Worth paying extra for low mileage NA special editions?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Classic Motorsports

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Oct. 14, 2011 12:29 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

That's NA as in Miata, of course. Goes without saying around here .

I'm dithering between a getting a low mileage NA or NB Miata (because I wouldn't have to borrow that much money but it'd still help my credit) and getting a 911. The latter would require me to borrow more and TBH I'd like to wait until at least my 911 in UK sells unless I get a screaming deal on one here.

Anyway, I saw several low mileage NA special editions in SoCal (one 97 M-Edition with about 75k and an STO with about 80k - looks like you couldn't have the LSD on the STO, which makes it less interesting) and they seem to be in the $5k-$8k range. Is it worth paying that sort of premium over the earlier or higher mileage cars?

Ideally I'd like one that already has an LSD that I might have to find an hardtop and a Hard Dog roll bar for and leave it at that. Oh, and I want to get a few years out of it, including track use.
Oct. 14, 2011 12:39 p.m. Woody SuperDork

You have mail.

Porsche. Everyday.
Oct. 14, 2011 1:31 p.m. Keith SuperDork

You'll have to decide on whether the special edition aspect is worth more to you or not. Some people just have to have a BRG or yellow car and will pay extra for the privilege, for example. Others don't care.

As for the mileage, that depends on how long you want to keep the car I guess. Miatas are long-lived cars but they're not immortal. One thing to watch with the leather seat cars is that the seats wear badly, and a low mileage example is much less likely to need a set of Crazy Red Italian leather covers.

Square left in 50 caution ocean!
Oct. 14, 2011 3:41 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

I know about the leather seats - my first Miata was a JDM "V-Spec" in BRG so I saw first hand how they suffer.

The main reason I'm thinking about certain special editions is because I want a car with a torsen LSD and getting an M-Edition should accomodate that nicely.

Sanity is vastly overrated.
Oct. 14, 2011 4:25 p.m. Keith SuperDork

About the Torsens - most of the early (1994-95) cars have them. The M Edition would certainly guarantee it though.

Square left in 50 caution ocean!
Oct. 15, 2011 5:04 a.m. Woody SuperDork

Is that true: No LSD in the STO?

Porsche. Everyday.
Oct. 15, 2011 8:58 a.m. kazoospec Reader

I asked the same question when I stumbled on a 1994 M Edition. The consensus here and at certain other, grumpier, Miata sites was that the special editions really aren't "worth" that much more unless they are your "dream car". I ended up buying the one I was looking at because it was a decent price for any Miata of the same year/mileage/condition. I didn't end up paying a "premium" because when I asked the dealership (smallish "Mom and Pop" country dealership) if it was an M Edition, their answer was "What's an M Edition?" Oh, never mind.

So I guess it depends on whether you've "gotta have it" or not. As a general rule, I'd say no, not "worth" any more. Oh, and as a side note, if I wanted full coverage, my insurance carrier was going to charge me more because it was an M Edition.
Oct. 15, 2011 11:43 a.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

In reply to Woody:

According to the Miata.net special editions FAQ, you couldn't get the Torsen on an STO. Admittedly I find this a little odd, too.

Sanity is vastly overrated.
Oct. 15, 2011 11:49 a.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

In reply to kazoospec:

The main reason - apart from really like the colour on the 95 and 97 M-Editions is that (as mentioned above) I'd get all the options I'd want with them. For some odd reason there also seem to be more low mileage M-Editions around compared to the "regular" ones.

Of course the other model that might give me what I'd want would be the R Package but the last one that was for sale within a 500 mile radius from here evolved into a CL bidding war that I excused myself from.

Sanity is vastly overrated.
Oct. 15, 2011 1:04 p.m. Keith SuperDork

BoxheadTim wrote: In reply to Woody: According to the Miata.net special editions FAQ, you couldn't get the Torsen on an STO. Admittedly I find this a little odd, too.

Mazda was hurting at that point, and was decontenting the cars as much as possible.

Square left in 50 caution ocean!
Oct. 15, 2011 1:18 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

And I guess outside enthusiast circles, most people wouldn't miss the LSD.

Then again, maybe I've just read too many "perfect college car for your daughter" ads for Miatas in the last couple of days.

Sanity is vastly overrated.
Oct. 15, 2011 2:43 p.m. z31maniac SuperDork

I'd say no, but then, I finally just decided the premium for a 1.8/Torsen car wasn't worth it over a 1.6/Open car.
Oct. 15, 2011 2:47 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

Well, I've owned three 1.6s so far and decided it's time for a 1.8. The last 1.6 had a turbo and a Torsen and I'd like the Torsen again. Not the badly installed turbo, though.

Sanity is vastly overrated.