Test driving.... sigh.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

mtn wrote: When are you looking to buy?

Depends on the car/deal. I'll get the most money out of this MSM in Spring, obviously, and that helps. Unfortunately, that being the best time to sell, is also the worst time to buy.

I might be looking to get rid of my 10AE before too long... It is doubtful as I'd rather just get a beater wagon in addition to it, but if I decide to sell I'll let you know. Sounds like something you might be interested in (Flyin' Miata coilovers, Koni yellows, catback, sways, hardtop).

amg_rx7 wrote: Stop looking at dealers. I don't know why anyone would buy a used car from a dealer. The only sport cars that get traded are the ones that couldn't get sold private party b/c they are junk. Check craigslist and cars.com and the marque specific forums.

We're getting a little ahead of ourselves here.

We're test driving at dealers to find out if we even like the cars.

This is stage 1: Find out if there's anything that can be had for similar (ideally less) money that i can get out of the MSM that we like better.

mtn wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

mtn wrote: When are you looking to buy?

Depends on the car/deal. I'll get the most money out of this MSM in Spring, obviously, and that helps. Unfortunately, that being the best time to sell, is also the worst time to buy.

I might be looking to get rid of my 10AE before too long... It is doubtful as I'd rather just get a beater wagon in addition to it, but if I decide to sell I'll let you know. Sounds like something you might be interested in (Flyin' Miata coilovers, Koni yellows, catback, sways, hardtop).

Sure keep me posted.

Use car dealers are going nuts here too and there's no C4C influence. It's a "recession," the supply and demand favor higher prices on used cars, and dealerships take the opportunity to gouge like crazy.

amg_rx7 wrote: Stop looking at dealers. I don't know why anyone would buy a used car from a dealer. The only sport cars that get traded are the ones that couldn't get sold private party b/c they are junk. Check craigslist and cars.com and the marque specific forums.

Not always, then again.....the last time I bought used at a dealer was a low volume car. There was 2 for sale in the state, 1 on the online community, cars.com was worthless.......then again, who would ever think gm made around 6k cars of this model over 4 years....

How about instead of worthless crap, actually try helping.

OB, I applaud you for refusing the autotradgic.......I'll search around if you'd like. I did see 4 rx8's pull out of victory honda yesterday.....but I doubt they're on the lot for sale.

I'm really just looking for a pre and post facelift RX8 to drive... i can find one, i just haven't looked REAL hard just yet. Though now i've tried both Skillman and Hubler Mazda with no luck.

Check Schambourg Mazda in Chicago......they can normally find anything, and normally do have anything.....normally manuals too.

Yes, I know chicago is a bit far to just test drive a car, I'm just throwing it out there.

LOL!

I'm pretty sure i'll be able to find an RX8 locally.

amg_rx7 wrote: Stop looking at dealers. I don't know why anyone would buy a used car from a dealer. The only sport cars that get traded are the ones that couldn't get sold private party b/c they are junk. Check craigslist and cars.com and the marque specific forums.

Not always true. First off a lot of people who buy sports cars, or any cars are just buying an appliance that looks good to the. Many people don't want to sell a car privatley, they're scared so they just trade. Second, most new cars are on a 2, 3, 4 or even 5 year lease and just go back to the dealer. Finally the last ocuple of late model cars I've bought new then tried to sell, I got a better offer from the dealer than I could have selling privatly. I sold a 2.5 year old Escape a few years ago after trying to sell it privatly for a month. They offered MORE than I had it advertized for on Autotrader and way more than I would have accepted.

Used prices are absurd. In the past few months the prices of 10 year old neons with broken timing belts went from 4-6 hundred to 700-1000.

nocones wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I was prepared to offer about... $6k for the car knowing that it would have to be a winter project.

I've got an 01 mr2 for a tiny bit more that is in pretty good shape.... Shameless self promotion.

I am sending you an email now.. doubtful that I can pull the trigger on it soon but an MR2 spider is something I've been contemplating for a while.

I buy and sell quite a few cars, and I've NEVER bought from a used car dealership. When I help friends inspect a car they're shopping for (requisite car guy helping a friend task, as far as I can tell) I cringe when they say it's at a used car dealer.

I just haven't ever had a positive experience with a used car dealer. Any time I finally loosen up and decide to give it another shot, I'm immediately reminded of why I haven't been to a used car dealer in ages. I do the same thing with McDonald's.

Buying private has its ups and downs, but generally speaking I find it to be far more enjoyable.

Bryce

I think he's mostly looking to be able to test drive a car to determine if he like the RX-8 or NC at all, not necessarily needing to find a particular example they're going to buy. I can respect not wanting to hassle private sellers over that.

Well, i know i like the RX8... i just need to know if SHE likes the RX8.

I've come to the conclusion that i like driving my MX6 just fine, thank you, and i really don't care a whole lot at this point what we end up with if i can't have my MR-S.

Have you looked at a mr-s for real? The lack of storage is overblown. My wife and I took a 5 day trip just as easily in the mr-s as we had previously in a NC miata. If anything it was easier as there was more canon space for maps and small bags and we didn't even utilize the frunk. We can get two typical soft caryon size bags behind the seats.

nocones wrote: Have you looked at a mr-s for real? The lack of storage is overblown. My wife and I took a 5 day trip just as easily in the mr-s as we had previously in a NC miata. If anything it was easier as there was more canon space for maps and small bags and we didn't even utilize the frunk. We can get two typical soft caryon size bags behind the seats.

She kindof veto'd them the first time we looked on the storage space issue, but i'm not convinced that there's a TON more storage in the Miata, honestly. But the Miata is certainly easier to pack.

I'll check them out again and hope she comes around, because i love them dearly. If nothing else, i could just hang on to the MSM until after the trip if the MR-S is really what we both end up agreeing on. (Doubt she'd like it more than the RX8, though. The RX8 is to her as the MR-S is to me.)

The only thing is that we're talking a 3 week trip here. And yes, i realize that a Miata is a pretty terrible choice, and i'd be perfectly happy taking my MX6, but i don't think she'd want to hear the horrible exhaust BLLLLAAAAAAAATTTT the entire way.

Do the storage area numbers on the MR-S in magazine articles/specs reflect all the cubbies? Showing 5.1 cubic feet for Miata, 1.9 cubic feet for MR-S.

This is getting bad enough i'm contemplating selling off the Miata and using the money to resurrect the Celica for the trip.

I would say it doesn't. It does reflect the behind the seat area pretty well. It's a roughly triangular shape 12" deep x 12" tall x 42" wide so that would be near 1.9 cubic feet. The frunk with tire in is iregular shaped roughly 20x20x6 with the spare tire in the normal way. Do figure another 1.2.. flip the spare and gain another .7, remove it completely for approx. 2.5 cubic feet.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: The MR2 Spyder is what i wanted, but can't have one until after our trip. Not enough storage space.

Fitted luggage set for the MR2 Spyder

Luggage rack for the MR2 Spyder

I mean, how much do you really need to carry anyhow?

I looked at and test drove an MRS back in 2005 when I really wanted an S2000, but bought my miata. I couldn't see even going to the grocery store in that thing unless you ate all the food in the parking lot and carried it home in your gut.

I guess I didn't look behind the seats for that extra cubic foot of space.

I go to the grocery store all the time in mine. If its just me its no problem everything goes in the passenger seat. If my wife is with me we can buy 5-7 plastic bags and a few gallons of milk without much problems.

I'm not trying to sugar coat it definately has the least storage of any car in its class. That said it has been entirely liveable as a commuter car, and occasional weekend toy.