A 10th Anniversary Ed. Miata?

I was "shopping" my favorite used car dealer's website and found a car I am not familiar with....a 10th Anniversary Edition Miata. This particular example was a bright blue metallic, with a 2 tone blue and charcoal grey interior. The kicker was low mileage (UNDER 30K) and a "steal" of a price, (or is it?) at 10 grand. BTW, that price includes a matching hardtop, but not doc. fees.

I thought that the Miata hit showrooms in 1991, this 10 Anniversary model is a 1999.

Can a Miata expert enlighten me?

I'm no expert, but I believe the 10th anniversary kit consisted of a plaque, and trim upgrades. I would not agree with 10k being a steal. Not a bad price for a 2nd gen. I also think we got miatas in '89 as early '90 models.

Miatas started here in '89. That's a 10AE. Figure a matching hardtop is worth $1000, leaving $9000 for a low mileage, well equipped model. Not a bad price, but not a screamin' bargain ,either. It is a limited editon model, so what's that worth?

I forgot that Miatas hit showrooms in '89....how time flies. This car is interesting, but at 6 foot 4 I'm a bit too tall to fit comfortably in a 2nd gen Miata. Actually, I'm NOT crazy about the 2 tone seat coverings....it looks very JC Whitneyish, but other than that, it was/is interesting.

I also think they had a 6 speed, right?

Kendall

That's one of the few Special/Limited Editions to have a mechanical change - it was the first Miata with a 6-speed, and it wasn't until 2000 that any more came out. 3.9 rear end with a Torsen. I don't remember if ABS was standard. Otherwise, it has the Sport suspension and blue everything. Seats, carpet, top, gauges, shift boot, paint, etc. 7000 (I think) sold worldwide and all numbered.

The two-tone seats are actually pretty effective, with a suede insert in the leather. Nice for butt adhesion. You really have to like blue to want one of these though.

The color was called Innocent Blue overseas. I always liked the name.

Miatas began production in April of '89.
Mine was built in June '89 and is #8869 ever built.

My father has #338, built in April '89. It was at the Mitty last year actually.

Keith wrote: I don't remember if ABS was standard.

No, it was not. I've ridden in a couple of them, I really like them. But I really Really REALLY like that blue.

Very cool.
I bought mine a few years used off the type of guy who had to have the latest of everything. He was selling the Miata because he "had to have" the newest sporty thing at the time. Out of that deal I got a good price on a used Miata and he got to be one of the first people to have a Honda del Sol. I am sure that I got the better end of that deal!
I have kept the Miata for 17years since then.

Makes me wonder, did your dad buy #338 new?
I ask because when they first came out, the dealers were really sticking it to people with additional dealer mark-up. You would hear stories of $3k markup on cars that retailer for $13.5k. That is over a 20% b.s. markup. Of course, due to waiting lists, these dealers were getting it.

I'd love to have ABS on my Miata. It would help my tire budget a lot...

Control, control, you must learn control! [/Yoda]

The 99's were the first year of the 2nd gen miatas there never was a 98 miata

The 10AM 's had too much blue for my tastes but many people like them.

The good is it has the Best head (giggdy) of any of the BP engines.

The bad is that they suffered from thrust bearing issues which is why you see many of the 99's with low milage. Good thing is that many were repaired under warrenty, the Bad is that not all were.

roll the dice, after all it's still a miata.

Chris Rummel

The reason you see them with low mileage is because they're Miatas. Usually a second car, and a very high number are precious and only go out for special occasions. The 1999 isn't unusual one way or the other in this regard.

Pretty much all the cars that were liable to have the thrust bearing problem (described as a machining problem at the factory, but there was a bearing size change midstream and I suspect some engines got the wrong bearing installed) have had it. If the car hasn't had the problem by 20k, it's not going to.

The 1999-00 head (which is also the rarest) is viewed as the best Miata head, but I think the VVT 2001-05 one is better if you have engine management that can take care of it. Those who say VVT doesn't do anything have never tried.

Dad didn't buy #338 new. He picked it up in 1999 or so after it had spent a year bouncing around various car lots. An afternoon of polishing added about a grand to the value of the car. A friend of mine has #26, a pre-production model that was supposed to be crushed but escaped. Lots of really interesting little detail differences on that one.

Tom Heath wrote: I'd love to have ABS on my Miata. It would help my tire budget a lot...

Maybe you need to upgrade the driver

I'd offer my services if I thought I'd be able to fit in that incredible race seat that is supposedly in your car.

Woody wrote: Maybe you need to upgrade the driver I'd offer my services if I thought I'd be able to fit in that incredible race seat that is supposedly in your car.

Actually, that particular flat spot happened at an Evolution driving school event. I'm proud to say that I'm much more gentle with the short fat pedal now.

Although I think I could be faster if I could jam it harder and count on the magic of technology to help with the modulation, at least for autocross.

Woody wrote: Maybe you need to upgrade the driver I'd offer my services if I thought I'd be able to fit in that incredible race seat that is supposedly in your car.

Actually, that particular flat spot happened at an Evolution driving school event. I'm proud to say that I'm much more gentle with the short fat pedal now.

Although I think I could be faster if I could jam the brake harder and count on the magic of technology to help with the modulation, at least for autocross. I guess I'll just try to be smooth instead.