sell the car off as a project. I'm not in it very much at this point, except for some time and a little $$.

So that's the report. Progress but not rapid. I'm also buying an old used Toyota 4X4 so that got in the way and may continue to. I can't just "buy" a car and leave it alone.

ateixeira

he can bend over 90 degrees all day long

Good, you have someone that can remove that oil filter for you!

Actually, though, it was even worse on my '91 Escort GT. That car used the 1.8l block from the Protoge (later used in the '94 Miata), but since it was laid out transversely, you had to reach up from underneath since the FI blocked access completely from the top.

After burning myself on the exhaust, I'd burn my arm again with oil from the filter. The first time oil poured down onto my face!

-juice

WarpDrive

I just got axed today from my hi-tech job. And thoughts of selling it in the spring is crossing my mind seriously. If job market is as bad out there as I think, the 10th Anniversary Miata is gonna be put up for sale as sad as that may be. I still owe on my newish WRX but the toy would have to be sacrificed for the WRX's sake (Neither get enough seat time as it is).

maltb

I hope you land something equally as good very soon.

locke2c

I'm a long ways from you --not that Kansas is bad ;-) but what specific type of job?

You never know if one of the thousands reading TH might have a good lead for you.

-Colin

WarpDrive

It's certainly no fun to think about these things, but I have to consider Plan B and C options.

I was a software architect/programmer on the PC desktop/enterprise apps with a background in graphics/UI.

speakeasy9

Hi everyone. New to this. I am an older guy who's reluctantly decided to privately sell my wonderful '91 base model mariner blue 5 speed stick softtop for reasons that have nothing to do with the car itself. Need a little guidance on where to set the asking price. It's been garaged continuously since I bought it 11 years ago (sole owner), never seen snow, used weekends, only 49,000 miles, everything original, except for 4 new tires. It's immaculate inside (like new) and the outside almost gleams, altho there are many really small dings on the front and rear bumpers (and both were resprayed years ago )and a couple of tiny dings on e. door near the handles which I have touched up. A couple of very minor fender benders years ago required some bodywork and paint. Occasional water seepage on passenger's side. The Edmunds TMV and Kelley Blue Book quotes for private party sale for my model, mileage, accessories (there aren't any, except A/C and stereo/cassette. . .) are more or less the same at $3800-$3900, What should I ask for and what should I expect? I've never sold a car privately and want to be in the ballpark, but don't want to screw myself either, as this is really a superfine car which looks fantastic. Thanks!

ateixeira

Subaru needs to get that moonroof option, offered overseas, on the WRX, so at least you'd have a compromise.

If you can program enterprise applications, my guess is you'll be OK. Good luck with the job hunt.

Set it at $3990 or best offer. I'd try to get at least $3500, with any water leaks you'd be lucky to get full TMV.

-juice

freddy_k

From what I understand, subaru incorporates a sort of built in roll bar for extra safety, so a moonroof won't fit unless they sacrifice it.

Warpdrive, tough luck... hopefully something will happen soon and you won't have to make this terrible decision! I've had a couple of friends in your line of work lose their jobs, it's a tough place to be right now, but they managed to get back on their feet without too much time or trouble.

ateixeira

There's a very small moonroof installed ahead of the B-pillar, which leaves the roof reinforcement intact.

They have it in the JDM models.

Take you time job hunting, they say one rule of thumb is it takes 1 month for every $10,000 in salary you make to find a job (ex: 6 months for someone earning $60k/year).

-juice

kymike

What part of the country are you located in? In the sun belt, that probably is a fair price as there are usually a few Miatas for sale at any given time. In the midwest, however, the price is probably low and I would shoot for in the range of $4,500 - $5,000. A one-owner car with low miles is getting harder to find.

The only potential issue I see is if your VIN is lower than 209446, you potentially have the engine with the short-nose crankshaft which has the potential to cause problems when the timing belt is changed.

I would recommend advertising it on Miata.net as that is THE SITE for Miata information and it has a very good base of users in the market for cars like yours.

Good luck!

speakeasy9

Thanks atexeira and kymike for your responses--much appreciated. I'm in the Northeast. Will follow your suggestion on that site, kymike. Still not sure if the glass is half empty or half full, but the market will tell!

justin

there is a 2002 Miata LS with ABS and 6 speed and cassette sitting at my dealer. what is the best price for that car? i am planning on the 0% for 60 months that Mazda is offering, so i know that means no rebates. but, the dealer should want to get rid of it, right?

any ideas?

thel

My crystal blue LS didn't have a cassette player but I paid $24,122 OTD in late August ($23,377 invoice + 100 dealer profit + $100 regional ad fee + $149 doc fee). With the crappy weather, around here anyway, and the impending influx of 2003's you may be able to do better.

justin

are you still happy? do you find that the LS is fine in the rain? do you feel "safe" in it?

thanks for the info!

ateixeira

To be honest I do *not* think mine is a good car in the rain, in fact it's a little skittish and breaks traction fairly easily ('93 C package, viscous rear LSD).

I have cheap Sears tires by Bridgestone, though, from the previous owner and with lots of tread life left, unfortunately.

-juice

thel

I absolutely love this car rain or shine, but mostly shine. I do feel safe in it. With the Miata's huge ABS brakes, nimble handling and good visibility (top-down of course) I feel that accident avoidance is top-notch. Not much will help you if a drunken Suburban driver T-bones you at a street light but its a chance I'll take. I feel safe enough in it to strap my 1 year old's car seat into the passenger seat if that tells you anything.

The Turanzas are quite terrible in the rain. If this is a daily driver and you can't bring yourself under control with the throttle in the rain, then get some different tires. For about $300-400 installed, they can provide good performance and good peace of mind.

dgraves1

Juice - Cheap tires never wear out. You have to bite the bullet and get some decent rubber on there.

ateixeira

I know, can you explain that to my boss (read: wife)? :-)

BTW, mine does not have ABS. But it'll slip when wet even on an incline while accelerating.

-juice

revdrluv

I have no problems at all running my 95 w/out ABS when wet. I recently got a set of bridgestone potenza re-950's and I find them to be excellent in the rain. They prevent hydro-planning almost completely and they only break loose when you cut the wheel real hard. They won't grip as good as performance tires in the dry of course, but they are just about as good as you can get without them. The Miata is not about ultra high grip levels anyway.

ateixeira

My other car is a Subie, so to be honest I'd get summer tires anyway, and just drive the Soob in any inclement weather.

-juice

freddy_k

I run on Yokahama all seasons -a little worse in dry weather, a much better in wet weather. But I don't street race, so I don't care about having the best super sticky racing rubber. Besides, I like the lower limits as they keep me in line ;-)

ateixeira

I do enjoy getting the tail to break loose once in a while, and it is easier with these tires.

-juice

dgraves1

Of course, that depends on how they break loose, also. The cheapos that were on my car when I bought it would just let go. They'd be gripping fine until you hit the limit, then it was like you hit a patch of ice. No squeal, no warning. I was able to get my CFO (wife) to approve replacing them on safety grounds. Probably went overboard on putting 160 threadwear tires on there. I can't break these loose at all.

Kirstie_H

A journalist with a monthly women's magazine would like to speak to women who bought a convertible while in their 40s or 50s, and women who plan to buy a convertible when they enter that age range. Please respond to jfallon@edmunds.com by November 12, 2002.

ateixeira

I know a grandmother in her 60s that has owned a Z3, an SLK, and will soon trade up to a Z4. She's a pretty cool! :-)

-juice

lngtonge18

Ok, has anyone else noticed how inept the front defroster is on 1st gen Miatas? Mine refuses to clear the windshield of thick condensation past the halfway mark. This is with the fan on full blast directed completely to the defroster, the AC on, and the heater all the way on. After 15 minutes, the windshield still wasn't clear. It finally cleared once the sunlight hit it. I was reduced to wiping my hand on the windshield (and thus smearing the glass)so I could see. Not to mention the utter lack of defrosting to the side windows. Is the defroster any better on the 2nd gen? If I'm having these issues in Florida at 45 degrees, I can only imagine how bad it would be for those who live in snow country. This combined with the ridiculously slow wipers makes the Miata one scary car in inclement weather. But I'm really searching hard to find anything wrong with this car. It's THAT reliable and fun to drive.

thel

I haven't used mine much yet (only had my 2002 LS since August) but my defroster works like a champ. You may want to make sure that your AC system is working, w/o AC the defroster isn't nearly as effective. The AC should kick on automatically.

So far, the only problem I've had in wet weather has been due to the tires, lots of slipping. Still, its nice to be able to drive with the top down at 50 degrees.

kymike

The defroster in my '91 works great. Do you have any obstructions in your vents? Is your A/C working OK? This is not a common complaint that I have heard about these cars.

I do agree that the wipers are a bit slow, but I can live with that given all of the other positive attributes of the car.

ace10

on my '93, '94 and '97. absolutley no complaints. your a/c has got to be failing.

wipers worked fine too, they are sweeping such small area. maybe you are driving too fast for conditions? oem tires (bridgestones and michelins) are really pathetic performers.

ace

ateixeira

I don't think he's running the A/C.

I crank the heat and put it up towards the windshield, usually with the fan on "1". It's slow but eventually it clears. I usually open the windows and wipe the mirrors myself. I think heat combined with fresh air may do the trick.

I guess a heated windshield and mirrors would be useful for an all-season car, but the Miata isn't really fit for that IMO.

-juice

kymike

One additional comment - make certain that your vent is set to outside air and not recirculate. One cause of fogging is the humidity difference between inside and outside air.

lngtonge18

I am running the AC and it works reasonably ok. It's not as cold as it should be but it does still work. My vents are set to outside air, but it takes a long time for the heater to start working. One additional comment that I didn't mention before. I'm having the worst problem when my hardtop is off and the softtop is up, but my rear window has separated from the top except at the upper edge so outside air does get in. Does this make any difference? I would think the equalization of temperatures would make the condensation less of an issue, but it seems to be worse. Any other thoughts?

dgraves1

Does your car take a long time to reach operating temperature on cold days? You may be in need of a new thermostat.

Mr_Shiftright

I have a question for some of you Miata owners:

I have come across 3 higher mileage Miatas in the past few months with bad top end problems (cylinder head issues).

Could just be a coincidence, but I'm wondering if the Miata, now that it's getting older and racking up high miles, may not have staying power in the cylinder heads after around 135K or so.

The things these 3 cars had in common, for whatever it's worth, is that the mileages were between 110K-140K, they are all owned by women, all California bought, all stick shifts, all a tad neglected it seemed from general appearances.They are a 1991 and two 1993s.

kymike

Check with owners on Miata.net

This is not a problem that I have heard mentioned before. There are quite a few high mileage Miatas around that are generally trouble-free. I think that you identified the issue in that these cars did not appear to be well-maintained.

ateixeira

I wonder how often they changed the oil.

The guy that bought my old 626 from me called me the other day to ask what kind of oil I used. "Huh?" I said. He wanted to know so he could top it off, 6 months later!

I told him it should have been changed by now. He said he might do it next year!

Good luck!

-juice

lngtonge18

My 92 Miata has 142,500 miles on it. I bought it with 138k. I believe it had 2 owners before me, it came from another state, and I bought it from a small used car lot. In other words, I have no idea how well the car was cared for, though it does appear to be in excellent shape for its age and mileage. I have had absolutely no problems with the engine, other then the well-known lifter noise. In fact, it scoots pretty darn good; no signs of loss of horsepower from wear. I think it is burning a little bit of oil but it doesn't show any signs of smoke. I've been impressed with its reliability considering I bought it so late in its life.

Mr_Shiftright

yeah, I'm wondering if the lifter problem, if neglected, finally does the car in. All these problems could indeed be related to bad lifters (burned valves).

I suspect there is something to this, but it's hard to know from anecdotal evidence. For instance, early Saab turbos in the 80s early 90s had a very bad head gasket problem that Saab.net estimated at 10% failure rate (which is very very high by industry standards). Yet, if you asked 10 Saab owners, you'd get 9 people saying "hey, no problem"!

It's just very weird to stumble on three of the same cars with three of the same problems. The only reason I hadn't noticed this before is that Miatas were never in my consciousness. I wasn't looking for one until the first damaged one came under my wing (which I bought). That's when I started noticing other cars with a problem similar to mine.

Just curious if anyone has heard anything. Maybe it's nothing more than coincidence, giving the popularity of the car (the more of something you see, the more you'll see wrong).

I'm going to pull the head on the one I bought very soon and I'll let you know what caused the failure.

ateixeira

I have a '93 but it hasn't even hit 40k miles yet. I do get some of that noise, too, but it goes away as she warms up. Mine sounds like valve clatter. Is that what you're talking about?

I did a complete 30k service myself, and I'm proud to say she hasn't burned a drop of oil, or required any maintenance whatsoever, since then.

140k miles a lot for any car. I'd say that after 100k it's no longer the car, it's the owner and what they did or didn't to to maintain it.

-juice

Mr_Shiftright

Yes, that's a reasonable position. I'm not blaming the car at all, just wondering if certain things pop up after very high miles, that is, after the car's naturally intended life is over. I recall, for instance, how Saab A-arms would crack after extremely high miles. Surely not the car's fault, but a good thing for high mileage owners to know.

ateixeira

It would seem natural at that age and mileage for anything made of materials that wear (rubber or plastic, even some metals) to wear out.

So gaskets, belts, and hoses are all fair game. My fingers are crossed since a decade of use, despite my low mileage, makes those fair game as well.

-juice