Bought a Miata... and no, I'm not turning in my man-card

[Gumball]

I've always liked the Miata... especially the early cars. Well, a friend of mine had a dirt-cheap but really nice one fall in his lap recently and I borrowed it to go to Road America as a spectator for a day. Of course, you can't send me to Road America with your sportscar and expect that I'm not taking it on the track and this was no exception - the Milwaukee VA had a couple busloads of veterans there and we spent the lunch hour giving them rides around the track. After 400 miles that day, over half of it on two-lane backroads, I decided that I had to get my own dirt-cheap Miata. I looked at quite a few and found this one on craigslist and located just twenty minutes away, so after a week or so of dickering on price, it came home with me today. It's a '92 somewhat special edition as black wasn't a standard color that year. It came with the package that caused it to be known as a "black & tan." It has 8 lb. BBS wheels from the factory, leather, some wood touches, and the usual options like A/C, cruise, power windows, etc... I put a hundred or so miles on it today after giving it a little clean-up (didn't need much). Just going to get an alignment, wheel balance, and oil change taken care of this week and it'll be ready for the fall driving season.

If you've ever been Miata-curious, I highly recommend one of these inexpensive, but outstanding little sportscars. As my friend said, it's the best British sportscar he's ever owned, and he's owned quite a few Triumphs, MGs, Healeys, etc.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/Exterior_zps3d024704.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/Exterior_zps3d024704.jpg.html)

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/Engine_zps758b10f7.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/Engine_zps758b10f7.jpg.html)

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/Interior1_zpsabcb686c.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/Interior1_zpsabcb686c.jpg.html)

[Ray]

You can always do this: http://monstermiata.webs.com/

Ray

PS: Nice car and you'll have fun with it!

[mrmustang]

You'll want to sign up for an account on Miata dot net. Black was actually first offered as a production color in 1992, not certain where you got the idea it was not a production offering. Although, B&T's have always been a nice color combination. Yours being 1 of 4,625 (most of them were "C" package tan leather interior cars, but not all).


Bill S.

[WIS89]

Chris-

That's a really clean '92! I think you will have a lot of fun driving that around-- spirited or otherwise.

I had a '72 MGB, and to this day it was my favorite car-- the time spent under the hood fixing the "Prince of Darkness'" work notwithstanding (that's Lucas electronics for the less initiated...). It was a great little car, and I agree with your friend that this is as close to that you can hope to get. Good luck with her!

Oh and just to be clear, I expect my Roadster to replace the MGB as my favorite car of all time!! ;-o)

Regards,

Steve

[Gumball]

Bill - I should have been more clear about the color... I believe that black (and the very limited yellow) replaced the silver sometime in mid-92 production. It's not a special or limited edition car officially, but it seems like most Miata owners consider it one, including the miata site folks. You're correct, it is a "C" package car.

[JL1958]

When I was at the Mitty this year, I was looking for something fun to buy and many guys told me to get a Miata. They are economical, reliable and just plain fun.
The Boxter guy, MG guy, and even the guy with a Cobra all said they had a Miata at home.

And then I bought a Cobra... LOL!
But I would love to have a Miata on days when I don't feel like muscling the Roadster around.
Nice looking car. Congrats on your find.

[RM1SepEx]

I think you will find that those wheels are more than 8 lbs... most find them between 10.5 and 10.7 each, plus the .25 - .27 center caps, the BBS are not the lightest avail stock from Mazda. They are very strong forged wheels! The 94M cars came with the lightest wheels the polished hollow spokes @ 10lbs each

There is a reason that I have 3 old Miatas... My wife drives a 99, my daughter a 91 and my son a 90/94M hybrid They put a smile on your face any time you can put the top down.

Biggest problem with a Miata... remembering to stop 10 feet earlier at a light so the windshield header isn't in the way.

[Steven K]

Good for you, nice car! A used Miata is probably the most bang for the buck in a used convertible.

[UpstateCobraGuy]

Biggest problem with a Miata... remembering to stop 10 feet earlier at a light so the windshield header isn't in the way.

X2, but don't forget the rear window zip-out (DON"T RIP THE ZIPPER), bit of a PITA IMHO. The glass is great but sure miss the simplicity of my old Fiat 124/2000 Spider tops but kind of a trade-off to lose the FIAT "Fix-It-Again-Tony" reliability. :cool:

Pat

[bwwooster]

It's the car I always wanted, even before they built the first one! I've had a '91 since 2000 splitting time at DD. Aluminum flywheel, Konis, zoom! Flick the top down at a stop sign, drive the snot out of the little bugger and it just keeps on going. When I'm in my Sprite or Alfa, I'm always on alert to the first sign of trouble, thoughts that never enter my mind in the NA. Definitely not the special experience the MkII is, but it's absolutely the best small sports car ever made. Maybe the best consumer... thing ... ever.

Congratulations on your new car!

[RM1SepEx]

X2, but don't forget the rear window zip-out (DON"T RIP THE ZIPPER), bit of a PITA IMHO. The glass is great but sure miss the simplicity of my old Fiat 124/2000 Spider tops but kind of a trade-off to lose the FIAT "Fix-It-Again-Tony" reliability. :cool:

Pat

two of mine have the cheap, no zipper window tiops, my wife's 99 has the glass window that you have to "play with" to get it down flat

[UpstateCobraGuy]

two of mine have the cheap, no zipper window tiops, my wife's 99 has the glass window that you have to "play with" to get it down flat

Gotcha...My '97 has a NB glass top installed. I learned the hard way to zipper the window BEFORE latching the top. :mad:

Still a great, fun and cheap car!

Pat :cool:

[SStrong]

There is one in Rockport Tx set up like Stacy David built on Gearz. My friend thought it was a Cobra because of the paint. I started to go that route but decided on a MKIV. I always liked the Miata.