2002 Miata (MX-5) issues

[shamikbose]

Hello PH-ers,

I'm a grad student in the US looking to buy my first car. Being a bit of a petrolhead, I was looking for a fun, manual car with a not-so-substantial budget (~$3-4k). I found a listing for a 2002 Mazda MX-5 that looks to be in pretty decent nick. I'm going for a test drive this weekend and was hoping to get some help about what issues I should be on the lookout for. The car has done about 112k miles. Here's hoping to get some valuable tips.

Thanks,
Shamik

[5ohmustang]

Get a foxbody instead.

[pasogrande]

I'm guessing it's a convertible. For Florida that may not be the best choice. Either the sun is too strong,or it's raining. Apart from evenings, top down is not as much fun here as you may think.

If you are over six feet you may be too tall for a Miata. (I haven't sat in one for years) Many traffic lights are too high to see for a tall person.

Mazdas are good cars and popular in South Florida. But also look at the alternatives. My choice would have been one of the fun VWs.

Enjoy the search.

Wilf.

[shamikbose]

pasogrande said:

I'm guessing it's a convertible. For Florida that may not be the best choice. Either the sun is too strong,or it's raining. Apart from evenings, top down is not as much fun here as you may think.

If you are over six feet

I'm just under 6.

pasogrande said:

you may be too tall for a Miata. (I haven't sat in one for years) Many traffic lights are too high to see for a tall person.

Mazdas are good cars and popular in South Florida. But also look at the alternatives. My choice would have been one of the fun VWs.

Enjoy the search.

Wilf.

Given this is a college town, I'm not exactly spoilt for choice. Also, as you'd probably know, manuals are not readily available stateside.

[shamikbose]

5ohmustang said:

Get a foxbody instead.

Can't find any with a manual 'box

[jeff m2]

Assuming you are looking for tech assistance buying a used car.

I recommend you look at the seller as much as the car.
Most cars have an oil change sticker in the top left corner of the screen with mileage of the next one due.
Also has the garage and its tel number. sswing by the garage and ask about the car, if its a garage and not a Jiffy lube they'll probably know it.

I'm probably gonna get crap for this....but I would prefer to buy a car from somebody that is not poor.
Nice house, three or four cars, the odds are in your favour it have been well maintained.

Then the usual stuff...check driveway or garage where it is normally parked for oil or fluid stains.
I don't think Florida has emissions, shame because the last test report would give you the Co and hydrocarbons.
Check in reservoirs for clean fluids, shocks, drivability and ice cold AC.
And the little stuff that can be so annoying like windows and soft top operation and its weatherproofness (stains on carpet)

Honda S2000 are also nice, surprised you couldn't find a stick shift mustang.

[shamikbose]

jeff m2 said:

Assuming you are looking for tech assistance buying a used car.

I recommend you look at the seller as much as the car.
Most cars have an oil change sticker in the top left corner of the screen with mileage of the next one due.
Also has the garage and its tel number. sswing by the garage and ask about the car, if its a garage and not a Jiffy lube they'll probably know it.

I'm probably gonna get crap for this....but I would prefer to buy a car from somebody that is not poor.
Nice house, three or four cars, the odds are in your favour it have been well maintained.

Then the usual stuff...check driveway or garage where it is normally parked for oil or fluid stains.
I don't think Florida has emissions, shame because the last test report would give you the Co and hydrocarbons.
Check in reservoirs for clean fluids, shocks, drivability and ice cold AC.
And the little stuff that can be so annoying like windows and soft top operation and its weatherproofness (stains on carpet)

Honda S2000 are also nice, surprised you couldn't find a stick shift mustang.

Honda S2000s I have seen here are way out of my budget. I went for a test drive of the car today. Clutch is a bit juddery, but nothing too bad. Gear throw seems slick, engine pulls well. I didn't see any oil leaks from where it was parked.
As for the seller, he lives in a nice neighbourhood, has another car.
As for the car, it looks to be in pretty good nick, inside and out. Mechanically, it seems sound enough. Is there anything specific I should ask my mechanic to look for? I didn't find any signs of rust on the wheelarches or the boot

[The Moose]

pasogrande said:

I'm guessing it's a convertible. For Florida that may not be the best choice. Either the sun is too strong,or it's raining. Apart from evenings, top down is not as much fun here as you may think.

I don't agree with that personally! Drop tops are great in FL!!

[Matt Harper]

The Moose said:

pasogrande said:

I'm guessing it's a convertible. For Florida that may not be the best choice. Either the sun is too strong,or it's raining. Apart from evenings, top down is not as much fun here as you may think.

I don't agree with that personally! Drop tops are great in FL!!

I fully endorse Wilf's comment - when I first moved here, I brought my Euro spec C5 convertible with me - and consequently hardly ever drove it with the top down - it's just too hot here and after a couple of doses of vicious sun-burn that did it for me. Might be a novelty for those on vacation, but I'd NEVER have another convertible here.