91 Miata in Maryland - $1,200

Mine

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/5267098369.html

Lots of miles and pretty well worn. But it runs and drives, and I'd have no fear of driving it across the country at the drop of a hat.

If someone drops $1,200 in my hand, it's theirs.

So tempting.

Give in to temptation!

Forgot to mention, interested in a 200/700/900 Volvo with a manual gearbox. Boy child is rapidly approaching driving time. If you've got one, I'd be game to talk trade.

Where were you a week ago? Dammit. I paid that much for one with some dents and in need of a water pump. Half the miles but hey, does mileage really matter?

What does it need

You should advertise it as low mileage on Craigslist because Craigslist. How many people have told you the engine needs rebuilt so far?

I can't believe so many questions from a forum member on here attempting to sell the answer. I'd expect more when and where are we meeting for a visual inspection and test drive.

In reply to captdownshift:

That's the thing... I've already seen and even driven this car. I just need car #7 like a hole in the head right now...

In reply to Ian F:

Are any of the other 6 miatas?

It's been a funny one to try to sell. If I put a lawnmower or tractor or motorcycle out front, I'll have multiple people stopping every day. With the Miata, no one even slows down. I've had two people stop by in the several weeks I've had it for sale. Craigslist has never generated so few calls and texts.

What does it need? Nothing. It's perfectly driveable as it is. I'd have no qualms about driving it to California right now.

At 341k miles, it's not new. Smokes for a few minutes on a cold start. Shocks rattle in their perches and differential bushings are worn so it clunks over potholes. Seat fabric is thin. Airbag light blinks a variety of codes. Tires are worn.

Starts right up and drives fine. A/C blows cold, heater blows warm (hot never was this car's forte), power steering works, radio works, top is fine, etc.

Hell, maybe I'm UNDER pricing it. Someone just posted a 1991 with a blown head gasket for $3,500.

If we could justify a 2 seater, I'd buy this just to see if I could get it to 500k. Alas, there's three of us now.

captdownshift wrote: In reply to Ian F: Are any of the other 6 miatas?

No... but one of them is a Spitfire. Which is sort of a Miata-light. And I just sort of got it to a condition where it's fun to drive. So this car would be somewhat superfluous.

However... it could serve as the cheap autocross/rallycross/winter beater I've been hankering for. The tricky part would be if I could get the rust through PA inspection...

PA shouldn't be any problem. If you need a place that will not give you any E36 M3 over trivial things, let me know. They won't pass something unsafe, but Miata rust...psh, no big deal. Airbag light is not actually an inspection item.

MD on the other hand will universally rip you a new one and I bet that is contributing to the lack of local interest, OP. I would not try to get that car through MD inspection, would you?

It's historic tag eligible in Maryland, and maybe similarly in PA.

One could pull the bulb on the airbag light and then no one would be any the wiser, but I'm not willing to do that as the seller.

Pop riveting some sheet metal over the rust in the doglegs should end the possible inspection concerns.

Did I mention the car still passes regular emissions testing? It's gone through it every other year as my daily driver. Receipts of that are in the glove box as well.

1991 is eligible for historic tags. Right, of course. Boy am I getting old. Sorry.

Oh, Ian. I replaced the clutch hydraulics since you drove it. The shocks are new Sensen, and worth throwing away. They don't tighten down in the perch and the left rear buggered itself running the nut down. Hence the rattling back there. Glued down the instrument panel cover so it no longer flaps.

Ball joints were replaced ~2-3 years ago. Timing belt and water pump ~30k ago. Head gasket last month. It blew the head gasket some months ago, which is what caused me to go ahead and get the Saab. Finding the time and a few of the parts to repair it took a little time. Head dowels took for forever waiting on their arrival from Mazda.

It may be a 1.6, but no one ever told it that it has to be weak. It'll run right up the mountains of western Maryland keeping right up with interstate traffic, with the A/C on. Gets close to 30 mpg doing this sort of driving. That's a big part of the reason I bought this particular Miata. I drove others that were weak in the knees, this one was not.

Top is as good as it looks. Being a 1-piece top there is no unzipping of the window to lower the top, just flip it back.

Oh believe me. I want it. Just trying to figure out how. Plus, I still need to get down to your place and get those GT6 window assemblies we talked about. The nuts part is I'll be in Fredrick tomorrow, but have to be there at 9:30 and then going to DC afterwards before heading back to PA. Let me dig up your address and see if I can squeeze a visit in...

I'll be around tomorrow, doing exciting things like caulking and painting the house.

In the evening though, I/we plan to scoot off to Field of Screams. The wife and spawnling are hoping I'll scare myself like I did last time.

Did I read that mileage right?

If you read 341,000, you read it right.

Shesh! Looks like I just can't sell this car. Runs fine, drives fine, everything works. Yet people flip out at the miles. The few offers I've had are scrap metal prices.

Hell with it then, I'll keep it.

You mean like 500?

scrap metal price on a miata isn't that like $350?

I figure $1k for a running miata would be a great price, but not rolling into winter.

A $1k runner normally means you're needing to install a new top as well.