Forums » $2012 Classifieds » 90 Miata, $1100. Runs, drives, ratty
  • Sonic

    Sept. 13, 2011 7:34 p.m. Sonic Dork

    Yes, this is mine. When I bought it, I was making a track rat out of it. Then I built a lemons car, now I'm about to build another one, so no more room for the Miata.

    Stats: 1990 model (1989 build), 173k miles, A package. Located in southeastern PA (Birdsboro). Clear title.

    This car runs and drives well, I've driven it 10k miles since June 2010, as far as New Orleans and back, and it has been my daily driver most of the time for the past year. It is probably a bit too rough for a street car, but is a great race/lemons/GRM/crazy whatever project car, that you can drive on the street while you gather parts.

    Mechanically: The engine doesn't burn or leak a drop of oil between 5k mile changes and is strong for a 1.6, trans shifts well. Mechanically, it is good all around. Brakes are fine, trans has never ground and shifts fine, steering works fine, etc. Recently replaced (in last 10K): Clutch (complete kit), clutch master and slave, timing belt, thermostat, plugs, wires, backup light switch, battery. Needs: Starter is getting old, and you have to click it a few times before starting, but it always starts.

    Mods: Tokico springs and shocks were on it when I bought it.

    Cosmetically, it is a rough car. Interior is somewhat missing (one door panel, gauge hood, little bits). It has a Sparco R100 seat on the driver's side, stock passenger seat.

    Body wise, not much rust, just the spot in the spot in front of the rear wheels that all old miatas rust. I put some fiberglass over the floors as they were starting to get thin in places, they are very solid now and sealed in epoxy. The LF fender is beat, and the reast of the body is fair at best. The top holds out the water for the most part, but is old.

    Plenty of parts to sell off to recoup: Good tombstone, low profile lights, fair rear finish panel, etc.

    Really, it is a reliable, decent car, but would take too much work cosmetically to make a good street car, but it is a perfect race car project. $1100 firm for GRM/Lemons folks, will go on CL in a few days for more. email: abbottcd at g mail dot com, or call me: 508fivesixty six 65 fourty fiver.

    Lots of (not so) pretty pictures here




  • Junkyard_Dog

    Sept. 13, 2011 7:59 p.m. Junkyard_Dog Dork

    Willing to sell the Lo-Pros if I send some stock lights to replace them with?

    I love going to the Pull-a-Part because the dollar admission is cheaper than most car shows and you almost always see cooler cars.

  • Sonic

    Sept. 13, 2011 8:05 p.m. Sonic Dork

    Sure. They kind of suck as headlights, but if you want to, I'm game.

    Chris - 2007 BABE champion, 2008 2nd place. Miata, MGA, DiscoII 2010 - Trifecta of Crap in the Wartburg. $2002, $2006 $2010 challenger

  • corytate

    Sept. 13, 2011 9:05 p.m. corytate Reader

    damn, if it was 500 and closer....

  • Sonic

    Sept. 13, 2011 9:22 p.m. Sonic Dork

    Absolutely, $500 Miatas are great. This one was a $500 miata at one point, when it had an even worse top on it, and needed a clutch and clutch hydros, etc, and that was when the guy needed the cash and we were first there with a trailer.

    Chris - 2007 BABE champion, 2008 2nd place. Miata, MGA, DiscoII 2010 - Trifecta of Crap in the Wartburg. $2002, $2006 $2010 challenger

  • Donebrokeit

    Sept. 13, 2011 9:31 p.m. Donebrokeit Reader

    You have a PM

  • Sonic

    Sept. 13, 2011 9:37 p.m. Sonic Dork

    Replied, let me know if you don't get it.

    Pics are in the link in the first post, and here it is again

    https://picasaweb.google.com/102432166604685470769/Miata

    Chris - 2007 BABE champion, 2008 2nd place. Miata, MGA, DiscoII 2010 - Trifecta of Crap in the Wartburg. $2002, $2006 $2010 challenger

  • Lugnut

    Sept. 14, 2011 1:07 p.m. Lugnut Dork

    Does the AC work?

    A mouse has cut the wire! Good-by!

  • dculberson

    Sept. 14, 2011 3:11 p.m. dculberson HalfDork

    Chris drove me around in this and it was great. Sure it's rough but there are plenty of people on here that would use it as a street car as is.

  • Sonic

    Sept. 14, 2011 4:55 p.m. Sonic Dork

    Dave, thanks for chiming in. I used it as a street car for a year, it was fine. Not pretty, but fine.

    Lugnut: Sure, the roof goes down easily. Seriously though, all of the A/C stuff is there, but it does not blow cold. It was a cheap Miata, I just put the top down and drove faster, and on those 100+ degree days, I took my Land Rover with meat locker A/C.

    Other stuff I forgot in the ad: New windshield (that was $270), and new O2 sensor.

    Chris - 2007 BABE champion, 2008 2nd place. Miata, MGA, DiscoII 2010 - Trifecta of Crap in the Wartburg. $2002, $2006 $2010 challenger

  • Maroon92

    Sept. 14, 2011 6:18 p.m. Maroon92 SuperDork

    Man, I want this... Shucks!

    XBL GamerTag: bcbrownell Racing is the process of turning money into noise.

  • BoostedBrandon

    Sept. 14, 2011 10:14 p.m. BoostedBrandon Reader

    A mechanically sound miata that's not pretty.... It's perfect!

    Now if only I had one of those super supportive spouses who "just wanted to see you happy"

    Turbos are like ketchup, they make everything better!

  • Sonic

    Sept. 18, 2011 1:06 p.m. Sonic Dork

    Now up on CL

    http://reading.craigslist.org/cto/2604970460.html

    Chris - 2007 BABE champion, 2008 2nd place. Miata, MGA, DiscoII 2010 - Trifecta of Crap in the Wartburg. $2002, $2006 $2010 challenger

  • Klayfish

    Sept. 19, 2011 10:16 a.m. Klayfish HalfDork

    Oh how the wife would kill me...but I work in downtown Reading, so I'm 15 minutes from you...

    When do it's inspection stickers expire?

  • Sonic

    Sept. 24, 2011 9:08 a.m. Sonic Dork

    I just checked the crank pulley this morning for a potential buyer, and can confirm this is a long nose crank motor. As this is obviously not original, I have no idea how many miles are on the motor, but I would assume it is significantly lower than the chassis mileage. There is no lifter noise from the HLAs, and the motor is strong for a 1.6.

    Chris - 2007 BABE champion, 2008 2nd place. Miata, MGA, DiscoII 2010 - Trifecta of Crap in the Wartburg. $2002, $2006 $2010 challenger

  • Sonic

    Sept. 27, 2011 9:24 p.m. Sonic Dork

    Bump. Still here.

    Any ideas on where to list this aside from here and CL?

    I didn't think it would be so hard to sell a cheap Miata that runs and drives well.

    Chris - 2007 BABE champion, 2008 2nd place. Miata, MGA, DiscoII 2010 - Trifecta of Crap in the Wartburg. $2002, $2006 $2010 challenger

  • JThw8

    Sept. 28, 2011 3:38 a.m. JThw8 SuperDork

    Sonic wrote: Bump. Still here. Any ideas on where to list this aside from here and CL? I didn't think it would be so hard to sell a cheap Miata that runs and drives well.

    The used market on "toys" is flaky right now. I know you dont want to sit on it but come spring you can bump the price up a few hundred on CL and it will go quick. 'Tis just not convertible sellin time here in the northeast.

    OTTER: "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part." BLUTO: "We're just the guys to do it."

  • Whitey

    Oct. 7, 2011 4:38 p.m. Whitey New Reader

    PM sent

  • Sonic

    Oct. 7, 2011 9:12 p.m. Sonic Dork

    Replied, SOLD and gone, sad to see it go.

    Chris - 2007 BABE champion, 2008 2nd place. Miata, MGA, DiscoII 2010 - Trifecta of Crap in the Wartburg. $2002, $2006 $2010 challenger

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