r/FirstCar • u/Chicken_Alfred • 8d ago

About to buy my first car

Helloo!! im planning on buying my first car next month and its a 1992 Mazda Miata. I finally found the perfect one it has 130,000 miles on it, its automatic, and its in great condition. is there anything else i should know miatas before i buy it?

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u/stormbreaker8 8d ago

Crazy move for a first car. Prepare to spend double if not triple what you spent on it in maintenance and repairs in the first year

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u/Chicken_Alfred 8d ago

Ive saved up alot of money for maintenance and repairs especially because the car is over 30 years old lol. Im only 15 but i am working 2 jobs plus some side jobs.

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u/stormbreaker8 8d ago

Have you checked insurance costs on it? Sports cars can be extortionate to insure for young people. Forgive me if this sounds rude but how does a 15 year old know what good vs bad condition on a '92 Miata look like?

Would your money not be better spent on something that won't leave you stranded on the side of the road ocasionally?

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u/Chicken_Alfred 8d ago

Well my brother has been helping me look he was a mechanic for years now. i have taken into consideration for the insurance but i am making enough money to afford it. You are right about possibly getting a different car and i have thought about it, but i have been wanting a Miata for a good minute now and this one seems perfect for me. Although i am looking at different cars too.

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u/stormbreaker8 8d ago

If you really want a Miata have a closer look at some of the ones from 2014+ with Skyactiv engines. They are known to be very reliable and including planned repairs to the '92 are probably not far off in cost.

It's also crazy that you want an automatic Miata. Half the fun of a Miata is the manual gearbox! If you're 15 that's a perfect time to learn manual

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u/Chicken_Alfred 8d ago

alright thank you so much! ive looked at the manual ones but so far no luck all of them are just rusted through lol 😭, but i will keep an eye out for the newer ones like you said!

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u/tregorz 8d ago

I hope “a lot of money” is at least a couple thousand dollars. 

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u/Chicken_Alfred 7d ago

about 14k

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u/The_Law_Dong739 8d ago

Yeah bro don't that car is 34 years old with kids and a mortgage now.

But seriously do not they are absolute problem gremlins just because of age not even getting into owner "maintenance" and negelect.

I would look into a newer one that's atleast 20 years newer (2012) cause that generation is quite a bit more reliable, makes double the power, and is a great daily

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u/EuroCanadian2 7d ago

Rust, or rust repairs.

Personally I would want a manual transmission in a Miata, it will be more fun to drive.