Very little, nothing actually ever broke, simply scheduled maintenance was it. In the two years I had the car I replaced two ignition coils ($100), 2 tires and the battery, which would need to be done on any car. Ignition coils went bad because it was tuned. I did three oil changes ($50 each) with full synthetic in that period and I changed the air filters and DSG transmission fluid at 40k miles ($200). I'd love nothing more than to say its a giant hunk of crap, but it just simply wasn't. I doubt I spent even $1000 over that two year period on the car.

 

Would you say that, that sort of maintenance cost is possible on a 2006 SLK 350 or somewhere close?
Or it would be $1000 annually for it?
It would be approx 80k miles 2006.

 

I have no earthly idea, but I always put Mercedes, BMW and Audi in the same leagues as far as cost. If anything went wrong with that hardtop it could get VERY costly.

 

[QUOTE=rpnp;24172213]I can find a "nice" miata NC for under 8k? One that's a hard top convertible?
The cheapest hardtop I found was $8,500 with 85k miles.


The example you found sounds good. You may be able to negotiate down under 8k on that one.
Cargurus is mostly what I use. I just found an 08 in Richmond CA with 102k for $7888 with hardtop, manual trans. If I wasn't so computer illiterate, I would post a hyperlink. The hardtop stipulation makes it a bit harder but they're out there. Not sure where you are located but that is just an example of what is out there.

As far as lowering springs, Eibach pro kit ride well and can be had for $250 or so. Not sure if they should be used with stock shocks or not. You'd have to research, but all in all not very expensive and really make the Miatas look good. Only like 1.5 inch drop so not slammed or problems with speed bumps.

Found a Silver one in Texas with 88k Hadrtop, silver for 9995. You may be able to get it for 9k. Probably 1000 miles from you but just an example. Damn good looking car in silver with a hardtop.

 

Yeah, I see those 100k+ mile miata's but then the question becomes, do 100k+ mile miata's still run good? Do they/will they last another 100k miles?
Reason why this question is very important is because there are TONS of cars out there with 100k miles on them that can be had for that price range but then the question becomes which one of those 100k mile cars will easily run another 100k & which one's body would be still going strong after riding it for 100k miles.

 

when I say there are tons of cars out there with 100k miles that can be had in my range I meant different makes (Mercedes, Audis, bow's, Porsche's, you name it).
All in my range if I buy 100k mile used car. Questions becomes out of all those which still holds strong even after being driven 100k miles.

 

Of all those, definately the Miata will go longer with less maintenance costs. And yes, I would have total faith in a well cared for Miata breaking 200k while still feeling nice and very soild.

 

For lowering Springs on stock shocks you want flying miata springs. Most miata lowering Springs don't increase rates appropriately and you end up riding the bumpstops most of the time. Flyin miata does nothing but miata aftermarket and know their stuff.

 

I may have missed this but have you driven either car? If you haven't you really should. I would go test drive a few different ones as well. You can look in the local subforums on here and see if there is any meets by you so you can talk to people go for rides and may drive a few if people are generous (also a good group to know for help with learning about the cars).. I have gone on linger drives in my S2000 and yes there are more comfortable cars but it is fun to drive and it still have cruise control and what not. Its not a horribly rough ride but its no caddy.

 

A luxury german car? One repair can easily be $1k. On my Audi A6, timing belt was a $2k job. More if cam seals needed. Every repair just cost twice to four times as much as other cars.

As for the buzzy vibes Miata post, the guy mentioned he had stiff motor mounts. Those would make a smooth car buzzy. Drive one yourself so you can see how they feel stock.