To buy or not to buy, that is the question.
Quarter million miles, faded paint, worn tires, needs an alternator. Bit scruffy overall.
But it runs well, a/c works, power windows, glass rear window.
Darn, she won't take my old Volvo or some kittens in trade.
You're asking the wrong crowd 
As long as there is no rust in the rockers (or very minor), GO FOR IT!
Buy it. Put a kitten enclosure in the engine compartment. Commence "purring like a kitten" jokes.
What year? Does it have a power antenna? If it's a '94+ with a power antenna... BUY! BUY! BUY!
Its straight and darn near perfectly rust free. I can't tell if the swelling at the rockers is a seam or a rust blister. If it's a blister (which it looks like), it's perfectly symetrical on both sides. The most rust I could find was on the drivers seat track.
It's a 91.
pigeon
Reader
6/4/09 7:21 p.m.
Either buy it or put me in contact with the seller and I'll buy it!
The seam on the rockers (pretty much in line with the rear door, IIRC) should be a groove, not a bump.
Seat track is normal. Every Miata gets caught top-down in the rain at some point 
Figure out what it will take to bring it to your needed spec (tires, shocks?, alternator) and then see if you can find a non-worn car for the same. But even then, it's a good start.
If you dont buy it, one of us will.
Duke
Dork
6/4/09 9:33 p.m.
What's the magic of the power antenna? Indicator of a special package?
Might be cheaper to start out with a slightly more expensive Miata w/ lower miles and better paint.
Duke wrote:
What's the magic of the power antenna? Indicator of a special package?
Pretty much. On a car with a Manual transmission, it's an indicator of a package that also included a Torsen LSD.
Edit: Oops, never mind. I'm getting confused on years. That's actually only on the '99. (It was on my mind because I just helped find a '99 for someone.)
No, you're right about that. At least, in the case of 1994-97, but only if the car has a 5-speed. Heck, pretty much any 1994 got a Torsen anyway except for the base model. And the R package cars got a manual antenna (I think) but they all have Torsens. It always makes my brain hurt, so I just test drive the car and do the one-wheel-on-gravel test.