Hello everyone... Please take a look, and let me know if you see any red flags
#1
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Hi,
I'm very interested in purchasing a turbo 1999 miata I found on craigslist.
Here's the add...
1999 turbo Flyin' Miata
I also sent quite a few emails back and forth with the owner, he sent me extra pictures, and three movies of the car.
I noticed a rattle at idle, but I'm guessing it's from the level 2 flyin miata clutch.
Since you guys have way more experience with turbo miatas, please take a look at the add, and three videos, and tell me what you think. I asked the owner, and he did not go full throttle in any of the videos. He has only had the car for a few months, and hasn't gone full throttle, either, I guess it's his first turbo car, and he's scared, he said. This sort of worries me.
Here are the videos...
![](http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq300/thumpetto007/th_IMG_0228_zpsjeai54fg.mp4)
![](http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq300/thumpetto007/th_IMG_0229_zps7niarxb3.mp4)
![](http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq300/thumpetto007/th_IMG_0230_zpss9nqna4h.mp4)
Thanks for your honesty and time,
Marcello
I'm very interested in purchasing a turbo 1999 miata I found on craigslist.
Here's the add...
1999 turbo Flyin' Miata
I also sent quite a few emails back and forth with the owner, he sent me extra pictures, and three movies of the car.
I noticed a rattle at idle, but I'm guessing it's from the level 2 flyin miata clutch.
Since you guys have way more experience with turbo miatas, please take a look at the add, and three videos, and tell me what you think. I asked the owner, and he did not go full throttle in any of the videos. He has only had the car for a few months, and hasn't gone full throttle, either, I guess it's his first turbo car, and he's scared, he said. This sort of worries me.
Here are the videos...
Thanks for your honesty and time,
Marcello
Last edited by thumpetto007; 06-02-2015 at 04:24 AM.
#2
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Oh, and I'd be driving it hard, attending instructed track days as much as possible.
I've been reading these cars have an incredible engine vibration, and manifold and turbo studs work themselves loose, and all sorts of things...
The flyin miata kit the car has seems to be an older one, has the solid intercooler pipes, would I need to switch all the studs to inconel, and safety wire stuff down?
I've been reading these cars have an incredible engine vibration, and manifold and turbo studs work themselves loose, and all sorts of things...
The flyin miata kit the car has seems to be an older one, has the solid intercooler pipes, would I need to switch all the studs to inconel, and safety wire stuff down?
#8
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My thought is that it looks like a nicely sorted well cared for street car with none of the usual track mods recommended around here. At claimed power levels in a sorted track ready car I would expect inconel studs (which you noted), coolant reroute, 6 speed, real engine management, better suspension, different wheels and tires, and you're probably near the limits of the stock bottom end.
In the US you could likely get a slightly less pretty but much more track ready car for similar money, however, being in Canada I'm not sure how the market compares.
In the US you could likely get a slightly less pretty but much more track ready car for similar money, however, being in Canada I'm not sure how the market compares.
#10
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Where did you get Canada?
and no, you can't.
a 70k mile motor NB with a ball bearing turbo, some sort of non-raceland aftermarket suspension, name brand parts, and several other tasteful mods.
7500 is a more than fair price if the motor checks out and things are mechanically sound.
and no, you can't.
a 70k mile motor NB with a ball bearing turbo, some sort of non-raceland aftermarket suspension, name brand parts, and several other tasteful mods.
7500 is a more than fair price if the motor checks out and things are mechanically sound.
If OP is ready to put some additional dollars into track prep then this would appear to be a really solid starting point, although maybe running a bit less boost to keep from kaboom to the tranny/bottom end.
#12
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Hm interesting...
I'd be getting Fat Cat Motorsports Elite coils, almost no matter what miata I end up buying...
What about this one... built by one of the Flyin Miata guys
1999 Flyin Miata -CARB approved turbo
I'd be getting Fat Cat Motorsports Elite coils, almost no matter what miata I end up buying...
What about this one... built by one of the Flyin Miata guys
1999 Flyin Miata -CARB approved turbo
#13
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Hm interesting...
I'd be getting Fat Cat Motorsports Elite coils, almost no matter what miata I end up buying...
What about this one... built by one of the Flyin Miata guys
1999 Flyin Miata -CARB approved turbo
I'd be getting Fat Cat Motorsports Elite coils, almost no matter what miata I end up buying...
What about this one... built by one of the Flyin Miata guys
1999 Flyin Miata -CARB approved turbo
If you're serious about regular track work you should read through this thread: turbo reliability on the track. Realize that many of those guys are very fast, and are racing competitively so they are demanding more from their cars than the typical HPDE driver, but much of the advice still applies if you want to run reliably on the track.
#15
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OP Where are you located?
That blue car was original advertised as having something like 60k miles on it. It went quickly, then came back up in the ad posted there with a more truthful explanation of the mileage.
It seems like a decent deal, but not a great one. You can buy a decent '99 for under $5,000, so for $2500 more you're getting a decent-but-old turbo system, old ECU, rollbar, exhaust, etc. A decent value, but a lot of that should be changed or at least freshened for track use.
Car sounds pretty good under acceleration though.
Where do you live?
That blue car was original advertised as having something like 60k miles on it. It went quickly, then came back up in the ad posted there with a more truthful explanation of the mileage.
It seems like a decent deal, but not a great one. You can buy a decent '99 for under $5,000, so for $2500 more you're getting a decent-but-old turbo system, old ECU, rollbar, exhaust, etc. A decent value, but a lot of that should be changed or at least freshened for track use.
Car sounds pretty good under acceleration though.
Where do you live?
#17
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Thinking about it more, it's a much better deal than my white Miata was. I paid almost $8k for a 2000 with a rods-only built motor,China turbo, begi log and MS2e. Tear in soft top, no roll bar, raceland coils, needed a tune, open diff, sucky paint.
I think this car is way ahead of where that one was by the time I got it.
I think this car is way ahead of where that one was by the time I got it.
#18
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For reference I paid $8750 for this car last year: https://www.miataturbo.net/cars-sale...0-500-a-78093/
I've tracked it multiple times and haven't had to touch a thing. 220whp dyno tuned @12psi
I think the first car posted is a good starting platform for a track day car, but see if you can do better than $7500 on it. It's been for sale for 2 months, market talks right there.
I've tracked it multiple times and haven't had to touch a thing. 220whp dyno tuned @12psi
I think the first car posted is a good starting platform for a track day car, but see if you can do better than $7500 on it. It's been for sale for 2 months, market talks right there.
#19
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Yeah, he was asking $9k originally but has come on down.
I'm not sure it's worth traveling out from Utah though, but that's just my thought.
Edit: i'd consider buying that turbo kit just posted for sale by Chiburbian in the classifieds, the ultimate spool kit, and putting it on a stock Miata yourself.
I'm not sure it's worth traveling out from Utah though, but that's just my thought.
Edit: i'd consider buying that turbo kit just posted for sale by Chiburbian in the classifieds, the ultimate spool kit, and putting it on a stock Miata yourself.