Project car/3rd car ideas

For the record the AW11 isn't really any more difficult to work on than a miata. I get the thinking here and the MR2 can be a little annoying having to reach over the car or gain access form under but the drivetrain in the miata is actually more difficult to work on, IMHO. The SW20 MR2's have a much larger engine bay but the engine packaging makes them difficult to service much like the Miata. I'd bet the farm I could do a head gasket on an aw11 in half the time I could do the same in an nb, and my back would hurt less.

The answer is Miata

rwd, fun to drive, easily and inexpensively modded, cheap

So, I've been talking about getting another project/weekend car for quite a while now.... I have scoured the intrawebs for months and months on end looking for the "right one" as I continued to save cash. My initial plan was to try and stay below $5000 in the interest of getting a well maintained vehicle at a reasonable price..... I went over my budget; but not by much. I suppose I've never been one for blindly adhering to my own self-imposed guidelines! :D

I happened to run across a great deal on my new-to-me titanium gray metallic 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata! The car is clean and runs strong. Better still, it was a Carfax verified 1-owner car, with a clean title and no accidents. It appears to be bone stock (although I haven't clawed through it as of yet) and was apparently owned by an older, retired gentleman who got a brand new NC Miata. She's got a whopping 78k miles on the clock! She has 2 very small [pebble sized] dings on the hood, but other than that, is just about flawless. Interior is in great shape, the clutch feels solid and the car shifts smoothly. I get the impression that the previous owner took very good care of her.

I managed to pick her up for $6900..... Which took a bit of negotiating on my part to say the least. So, yeah, I went over my budget by a couple grand... but given the mileage, condition and rarity of the vehicle, I couldn't pass it up!

The way I figured it, if I bought either an NA or NB Miata, I would spend more money modding them to get them up to this level of performance than it cost me to just buy this factory boosted car in the first place. :D That is taking into account for the extra power, wheels/tires, suspension, torsen LSD, 6-speed, ect. Plus, I've always dug the look of the Mazdaspeed version, so it was a win-win.

I really enjoyed my old NA Miata; but to be honest, this thing is an absolute riot to drive! Not the fastest car I've ever owned by a long-shot, but thus far it feels very balanced, capable and is no longer lacking the grunt that I yearned for in my old NA.

I suppose the biggest problem I've found with it thus far is that I really don't have any desire to do anything to it at this point. :lol: I'm sure the "mod bug" will eventually kick in, but for now, I'm digging everything about it and am glad to be back in the Mazda community. :)

Cliff notes: -Patiently waiting for the right deal is a good thing. Great deals to be had on Miata's after the state has been pummeled with snow for a month!
-Miata's are a lot of fun! Miata+turbocharger= even more so!

And yes, I know, this thread is useless without pics:

[URL=http://s22.photobucket.com/user/roninsoldier83/media/Miata1_zps82e1a4d8.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s22.photobucket.com/user/roninsoldier83/media/Miata2_zps00023967.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s22.photobucket.com/user/roninsoldier83/media/Miata4_zps081bea56.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s22.photobucket.com/user/roninsoldier83/media/Miata3_zpsced33129.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s22.photobucket.com/user/roninsoldier83/media/Miata6_zps8feac88f.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s22.photobucket.com/user/roninsoldier83/media/Miata8_zps690e644a.jpg.html][/URL] Cheers!

-Brandon

Great choice - beautiful car!