Miata Mailing List: April 1999, Message #130

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Previously on Should I, E and J McCarroll <edweird@accesstoledo.com>
said...
> There is one of the problems. The window has been ripped out due to the
guy
> not putting it up and down properly. I say "ripped out" but I should
> actually say that it's only the top left hand corner that has come away.
The
> window itself looks fine. No brown spots, etc. Should I go for a new one
> straight away or get a repair done. I would like to keep the cost down as
> much as possible of course, so if I could get by on a repair for one year
> I'd be happy to go that way.

Your ability to tolerate the window repaired vs replaced is going to be the
controlling factor.  You can probably get an auto upholstery shop to repair
the window.  It might not be the prettiest repair depending on how badly
it's damaged, but I'd bet that it will at least keep water out for a year. 
Whether it's aesthetically acceptable will be your call.

> The next thing is the timing belt. Now I know almost zero about cars and
it
> was the guy himself who volunteered that it may need done soon. I asked
the
> last time it was done and he said it had NEVER been done. I told him
about
> the Miata list's 30,000 mile recommendation and he said that you could do
> that but why bother if Mazda recommend 90,000!! Either way he told me
that
> the work when done should cost about $350 and no more. He also said that
> changing the timing belt that frequently would in his opinion only do
more
> harm than good! A little side note to this is that the engine looked
great
> and sounded fantastic.

You've got your numbers wrong, the timing belt interval is 65,000 miles. 
It can go longer but it is due at 65.  Also check the garage section to see
if the car you are considering falls into the 'danger zone' of VIN numbers
for the crankshaft problem.  You'll find it at:
http://www.miata.net/garage/crankshaft.html

> Next are the brakes. I drove the car a little and there was a grinding
> noise. He assures me that he has had all of them done recently (whatever
> that means) and that the grinding is purely rust on the rotars. The car
> hadn't been driven since November indidentaly.

That sounds like a valid reason, but they should stop making the noise
pretty quickly.  If the rust is serious you will have to get the rotors
turned, and the pads replaced to make them feel better, but that's not
likely.

> When driving a Miata, are the pedals supposed to feel "heavy". Everything
> else was smooth but the pedals are much heavier than my VW.

Having not driven your VW, or Miata it's hard for me to say.  I've never
considered the Miata's pedals to be heavy, but my advice is to go to a
dealer and test drive another Miata (any year) and compare that car to
yours.  If there is any doubt, compare it to a new '99, most systems are
similar enough that it is a valid comparison.

> He had it in the newspaper for $5300, I asked him if he would go to $5000
> and he said YES. The only reason that I didn't buy there and then was the
> window and the timing belt.

Sounds about right on the price.  The $300 he came down will essentially
buy you a timing belt.

> So, to recap...A '91 blue Miata, 65,000, two owners, regular service,
> perfect body, needs new window and possibly a timing belt..$5000
> 
> Would you?????????????

Yes, with the provision that I know what I'm risking wrt the timing belt if
the car falls into the vulnerable range.

	-John

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John Freas (jfreas@earthlink.net)
Red '90 Base-ish #7690
Farmingdale, Long Island
Team LS1,2,SP, The Gap...
Team dlralt, MRoadster, PBC, Roebuck, TeamMiata, Voodoo...
"I have no idea what those dimple things on the windshield frame are for."
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