Mess up a "rare" car or get another one

Ok, so no one wants to buy my poor broken Miata as is. So I'm taking it to the shop tomorrow. However this raises a question with me. I'm putting more money into a car I don't really want to keep. Having already put a lot of money into this car, it seems to make sense to keep it.

However, I want to use this car to get back into AutoX, track days, and getting my race licenses. And I do feel a little bad about using a "rare" Miata for this purpose. Plus there are several things I'm not crazy about on this car. The wood steering wheel, while nice, is a little thin, and is rather slick. I'm also not in love with the 6spd.

So should try to sell this Miata and find another one? Or should I just say 'nuts' to it and tear it about as I see fit?

I'd say sell it because it will be easier to find another that is more suited to your wants.

Also, it isn't rare. It is rare in comparison with other Miata's, it might be rare in twenty years, but now its just another special edition. I bet if I looked on three websites I could find 10 of them for sale right now.

That's why I said "rare". Because it's only rare in comparison. And I know that's its not even that rare.

Do as you see fit. Let someone else worry about preserving said special edition miata. If you did sell it, chances are it'll get hacked apart anyway.

When Miata isn't the answer, Locost is.

Miata's are a lot more rare to sellers than to buyers.

slantvaliant wrote: When Miata isn't the answer, Locost is.

As has been shown by Keith, local dork made good. If it runs well enough to use as a donor....well, why not?

You already own this one and know what's right and wrong with it. Why start over with an unknown?

Bastardize it, we won't tell.

Dan

Short of sawing off the windscreen, there isn't much that can't be put back to stock.

Joey

I'd say cut it up. Even if it is rare, a rare basket case is a basket case. I don't think (at least right now) you'd be able to sell it to recoup enough of the costs to justify selling, and then buying and cutting up a different Miata. Now if it were minty fresh and ziplocked its entire life, that'd be one thing, but it doesn't sound like this one was.

I don't regret "cutting up" my R-package car. Like others have said, it's not as rare as it seems, and it could be duplicating (in content if not VIN) pretty easily.

Do eet! The world needs more Westfields.

Locust isn't the answer just yet. As much as I wish it was (or maybe a Super Stalker). I mean doing the track day mods. Roll bar, shocks, etc. Guess those Nardi trim bits would fetch a little bit on ebay right?!

It's just a Miata, FFS.

And before everyone jumps all over my ass - I spent a significant part of my summer buying and completely re-doing an NA.

I wanted an e36 M3 since they came out in Europe in '93 or 94. I finally got one in 2005, and I've changed about everything that can be changed. True, I've kept the stock parts - but it would be so much labor to put it back to stock it'd never be worth it.

One thing to consider when wading into mutilating a car is:

"Is this a car with a viable market once I'm done?"

...and the answer for Miatas is yes. M3s too. Provided you use the good stuff and do it right, a well sorted modified car with no funny stories can be sold after the fact, and you'll usually get a reasonable percentage of your "investment" back.

I seemd to have missed something. What's the problem with the car?

I vote for using the one you have. If its a basket case then it will be cheaper for people to buy a perfect one than fix yours. On the plus side, used wooden Nardi Miata steering wheels in good shape go for $100+ on ebay.

Go ahead and turn it into an AutoX/track day car. There is a decent market for used AutoX Miatas when you are ready to move on.

spitfirebill wrote: I seemd to have missed something. What's the problem with the car?

It's gone through 2 Catalytic Converters in three months. Has an intermittent misfire, and another code (I can't remember it right now). The mechanic thinks a problem with the Cam Position Sensor.