Miata Mailing List: April 1996, Message #211
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   From: dans@dmscomp.com (Dan Scolnick)
Subject: Re: Is this yellow Miata too expensive?
   Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 22:08:11 -0500

>Greetings all,
>
>After lurking on this list for several months, I am now very close to 
>buying my own Miata. Before I do this, however, I would like to ask for 
>the wisdom of this group.
>
>I have located a 1992 yellow Miata with 25,000 miles. The car looks 
>almost showroom new. The dealer is asking $13,500. Is this a reasonable 
>price? FYI, the car was owned by a local physician who traded it in on a 
>Porsche. His practice must be doing well.  ;)
>
>By comparison, I drove a white 1992 Miata this weekend. It had 30,000 
>miles and was in very good condition (almost as nice as the yellow one). 
>The owner (a private person) was asking $11,400.
>
>Also, last week, I took a quick look at a 1991 red Miata with 57,000 
>miles. The dealer was asking $10,000 for this one.
>
>Any comments/suggestions, etc on the yellow Miata would be very welcome. 
>I am going back on Thursday afternoon to take a closer look at the car. 
>My wife will be with me to help me avoid making another unwise automotive 
>purchase (something that I have done on a regular basis in the past). 
>Maybe this time this is the right car for me.
>
>mike
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------
>Michael D. Sherer, Professor     Phone: 402-554-2602  
>Department of Communication      Email: sherer@cwis.unomaha.edu
>University of NE at Omaha        Fax: 402-554-3296
>Omaha, NE 68182 
>---------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>

There is a brand new yellow 92 miata on a dealer lot in babylon long island
if you're interested.  The absolute milage on the car is less important than
the type of miles.  If the car with 57k miles was driven by a traveling
salesman long distances on the highway racking up it's miles hundredes at a
time, it probably is far less 'worn' than the 25k mile one, if it was driven
by granny .5 mile to the supermarket (never warming up) 2 times a week.

I like to buy 'em new, break 'em in right (FLAT OUT) then drive them for
3-400,000 miles.

Best thing to do is listen carefully to the engine when starting it DEAD
COLD.  I wouldn't even consider buying a used car that I hadn't started
MYSELF dead cold after sitting for a day or two.  Feel the engine block
before you start it to make sure it was cold, question the dealer.  If they
lie and tell you it's cold and it wasn't, run away!  Take off the radiator
cap before you start it.  Is the cap rusty?  seal deteriorated? is the fluid
rusty?

warm it up, rev it up, downshift in all the gears, are the synchro's working
right?  when decellerating in gear (say in 3rd from 6000rpm to 3000rpm) then
getting on it, is there any smoke out the exhaust (rings?).

when you're back, with the engine idling take off the oil filler cap, blip
the throttle a couple of times, is there any blow-by (smoke) coming out of
the oil filler? (there should be alot of oil swooshing around but no smoke
with the pcv hose hooked up).

are the tires wearing evenly?  (brand new tires on the car is a warning to
have the suspension carefully looked over by an independant mechanic).

A good car is worth what you're willing to pay (if you know the market as
you seem to).  if you keep the car for 10 years the purchase price really
isn't as important as the aggravation you might avoid and the pleasure
you'll get (over having the color of your choice).

keep in mind, dealers get a premium price for the car and unless they've
been there a long time and care about their reputation, are not likely to
care about you after your purchase.  IOW  I wouldn't put much credence or
value in a used car dealers warrantee - figure it's 'AS IS'
/^\dan
'94 'R'ed (being modified) - HERETIC (wish I was blue)
'81 Volvo "From Hell" 337,000 miles, catch me if you can (with dirty wheels)
'70 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 SixPack (power steering, brakes & power power)
1984 Hobie 33 - 'The Vicar Is...'
1991 Hobie Miracle 20' - 'Hazardous (when wet)'
1996 Hobie Magic 25' - awaiting a name

Writing to you from the capital of the world-
New York City, New York (so dangerous we warn you twice)