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Old 10-25-2017, 02:50 AM   #1
3LOU5
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All of sudden, I find myself yearning to buy....

....a Mazda MX-5 Miata.

Never had a 'vert before, or a roadster. I suppose those are the main reasons of my current obsession. I'd definitely get a stick.

So, to those who have owned a Miata, what are the pros and cons ?? What generation or model years should I avoid ?? And more importantly, was it worth the price of admission ??

Thanks in advance.
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Old 10-25-2017, 03:02 AM   #2
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There's a white 2012 with a 5-speed for $17,999 located 90 miles from me.

(I do like the shape of that generation, so I suppose I should stick to looking at the 3rd gens.).

But that price seems a bit high. What would do you think would be a fair price for something like that with 50k miles on the clock ??

(BTW, what's the friggen point of putting slushboxes in these things anyway ?? I don't get it....).
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2016 Toyota Sienna SE - hers
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1994 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 Sportside Z71 - whoevers vehicle is in the shop
2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Vivid Black) - his
2018 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited - hers
2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Pearl White) - hers (SOLD 02/29/20)
2011 Tao Tao 50 - whoevers bike is in the shop
2007 Reinell 186 FNS - the dog's
1995 Fleetwood Flair 27R - EVERYBODY'S !

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Old 10-25-2017, 06:43 AM   #3
bren
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People seem to love Miatas. You can get a nice C4 zr1 for that kind of money though.
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Old 10-25-2017, 07:18 AM   #4
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Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer
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Old 10-25-2017, 07:20 AM   #5
ff
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3LOU5 View Post
There's a white 2012 with a 5-speed for $17,999 located 90 miles from me.
That sounds high for a 6 year old example. You can buy a brand new one with 0 miles for under $25,000.
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Old 10-25-2017, 07:51 AM   #6
wdc330i
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I’d go new as well. The car is so much better looking these days—and, given that you keep your cars forever, you would get your money’s worth.
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Old 10-25-2017, 08:17 AM   #7
John V
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The new car is more "Miata" than the NC (Third gen) car was. The NC got larger, more luxurious (I guess?), heavier and was sloppier in the handling department. The ND returns to the small, light, flickable formula.
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Old 10-25-2017, 09:09 AM   #8
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Miata has always been a sore subject for me . . . I can still remember the excitement before they were released . . . and I remember my huge disappointment when I could not fit into the first one that arrived at my local dealer.

My legs are just too long.

The newest version is very sharp looking, but doesn't the Fiat version come with a slightly tweaked motor?
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Old 10-25-2017, 10:38 AM   #9
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The NC is the bigger heavier one. That said, I love mine. The factory sport suspension and a stiffer front sway bar utterly transformed the car form the NC's I drove in '06 & '07. Those rolled a lot. Mine is very flat without being ridiculous.

To me the key to their enjoyment is:

- Avoid highways as it is geared very low and is not quiet. It will get tiring quickly.
- It's no frills, so adjust expectations.
- Drive it hard, otherwise it will feel slow and you will start noticing the shortcomings in comfort. Luckily its low gearing allows you to wind it out at totally normal speeds.
- Don't drive it daily. It will wear thin fairly quickly. But as an occasional fun car that is cheap to own, it's pretty perfect.

Now that I got my new steering wheel, I love it even more.
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Old 10-25-2017, 06:02 PM   #10
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I think Lou would like a Miata.
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