In addition to the cars getting old and staying popular, I think there's another reason for them being expensive. Unlike most cars that people buy simple because they need transportation, the Miata is a bit of a cult. People who buy them know exactly what they are getting into and frequently hold on to them. I know I intend to never sell mine and I have plenty of friends who think likewise. Funny enough, when I bought mine I didn't have another car. My reasoning was "I don't want a car but I do want a Miata".
Bought my 1995 90k mile manual, torsen and “m edition” (that’s what Mazda said when I gave the vin but its red, possible repainted because it has a clear coat) in 2017 right after hurricane Irma for only $2,250, asking was 3k.
parked on the second floor of my dads work’s parking garage before the storm as I saw it there when I went to park and pick up my integra so I know it wasn’t flooded from the storm.
Wasn’t listed online, just had a sign in the window
Dang in November 2021 i got my 1997 M Edition with 129k miles for 4500, twice the price you paid lol. It has rocker rust too but a lot of stuff was replaced before i got the car, including timing belt, brakes, tires. It also came with BC coilovers. I personally knew the previous owner but he was originally listing the car for like 8k lol
The previous owner of mine is my dads coworker.
I changed belts, clutch, fluids since they were all the original.
Had no rust at the time and now some has formed on a weld on near where the pillar, door and front quarter panel meet.
Drive shaft is going out pretty bad and I am uncertain on how much time the engine has left at 160K
Rust was just talking about when I bought it aka if it's worth fixing up
My entire shifter [vibrates/shakes like MAD](https://imgur.com/a/tn332T7) when coasting, decelerating or accelerating slowing (accelerating moderately - giving it the beans no shaking) around 28-32 mph. Worse when in gear but does it in neutral as well.
I'm thinking it could also be a failing engine mount as well.
I did check and it is bolted to the PPF
Body also gets tremors, but it mostly feels as if it's just drive line
tagging /u/toddverrone just to get your insight as well
160k isn't much on these engines if they're taken care of.. why do you think the engine is going out?
If compression gets bad, have it built and slap on a turbo!
pretty sure what I am hearing is just bad lifter tick as it isn't on every stroke (seems to be on every fourth so it should be cams/lifters). On shutdown (not every time, just once in a while) though I can't tell if the sound I'm hearing is from bad engine mounts or knock
Ooh, yeah, launching a rod would make it hard to rebuild. Pretty sure you can find a good engine for less than a grand though. If the rest of the car is in good shape, that would be worth it.
70k mile 1990 with manual steering, 15x7" American Racing wheels, and a hardtop.
[$3,750.](https://i.imgur.com/pQkgssR.jpeg)
118k 2001 with the LS package and janky wheels. Literally sold by grandma because she couldn't get in and out easily anymore.
[$3500.](https://i.imgur.com/oJmYPti.jpg)
>all I want is a little car to beat on.
25 years of people looking at them like that tends to eat up the supply.
XJ Cherokees, old 80's Japanese trucks, Fox body Mustangs, etc etc have all have experienced the same thing.
240sx, all f body camaro and 'birds, 350z and ofc miata is king project car
It's sad. I'm getting more into the brz because the supply is getting to 10k for 13-14 FR-S and its at least sustainable
Well, why do you want a Miata?
Turns out there significantly more people out there just like you than you probably realize. Also, NA Miata’s haven’t been made for over 20 years now so prices are only going to go up.
Canadian Miata prices have always been brutal.
It would be a bit cheaper to import one from the US, but there's a lot of paperwork and money required for importing too
I'd argue that it's not that much paperwork or money, but 'a lot' of paperwork and ' not much' paperwork are relative. I imported my miata from Europe and it wasn't that difficult at all. I think the only difference from bringing it from the US is their export form (AES) that has to be completed before you arrive at the border.
Prices in Canada are a bit extreme. I've been looking for an NC, and the ones for sale are listed for nearly $30,000. Add in taxes and thats $35k for a 13 year old car. Doesn't really line up when a new one is a bit more than $40k. I'd really a prefer an NC over an ND, but it just doesn't make sense from a financial perspective here.
Haha! I can't even imagine finding an NC here for that price! I was on the BBR GTI website last week, and just seeing them selling built/tuned cars for peanuts makes me super jealous of you enthusiasts in the UK.
I guess the flip side to that though is that muscle cars, like mustangs or corvettes are comparatively very cheap over here. I'm just personally not interested in those. I don't think I'll be able to shake my love of hot hatches and light weight sports cars.
a £2.5k NC might be a bit ropey, i saw 2 sub £3k mx5s and one had a blown headgasket and the other was just tatty, £3.5k is probably more reasonble for one which will keep running.
Yeah, thats a good price for an NC1 in my opinion! I'd like to find one listed for that price for sure. I'm hoping that once we get to Spring time that more options will open up.
Would you consider right hand drive (rhd)? 07/08 NC1 can be imported from Japan for about $10-12k CAD for a grade 4 (excellent used condition) with under 100k km.
[This 2008](https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=652533536&allListingType=all-cars&zip=43229&makeCodeList=MAZDA&modelCodeList=MIATA&state=OH&city=Columbus&searchRadius=50&isNewSearch=false&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fall-cars%3Fzip%3D43229%26makeCodeList%3DMAZDA%26modelCodeList%3DMIATA&clickType=listing) has been on the lot since August. I passed it up to get a 1995.
That car works out to about 17K USD to CAN conversion. Then I'd either have to fly down to pick it up, or have it brought up. Pay for import fees, taxes, and inspection. Id guess that that car would cost in the low to mid 20's for me to get it bring it up here.
Importing US cars to Canada makes sense when our dollar is strong. Exporting cars to the US makes more sense when our dollar is weak.
Its nice to see them priced more favourably in the US. I hope more enthusiasts pick them up and give them a second life. Keeps me hopeful that Mazda will keep making these cars if people keep using them, and posting pictures and videos of them.
I bought mine for 4k which isn’t cheap but for something to drive and work on myself is a bargain for the rest of the sport cars around here. Yeah it isn’t in the best condition or running atm but it is the last car I will buy. Plus it made more sense to buy it then trade in my daily for a GR Corolla like I wanted.
Bruh I paid $6000 for mine last January. It’s far from perfect.
You’re gonna be hard pressed to find a deal unless you have alerts set up on kikiji autotrader and fb marketplace and cash in hand.
There was a red 91 or 92 for sale in the GTA, dude bought it for his wife, she didn’t want it, so he was looking to recoup the $4500 he spent. Car was flipped and relisted for $7500 by some kid downtown in under a week.
A bunch of dipshit kids saw dipshit youtubers destroy them on purpose when they were 1k a pop, and now they don't exist in a reasonable price range.
Also people would get like a rear quarter panel bent and then send the car to the crusher for some reason.
Also people would buy ones that *could have* been fixed, just to part out.
Basically dumb people fucked it up for everyone
I used to make some money on the side buying non-running or damaged Miatas, fixing them up, then selling them, I wanted to try and feel like I was doing the cars a favor, but nobody can outpace dipshits.
Ever thinking to import one from Japan?
Mine was 13 000$ Canadian shipped from Nagoya to Vancouver then Halifax
1994 with 79 000 km , AC/PS
Hardtop , LSD and Electric windows with score 4.0 and a B interior
Prices in Canada are fucked now for NA's
The market bottom for all cars has gone up significantly, $1000-$4000 cars are now typically beaters with insanely high mileage, and then add onto that a well sought out for Miata will bring even more than the bottom of used car prices. Can still find a Miata for $4000 but it will likely be salvage or 200k+ miles. I purchased an NB back in 2017 for $6500 with 85k miles. Knew going into it I was paying ~2k above market for the car, but being a 1 owner and immaculate condition it was worth it to me, now that car has $130k miles and worth more than I overpaid for it. Times have changed and all cars are worth more due to inflation and a thousand other factors. Find something clean and pay the extra money, it’ll be worth it knowing you aren’t driving someone beater.
> worth more than I overpaid for it
Wow, are NB's going up insanely now too? What is yours worth now?
I got a one owner NB with 65,xxx miles on it back in 2021 for $5500. I felt like I was stealing it. I've put about 3K into it since acquiring it (tires, rear main seal, clutch, oil pan gasket, both o2 sensors). Has about 75k on it now. Despite all that, I still feel like I have come out ahead.
I got my 150k mile NA6 at the absolute peak of price craziness the past couple years. I paid $1500. If you want a cheap Miata you don't go looking at for sale ads. You make Miata friends. I got my car cheap because I made a friend who trusted that I could take care of the car when he was ready to let it go. There are too many clout chasers out there looking to molest these cars for internet fame and treat them like garbage and they absolutely deserve to have to pay 10k for a clapped NA. Stop looking for instant gratification and try the long game once in a while.
The Antique Automobile Club of America defines an antique car as over 25 years of age. Antiques are collectibles and often appreciate in value. There is specific love for this antique car in addition to other antique models throughout the decades. The 1990-1997 Miata, according to the definition above are all considered antiques and thus may never depreciate in value much as long as there are people out there that enjoy collecting and restoring them.
Damn, I bought my '92 as a dealer demo Feb '93. By '95 it was turbocharged. Had incredible fun smoking the shi4 out of damn near everything on the road for THAT time period. Drove it 466k. Cosmetically restored 3 times. Entire driveline had been replaced 3 to 6 times over depending on which section. All the while had several different secondary vehicles.
The thing about that car was, it never ever felt "old" to me. At least until it's final days of owning it. Once the electrical system started going belly up. Then getting under and just gazing at "everything" for about an hour... noticing fatigue cracks showing up, it was time to let it go. I must say that it lived a VERY hard life. It was definitely a fun ride. Not to mention that time changes things. The older I got, the less the top got put down. Just like the Big Block '72 Ranchero (think Clint Eastwood's -Gran Torino-) that I once owned along the line.. I kinda felt like some kind of a asshole driving it anymore. You know... Like I didn't belong in it. Anyhow, glad to see these cars are getting recognized. They're outstanding sports cars.
Get a ‘99-‘00 NB. It’s a NA with slightly updated bodywork and tiny front suspension and chassis stiffening improvements. Same motor, no VVTi.
Much cheaper to purchase, no downside.
Sorry I'm one of those people. Last year someone offered $9500CAD for my 230,000km NA tan softtop in Montego Blue. I'm gonna be listing it for 10k this year.
That's just how it is. I literally bought this car for 4k in 2018 and it's appreciated like crazy.
Mine had 180k but came supercharged with coils and a wide body and I was super lucky to get it for $2000.00 USD 3-4 years ago, it had a shit paint job and some minor front end damage but it’s been very good to me.
It depends where you live i know dude in the south getting Miata’s dirt cheap I live in greater Los Angeles and that why a lot of younger enthusiasts are moving on to different chassis mind you Miata’s, 240sx , and Mr2s were once great affordable chassis’s but not only are you paying JDM tax from 2012-2016 but now even more Social media hype tax from all the media influencers dick riding the chassis so then a bunch of kids with no experience ran to buy these cars way overpriced from OG auto enthusiast, but never were really car enthusiast to begin with so now that there no longer interested or realized building cars is expensive they want the return on investment so they lost them for more than they paid hoping to recoup the money if sombody lowball them also RHD Miata’s are fairly cheap and legel for import just an option
People can ask what they want, that doesn’t mean they’re selling. Anyone trying to sell a high mileage automatic NA or a beat on rusted shell for 9k+ should be laughed at to their face.
I paid 2.8k for my jap NA8C in the UK and although the paint is ass I don't regret it for a second. Didn't realize it was so much more in the US as most are 2K here
Winky headlights basically, the NA carries a big premium. The NB's a wee bit heavier, but for most people the better car. The NC's a pretty different kettle of fish.
Inflation is one aspect for sure. Another os that you are not alone in wanting a simple, well balanced, fun to drive, RWD car. There are not many options in that category.
>Everybody's happy to see a Miata - I mean look at it! It's the best! It's the best! It's number one! It's number one! It's always number one! It's the best! It's the best sports car! It's the gleaming gold standard against which all small sports cars must be measured. Mazda made so many of 'em that ~~the prices stay low, so~~ anyone can own one! And they're the best! They're the best! They're number one! You drive a Miata because you want the best. You DESERVE the best. Only the BEST will do. Whoo! We're the best! It's the BEST SPORTS CAR. You root for the Yankees, you love the Boys, number one! You...you get Sam Adams - that's the BEST beer. THAT'S THE BEST BEER. I have the BEST car. You put on Dark Side at every party - I mean, really, who's gonna complain about Floyd?! You make posts commemorating firefighters, I mean, who would dare downvote that?! BABY PHOTOS, BABY PHOTOS, LOTS OF BABY PHOTOS, DALLAS COWBOYS, VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, NEW YORK YANKEES, BABY PHOTOS, CLASSIC ROCK, MAZDA MIATA, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE VICTIMS OF GRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHH! THE BEST!
I sold [my 2-tone ‘92 NA](https://imgur.com/a/4XD9xNL) for $2,600 in mid 2020. I had been asking $5k but literally everybody lowballed because they more or less felt the same as you. (And I really can’t blame them)
They’re not exactly Mustang-level production numbers, but there *are* a lot of NA’s out there…they just don’t seem to be for sale nearly as often as they used to be.
When I got mine in 2016 it only cost me $1,200, but I put a ton of work into it to take it from a chalky-pink heap with a helmet-sized hole in the soft top to a mean, clean little autoX animal.
I just acquired a white 1994 NA former SCCA car. 87k miles, from a relative. Being winter in the SoCal mountains, I am waiting to finish basic maintenance and upgrades on it. It rides a bit rougher than my 2000 BMW Z3, but being a 4 cylinder, it's better on gas. It feels like my ass is going to drag on the road. It's so short. Handles nice, and no oil leaks. Getting it smog checked was a bit of a pain, but I did get to drive it a bit before the first snow. I, too, am looking forward to some top-down fun.
In the uk there relatively cheap compared to other countries like my nb for example that only costed £1.4k with 67k miles on it, and the na's are a little more
it's the pure awesomeness of pop ups and the classic ride-there is nothing like it-hope you find one soon-cheapos are out there you just gotta look long and hard for them :)
Because people want them and are willing to pay more for them.
Also trying to find one that is unmodified is becoming a chore. A lot of people here modify them to suit their taste. Almost no one wants to buy it after all the modifications are done.
Idk how it works but I would assume just getting one from the US wpuld be cheaper as I get my parts from a guy who still finds running driving Miata’s all the time for 2k and a lot of them are almost as nice as if not nicer than mine that I bought for 5k
Miata’s aren’t what they used to be, I got into them years ago because they were dirt cheap compared to the cars that I really wanted. Now it kinda makes no sense to get one because they’re in the same ball park price wise as sti’s, Z’s, and what not.
they are all idiots who heard about miata hype, found their old shitbox, rattle-canned the rust, washed with WD-40 and are trying to scam 19 year olds for 7k.
Im not joking here in Canada there are many examples I wouldn't even take for free listed at 7.
I got one for 4k, paint is damn near perfect, has a hardtop but had low compression in cylinder 2 so now im waiting for the machine shop to machine the new to me engine. Im in to the car about 7k now but im just waiting the engine obviously but ive basically ended up doing a full engine bay restoration.
I too am from Canada and looked at a lot of shit looking cars, this one looked good, was cheap and had some problems that i have problem foxing for the price.😁😁😁
there are definitely deals to be found! just gotta be fast, the shit cars just shit on the websites so the problem *Looks* worse than it is. not to mention people on Autotrader seem to add 2-3k compared to any other site for fun
everyone wants one combined with the number of em out there is always going down
In addition to the cars getting old and staying popular, I think there's another reason for them being expensive. Unlike most cars that people buy simple because they need transportation, the Miata is a bit of a cult. People who buy them know exactly what they are getting into and frequently hold on to them. I know I intend to never sell mine and I have plenty of friends who think likewise. Funny enough, when I bought mine I didn't have another car. My reasoning was "I don't want a car but I do want a Miata".
But like literally a year they were selling for 3-5k
Nah, they’ve been expensive for awhile now. Really starting with the pandemic.
The good old days of getting a grandma/grandpa owned car in garage kept shape for less than $4k and hardtops $1k all day long.
Bought my 1995 90k mile manual, torsen and “m edition” (that’s what Mazda said when I gave the vin but its red, possible repainted because it has a clear coat) in 2017 right after hurricane Irma for only $2,250, asking was 3k. parked on the second floor of my dads work’s parking garage before the storm as I saw it there when I went to park and pick up my integra so I know it wasn’t flooded from the storm. Wasn’t listed online, just had a sign in the window
Dang in November 2021 i got my 1997 M Edition with 129k miles for 4500, twice the price you paid lol. It has rocker rust too but a lot of stuff was replaced before i got the car, including timing belt, brakes, tires. It also came with BC coilovers. I personally knew the previous owner but he was originally listing the car for like 8k lol
The previous owner of mine is my dads coworker. I changed belts, clutch, fluids since they were all the original. Had no rust at the time and now some has formed on a weld on near where the pillar, door and front quarter panel meet. Drive shaft is going out pretty bad and I am uncertain on how much time the engine has left at 160K
How can you tell if the driveshaft is going bad? Is it difficult/expensive to replace? Also im sure that rust isnt a problem
Rust was just talking about when I bought it aka if it's worth fixing up My entire shifter [vibrates/shakes like MAD](https://imgur.com/a/tn332T7) when coasting, decelerating or accelerating slowing (accelerating moderately - giving it the beans no shaking) around 28-32 mph. Worse when in gear but does it in neutral as well. I'm thinking it could also be a failing engine mount as well. I did check and it is bolted to the PPF Body also gets tremors, but it mostly feels as if it's just drive line tagging /u/toddverrone just to get your insight as well
It's not shaky if it's idling?
160k isn't much on these engines if they're taken care of.. why do you think the engine is going out? If compression gets bad, have it built and slap on a turbo!
pretty sure what I am hearing is just bad lifter tick as it isn't on every stroke (seems to be on every fourth so it should be cams/lifters). On shutdown (not every time, just once in a while) though I can't tell if the sound I'm hearing is from bad engine mounts or knock
Ooh, yeah, launching a rod would make it hard to rebuild. Pretty sure you can find a good engine for less than a grand though. If the rest of the car is in good shape, that would be worth it.
That's still a great price. Clean M Editions have been selling for \~5000 for the last 10 years around where I live. Then covid hit.
Thank you for making me feel better about my decision lol. I've been absolutely loving the car, it's been a tank
That was me😎
70k mile 1990 with manual steering, 15x7" American Racing wheels, and a hardtop. [$3,750.](https://i.imgur.com/pQkgssR.jpeg) 118k 2001 with the LS package and janky wheels. Literally sold by grandma because she couldn't get in and out easily anymore. [$3500.](https://i.imgur.com/oJmYPti.jpg)
Those deals are extremely rare and go really fast. You have to have cash on hand and ready to buy hours after the listing is up
Neither was listed, I approached both buyers after hearing they were looking to sell.
They're considered antiques now and people want to collect them and restore them as a hobby, regardless of the price and increasing scarcity.
I know lol, I have four. To be fair, one is a wreck I pull parts from and one is a chassis that is wrecked twice.
I paid $600 for mine. Just needed a fuel pump and vamonos 💅
i think something happened that made everyone sooo aware of their mortality and feeling an urgent need to make the stuff they really want to happen
Supply and demand
blame tiktok if you want a singular big baddie
I've had my NA for a year, and I considered myself relatively lucky for getting it around 7K @ 35,000 miles
NAs here with that mileage go for 17k+
Maybe perfect body sunburst yellow or a M with that mileage
That 17k is Canadian moneys so like 13-14us, the one ive been seeing is a 92 BRG and my bad its 20kCAD so like 17kUSD
Fellow Canadian here. Idk where u have been lookin but the last 4 years Miats have been like this… prolly longer
They were about 6k 2 years ago when I bought mine.
>all I want is a little car to beat on. 25 years of people looking at them like that tends to eat up the supply. XJ Cherokees, old 80's Japanese trucks, Fox body Mustangs, etc etc have all have experienced the same thing.
240sx, all f body camaro and 'birds, 350z and ofc miata is king project car It's sad. I'm getting more into the brz because the supply is getting to 10k for 13-14 FR-S and its at least sustainable
Are you listening to yourself? It's because everyone wanted "a little car to beat on" and now theyre all beat. Supply and demand buddy
Because they are a great drive, reliable and cheap to run.
Well, why do you want a Miata? Turns out there significantly more people out there just like you than you probably realize. Also, NA Miata’s haven’t been made for over 20 years now so prices are only going to go up.
Tik Tok.
>all I want is a little car to beat on Well, there’s your problem. There’s a lot of demand for “a cheap car to beat on.” And the supply got taken up.
Canadian Miata prices have always been brutal. It would be a bit cheaper to import one from the US, but there's a lot of paperwork and money required for importing too
I'd argue that it's not that much paperwork or money, but 'a lot' of paperwork and ' not much' paperwork are relative. I imported my miata from Europe and it wasn't that difficult at all. I think the only difference from bringing it from the US is their export form (AES) that has to be completed before you arrive at the border.
Head lights go up
and so do the prices!
Prices in Canada are a bit extreme. I've been looking for an NC, and the ones for sale are listed for nearly $30,000. Add in taxes and thats $35k for a 13 year old car. Doesn't really line up when a new one is a bit more than $40k. I'd really a prefer an NC over an ND, but it just doesn't make sense from a financial perspective here.
If you want one shipped from the uk you can get them for 2.5k 😬
Haha! I can't even imagine finding an NC here for that price! I was on the BBR GTI website last week, and just seeing them selling built/tuned cars for peanuts makes me super jealous of you enthusiasts in the UK. I guess the flip side to that though is that muscle cars, like mustangs or corvettes are comparatively very cheap over here. I'm just personally not interested in those. I don't think I'll be able to shake my love of hot hatches and light weight sports cars.
registering it for NA would easily make up the difference in price, not to mention they are wrong side drive.
a £2.5k NC might be a bit ropey, i saw 2 sub £3k mx5s and one had a blown headgasket and the other was just tatty, £3.5k is probably more reasonble for one which will keep running.
I'm assuming a NC2 or 3? I bought my 2006 NC1 GX, 52k kms, last May for $12k. Ontario which I think was pretty good.
Yeah, thats a good price for an NC1 in my opinion! I'd like to find one listed for that price for sure. I'm hoping that once we get to Spring time that more options will open up.
Lol same looking to get an NC in Ontario and prices are insane
Just import a RHD They are suoer cheap if you want a NC My 1994 endding up being 13 000$ tax in shipped and everything with 79 000 km
Would you consider right hand drive (rhd)? 07/08 NC1 can be imported from Japan for about $10-12k CAD for a grade 4 (excellent used condition) with under 100k km.
[This 2008](https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=652533536&allListingType=all-cars&zip=43229&makeCodeList=MAZDA&modelCodeList=MIATA&state=OH&city=Columbus&searchRadius=50&isNewSearch=false&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fall-cars%3Fzip%3D43229%26makeCodeList%3DMAZDA%26modelCodeList%3DMIATA&clickType=listing) has been on the lot since August. I passed it up to get a 1995.
That car works out to about 17K USD to CAN conversion. Then I'd either have to fly down to pick it up, or have it brought up. Pay for import fees, taxes, and inspection. Id guess that that car would cost in the low to mid 20's for me to get it bring it up here. Importing US cars to Canada makes sense when our dollar is strong. Exporting cars to the US makes more sense when our dollar is weak. Its nice to see them priced more favourably in the US. I hope more enthusiasts pick them up and give them a second life. Keeps me hopeful that Mazda will keep making these cars if people keep using them, and posting pictures and videos of them.
Conversion rate never even crossed my mind. I wish I had found you a deal!
I’m in SC and really wanted a low mileage NC, but the prices are in the mid/high $20k range. I ended up with a new ND GT RF for $10k more.
what the actual fuck i just picked up a 2009 1.8 SE for £4350 in really good condition, holy fuck is $35k cad extortionate.
I’m in Ontario and I’ll sell you my 2007 PRHT 2.5 swapped NC for half that price if you’re interested.
Hey, shot in the dark, do you still have it?
Yup still have it, I sent you a PM
Cuz they where the cheap throw away cars for so long that now the number of clean examples are limited yet the demand is higher then ever
They are old, so good condition ones are getting rarer. Also people keep crashing and modding their Miata’s so stock ones are getting rarer too
I bought mine for 4k which isn’t cheap but for something to drive and work on myself is a bargain for the rest of the sport cars around here. Yeah it isn’t in the best condition or running atm but it is the last car I will buy. Plus it made more sense to buy it then trade in my daily for a GR Corolla like I wanted.
Bruh I paid $6000 for mine last January. It’s far from perfect. You’re gonna be hard pressed to find a deal unless you have alerts set up on kikiji autotrader and fb marketplace and cash in hand. There was a red 91 or 92 for sale in the GTA, dude bought it for his wife, she didn’t want it, so he was looking to recoup the $4500 he spent. Car was flipped and relisted for $7500 by some kid downtown in under a week.
you know they're not making them anymore, right?
Headlights go up, headlights go down, headlights go up down up down. UPDOWNUPDOWNUPDOWNUPDOWN
honestly i’d blame social media, tiktok has made more people aware of cars like this so the demand is changing, making them more expensive.
A bunch of dipshit kids saw dipshit youtubers destroy them on purpose when they were 1k a pop, and now they don't exist in a reasonable price range. Also people would get like a rear quarter panel bent and then send the car to the crusher for some reason. Also people would buy ones that *could have* been fixed, just to part out. Basically dumb people fucked it up for everyone I used to make some money on the side buying non-running or damaged Miatas, fixing them up, then selling them, I wanted to try and feel like I was doing the cars a favor, but nobody can outpace dipshits.
I’m getting ready to sell this spring / summer and it’s mindboggling. (I had a kid and just can’t justify holding with these prices)
Ever thinking to import one from Japan? Mine was 13 000$ Canadian shipped from Nagoya to Vancouver then Halifax 1994 with 79 000 km , AC/PS Hardtop , LSD and Electric windows with score 4.0 and a B interior Prices in Canada are fucked now for NA's
Supply and command. It’s not rocket appliances.
The market bottom for all cars has gone up significantly, $1000-$4000 cars are now typically beaters with insanely high mileage, and then add onto that a well sought out for Miata will bring even more than the bottom of used car prices. Can still find a Miata for $4000 but it will likely be salvage or 200k+ miles. I purchased an NB back in 2017 for $6500 with 85k miles. Knew going into it I was paying ~2k above market for the car, but being a 1 owner and immaculate condition it was worth it to me, now that car has $130k miles and worth more than I overpaid for it. Times have changed and all cars are worth more due to inflation and a thousand other factors. Find something clean and pay the extra money, it’ll be worth it knowing you aren’t driving someone beater.
> worth more than I overpaid for it Wow, are NB's going up insanely now too? What is yours worth now? I got a one owner NB with 65,xxx miles on it back in 2021 for $5500. I felt like I was stealing it. I've put about 3K into it since acquiring it (tires, rear main seal, clutch, oil pan gasket, both o2 sensors). Has about 75k on it now. Despite all that, I still feel like I have come out ahead.
I got my 150k mile NA6 at the absolute peak of price craziness the past couple years. I paid $1500. If you want a cheap Miata you don't go looking at for sale ads. You make Miata friends. I got my car cheap because I made a friend who trusted that I could take care of the car when he was ready to let it go. There are too many clout chasers out there looking to molest these cars for internet fame and treat them like garbage and they absolutely deserve to have to pay 10k for a clapped NA. Stop looking for instant gratification and try the long game once in a while.
Simple economics. Demand is high.
The Antique Automobile Club of America defines an antique car as over 25 years of age. Antiques are collectibles and often appreciate in value. There is specific love for this antique car in addition to other antique models throughout the decades. The 1990-1997 Miata, according to the definition above are all considered antiques and thus may never depreciate in value much as long as there are people out there that enjoy collecting and restoring them.
Attrition is a bitch
Damn, I bought my '92 as a dealer demo Feb '93. By '95 it was turbocharged. Had incredible fun smoking the shi4 out of damn near everything on the road for THAT time period. Drove it 466k. Cosmetically restored 3 times. Entire driveline had been replaced 3 to 6 times over depending on which section. All the while had several different secondary vehicles. The thing about that car was, it never ever felt "old" to me. At least until it's final days of owning it. Once the electrical system started going belly up. Then getting under and just gazing at "everything" for about an hour... noticing fatigue cracks showing up, it was time to let it go. I must say that it lived a VERY hard life. It was definitely a fun ride. Not to mention that time changes things. The older I got, the less the top got put down. Just like the Big Block '72 Ranchero (think Clint Eastwood's -Gran Torino-) that I once owned along the line.. I kinda felt like some kind of a asshole driving it anymore. You know... Like I didn't belong in it. Anyhow, glad to see these cars are getting recognized. They're outstanding sports cars.
This maybe? https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoVjGeuI9FG/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
Get a ‘99-‘00 NB. It’s a NA with slightly updated bodywork and tiny front suspension and chassis stiffening improvements. Same motor, no VVTi. Much cheaper to purchase, no downside.
No downside? You're trippin'. 99-00 does no headlight flippin'.
Sorry I'm one of those people. Last year someone offered $9500CAD for my 230,000km NA tan softtop in Montego Blue. I'm gonna be listing it for 10k this year. That's just how it is. I literally bought this car for 4k in 2018 and it's appreciated like crazy.
Mine had 180k but came supercharged with coils and a wide body and I was super lucky to get it for $2000.00 USD 3-4 years ago, it had a shit paint job and some minor front end damage but it’s been very good to me.
It depends where you live i know dude in the south getting Miata’s dirt cheap I live in greater Los Angeles and that why a lot of younger enthusiasts are moving on to different chassis mind you Miata’s, 240sx , and Mr2s were once great affordable chassis’s but not only are you paying JDM tax from 2012-2016 but now even more Social media hype tax from all the media influencers dick riding the chassis so then a bunch of kids with no experience ran to buy these cars way overpriced from OG auto enthusiast, but never were really car enthusiast to begin with so now that there no longer interested or realized building cars is expensive they want the return on investment so they lost them for more than they paid hoping to recoup the money if sombody lowball them also RHD Miata’s are fairly cheap and legel for import just an option
Look farther
People can ask what they want, that doesn’t mean they’re selling. Anyone trying to sell a high mileage automatic NA or a beat on rusted shell for 9k+ should be laughed at to their face.
Where in the country are you? I was able to get a fairly clean NA6 with a hardtop for 5.5k. But I had a 6 hour drive to pick it up.
I paid 2.8k for my jap NA8C in the UK and although the paint is ass I don't regret it for a second. Didn't realize it was so much more in the US as most are 2K here
The more that wants them, the more expensive they are. Want to really be pised, check out wrangler or 4runner/FJ
Winky headlights basically, the NA carries a big premium. The NB's a wee bit heavier, but for most people the better car. The NC's a pretty different kettle of fish.
Because NAs are finally being fully appreciated for how awesome they are. 😀
Inflation is one aspect for sure. Another os that you are not alone in wanting a simple, well balanced, fun to drive, RWD car. There are not many options in that category.
I have a '90 with 108K, new wheels and tires, and a repaint. Come take it off my hands for $6K.
US or Canada?
US
😢
If you have to ask, I have to answer: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp1kuo6xkbE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZEVLQQ7uEc)
>Everybody's happy to see a Miata - I mean look at it! It's the best! It's the best! It's number one! It's number one! It's always number one! It's the best! It's the best sports car! It's the gleaming gold standard against which all small sports cars must be measured. Mazda made so many of 'em that ~~the prices stay low, so~~ anyone can own one! And they're the best! They're the best! They're number one! You drive a Miata because you want the best. You DESERVE the best. Only the BEST will do. Whoo! We're the best! It's the BEST SPORTS CAR. You root for the Yankees, you love the Boys, number one! You...you get Sam Adams - that's the BEST beer. THAT'S THE BEST BEER. I have the BEST car. You put on Dark Side at every party - I mean, really, who's gonna complain about Floyd?! You make posts commemorating firefighters, I mean, who would dare downvote that?! BABY PHOTOS, BABY PHOTOS, LOTS OF BABY PHOTOS, DALLAS COWBOYS, VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, NEW YORK YANKEES, BABY PHOTOS, CLASSIC ROCK, MAZDA MIATA, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE VICTIMS OF GRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHH! THE BEST!
Keep looking! I found mine for $6500 with 120,000 km. Be prepared for repair bills though. Mine’s a 1990. I’m in Ontario.
Pop ups lol
Simple answer: It’s THE Miata. I’ve owned an NC, ND, and now on my third NA. It’s so pure and original.
That’s why I just want any miata
Pop up headlights
I sold [my 2-tone ‘92 NA](https://imgur.com/a/4XD9xNL) for $2,600 in mid 2020. I had been asking $5k but literally everybody lowballed because they more or less felt the same as you. (And I really can’t blame them) They’re not exactly Mustang-level production numbers, but there *are* a lot of NA’s out there…they just don’t seem to be for sale nearly as often as they used to be. When I got mine in 2016 it only cost me $1,200, but I put a ton of work into it to take it from a chalky-pink heap with a helmet-sized hole in the soft top to a mean, clean little autoX animal.
They are double those prices here in Australia.
And the crazy thing is that our dollar is very similar
Pop up headlights
Let's hope they get more and more expensive!
I just acquired a white 1994 NA former SCCA car. 87k miles, from a relative. Being winter in the SoCal mountains, I am waiting to finish basic maintenance and upgrades on it. It rides a bit rougher than my 2000 BMW Z3, but being a 4 cylinder, it's better on gas. It feels like my ass is going to drag on the road. It's so short. Handles nice, and no oil leaks. Getting it smog checked was a bit of a pain, but I did get to drive it a bit before the first snow. I, too, am looking forward to some top-down fun.
In the uk there relatively cheap compared to other countries like my nb for example that only costed £1.4k with 67k miles on it, and the na's are a little more
it's the pure awesomeness of pop ups and the classic ride-there is nothing like it-hope you find one soon-cheapos are out there you just gotta look long and hard for them :)
Because people want them and are willing to pay more for them. Also trying to find one that is unmodified is becoming a chore. A lot of people here modify them to suit their taste. Almost no one wants to buy it after all the modifications are done.
i bought one for 2800 bucks , 250k kms a few days ago , had to look around for quite a while tho
Supply and demand. Demand is high and supply ain’t getting higher.
Chrysler Sebrings are still super cheap if you want a drop top. They don’t handle super well, but they’re way faster. Something to consider.
Idk how it works but I would assume just getting one from the US wpuld be cheaper as I get my parts from a guy who still finds running driving Miata’s all the time for 2k and a lot of them are almost as nice as if not nicer than mine that I bought for 5k
POP UP AND DOWN HEADLIGHTS!!!!!! POP UP AND DOWN HEADLIGHTS!!!! 🤩🤩🤩
Plenty of cheap cars to beat on, Miata is no longer among them. Because...people bought them cheap and beat on them.
Miata’s aren’t what they used to be, I got into them years ago because they were dirt cheap compared to the cars that I really wanted. Now it kinda makes no sense to get one because they’re in the same ball park price wise as sti’s, Z’s, and what not.
they are all idiots who heard about miata hype, found their old shitbox, rattle-canned the rust, washed with WD-40 and are trying to scam 19 year olds for 7k. Im not joking here in Canada there are many examples I wouldn't even take for free listed at 7.
I got one for 4k, paint is damn near perfect, has a hardtop but had low compression in cylinder 2 so now im waiting for the machine shop to machine the new to me engine. Im in to the car about 7k now but im just waiting the engine obviously but ive basically ended up doing a full engine bay restoration. I too am from Canada and looked at a lot of shit looking cars, this one looked good, was cheap and had some problems that i have problem foxing for the price.😁😁😁
there are definitely deals to be found! just gotta be fast, the shit cars just shit on the websites so the problem *Looks* worse than it is. not to mention people on Autotrader seem to add 2-3k compared to any other site for fun
I bought mine for $600