ingannilo

Hi all,

I'm gonna start by saying that I love the NA miata. Had mine for around 15 years. Sold it recently. Now my wife is looking to buy a new-to-her daily driver, and she's missing the miata.

We've been talking a lot about what cars make sense given her needs. She has to commute from where we live to school, about 116 miles round trip. She's wanting to buy an NA, and despite my love for these cars, I am in the "not the right move" camp. I daily'd mine for over a decade, but never with such a long commute, and while it was great, it was definitely a lot of work.

My argument is basically this: any NA is gonna be nearing or over 30 years old, so no matter the milage, no matter how much maintenance, things will break and money will have to be continuously poured in to keep it workable as a 100+ mile per day commuter car.

She asked me to ask y'all since she's aware of the awesome community here. I know this is like asking a junky if they should do drugs, but we need some outside voices to get us out of thr loop we've been stuck in. I think a corolla or prius or basically anything late model is the smarter move.

For the record, we are not at all wealthy, and money is tight every month. Anyhow. If you've got anything to share here, please chime in.

Thanks!

fooger03

iTrader: (2)

Just have her put aside $500/month for repairs into a savings account. She'll either have the money to fix it when it breaks, or else she'll have the money for a down payment on something else when the commute starts wearing her down.

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

If money is tight, and reliability is important, I'd go for a newer simpler car like you mentioned.

If she really wants an NA, get a commuter, then save up and buy an NA, and fix it up over time so it's reliable. That way if the NA is a money pit, or is broke, or whatever, park it, and drive the newer more reliable car.

I love these cars too, I have a 99 10AE with low miles that I did a mini restoration on a year ago. Prob 100 hours and a few grand. I car still rattle off 4 or 5 small issues the car has.... Passenger door gasket leaks sometimes, smell fuel inside and don't know why, possibly still has worlds slowest coolant leak but not sure, and it needs tires, and needs a bose delte and stereo install, need to tweak the steering wheel alignment. Did I mention I put 100+ hours and several grand into it last year? It's nice, but it's still not perfect. It's 25 years old, it be doing old car things.

rascal

this. 1000%

As much fun as a NA or NB is to drive every now and then, something newer and more modern is soo much better to deal with as a daily it’s not funny.

If you are dead set on a miata then aim for a ND or if funds don’t allow then a NC as these even are worlds better for daily usage than an NA.
fwiw, I have a NB1 for 15yrs and a stock NB2 and whilst both are fun for the occasional Sunday afternoon blat, the golf at the time, and now the brz get the nod almost every other time… smoother, quieter, more comfortable, more mod cons.

30yr old cars are just old, and feel it, despite the rose tinted glasses we wear as we have emotional attachments to our old cars..