[NA] 1990 Miata, 93k miles, new timing belt/new top [Archive] (2024)

Pansophist

15th July 2011, 19:40

Hey everyone...
I've never owned a miata before, I'm not a mechanic, I'm just looking to get my feet wet with a fun car I can drive most days.

I found a 1990 miata owned by someone about 50 miles from me, that only has 92k miles. It's a 5spd with working AC. It has a new top, new tires, aftermarket wheels, and after emailing he reported back the last maintenance done was 3k miles ago and that was the timing belt service. He did say the car needs a new radio (nothing I'm overly concerned about)

He wants $3500 for it. KBB / NADA prices the car much lower, but in my search it seems that the KBB prices don't really apply to these cars. I've seen low mileage good condition NAs go for ~5k and it really surprised me. Must be a testament to the car...

Anyway, I plan on checking it out soon, but if everything looks good do you guys think 3500 is a fair price? Or should I shoot for $3200 or somewhere around there?

Thanks for ANY advice. I already have the checklist printed out, and about to run a carfax just to back up the car's background.

GoodCheapFun

15th July 2011, 19:45

That is an old car with low mileage for the age. It *should* go twice that distance without much drama so you could run it a long time. $3500 seems quite reasonable to me. $3200 is silly, why let a good one slip away for $300...how long will that $300 last you?

-GCF

Pansophist

15th July 2011, 20:02

Jmikbo

15th July 2011, 20:05

tom4416

15th July 2011, 21:07

Somebody has to say it - read up on the short nosed crank issue ESPECIALLY since the TB was just done. An improper timing job by a mechanic unfamiliar with the SNC can create major problems very quickly. Any 90-91.3 that I would buy, I would really prefer it not have had the timing belt done so I can do it correctly and insure another 100K miles of trouble free service.

Other than that minor issue, look for rust, make sure the aftermarket wheels aren't some 16-17" monstrosities because it not only ruins the car, it also demonstrates the owner has no clue about what the car is really about and may have done other inappropriate things to it.

If all as should be, it's very well priced. Look at the NADA Classic Car book if you want a more realistic representation of what early Miatas are worth (and in some cases, it's even off by a lot).

Pansophist

15th July 2011, 21:46

Somebody has to say it - read up on the short nosed crank issue ESPECIALLY since the TB was just done. An improper timing job by a mechanic unfamiliar with the SNC can create major problems very quickly. Any 90-91.3 that I would buy, I would really prefer it not have had the timing belt done so I can do it correctly and insure another 100K miles of trouble free service.

Other than that minor issue, look for rust, make sure the aftermarket wheels aren't some 16-17" monstrosities because it not only ruins the car, it also demonstrates the owner has no clue about what the car is really about and may have done other inappropriate things to it.

If all as should be, it's very well priced. Look at the NADA Classic Car book if you want a more realistic representation of what early Miatas are worth (and in some cases, it's even off by a lot).

I have never heard of that, thank you!

Here is the link to the CL ad: http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/2472687311.html

I don't think the wheels are monstrosities, but I know very little about these cars. I'll read up on the issue you referred to. However, is there an easy way to detect whether it was done properly? Or should I just mention it to the owner to see if he made sure the mechanic did it properly?

Myah's Daddy

16th July 2011, 08:58