When The Answer isn't available, what next?

Serious Miata replacement
CRX
https://binghamton.craigslist.org/cto/5541370923.html

Less serious
Miata clone https://binghamton.craigslist.org/cto/5540713237.html

In reply to JohnRW1621:

Thanks, I didn't think about a CRX, I will have to see if I can sit in it with a helmet. I think they came with a sun roof, not sure I would want to tackle a delete. Shame about the fart muffler, that would have to go too.

And concerning the fire chicken. I already have a pony car and I forgot to mention I would never own another GM except for a Corvette.

Cheap Miatas aren't easy to find, but they're out there. Last spring, my wife found a cheap '92 through a co-worker ($800). It needed the brakes re-done, a new top and the A/C recharged.

Okay, okay, it was full of sticky pennies and dead french fries. It has 360k miles and one rusty rocker, but otherwise, it's all there. It even has good paint -- the former owner's ex-wife went Berkin' berserk and beat it up with an umbrella! She had to pay to repaint it as part of the divorce.

Many upgrades later, here it is:

Also, last year, I bought a '90 with a hole in the block and vermin-chewed wiring for $8.00. Yes. Eight dollars. It had sat behind the house of a friend of a friend for 5 years. It took us 18 months of gentle pestering to get the owner to dig up the title. But it finally happened.

TL;DR:

For el-cheapo deals, Craigslist is not your friend. Your friends and their friends are your friends. Put the word out to all of your buddies & co-workers that you're looking for a cheap Miata, running or not. Then wait. It also can't hurt to put up a CL ad that says something like "I want to buy your broken Miata". But your friends' friends probably have the cheap-o Miata you want.

I got in the low 30s for economy for my 1.6 Miata, but only after I a bunch of maintenance. Plugs, wires, front wheel bearings. (I don't think I did the rears.) And I drove to redline most the time!

http://scranton.craigslist.org/cto/5547257275.html

http://elmira.craigslist.org/cto/5517229905.html

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/5527324364.html

92dxman wrote: http://scranton.craigslist.org/cto/5547257275.html http://elmira.craigslist.org/cto/5517229905.html http://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/5527324364.html

I have seen those ads but they are too far away to dolly tow with a Honda Pilot, that is when I get it running again. The CRX guy doesn't answer emails.

The trucks transmission is starting to slip. I am starting to doubt that I will be able to retire it as farm truck. Trying to fix the pilot's radiator with my back out is taking forever. No wonder it is an $800 job.

I am going to give up for now, buy a car off a lot and not have to worry about renting a car every time a major repair needs to be done. I have an unexpected tax refund coming which will start my next Miata fund. I will also be looking for a Capri, and a few others that were suggested. Then I will replace the Mustang with what every I end up with and work on restoring it.