But seriously, is this worthy of my hard earned money?
99 miata, 63k, red with ripped black softtop, 5 speed, has been parked and not started/run for 5 years, but it ran last it was parked.
$900.
I'm fond of basketcases, maybe this is worth it? I don't 'need' it, but then again, a cheap vert manual that I can teach my wife stick on is definitely relevant to my interests. It's only about 30min from me too.
WWgrmD?
If it's not rusty, yes.
Heck, I'm planning on selling my '99 with 3x the milage, rust, but it runs, for 2-3x that amount.
Is it really that much of a basket case?
Since my wife want to keep my POS, I'd rock that car and replace the one I have.
Where is the "Duh." smiley??? 
If that was near me, I'd be $900 poorer. Well, actually, probably not, with my luck trying to buy Miatas, I'd be there 15 minutes after they sold it to someone else. (grumble, grumble, cuss, spit, grumble)
If this thing is terminal, do you have space / time / interest in parting it out and selling bits on ebay? Because if so, I would think this thing would yield some decent parts if it turns out to be a basket case.
ReverendDexter wrote: If that was near me, I'd be $900 poorer. Well, actually, probably not, with my luck trying to buy Miatas, I'd be there 15 minutes after they sold it to someone else. (grumble, grumble, cuss, spit, grumble)
$900 poorer, a Miata Richer. Good trade off to me.
Parked inside or outside? The top being ripped would concern me, check the floors.
It's probably already sold. 
Does it include the hardtop? 
going to look at it tonight. He sent some pics. It's got the lovely paint fade and clearcoat peeling on the hood, fenders, and front bumper. It's been parked outside but he said it was tarped the whole time. The rip on the top isn't huge, only about 5" he said. Interior is trashed, per him.
We shall see...
golfduke wrote: The rip on the top isn't huge, only about 5" he said.
No, that is huge.
RossD wrote:golfduke wrote: The rip on the top isn't huge, only about 5" he said.No, that is huge.
Huge, but it also depends on the damage.
If the rust isn't bad, it's not as if these are the most uncommon cars, so you may be able to find decet parts used. And I have almost bought new covers for my seats, they were not all that bad.
If the damage is super bad, well...
hey, at least there's not much interior that needs to be taken out to be cleaned.....
RossD wrote:golfduke wrote: The rip on the top isn't huge, only about 5" he said.No, that is huge.
I've been telling my wife that for 13 years
Start with assuming the worst - maybe broken timing belt and water dripping in through the ripped top. What would it take to make it whole again? Could you find a better one for what it would take to make this one functional? I'm sure you can get your money back in parts or flip so it's fairly safe until you start spending on it to make it something.
I'd buy almost any Miata for 900.
ZOO wrote: I'd buy almost any Miata for 900.
This. I'd wire the dude some money now based on the description in the OP, wouldn't even need pictures.
Tarps are not kind to cars.
Worse case you flip it or part it. You know the shell is worth $200 at the yard.
Tops are a one day adventure to replace...$500 for a Robins top?
"Ran when parked" always scares me. At a minimum, you have a lot of crap in the fuel system that I cant begin to figure how you are going to clean out well enough to keep injectors happy.
Figure Miatas in running condition that need nothing and look reasonable can be had for around 4k, and you might decide this one is not worth the time, effort and $900
Figure Miatas in a drifters paradise cost less than $1500 and have less 100k on the clock.... At the very least he'll get his money back.
I can't find a Miata in my area for under $1500, running or not.
NOHOME wrote: Tarps are not kind to cars. Worse case you flip it or part it. You know the shell is worth $200 at the yard. Tops are a one day adventure to replace...$500 for a Robins top? "Ran when parked" always scares me. At a minimum, you have a lot of crap in the fuel system that I cant begin to figure how you are going to clean out well enough to keep injectors happy. Figure Miatas in running condition that need nothing and look reasonable can be had for around 4k, and you might decide this one is not worth the time, effort and $900
The thing is that it's an NB... You can't find an NB worth a E36 M3 for $4k.
If you were closer, I'd be all over that motor. Friend just blew his 99 motor o his SM. 
can't hurt to look
I looked. It was bad... like 'waste of $4 in gas to drive out there' bad...
First, the tarp was as holy as the top, and if the seller measured the hole as 5" long, he's sorely mistaken. It was more like 18". After I cleaned out the 10" of half-rotten leaves-strewn-with mice-poop debris from the floorboards, )did I mention it was parked windows down?) I could instantly tell that those needed replacing. I didn't bother to check the frame, as the chassis was rustily spent. 3 mismatched wheels on 4 different tires. Also, the intake was removed prior to being parked, so the intake manifold was all rusted up to hell and clogged with fabric and foam that the mice transported from the driver's seat.
It wasn't pretty, which is probably why it's still available.
Gearheadotaku wrote: can't hurt to look
sounds like it almost did...
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