My search for a Miata has ended in failure. I haven't found one under $5K and if there are any posted in the 2K-3K range they are sold before I get home from work. S2000s are insanely priced and Ford Capri are cheap but way too far away to dolly tow.
I was getting the Miata as a second car we both can drive, gets over 30MPG and something to autocross when I retire the Mustang. Heading into the second time where one vehicle is down and the truck is hard to drive, I decided I need to give up and go out and buy something.
I don't know much about wrong wheel drives or AWD except I am starting to hate Honda's stupid designs and I call Subaru "Stoopidrues". As you can tell I hate working on them.
I am looking for ideas on what cars to search for. I am looking to spend 2 to 3K.
My local used car salesman has a 2000 Ford Focus five speed. It looks like it just got in from the auction. I don't even know the price but it a start.
Pony car. Dime a dozen and cheap parts.
Fly and drive miata from the south
Wrong time of year. Wait until fall or winter, then by your miata.
Have you made an offer on this one?
https://binghamton.craigslist.org/cto/5469311401.html
OR this... https://scranton.craigslist.org/cto/5539309332.html
I have a pony car, It isn't easy for the woman to drive so I need something with an easy clutch this time.
I don't know how anyone can fly and drive without dealer plates. Getting something registered in NY state can be hard in person. I would have to send the title to NY to have it registered then I would need the registration mailed to me so I can drive it home. That would mean a lot of lost income.
I have been looking since January. My trucks inspection is up in June so I need to find something before then. Once I save another $3K I will start my Miata search again.
I have a dolly so I don't have to deal with registering a car before I pick it up. A dealer is even easier because they I don't have to take off from work to get to the DMV.
JohnRW1621 wrote:
Have you made an offer on this one?
https://binghamton.craigslist.org/cto/5469311401.html
OR this... https://scranton.craigslist.org/cto/5539309332.html
They are both 2 thousand more than I have and are too far for me to tow. The ones I can afford and are close by and gone before I read the email. I don't want to tow with the pilot more than 50 miles.
If you buy a car in Atlanta, you can then get a Georgia temporary plate, typically good for 30 days. On this plate you drive back to NY.
You can then take this, in person, to NY to have registered for NY.
JohnRW1621 wrote:
If you buy a car in Atlanta, you can then get a Georgia temporary plate, typically good for 30 days. On this plate you drive back to NY.
You can then take this, in person, to NY to have registered for NY.
Good to know. The cost of the flight would cut into the money for the car. I would probably pass on something like this unless I get laid off and have the time.
JohnRW1621 wrote:
'85-'89 Toyota MR2
Zero results in my area but I save the search, thanks.
So it's not really the lack of Miatas it's more your lack of means to aquire.
Do you have AAA?
The premium package includes towing of up to 100 miles?
In the past year I have had two vehicles towed in from rust free climates back to Northern Ohio. These were each tows of just over 1,000 miles. My costs for a real car carrier ride were 50 & 58 cents per mile. This was the total cost to have the cars delivered right to my front door. It might be possible to cost only $200 to get one towed in from 400 miles away.
One vehicle I paid $900 for; the other $2300
Another note...don't expect 30 mpg from a Miata.
If you get 27 mpg your doing great. More typical is 24 mpg.
In reply to JohnRW1621:
Yes it is a lack of Miatas I can afford, that are close. There are none in the local cities. I thought when I started I could get one for 2 grand, the cheapest so far was $2700 '90 plasti coated and gone in 3 days.
I would not try to Cheat AAA, I have plus and the 100 mile tow has saved a fortune in the past. If there were cheap ones further away I would try paying for shipping but they are just as expensive as locally. When a car is already over budget I can't pay for it to be towed. My searches go to 150 miles.
In reply to JohnRW1621:
I am a hyper-miler. On long drives I used to get 29 in my Mustang, I'm sure I can get that much in a Miata.
In Colorado, I think you're allowed to drive for 24 hours with a bill of sale, although it's not that well known. Might be worth checking the laws.
The $2k Miata in decent shape is a very regional thing. You'd have a hard time meeting your budget in my area, but apparently GA and FL are teeming with the things.
I would say to get a Focus or a Mazda 3, then trade it for a Miata during the winter.
3K for a C4 Corvette is a bit optimistic, but the 5K you mentioned earlier is a reasonable price for one with the 350 TPI.
Naturally aspirated 2nd gen MR2s ought to be in your price range - maybe even a somewhat tired MR2 Spyder.
Or you could go with an E30 or E36 chassis BMW.
Zzw30 mr2 spyders can sometimes be had for that money. Usually they need a litlle work at that pricepoint though.
It seems like your own rules are holding you back moreso than the availability of the cars. A $4k Miata and a $400 plane ticket are less than $5k. So is a $4k Miata and shipping to most places from FL, GA, AL, etc.
I noticed a few nice Miatas the other day when I was looking in the $3k range. Well in fly and drive money compared to $5k and you get a nice road trip out of it.
Spend a little bit more and buy The E36 M3. It's such a better car than a miata...
The budget is not "under $5k" it's "under $3k"
I listed Miatas under $5k and the response was that they are $2k over budget.
This is near Austin Tx, plane tickets probably run $350-$400. gets you pretty close to your price range and looks decently sorted.
Huckleberry wrote:
It seems like your own rules are holding you back moreso than the availability of the cars. A $4k Miata and a $400 plane ticket are less than $5k. So is a $4k Miata and shipping to most places from FL, GA, AL, etc.
Right now I have $3.3K that means $3000 price max with tax added. You also have to factor lost wages into the fly and drive price.
thedanimal wrote:
This is near Austin Tx, plane tickets probably run $350-$400. gets you pretty close to your price range and looks decently sorted.
So the plan is buy a utility car now, save up and maybe fly and buy a fun car over Christmas holiday.
My used car sales man has 2 Focuses, one a 5 speed Plus but it has a sunroof con for $1800, and an automatic con with an unknown roof type for $2200. I am probably going to get one of those. Some how he always has what I need, for the price I need, when I need it. No he has only seen what Miata in the auctions and it was a wreck.
My e36 M3 was more fuel efficient than a very well kept 1997 Miata that I had. I was never able to get very close to 30mpg in the Miata, but was able to in the (much quicker) M3. The LT1 corvette was also more efficient on the highway....
