A used Miata is an excellent choice for several reasons:
- Fundamentally, they are, like all Japanese cars, well designed and well built from high quality materials (a TOTALLY different ownership experience from a British or Italian - or even a German two seater sports car);
- The electrical systems are robust and everything normally works, and keeps on working;
- Mechanically, they have few known weaknesses and there is an excellent web forum for technical support plus parts are widely available should you need anything;
- They are essentially very simple cars and routine repairs such as brakes, belts and hoses are easily done b anyone who can fix a motorcycle (plus they use the same fasteners as our bikes);
- These cars are not teenybopper cars so it is unlikely that they have been abused or neglected.
- They are generally purchased by older folks who have a little dough so it is unlikely that maintenance has been skipped plus, they have usually been garage and never winter-driven and (except for my two cars) they seldom build-up very high mileages because they are usually driven only occasionally;
- They are about the most fun you can have on four wheels with your clothes on.
I have had two Miata:
- a 1994 BRG with ABS, A/C and a limited slip differential which I bought in 2000 with around 107,000 km (about 70,000 miles) on it. This car went to 315,000 km with no serious issues at all and I sold it in 2015 for a couple of thousand to a pal who is still enjoying it.
- a 2006 which I bought in 2012 with about 40,000 km. I still have this car and it’s up over 160,000 km with NOTHING done (not one single repair that required a tool) except routine maintenance and tires. I haven’t ever even replaced a light bulb on it.
My former neighbour was the VP of Engineering and R&D for a major auto parts manufacturer so he had skills and some bucks plus he was very methodical. He used to have an MGB that he rebuilt from a basket case and it was
perfect when he had finished it.
I once asked him if he was going to drive it to work across the river over in Southfield Michigan and he looked startled and said, “
Sh!t no Pete, I have to get to work every day!”