Looking to get my first Miata. One, due to being in dept from a loan to get my GTI. Two, I always have really liked them. And third is my GTI costs me $140 a month for just liability and i just got a nice speeding ticket. Car is a red 1994 Miata 1.8L 78,xxx miles. Looks like some work has been done to the frame by the diff. Sitting in water maybe? (see pics)



Easy fix? Guessing so.


Body would be near perfect if it wasnt for someone using the wrong kind of towel to wipe something of the hood at one point in time. (those little scratches dirty fingers leave on cars)








Rust only on the bottom side of rotating parts....


Shiny piece of metal.










Soft top is 9/10 just needs a good cleaning.
Thoughts though? It would cost me my 20thAE GTI + cash on his end($1500-$2500)
*If anyone is interested in my GTI, I would trade for a nice Miata*
Thanks in advance for any input or help.

 

That's a lot of rust. Its bad when your oil filter starts rusting too.

You will have a fun time replacing suspension components. I would take it for cheap, but not as my daily.

 

What is he asking for the Miata? I have no idea what your GTi is worth so it is hard to determine whether is is a good value. Any recent maintenance?

With the power mirrors and AC it is likely to have a Torsen rear (no guarantee but likely). The undercarriage rust is anticipated nothing there suggests it was a longtime winter driver. Rockers and frame "rails" look pretty clean. Is there clear coat damage on the passenger side mirror?

Figure out whats up with the drivers side barn. That is more than a tweaked cover. With a good clay and polish routine the finish looks like it has a lot of life left and the rear window with plastic polish looks like it might be fine.

 

That's a good looking car - only problem is that the oil filter suggests it's been sitting dormant for awhile - the low mileage on the car concurs with that suspicion. Make sure the oil looks like oil and not chocolate milk.

The miata is probably worth 4k-5k ballpark, private sale - if everything is in average condition for an 80k mile '94 miata with trim package. Take the steering wheel cover off the wheel to see what sort of condition it's in, and make sure the body line between the front bumper / drivers side fender doesn't suggest a significant bumper hit - or if it does, make sure that the suspension is perfectly straight and repairable. The headlight covers are generally adjustable, so as long as it has room to recess itself, shouldn't be a huge issue.

 

1994: Power Mirrors? Has a Torsen. (A Package)

 

94: even the base models have the Torsen. If it's a 94 with a manual, it's got the torsen - auto = open.

 

Not true - http://www.miata.net/faq/Miata90-97A3.pdf

 

lol @ boser hood.

 

Lol if i had money to put it back to stock. Just hear me out, im not a 'stance' ***. I bought this car for SCCA. The pic shown is the day i bought it lol. Its set up for stage 2 at this point just needs a ecu reflash. All ricer **** like BOVs and slammedness has been taken car of. Raised as far as the coils will go. Would go back to stock hood if i had the money, not a fan of the boser hood aswell. As it sits now.

 

That really is not a lot of rust at all, what are you smoking?

There's minor surface rust on most of the suspension components, but nothing a wire wheel and a bit of paint won't fix.

Certainly doesn't need all the suspension components replacing.

 

This is what I was thinking. Any of you guys know what kind of cash should be added on top? My cars KBB is 6500ish, could sell it on vwvortex for probably 7k maybe 7.5k to the right person.

 

I have yet to pay over 3,000 for a Miata. My last buy had hail damage but only 34k on the chassis.

 

I wouldn't trade straight across unless you find a well modded miata, or something really clean.

That said, the miata doesn't look bad to me assuming there isn't structural damage under that headlight lid.

 

Well, I am not saying he needs to replace them. I am just stating that those nuts and bolts look pretty rusted on.

My car doesn't have any rust like that. Maybe its a southern thing.

 

Fixed for accuracy.

 

those nuts don't look rusted on in the slightest, that car will be a breeze to work on IMO.

Do you ever get any rain, like at all?

 

I think the trade value difference is going to be about $3,000

 

Looks like a nice car. Rust looks minimal for Nebraska.

You should ask for $500 to fix the headlight cover. It should be far less than that to fix, but it's a good negotiating point.

Great cars. Great year. I wish I had started with a '94 or '95.

Be advised you're going to lose some utility. It's not a hatch. Also, not a good winter driver.

 

No, I just don't have rust on my car. I drove it in the rain for the last 3 years (and had a pair of track days in the rain, including a few off-road experiences). Its been garaged the last 2 years. Don't know about the previous owner though.

I still think that rust is significant. Rear endlink nuts look pretty rusted on. The eccentrics don't look like they have been touched in years and its a bit odd to have half of a half-shaft with surface rust. Looks like the car sat is snow/water. Once again the oil filter rust along with the brake line crimp rust is a bad indicator on the previous owner's maintenance record.

I don't know man, I like a "cleaner" car I guess. I definitely wouldn't drop 5k on that, maybe 3k...with some convincing.

 

Not even close.

If you're trading in to a dealership, you're going to be very hard pressed to get them to give you ANY cash on top of the miata. If they will put in $1500 then you're doing well. If KBB retail value is $6500 then you'll be lucky to get $3k on trade-in.

If the $6500 is KBB trade-in, then you'll be doing very well to get $5500. KBB doesn't buy cars. Good luck getting a dealership to honor KBB trade-in values, especially on a modified car.