Great thoughts! Especially the driving school idea. I do like the Miata idea, just in case she decides it is really not for her - after a quick look I can find an '03 Miata with under 50k miles for about 12k and an NFR '03 S2k for about 23k. Little late in the season, so maybe in a month the prices will be even better. Where is this Skip Barber school?

The local Miata club has 3 Dragon trips each year.

Dave

 

^^ In the dead of winter few people are looking to buy convertibles, especially sports cars. You'll probably be able to get a great deal in a couple/months. Good luck with it.

 

Good point, Val! Her birthday is Oct 10, so I may try and swing a deal beforehand, but if no on is dealing, there is always January. Want to get her something nice - looks like for around $15k I can get an 03 or 04 with under 30k miles and decently equipped. I suppose it is possible that she might not WANT to trade for an S (since she will be able to drive mine) so would be nice to get a lower mileage one both for trade in values and if she decides to keep it.

I'm looking at this one:

Miata

and this one:

Miata #2

 

The great thing about the Miata is that you can get a really great one for a lot less than $10k. IMHO, the pre '99 are the best looking, and many are available babied, with low milage. Easy to work on, great to beat on, and a snap to wash and wax! I miss my old '93 at times, you could wind it out and feel like speed racer, while staying within the limits of the law.

 

on that pretty little red one. Black is gorgeous, but is harder to keep clean. Get her one of those sexy Italian strawberry red cars!!!

 

Not that your wife isn't worth it, but I would not be looking at 3 or 4 year old Miatas for a learner car. Late 90s cars are great and will have taken the biggest depreciation hit. The cars you are looking at will still loose plenty of value in a year or two. My price point would be around $7500. Use it for a year or two and sell it for $5500 or $6000. the cars that you are looking at will loose about four or five grand in a year or two.

 

 

Interesting. I was leaning toward a newer one because of a paranoia about older cars getting parts, etc. And the airbag switch in the newer ones is great since we have a 7 year-old. Another possibility is she likes the Mazda enough that she doesn't trade up, but at least is capable of driving my S2k when she wants. I wouldn't mind keeping it for a weekend car for her if she decides that is what she wants to do...

I'm not seeing anything locally earlier than '99 atm, so I guess it is time to intensify the search.

thanks!
Dave

 

If you think she's going to be keeping it a long time, I'd go ahead and get a newer one. It looks to me from the prices you've posted so far she'll get her $$ worth if she keeps it for a long time. I'd do a little research on the Miata forum to see what kinds of problems people post about. I don't have any experience with miata myself, but I have a friend who has one of the first model years and the only thing she's had to do besides replace a battery and plug wires is keep it well maintained. She says she'll never give it up and plans to keep it forever.

 

Picked up the Black Cherry - got them down to $14.5k. It's a realy stunning color - hope she likes it We'll know soon enough it's gettting delivered in a few hours...

Runs really nicely tho the lack of power and stiffness is immediately evident. Still a year left on factory warranty so I can get the few nits taken care of.

Of course, being black, it needs a good deswirling treatment, but there are only two tiny chips that I could find that will need professional attention. I'm definitely getting a PC now with two sports cars to maintain....


Dave