Miata Mailing List: February 1999, Message #214

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I found a '94 Laguna R and I have decided to take some advise from list
members before plunking the $$'s down on a used car.

Without a lot of haggling yet I have a price on a '99 Sport with Power
Steering/AC/Floormats/Mazda AM/FM/Cass/CD radio for 20,522.  Using
Edmunds I calculate the Dealer Invoice at 19,608.00 for these options.
(BTW, the Power Steering??)  What's the chances the dealer would swap
the P/S for Cruise control or something useful?

To get into the above mention R with about a $1,000+ of racing
paraphernalia (trailer, race tires, wheels, etc.) the owner is asking
14,000.  I haven't haggled this price either.  The owner claims the car
is in like new condition with the exception of the rear window which
cracked when moved in very cold conditions.

Assuming the owner of the R would part for it at 13,000 I would come
away with a car ready to race.  It only has 22k on the clock and it
appears that most of that may be autocrossing.  The low-low miles worry
me quite frankly.  Miata's need to be driven.  He claims he takes it for
a spin on nice days.  Like the sunbursts and BRG's I assume I will be
paying a premium for the limited edition car. 

If I get the '99, I will be financially strapped to get the race tires
wheels, etc. Who isn't right!  Is it difficult to find 15 cheap
light-weight wheels for racing tires on the '99?

I assume payments on the two cars would be similar due to the shorter
term on the older car.  Would I get more bang for my buck by going with
the '99?  I don't intend to start a flame war but I am very interested
in the lists opinion.

Kathy Bryce wrote:
> 
> I would very much like to purchase a nice Laguna Blue R edition.  That
> would be my dream car right now.
> 
> Please email me privatly if you have or know of one.
> 
> Kat and Indi-go
> '94 Laguna