Which Miata to buy?

[drewbot]

@Skurj

Go talk to this guy in Mississauga, he works on tons of MX-5s

http://www.daves-garage.ca/Site/Home.html

[spitz]

1994-1997 R-Package Car. Included: Sport Suspension (Bilsteins shocks, heavy-duty rear springs, heavier sway bars), rear spoiler, front air dam, rear skirt, alloy wheels, Torsen limited slip differential The R was not available with power steering, automatic transmission or with A, B, C option packages.

[fatoni]

the best year miata to buy is the one in the nicest condition. of the na miatas, the 94 is probably the best. obd1, 1.8, torsen diff in almost all of them, real oil pressure gauge, lighest of the 1.8s. with the nb you have to decide if you want vvti but the 99-00 is really light compared to others and can make more peak power.

if its really a track car, just buy someone elses track car. you can get spec miatas or other track prepped cars for so much less than it would cost to make it yourself. i picked this up for a stock base 90 miata plus 5k http://www.miataturbo.net/cars-sale-...9-000-a-76369/ i could have probably gone cheaper but it seemed fair. check the turbo miata forum for some legitimate track options without all the internet, jdm style overpricing that many of the car forums are subject to.

[Skurj]

Well.. I stumbled across a '91 with less than 20,000kms on it. Original everything, including tires except for the rr window in the softtop had been replaced due to fogging. It has only done a few hundred k's in the last 2 years. Interior is mint, body looks mint though the paint needs correction. Runs good, well at least it idles well, no funny noises or smoke. The guy will take $8500 canuck bux...

It would seem a shame to spoil it to mod it, but seeing as most of my mods will just simply be bolt-ons, I can save all of the original parts.

Haven't managed to get out for the test drive yet, or look into service records. I know I'd be looking at spending a day or 2 in the driveway replacing belts, hoses and fluids off the bat. Then likely shocks, so may as well lose some wheel gap when I do that.
Oh its a 91, BRG tan leather, black top, 14" alloys, pdl & pw.. shame it doesn't have AC but there are aftermarket suppliers of that if I can't take the heat of a black top in stop and go..

Still thinkin about it..

[racecarshots]

I have had 3, a 1991 1.6L NA, 1997 1.8L NA, and 1999 1.8L NB. I liked them all, but if I were to do it all over again I would get another 1994-1997 to build. The 1.6L is pretty damn fun though, that motor makes less power but it just is rev happy, so its fun.

The thing I loved about the Miatas were how easy they were to work on and mod, and since they were cheap I just didn't care about hacking on them. haha.

[vh_supra26]

I like the hardtop convertible model.

[Skurj]

I made my choice. Bought a 1999 loaded (no hardtop tho)
high mileage and its had body work done, but the current owner has looked after it. Water pump and timing belt done recently as well as shocks and brakes. Interior is surprisingly good for the mileage, the leather seats have no rips or tears, just wear. Now to plan my autoX build!
Well i don't actually pick it up until Saturday..

[Atropine]

Originally Posted by fatoni

the best year miata to buy is the one in the nicest condition. of the na miatas, the 94 is probably the best. obd1, 1.8, torsen diff in almost all of them, real oil pressure gauge, lighest of the 1.8s. with the nb you have to decide if you want vvti but the 99-00 is really light compared to others and can make more peak power.

if its really a track car, just buy someone elses track car. you can get spec miatas or other track prepped cars for so much less than it would cost to make it yourself. i picked this up for a stock base 90 miata plus 5k http://www.miataturbo.net/cars-sale-...9-000-a-76369/ i could have probably gone cheaper but it seemed fair. check the turbo miata forum for some legitimate track options without all the internet, jdm style overpricing that many of the car forums are subject to.

You are wrong!

The 1991 British Racing Green are not only the best looking Miata's they are also the fastest!

OKi not really, but I did finally get my suspension in and its great...still waiting on my wheels.

Fatoni is right. The best Miata is the best Miata.

I like the "R" versions a lot, but they can be hard to find.

[mx5 2nr]

Originally Posted by Skurj

I made my choice. Bought a 1999 loaded (no hardtop tho)
high mileage and its had body work done, but the current owner has looked after it. Water pump and timing belt done recently as well as shocks and brakes. Interior is surprisingly good for the mileage, the leather seats have no rips or tears, just wear. Now to plan my autoX build!
Well i don't actually pick it up until Saturday..

Congrats! One of my previous Miata's was a '99 LS. I did my first auto-x & my first track day in that car, wish I never sold it...