Why the answer isn't always Miata...

...when you live in the DC area...

Even when they might look good in pictures, they always look like this when they're under $2500:

http://annapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3998523984.html

It does have the billenstine supension, but he forgot to mention wolverines lived inside it.

Well... THAT one is only that much because it's an LE.

Unfortunately, the seller knows it.

Funny enough, I would consider that for $2500 if it wasn't rusty. Goes to show, one man's trash...

I'm always surprised at the amount of LE's that are totally torn to shreds.

Were these cars also equipped with a trunk monkey who slowly lost his mind over two decades?

Stop being so cheap. What do you expect for under $2,500?

Some decent deals.

Stop being so cheap. What do you expect for under $2,500? http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/cto/3985163545.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/3991378113.html

Some decent deals.

Honestly it wouldn't be a big deal if it were a standard NA Miata, but because it's a 93LE it's pretty much impossible to find replacement door cards/seats/speaker grilles and such.

There was a 1999 Miata here in ATL for $700 with a bad motor. You guys just whine....... rust free, cheap cars.. ATL FTW!

Here's a picture of my sub $1000 car.

I actually agree with the OP that miatas are getting really pricey. There are still good deals out there, but they're getting much harder to find.

Racer1ab wrote: I'm always surprised at the amount of LE's that are totally torn to shreds. Were these cars also equipped with a trunk monkey who slowly lost his mind over two decades?

The leather is crap.

Yer on the wrong coast.

Non-typical PNW Miata.

Soon my Miata collection will be worth THOUSANDS! Maybe three! Time to retire.

You might be right in some ways. It seems the days of the $2500 low-mile, perfect condition gem Miatas are quickly waning if not gone. There's still "that guy" - I'm looking at you clownkiller - who finds a deal. Those people are either extremely lucky or are spending an hour or so per day scouring Craigslist and are able to sprint off at a moments notice and buy without a moments hesitation. I also find on M.net that "those guys" are often the ones who spend the next three months posting complaints about how their $2500 Miata has nickel and dimed them up to about $4000-5000. BTW - I bought mine back when Miatas were still fairly readily available in the $2500 range. By the time I got the necessary body work/paint, top repair and mechanical repairs done, re-did the suspension and put new tires on it, I had . . . wait for it . . . $4000-5000 into the car.

My take, Miatas are still "the answer", the answer just costs about four grand.

My $2500 Miata is past $4k now. Tires, soft top, windshield, pads/rotors/bearing, water pump and timing belt. And no fun parts yet! I still love it though.

My free Miata is probably going to cost me $20k in the next year or two.

As a side note: Its much easier to sell SWMBO on a $2500 beater and then bring it up to par a few hundred at a time. Miatas really are pretty good for that. Parts are readily available and cheap. But just be aware (and, if there is a SWMBO, make sure she's aware) the tab will turn out about the same as purchasing a better example from the beginning.