Been thinking of getting out of modding cars. Wife and I are talking about having kids, and I can't hemorrage money like this anymore. I am thinking of selling my 96 as is, or with/without certain parts. I don't know what the market is like right now. I've got a lot tied up in the car. No photos, but here's the list:

1996 Miata, 135k miles
Montego Blue, new tan vinyl top with tinted rear window
hard top with defroster window, montego blue color
new balljoints, new tie rod ends
new clutch cylinder and slave cylinder
braided clutch line
Polybush urethane suspension bushings
2000 Miata 3.90 Torsen diff, Mazda Comp diff bushings
2002 Miata 6-speed tranny with around 20k on it
Spec Stage 2+ aluminum clutch
Fidanza aluminum flywheel
Panache big brake kit with several sets of pads, stainless lines
Tein SS coilover kit with Chikara upper mounts, 9/6 springs
RB hollow front bar, OEM 12mm rear bar, also have OEM 20mm front bar
Gearheads heim joint endlinks
Momo Start passenger seat, APR driver seat
Momo steering wheel, both driver and passenger airbags available
Hard Dog M2 Sport rollbar
G-Force 6 point harnesses and the OEM seatbelts
recovered OEM 96 Miata seats with headrest speakers
Pioneer stereo with MX5 headrest speakers and Lightning door speakers
Engine is seriously modified. Wiseco +1mm pistons, Carillo rods, knife edged crank, coated bearings, 99 head that is ported with +1mm valves, 94/95 valvesprings, Webcams camshafts, Fidanza cam pullies, ARP main and head studs, intake is mildly ported, 550cc RC injectors, FM Hydra ECU, coolant reroute, CSF radiator, aftermarket fans
Enthuzacar 3" exhaust
Turbo is a BEGI S4 with 2871R turbo and largest IC they have
Garage Vary front lip, FM CF heat extractor hood, APR CF rear trunklid, AAC Style headlight kit, I also have the OEM lights, hood, headlight kit and trunk lid are painted montego blue
Volk CE28 wheels with 225/45-15 RS2 tires, 949 Racing lugs
Cruise control is intact, OEM electric side mirrors, car originally came with PS and AC but they were removed, the PS and AC parts are gone. I still have the OEM trunk.
The body is in good condition, few dings, paint's in great shape otherwise.

Obviously there's a pile of money invested. I'm in the process if installing the S4 kit, but I run out of steam to work on it. I don't know if I should complete the install and sell the car with the turbo kit in it, or put the engine bay back to naturally aspirated condition and sell it like that, also thinking of removing and selling other aftermarket parts to sell and put the car closer to OEM.

Some ideas are appreciated. What would be best at this point, what would the car be worth if I finished the turbo and sold it as it sits, etc etc?

 

I know the feeling man. That's why i sold mine off originally...well I wasn't gonna have kids, but I could see my self spending way too much. This time around I'm just doing a plain jane turbo build with 250ish whp as my goal.

That is a serious build, but as you know you will lose MUCHO bucks selling it whole vs parting it out.

 

I was considering parting it out, I can return the car to n/a condition and sell the turbo, Hydra, injectors, exhaust, trunk lid, seats, steering wheel, and put the OEM parts back on, but then I thought the engine in the car has so much money in it to not lose my *** I'd have to buy a stock replacement and sell the engine separately. I don't have the time for that. Who's going to buy the engine. I've sold engines and shipped them before, but then I'd have to go through the hassle of the swap, again. If the original engine hadn't blown up at a track event in Dec 06 I would never have built this one. I think the engine alone has $6k in it.

 

Rick,
Button the car up and drive it. Stop the building, stop the buying, start the driving. It makes absolutely no sense to loose an ***-ton of money selling your 'used' parts off without thoroughly enjoying them first. Used is used, you won't get less for it next year.

 

I hear you, believe me. I've been down this road time and time again, I never learn. I just don't want 3 cars in the driveway(wife's, Miata, another one for transport for me instead of Miata), paying insurance and such on them. I really enjoy tracking the Miata, I just don't have the ambition to work on it after every event. I need a mode of transport in addition to our Explorer, and the Miata isn't cutting it.

 

Insurance is a drop in the bucket compared to what you'll lose in both time and money parting the car out. Ask your agent what it will cost you to insure 2 cars vs 3, I'll bet the difference is minimal. I think the difference with my policy was <$100/6 mos due to the multi discount when I added the miata to my all state policy with the MB and Explorer (full coverage, agreed upon value, blah blah blah). You also don't have to drive it just as a track car; I take my miata to work (~72 miles round trip) while my MB lounges in the driveway and/or the shop. It's a fun daily driver, a little rough and loud at times, but a lot of fun to drive and averages around 30 mpg no matter how I treat it.

But if you just need the thing out of your driveway, you're welcome to store it here. I've got plenty of room for it.

 

I love this idea...So happy im done with major projects for a while. I'm almost postive I've driven the car more in the last 3 months than the last 3 years.

 

Good point on the insurance. A friend recently bought a used Expedition because he was tired of trying to daily drive his Mustang and race it at the track. He loves driving the Expedition and now has the Mustang on a trailer. He said the insurance increase was minimal.

 

Out of curiosity, what are you looking to get out of this thing? You might be able to offload the drivetrain and sell the rest of the car to someone looking for a v8 conversion.

 

Best advice. Get rid of that Mustang you have there and follow what Ben said.
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how much you looking to get

 

What are you asking for it? You shold be in the miata instead of the expedition. Your wife will be happy with gas savings.
I bought my miata to save gas. My 350 Chevy truck drank way more gas than the insurance on the miata. I was spending $125 to $250 a week in my truck. In the miata I spend $125 -$250 a month.

I didn't like spending an avg of $600-1000 a month in gas.

I love my truck but the gas cost more than I had to spend.
Seriously when you jump out of the FORD! and start driving the miata, Your acount balance wil rise Instantly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't done a build anything like yours and I'm sick of it. Just take a break from building. My girl was tired of me working all the time. I have put the turbo on back burn off and on for awhile to smooth things over. AND I HAVE BOUGHT NOTHING ELSE. But driving my truck again for a month is draining my cash flow. She is ready for me to get back into the car. LOL

Drive it and relax for awhile. Or sell it to me cheap. LOL

 

I have a silver 1997 BMW 328is in excellent condition that I could trade for your Miata. The car is mint, reliable, gets 24mpg, leather, heated seats, a/c, great sound system, 110000 miles, manual, 17" wheels, UUC exhaust and Bilstein shocks.
Let me know what you think. I can send you some pics if you want.
Braian

 

Insurance should not be an issue. I have a 93 Miata (listed as my primarily LOL!, and an 06 liberty). My insurance actually is LOWER with my miata on my policy.

 

when i was insured as the primary on the miata, it was cheaper than as the primary on my altima.

 

If you're looking to part it out I'd love to pick up the wheels and rollbar. What are the spec's and color on the CE28's?