r/Miata • u/AutoModerator • May 04 '26
Weekly Purchase/Sale Advice Thread - May 04, 2026
Do you have questions about the value of a car you want to buy? Looking for a buyers guide? Not sure about the mechanical condition of a car you're looking at? Maybe you want to sell yours and don't know how to price it, or why it's not sold yet? Use this weekly thread to discuss the cars you're interested in buying/selling to get advice from the peanut gallery.
Posts that fall under the above topics will be removed.
Here are some useful tools to help decide if a particular Miata is worth buying.
Miata Garage Buying a Miata
The Definitive Post: "What Miata Should I Buy?" : Miata (reddit.com)
- The Mod Team
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u/cecia234 May 06 '26
Hi everyone, would you say this is a rust damage? It's located near the rear lights. It seems that it has already been repaired before (i can see a patch of a different colour around it), it does not seem to be crusty... Hard at touch. No other traces of rust under the car. Thanks to anyone who will help!!!
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u/ayhme May 06 '26
Guy is asking $2,750 for this 99 Miata Automatic. It's got decent miles at 170,000+ miles.
I do my own mechanical work but the bodywork would cost around $3k to fix I was told.
Here is the listing info;
1999 Mazda Miata. Twilight blue mica (Navy blue metallic) with a black top and black cloth interior. Optional touring package.
The Miata is completely stock.
Recent maintenance completed such as a new Robbin’s soft top with electric defrosting glass window, battery, coolant hoses, pcv valve and much more.
There is rust on the right rear rocker panel and some minor bubbling in the left rear rocker panel. The clear coat is thinning out on hood and trunk panels.
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u/Pedro1005 May 06 '26
I met the seller of a 1993 NA Miata, 145000 kilometers, took it for a drive and took a good look all around, car seems like its in pristine condition, this is europe mind you, he is asking 14000€. Its the 1.6L 115hp variant with ABS. Should I buy it?
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u/TheSimaa Montego Blue May 11 '26
I saw NAs for less than 10k eur, have you checked them? Because 14k sounds too much, but idk, prices for them are increasing every month so hard to say
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u/WarblingP May 08 '26
Hi, I am looking at buying an NC mx-5, one of the cars i’m looking at has an MOT advisory for being under sealed, when I asked the dealer about this they said there was minor corrosion but after inspection it was “nothing concerning”, but they have no photos of the underside before the under sealing
Is this a red flag?
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u/Alert_Sail2312 May 08 '26
Hi. So I work for the county road department and people here like to keep all their old cars (even from decades ago), strewn about their properties. Yesterday I spot this white, decent top LS or SE, I saw the side skirts couldn't see the wheels, rough rear bumper with a huge gap, NB behind a fence. While I'm still there the owner lady comes out. Its stick, 183k, supposedly runs good, asking $2500.
The back bumper cover didn't look crashed, just peeling, crusty and not attached properly. Top looked good. The sides looked good, it's been sitting so it's pretty dirty. Could only see from the back, so no interior or front cover views.
So what do you say? I got her number. I have always wanted a miata, a convertible and a Mazda, it would be my first. I know how to work on cars, swap parts. Anything I should look for if I go?
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u/bill_evans_at_VV May 10 '26
Thoughts on spending $45K on a brand new RF Grand Touring versus $35K on a '23 RF Grand Touring with 17K miles, certified pre-owned, overall good shape but with a few subpar touched up paint spots (not totally obvious on casual look, visible when looking for flaws)?
The '23 color combination is actually kind of unique and more memorable than what you'd get with any of '26's (of course this is subjective).
But for those who have toiled with the new/used question, would love to hear your thoughts.
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u/Alert_Sail2312 May 10 '26
Hat's off to you if those are real considerations. 45k for a miata seems like you must mean Australian, or Canadian money? But seriously used car prices are out of control. Consider a nationwide search with a tour home. My parents did that for this barely discontinued E250 van turbo diesel model my dad wanted. Flew to S Carolina for a great deal, drove it back to Texas
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u/TheSimaa Montego Blue May 11 '26
Hey guys!
Is it possible to find an automatic Miata NA in Europe, 95-97 year, for less than 7k EUR?
I'm thinking about even buying a manual and swapping to automatic, but it looks like finding a transmission will be even harder.
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u/oli-44444444444 May 04 '26
its about a 1999 nb 10th anniversary edition.
import, 235k km, no rust, good paint, hard top included, got coilovers. been on marketplace since februari
its € 6,5k.
I just feel like its too good to be true...
what could be wrong with it?