Car died

Have you looked at all of the belts? The crank pulley is a possibility.

I murdered my car. Well, it was a '96 needing a top, shocks, dent repair....... Dipstick came up dry. Something is warped in the engine. With oil added, it runs, but something is banging. How irresponsible is that? I could have sworn I checked the oil a month or so ago. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

I think I need to replace my wife's Explorer and drive that myself for a while before I consider replacing the Miata, as hard as that is to say. She's having hip replacement surgery in June and needs something easier to get in and out of. I have no idea what to get. A mechanic friend suggested a 2009 Camry from a local auction. Probably a fleet or rental car. 30K around 13,000. I've heard they're peppy with the V6, but don't handle as wall as an Accord. But the local Mazda dealer has a nice looking 2006 Miata, green and tan. Hmmmm.

I am very sorry to hear that.

My parents are looking for a new car to replace their 1994 Camry. It was a rental and has served them well for 14 years.

The current attitude towards Toyota may help in negotiating the price. I will buy a Toyota, but probably only a proven design like a Camry, and I would prefer that it have as many parts as possible from Japan rather than North America.

The Camrys don't generally handle as well as an Accord, but the difference between a Camry and an Accord is not huge, nothing like the difference between an Accord and your Miata.

That 2006 MX-5/Miata sounds interesting.

Good luck to you!

Pat

Frank, what the heck? Has your car been going thru oil on a regular basis? You're saying you let it run dry!? You never witnessed a serious oil loss at any point? This is pretty strange.

Don't forget that you can buy a used engine and drop it in pretty easily if need be.

Chris

Given the condition of the rest of the car, I think it's time to say goodbye. I'll miss it.

That was the point I got to with the 1991 Silverstone that I had. It had body damage and a warped head. It needed many other things like shocks, a rear finish panel, the list went on and on.

It would have taken at least $5,000.00 to have it back on the road in good shape, and it might have had a total value of $4,000.00 at that point, probably less.

Good luck on finding a replacement!

Saint Patrick

I do believe that Frank is from the Dallas area. I want a prize if I got it right. ;-)

Saint Patrick

Dallas.

You win.

I have a friend who's a mechanic and buys and sells cars for a side living. He went down to the weekly fleet auction today and got me Black 2009 Camry SE, less than 30K miles, for about $15,000. This will be for my wife. I'll inherit the Explorer temporarily. I really *want* to replace it with something sportier, but I'm not sure whether it should be another Miata.

Can anyone suggest how I could lose all my oil and not have a low oil pressure warning ??????

Excellent choice! I am going to look for a similar deal for my parents soon.

A bad sender for the oil pressure light is the only thing I can think of, that or a bad bulb in the dash.

Faulty warning sensor.

Your prize is that you get to play 'saint' for a day ;-) Happy SPD by the way, Patrick!

Chris

My wife loves the Camry. Saw a 2004 Mazdaspeed (50K miles) and a 2005 Silver with 15K (!) miles listed locally. Hmmm. Drove the Explorer the last couple of days. It's nice being able to listen to music. If I don't get a Miata, that will be the reason.