Thinking about a "fun" car -- Miata?

[Benzadmiral]

In yesterday's rerun episode of "Becker," two of the characters were discussing getting old, and how it's necessary to have something that excites you to get you out of bed in the morning. Which resonated with me. In the story, Dr. Becker buys a motorcycle . . . which is not an option for me.

I was thinking a used Mazda Miata: there's a used 2002 in the local paper for $6000. I've never had a open car except for a brief flirtation with a '77 Mercedes SL some years ago, and have dodged the idea while living in The Great Dismal Swamp of New Orleans because it's too hot for an open car. But it's an interesting notion. This would be mostly a "weekend" car, for quick road trips and drives up the Interstate.

So has anybody had a Miata? Drawbacks? High points? Did they come with air conditioning and automatic?

 

[addyguy]

Miata's are great fun cars - reliable and handle great.

I don't think i've ever read anything bad being written about them.

 

[IndyIan]

2002 for $6k, almost sounds too cheap.
Anyways, for the money I think they are the funnest cars around. Lightweight with nimble handling, this is one car that you should drive stick barring physical disability. I imagine nearly all of them had air in your area and automatics do exist but are a bit rarer if you must have one.
My dad had a '90 in 2000 and I borrowed that car quite a bit. Not fast but the nimblest car I've ever driven. With each generation they got heavier with more hp and overall performance rose but a first gen will entertain you with near perfect handling and balance.
The '90 is not an interstate car and I don't think even a 2002 is a good highway cruiser, with a hard top they might be OK but the winding secondary roads are what they are made for, just like most motorcycles.
If you like to drive with some excitement they are great cars. If you just want something with a drop top there are better cars just to idle down the interstate.

 

[mrsilv04]

You mean the Park Avenue isn't "fun"?

I'd have never guessed it...

Either a Miata... or consider a Honda Del Sol as well.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
You mean the Park Avenue isn't "fun"?

I'd have never guessed it...

Either a Miata... or consider a Honda Del Sol as well.


Honda S2000! Although it's gonna run more than $6k most likely.

 

[JeffJ]

Of all the cars I've ever had, the only one I regret selling...1992 Miata with 160,000 miles. Ultra-reliable and I actually drove it for a year on my 100 mile round-trip commute. It was a base model, no power anything and no A/C. But it had that intangible quality / soul that no amount of creature comforts can replace.

 

[ryan2022]

A miata would be a near perfect fun car.

I've driven three or four different miatas, in different year/ trim levels.

My Grandfather actually bought one a couple of years ago. He's an 84 year old wild man!

Its a '93 with the smaller engine, but you'd never notice. There's such a great feeling driving them. Incredibly nimble, with a perfect shifter.

I'd also second the Del sol. The S2000 would be a lot more expensive, and harder on insurance, but would obviously meet the fun factor.

My wife and I had a del sol for 5 years when we were first together. She still misses that car. They can usually be had for slightly less than the Miata, and if you can find a Twin cam VTEC version........have fun!

 

[bepperb]

I'm 6'0" 200 lbs. My roommate had a Miata. No way could I drive that comfortably. It was perhaps more comfortable to look over the window than through it.

His was an early 90's, perhaps this has changed.

 

[Bluestream]

Get it! You only live once...

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
You mean the Park Avenue isn't "fun"?

I'd have never guessed it...

Either a Miata... or consider a Honda Del Sol as well.

The PA is a different kind of fun, or pleasure if you will -- serene and untroubled by nearly anything it encounters.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
2002 for $6k, almost sounds too cheap.
Anyways, for the money I think they are the funnest cars around. Lightweight with nimble handling, this is one car that you should drive stick barring physical disability. I imagine nearly all of them had air in your area and automatics do exist but are a bit rarer if you must have one.
My dad had a '90 in 2000 and I borrowed that car quite a bit. Not fast but the nimblest car I've ever driven. With each generation they got heavier with more hp and overall performance rose but a first gen will entertain you with near perfect handling and balance.
The '90 is not an interstate car and I don't think even a 2002 is a good highway cruiser, with a hard top they might be OK but the winding secondary roads are what they are made for, just like most motorcycles.
If you like to drive with some excitement they are great cars. If you just want something with a drop top there are better cars just to idle down the interstate.

What "winding secondary roads" we have around here are in such horrible shape, like the streets, that a small light car would be a horror to drive. There are some nicer roads once you get away from the main swamp, where I live -- but you have to do a little Interstate to get to 'em.

Yeah, I know a small convertible would be noisy as all get out on the Interstate even with the top up. What other drop tops would be quieter and more comfortable, then? Or maybe I should up my budget a bit and look at a used Mini Cooper?

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
I'm 6'0" 200 lbs. My roommate had a Miata. No way could I drive that comfortably. It was perhaps more comfortable to look over the window than through it.

His was an early 90's, perhaps this has changed.

I'm a little taller, then 190ish lbs, and fitting wasn't a problem. Sometimes at stop lights I'd have to tilt my head abit to see the light but no big deal. If you've got short legs and a long torso and short arms fitting a first gen one might be an issue.
At miata.net there are all sorts of tricks for tall people to fit into the cars. Removing the sun visor altogether helps visiblity and some guys trim out some of the foam in the seat cushions to sit lower and farther back.

 

[IndyIan]

I'd give that miata a test drive, to see what's acceptable to you or not in terms of noise. Some versions had stiffer suspension but most had the base suspension which is pretty supple. It has dual a-arms all around which can/should be better than struts in bumps and in corners...

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Get it! You only live once...


I second that.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Autotrader has a 2000 model, black/tan, with auto, in MS for $5400, 140K miles; and a '94 with hard top in TX for $4750. Hmmm . . .

 

[OVERKILL]

Find an '87 to '92 Fox Body Mustang. One that is mildly modded would be even more fun. They are a BLAST to drive. That's how I managed to put 80,000Km on mine over the course of two summers.

 

[97tbird]

Can a last gen. Prelude be a fun car?
I drove one once and it was "kinda" fun...felt like i was sitting on the road, though...

Subaru WRX can be fun, too, i think...

 

[Cutehumor]

I remember reading along time ago about a guy who bought a new miata as a daily driver back in the early 2000's on edmunds.com. he said semi's and SUVs almost ran him off the interstate due to the car being so small and low to the ground. he quickly traded it in shortly thereafter.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral

The PA is a different kind of fun, or pleasure if you will -- serene and untroubled by nearly anything it encounters.


I know.... I bought my folks a '99 Park Avenue. Just drove it earlier tonight.

With a set of Goodyear ComforTred tires and the heated leather seat, it is difficult to stay awake in that thing...

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
I remember reading along time ago about a guy who bought a new miata as a daily driver back in the early 2000's on edmunds.com. he said semi's and SUVs almost ran him off the interstate due to the car being so small and low to the ground. he quickly traded it in shortly thereafter.

I had a couple people play the tailgate game with me, both on the freeway. I almost got the guy in the pickup to go into the ditch on the off ramp.
I guess some people like to be a-holes when they see someone having a much better time then them? The newer miata's look a bit bigger and "meaner" than the early ones too and probably less likely to be picked on. I wouldn't worry about it.