Should I or should I not...

[strop]

...purchase an MY92 MX-5 NA for ~3600$ AUD (assuming it passes roadworthy)?

I noticed it in a shed, (alongside a Triumph GT6 and a BMW 2000 CS). Owners are an elderly couple who live out in the country, and the MX-5 used to belong to their daughter, until one particularly windy day, a tree fell on it and crushed the hardtop and boot lid. Both have been replaced, such that while the car itself is off-white, the new parts are silver. Otherwise, as far as I can tell, all of the parts are original, and the car has run 282000kms. Might be a bit difficult to find the service log, though.

Therein lies the conundrum. Pending roadworthy and test drive, I really want it, an MX-5 NA with original parts has been my dream car since I was like 12. That said, I have to sort out space for the car, and it has to survive the 120km drive back to mine first lol. And I don't have that much money to play around with, and in calculating the costs, sure I can swing $3600 but I'm pretty sure that even if serviced properly, it's going to need a few things replaced in fairly short order. Question is, how much is that going to set me back in addition?

Anyone with MX-5/Miata experience (Daffy I'm looking at you!), advice would be much appreciated. Also, I'm no mechanic, so the additional issue is either a) learning how to do it myself b) finding a mechanic I can trust in Melbourne (again, Daffy, looking at you!) with an NA without screwing me over.

[Microwave]

Well, given the fact that a tree fell on it, it might have a fair few problems and the owners may not be telling you everything.
I don't know how much MX-5s are worth or anything, but there's probably better ones out there for the price.

[strop]

As far as my research goes, a 22yo stock MX5-NA is worth about 4k. I see reconditioned stage 1 tunes on the classifieds for about 6k, but I want it stock. And yes, I'm curious as to just how big this tree was.

[Microwave]

If they're usually $4k stock, you may end up investing more money into that car than it's actually worth. Which again just makes me think it's probably better to look at other MX-5s.

[strop]

Sorry, talking out my ass I was. Not sure where I saw that Stage 1 tune for 6500, but the price range for stock NAs in various conditions is more like 5800-7500 at least.

http://www.carsales.com.au/car/mazda/mx ... Ak2e8P8HAQ

There's one there for 4400 but that one looks suss. I'm prepared to spend up to 3k restoring the car. It needs new bumpers, an all over respray for starters. It probably also needs new CV joints and shocks. The more concerning things are the condition of the brake cylinders, and of course the drivetrain.

[Microwave]

I don't know man, I'm no sales advisor or some shit but those pop-up headlamps look sweeeeeeet.

[VicVictory]

How tall are you, Strop?

If you're over 5'10", be prepared to bang your knees on the dash/wheel/anything else in the interior CONSTANTLY.

My dad has a '96 Miata that he's owned since brand new. When my parents went on vacation, it was my job to drive it around to make sure the gas didn't get stale in it. It's a fun car to drive, at least occasionally. But banging my knee on the steering column on EVERY. GEAR. SHIFT. got old, real fast.

(That said, when my dad retires the Miata, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that it's coming to live with me, because we want it to stay in the family. Maybe I'd get back into autocrossing...)

As for the durability of those cars... well, my dad's has hit a deer, been rebuilt, and is still ticking. The soft top so far has been the weakest point on it, and has already been replaced once even WITHOUT a tree falling on it. Definitely be prepared for oil leaks at that age/mileage. Seems that my dad's is leaking from the VC gasket and the oil pan gasket.

[Jakgoe]

Cheap!
Fun!
Reliable!

Pick two.

[strop]

Hm. Perhaps so, Jakgoe. But some things are more reliable than others for the same price...

OK. I think I know what to do with regards to inspection and restoration. And to answer your question, vicvictory, I know that I'm right at the absolute limit for being able to fit in it. Probably be better if I took my shoes off given that I'm pushing 5'11" I need to see just how much knee banging I suffer when changing gears!

On the other hand, this car will primarily be my girlfriend's, and she'll definitely fit no problem.

[Daffyflyer]

Expect to have to replace the soft top for sure, they always die.

Mechanically it should be fine, most of them are. If it's been maintained OK it should be good for at least 300,000km engine wise, probably more. Check if the oil looks good, maybe do a compression test. New engines are pretty cheap used if needed.

It may need a bunch of new suspension bushes if it's getting on a bit, and the dampers are probably shagged too.

Maybe go post about it here - http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/ - and see what people think?

I enjoyed my MX5 for sure, they're good to drive hard and mostly indestructible

[Microwave]

I enjoyed my MX5 for sure, they're good to drive hard and mostly indestructible

Out of curiosity, what happened to yours?

[Daffyflyer]

When I moved to NZ I pulled the body off it and brought just the mechanicals over. It's going to get built into this - www.exocet.co.nz - at some point.

[Microwave]

When I moved to NZ I pulled the body off it and brought just the mechanicals over. It's going to get built into this - http://www.exocet.co.nz - at some point.

Pretty cool

[nialloftara]

Up here in New England ( northeast USA where we can get rain sleet snow hail and warm&sunny in the same day) I have a slightly insane friend who has a '99 as a year round daily driver with about 290k kms. He's had relatively few problems despite being heavy with the right foot, and rarely bothering with the clutch.

[strop]

Oh that's good news. I'm one of those rev-matching people too, except it's been a few years since I drove stick... seems like I'll finally be able to learn how to heel-toe