Yesterday I traveled from my new home in Japan to Daejeon, South Korea. Today, I'm making the first of two defenses for my PhD. Tomorrow, I schedule the second defense (assuming the committee doesn't hate everything I say today). In two days, I go to Seoul and either help a girl move house or, more likely, just chill. In three days, I fly to Hiroshima and check out this beauty. If I like it, I plan to purchase. The guy is asking about 5000 dollars (700,000 yen). The report below says it has been repaired, but passed the shaken.
Other than finding out exactly what the crash repair was, what should I look out for on these? Do you see anything concerning in the pictures? I've never owned a Miata/Roadster before.
In reply to DaewooOfDeath :
I can't offer much specific, other than maybe check the wheel gap on all-4 corners to see if the chassis is bent? But it's great to hear from you on here again.
Where are you living in Japan, and what were you doing in Daejeon? Quite a number of years ago I lived in Yeosu and entertained a job offer in Daejeon.
I had a 2000 for many years. The engine bay looks nice, clean and stock. The plastic at the top on the radiator can get a bit brittle as they age; they usually change color from black to a brownish color when it happens. It doesn't look like that radiator has changed colors or it has been replaced.
A small number of early NB's may have had a throw out bearing issue but I'd expect it to have been addressed by now (if it was an issue for this car).
Check for rust around the front frame rails.
The interior has been changed a lot from stock (at least stick in North America) but that's a matter of style and is not a repair issue.
I'm gonna say the damage was in the nose, because the front bumper cover doesn't fit correctly.
The early NBs with the thrust bearing problem usually didn't survive more than 30k miles.
Has some boy racer blingy stuff inside. See what the clutch and the rest of the drive train feel like. Good luck on the PHD!
The steering wheel and master cylinder are on the wrong side of the car, otherwise it doesn't look bad.
Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to DaewooOfDeath :
I can't offer much specific, other than maybe check the wheel gap on all-4 corners to see if the chassis is bent? But it's great to hear from you on here again.
Good idea!
And thanks, I got so busy the last couple years my car hobby kind of went away. The busy period is ending, and I'm excited to get back to tinkering and racing. I'm even thinking that if I buy this Miata, I'll use it as the canvas for a second, student-engineered, "Daewoo of Death" project.
brandonsmash said:
Where are you living in Japan, and what were you doing in Daejeon? Quite a number of years ago I lived in Yeosu and entertained a job offer in Daejeon.
I just moved to Shimonoseki (the extreme south west corner of the big island). I lived in Daejeon for 13 years before that.
Coniglio Rampante said:
I had a 2000 for many years. The engine bay looks nice, clean and stock. The plastic at the top on the radiator can get a bit brittle as they age; they usually change color from black to a brownish color when it happens. It doesn't look like that radiator has changed colors or it has been replaced.
A small number of early NB's may have had a throw out bearing issue but I'd expect it to have been addressed by now (if it was an issue for this car).
Check for rust around the front frame rails.
The interior has been changed a lot from stock (at least stick in North America) but that's a matter of style and is not a repair issue.
Okay, cool. I'll go over the cooling system. The shaken (Japanese inspection process) is pretty strict about the health of plastic parts in the engine bay, so I'd assume the radiator has already been replaced at least once.
Do they rust near the subframe or up near the firewall? I'll check both, just wandering if there's a specific place I ought to really check with my magnet.
As for the interior, I think I'll keep the seat (assuming it's a genuine Bride and properly mounted), and maybe the carpets, but the rest of the bling is going in the E36 M3 can.
Keith Tanner said:
I'm gonna say the damage was in the nose, because the front bumper cover doesn't fit correctly.
The early NBs with the thrust bearing problem usually didn't survive more than 30k miles.
Thanks! I'll look around under the bumper. It does look a little low compared to the rest of the panels.
NermalSnert (Forum Supporter) said:
Has some boy racer blingy stuff inside. See what the clutch and the rest of the drive train feel like. Good luck on the PHD!
Thanks! Did the presentation last night and they approved me for the defense. So far, so good. :)
If the soft top has any leaks whatsoever, water will collect around the battery in the trunk. If it's nice and dry in the bottom of the battery well and there are no signs of rust, you know there hasn't been any water going past the top at any point.
Break a leg on your defense. Helluva milestone.
Got the paperwork for the white Miata today. It'll be delivered later this week.
