Miata Mailing List: April 1995, Message #152
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   From: Alan Dahl 
Subject: Re: Choosing a used Miata...
   Date: Tue, 4 Apr 1995 12:53:56 -0400

XINCLXMiata@learnlink.emory.edu (Miata Conference @ learnlink.emory.edu) writes:
>Rear windows can be repaired by a trin shop as opposed to being replaced. This
>costs much less BUT is less factory looking. None the less...very practical. I
>would also venture to say you may find one with under 40K if you are patient.
>The $8,995 price is OK.....$7,800 would be much better. All this is assuming
>the car is in GREAT shape. Look under the hood at the engine compartment too.

It should also be pointed out that Miata prices vary greatly from one part of  
the country to another. (*) Here in the Northwest any Miata under $9000  
should be suspected of being wrecked and repaired. Yesterday's Seattle Times  
had a dozen or so Miatas for sale with the cheapest being $9400 and 3 or 4  
1990s listed between 10 and 11 thousand.

So make sure to check the local area prices before considering any  
"super-cheap" Miatas, you may get one that has been damaged.

(*) There may be several reasons prices will vary from location to location.  
Miatas in Arizona, for example, will have much more interior/top wear because  
of the sun while ones from the Midwest, unless garaged all winter, will be in  
danger of rust, etc. I suspect Miatas from Seattle are ideal because we have  
no snow *or* sun up here :-(.

The cars have no real weak points, except perhaps the clutch, which can be  
replaced for less than $400. Make sure all the applicable recalls have been  
performed on the car and have a dealer give it a good look over but unless  
it's been wrecked or really thrashed there's nothing to worry about.

The rear window may be expensive to replace depending on how picky you are.  
You can do anything for a $150 sewn-in replacement to a new factory window  
for $300-400 or so. YMMV depending on your pickiness and the skill of your  
local top shop.

---
  ___   __   ___  Alan Dahl                    | alan.dahl@mccaw.com
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