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Thinking of Buying a Miata
A Bear
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Multipart question time:
1. Do I get a new car in the first place?
Currently I'm driving a 1998 Honda Prelude I've had for about 5 years which is getting a little long in the tooth-- just a lot of little things that are starting to add up. It might need $1-2k and a few days in a shop to really get everything back to good shape
The trick is, I'm a law student and I don't really need a perfect car--I live less than a mile from my school and my wife has a very reliable and practical Hyundai. But, I also drive all across my state about every week for job interviews. I have about 18 months left in school before I graduate and will probably need a more reliable car for sure at that point. So far I've only been stranded on the side of the road once, but the risk of additional breakdowns is becoming a growing concern.
A family friend has expressed a want to buy my car at a fair (if somewhat discounted) price. Time to think about car shopping? Should I patch up the problems to last the next 18 months? I need to drive my car daily, so I have no idea when I could bring it in a shop for any extended time. Further compounding this is that my parents seem to be interested in helping me get a new car right now--they wanted to give me their Ford Fusion a month or so ago. Should I jump at this seemingly favorable economic opportunity?
2. Should I get a Miata?
I'm a young married law student. My wife has an Elantra which I consider girly--yet here I am wanting a car which already carries its own stigma. I used to own a Del sol, and would really like to get another convertible. I never had a huge issue thinking my Del sol was maybe a little less than masculine. PA has always been full of reasonable, honest people--what do you all think about young guys driving Miatas?
3. What would it be like to own a softtop convertible?
Del sols are hardtops. I really liked having a hardtop convertible. Current hardtop convertibles are probably all out of my price range (maybe $5-15k? A lot depends on the type of car and true parental willingness to help fund my new car search). I like the "pure convertible" idea of a softtop--they are cheaper, lighter, and easier to maintain, but with one major catch: my car would have to be parked outside 99% of the time, and would need to be an all-season daily driver. Would this sort of wear and tear be a bad idea for a softtop? Am I going to freeze in the winter?
Any other PA Miata drivers out there? Is there another car I should think about?
1. Do I get a new car in the first place?
Currently I'm driving a 1998 Honda Prelude I've had for about 5 years which is getting a little long in the tooth-- just a lot of little things that are starting to add up. It might need $1-2k and a few days in a shop to really get everything back to good shape
The trick is, I'm a law student and I don't really need a perfect car--I live less than a mile from my school and my wife has a very reliable and practical Hyundai. But, I also drive all across my state about every week for job interviews. I have about 18 months left in school before I graduate and will probably need a more reliable car for sure at that point. So far I've only been stranded on the side of the road once, but the risk of additional breakdowns is becoming a growing concern.
A family friend has expressed a want to buy my car at a fair (if somewhat discounted) price. Time to think about car shopping? Should I patch up the problems to last the next 18 months? I need to drive my car daily, so I have no idea when I could bring it in a shop for any extended time. Further compounding this is that my parents seem to be interested in helping me get a new car right now--they wanted to give me their Ford Fusion a month or so ago. Should I jump at this seemingly favorable economic opportunity?
2. Should I get a Miata?
I'm a young married law student. My wife has an Elantra which I consider girly--yet here I am wanting a car which already carries its own stigma. I used to own a Del sol, and would really like to get another convertible. I never had a huge issue thinking my Del sol was maybe a little less than masculine. PA has always been full of reasonable, honest people--what do you all think about young guys driving Miatas?
3. What would it be like to own a softtop convertible?
Del sols are hardtops. I really liked having a hardtop convertible. Current hardtop convertibles are probably all out of my price range (maybe $5-15k? A lot depends on the type of car and true parental willingness to help fund my new car search). I like the "pure convertible" idea of a softtop--they are cheaper, lighter, and easier to maintain, but with one major catch: my car would have to be parked outside 99% of the time, and would need to be an all-season daily driver. Would this sort of wear and tear be a bad idea for a softtop? Am I going to freeze in the winter?
Any other PA Miata drivers out there? Is there another car I should think about?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
A Bear on
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If you're talking about new Miata's, IMO, they've come a long way from being what gave them the girly stigma. They're more aggressively styled and they're pretty fast too.
If you end up with a softtop, never put it down in weather below 7 Celsius. I don't know what that is in farenheit, but it's still above freezing but fairly cold. The fabric gets stiff and you risk it tearing when you put the top back up.
So VS a hardtop convertible or a non-convertible a softtop would have some more roadnoise, but wouldn't necessarily be the loudest car you've ever driven in. Your tires and the road you're driving on can affect cabin noise to a higher degree than the top (when it's closed).
Oh, and I don't know if the S2000 is in your price range, but it's basically a Miata minus any negative connotations that might carry with it.
I'm not a big fan of Miata myself. It has slightly more room then your old Del Sol and way less interior compare to the Prelude that you have. It's performance is only so so, better handling then the the cars you own in general but other then that nothing special or stands out IMHO.
I would recommend the S2000 as well if you can afford it... good luck trying to find it second-handed thou.
P.S Elentra isn't a girly car!
Does it snow a lot where you live? If so, the lighter soft-top version would probably be a no-go if you don't have a car shelter. -1
Miatas can run rings around many more fancied cars on a twisty stretch of road. +1
Elantras ARE girly cars. Also pretty shit.
Any man who gives you shit for driving a Miata is compensating for his small penis.
S2000s are crap. Over priced, overweight, tail-happy and yes, the engine makes a lot of power for it's size (naturally aspirated), but you have to rev it to 6000 rpm before anything happens.
If you eventually want more power from a Miata, there a literally dozens of companies that make bolt-on turbo kits for them that can be fitted for a few thousand dollars and will give you a reliable 25%-50% increase in power (at the expense of fuel economy).
Full disclosure: I'm a truck mechanic by trade, and a car nut from birth. I love dirty great big V8s, V10s and V12s making obscene amounts of horsepower and turning $400 worth of tyres into smoke and long number 11s.
I've got a Nissan Silvia, the missus has a diesel Golf.
If I had my time again, I would definitely buy a Miata instead of the Silvia.
First, I need to ask: Where in the hell did you find a Nissan Silvia? What year model? That is my dream car, next to the Skyline (the sister of the Skyline, to be exact). I've looked everywhere here in Texas and I couldn't find a single Nissan except for a friggin' Altima. Granted, that's an alright car...but a Silvia?! I envy you.
And now to post something constructive. Personally, I hate anything Mazda that isn't in the RX series. (Long bodied RX-7 was my favorite). Nissan is a much better company, more practical, and has a pretty good reputation in terms of cars that last for freakin' ever. But, as you said, you'd like a convertible. The Miata isn't so bad. My fiance wants one...she thinks it's cute. I'll just let that statement speak for itself
My wife's Elantra is a lovely shade of baby blue. That is really what pushes it into the "too girly" territory.
I looked into some used S2000s, and almost all of them (that I could afford) are horribly mistreated. I have a real penchant for more unique cars, but here the ubiquity of the Miata might be a feather in its cap. I've also looked at MR2s (maybe too impractical?) There are dozens of Miatas in my area, and some seem to be pretty impressive deals. I'm flexible between this generation and the last generation--but do agree the newer one looks a little more aggressive. My price range might limit me to some of the more bare-bones newer models though. There are some low mileage 2nd gens around for great deals...
They're pretty terrible for any kind of family, and Mazda's are notoriously cheaply constructed.
Its definitely time for a new car, but a Miata is probably a bad choice.
-Current W.I.P.
If I were you I would put some money into the Prelude. 90s Hondas have a well-earned reputation for racking up the miles. Obviously there is a point at which it is no longer practical to keep putting money into a used car, but I doubt the Prelude is there yet. $1k, depending on how much longer you get out of the Prelude, isn't bad at all.
It sounds like you're concerned about your image. I can't argue with the performance of the Miata, but it has a reputation as being a fruity vehicle. It's probably not well-deserved, but it's a fact.
I am worried about image. But my worry is that I have convinced myself the "hairdresser" reputation of the Miata is either more or less pronounced than reality--a sort of living in a potential echo bubble that I would prefer not to pop only after I make a major purchase.
I looked at BMWs (and Mercedes), but their upkeep is a little steep, and both luxury brands (particularly the 3-series) sort of have an image thing of their own.
The S14a/b and the S15 were sold in Australia as a 200SX. I've got an S14b manual.
The good thing about chicks thinking Miatas are cute is, they tend to want to go for a ride in them too...
Whoops, wrong.
Mazdas have been getting better and better for the last ten years or so, and are as reliable as any other Japanese brand. Yes, I mean that. Subaru, Honda, Toyota, all about the same.
The MR-S is a horrible piece of shit. You got the best model.
The kind of guys who would poke fun at you and call you gay for driving a Miata are the kind of guys who geniunely believe their beat-down shitbox 1982 Camaro is a Ferrari beater...
I've got an 07 Miata Touring. It's a great car. Extraordinarily fun to drive. I was planning on getting a newer model with the hard top too, but I haven't had any problems with the soft top. A convertible is the best car for good weather. Of course now I drive it with the top down even when it's 55 out sometimes.
There's a reason the Miata is on the top of every list of affordable sports cars. If you're looking for one under 30k you're not going to find one better.
Now that it's winter you can get a better deal on a convertible too if you live in an area that is cold. In the end it sounds like you'll be very happy with the car.
"Read twice, post once. It's almost like 'measure twice, cut once' only with reading." - MetaverseNomad
It definitely has that reputation, just try asking a few of your friend if the Miata is a manly car or not.
It's gained that reputation by being one of the cheapest convertibles to buy. If someone wants a convertible but can't afford something from a luxury brand, they buy a Miata. The Miata also has a reputation as one of the best Autocross vehicles ever made, but the vast majority of people don't know that.
I guess it just comes down to how much it bothers you. You drove a Del Sol and that also a small semi-convertible, so it wouldn't be terribly different.
http://www.carsdirect.com/used_cars/vehicle_detail/ul247822345/MAZDA/MIATA
Manual soft-top (autos are for people with no left leg), in RED (because red goes faster!), bargain hard and get down to something like $14,500 what with winter coming up...
Now if you don't live in Florida that ain't worth shit to you, but well, just whack your zip code in and git 'er done!
Im surprised you havent found one, 240sxs are a dime a dozen.
Miata's are chick cars, but theyre awesome chick cars.
If youre tall Id probably stay away from a Miata (and Id definitely stay away from an S2000...Im 6'3-6'4 and I kinda got stuck in a S2000...). I found the Miata had more room than the S2000, but it was still cramped.
EDIT: About the MR2. Id kill for an early 90s MR2. So. Fucking. Awesome. But so so so small.
It was just about brand new, the hybrid model too.
I turned it down because my brother really wanted the Ford, and it wasn't a car that really fit my needs. Or rather, I don't have a ton of automotive needs right now, and would prefer they be met with a car that is more fun.
And with winter giving me better deals, I'm apt to buy sooner rather than later--but are winters miserable in softtops? Will parking outside make the cabin unbearable for all of my 2-minute commute? Will the elements destroy the top without special care?
240SX =/= 200SX/Silvia.
also t chris: 240SX is related to the Silvia, just highly detuned. Closest you can get to one (legally) in the states
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Other than that its just peoples preference on size, convertible vs non, manliness v girliness, etc.
Hell yeah! It's a great car. I'd have bought one but I bought a Lotus Elise instead. There's nothing girly about this car.
There is definitely a reason this car is raced more than any other car in existence, and why it consitently tops the top affordable sports cars. GET A MAN PEDAL. You will be a girly man if you buy an automatic.
Then I read this:
http://jalopnik.com/5654312/miata-the-answer-to-every-question
Converted me pretty quickly.
Since then I've watched some videos of turbo Miata's and I'll be honest when I say it's got me considering picking up one as a daily driver (and parking my 2004 Mach 1 for the weekends).
I'd say go for it. Especially if you get an older one and just mod the heck out of it. 8-)
How far south do you live? In Austin, TX I was driving top down for about 10 months of the year. On average we get maybe a day or 2 of half-an-inch-of-ice-on-the-ground a year. There's about 6 weeks there where you might not get warm if your commute really is only 2 minutes, but the cabin is small and the center tunnel heats up pretty quick so I thought the tradeoff was worth it. If it's 50 out the heater's good enough with the top down windows up. I had the manual soft canvas top, very quick to get up and down after a little practice.
Personally I'm more a fan of the previous generation body style, however I'd think the newer body style might give a bit more space and be a bit more rigid. At 6'0" I found the windscreen too short, meaning when I was 1st in line at an intersection the light would be obscured unless I was well back of the intersection, or unless pulled right up to the line (where I could peek over the windscreen when the top was down). However elbow, hip, knee and leg room weren't a problem.
Miata's a blast to drive and shouldn't be too expensive to maintain (except insurance if you have a crummy driving record). A more important question might be "is it a good fit for your life right now?" It's not very practical (2 people, no trunk space, no towing capacity, almost 0 lockable space). You're a law student, and married, and I'm not sure what your plans are (re: relocating for work, kids, etc.). I had a nice miata that I loved for a couple years, but had to get rid of it (took a bath on it) cause it wasn't the right car for the stage of life I was enterring. I might use the parent's generosity to pick up a more practical car and in a couple years pick up 10+ years old miata as a 2nd car.
Spoke with the parents today, and with my wife--this might be a very probable course. I can't imagine a time when I have less automotive demands than I do now, but a 2-seat roadster might be too impractical.
I also might not want to look the gift horse in the mouth.
You say that like it's a bad thing!
(I'm jealous!)
Size: Fits like a glove. If you are taller than about 6'2 though, headroom might be a bit of a mess. Leg room might feel cramped, though nowhere near as bad as most back seats, since you have the pedal room.
Speed: Don't know about the newest ones. I had an '01, which had a somewhat leisurely 0-60 time of around 8 seconds. Right now I have an '04 mazdaspeed turbocharged one, which is a bit peppier, but not a ton off the line thanks to the nature of turbo lag.
Handling: Most of the time, it will drive like it is on rails. If you do something rather silly, it will of course act up a bit like most RWD cars. Up in snow-land, you will want good tires, but it ought to get the job done. It is rather good at telling you how well it's dealing with the road conditions usually.
Cargo space: Practically none. The trunk is deep enough to carry a middlin' amount of groceries, but as mentioned, a flat would probably be riding in the passenger seat if there's any tire left on it at all.
Maintainence/reliability: I've never had a problem with either of mine that wasn't caused by outright personal stupidity. Suffice to say, if you're an idiot, like I was, and put the spare on backwards, bad shit happens.
Gas: The counterpoint to not being terribly fast off the line, due to it being a 4-banger, is that it can go a rather long time between refills. It's got about an 11 gallon tank, and will get a good 250-300 miles out of that most of the time.
The top: The mazda removable hardtop is about $1500, and is only really removable if you have a garage to store it in. I believe it's also bulky/heavy enough that you wouldn't want to toss it on or off solo without some sort of hoist. The soft top works well enough, is ridiculously easy to raise or lower (though getting the right angle to raise it without taking off your seatbelt take a lot of practice) Weather wise, just keep in mind the rule about not raising/lowering it when it's under about 45F. All of them since '99 have had glass rear windows, rather than silly plastic.
Weather resistance, heater, etc: I took mine up to big bear for snowboarding fairly often. The heater kicks in quick enough, since the engine hits it's usual operating temperature in about 3 minutes of driving. Hauling ass up through twisty mountain highways is unbelievably fun.
Parking: It will fit anywhere.
Some downsides and/or upsides that reality throws at you, which may or may not factor in:
If your local road maintainence sucks, you will get reminded of that a lot. You will feel pretty much every bump, dip, or general unevenness there is. There are a number of stretches of highway down here I avoid as much as possible, because they give a rythmic thump of a ride that feels and sounds exactly like a flat tire, which is maddening.
Wind noise gets a bit loud past 80.
The stock tires ain't cheap.
If your friends are large, they might dislike the passenger seat.
Some people might give you shit about it. They are all silly people who hate fun, and/or pack too many personal insecurities. Their opinions you should ignore.
If you're in a group of people splitting up to carpool somewhere, such as a pack of coworkers heading out to lunch or whatnot, you probably won't be on the list of drivers, ever.
Personally, while the newer rev did some supposedly amazing things wrt the performance side, via a slightly beefed up engine and another 500lbs shaved off *somehow*, the new body style looks a bit too angular and chunky for my tastes. Not as bad as the MR2's tended to be, but it doesn't look quite as Miata-like anymore.
I'm sorry this may be off-topic, but how do you put a spare on backwards? Like, put it on so the offset had the rubber outside of the brake disc? If so, I imagine the sound it made when you first tried turning the wheel was nothing short of epic.
Give it to your girlfriend in exchange for her car. Sell both your Prelude and the Elantra, and you'll only need a few grand more to get into a rather nice MX-5.
You'll have a nice sensible car in the Fusion, and a fun car for roadtrips and carving mountain passes.
You can always get one of these to park your Miata under...
Please explain negative impact of someone thinking your car is really your wife's car (or perhaps wives' is correct, if A Bear is mormon)
Is this a good idea thread?
Yes/yes?
Insurance might be a bitch until I turn 24 in May but that is the only con I can think of.
I'll tell you who.
The only people who talk shit about Miatas are people who don't know much about cars, and who cares what they think?
It would, in theory, be the best car if I've ever owned even if it has 100k miles on it (I am not counting the Ford Tempo with 80k because I hated that car) so I am not too worried about the normal older car things.
I will also want to work on it down the line after I move closer to work/get a motorcycle/have money to turbo it etc.
It is starting to look like I will take the Fusion. I mean, its a free car.
My wife and I talked about who would drive what--but unfortunately her Elantra is still technically her parents car (a long story there) so if we did anything to the Elantra, the only option would be to return it to them with no gain to us.
So the options look like:
1. Keep the Prelude, throw in $1-2k to keep it going for a year or so, and go from there.
2. Get a free Ford Fusion Hybrid. Sell the Prelude to a family friend at a discount.
3. Sell the Prelude (to the friend or otherwise) and try to buy a Miata (with possible help from parents).