Pricing a rare Sunburst Yellow

I just bought a 1991 Miata with only 26000 on it for $4500. Beautiful condition and with all the toy's. Dale P....

91 Miata

It was the strangest thing, but there were actually two for sale at the same used car dealer here in Seattle last year at the same time, and they were

*asking* $4200 each for them, so you know they went for much less than that. I remember the salesman making a joke along the lines of saying he would take $8000 cash for the pair. I was thinking more like $6000 for the pair myself.

They were in pretty good shape, too. One had like 92k on it and the other one had 105k I think. Both were in fairly typical "experienced-Miata-owner" type shape. Neither one had the matching yellow hardtop or I would have bought it on the spot. I passed on both of them because I wanted something with lower mileage, and (silly me) I thought I wanted an NB.

I regret not buying one of those in hindsight. I think I would have enjoyed one of those much more than the black '99 that I bought instead.

Cheers, H.

I would have to concur that, while fairly rare, a good color doesn't necessarily add allot to the value of an older Miata. It might very well make it sell faster. The Sunburst Yellow cars are very nice. I too came close to buying one once. If you're in no hurry you can try holding out for a bit extra and see what happens.

Good luck, Chris

92BB&T

"experienced-Miata-owner"

My 01 crystal blue's OEM Bridgestone Turanza's have 17k on them, and I am considering new shoes. My requirements are thus: I never drive in the snow or ice, but I do drive when it is 25 degrees, with a bone dry pavement. I also drive in the rain in the spring and fall. And, of course, in the summer. I don't push'er to the limit anytime, but I don't want to give up it's Miata handling. So, with all that in mind, what tires would you recommend or have used that would perform for me? So far, my research has left me a little confused. Any help would be appreciated. Tire size 205/45 16.

Thanks,

Tom

Robert,

Where are you located? I've been looking at getting a Sunburst for a couple of years and have looked at a few. There is/was one on miata.net w/hardtop for 5K that appeared to be in good condition but unfortunately is on the other side of the country for me (I'm in Va.). I might be interested in yours depending upon location and price.

Tom

92 Red

Robert Meushaw wrote:

Put Yokohama ES100's on my '94 with stock 14 inch wheels. Great tire for the money.

ES100's are great tires (I have them). However, there grip does suffer (like most summer tires) in colder weather. They're fine in 25 degree weather for normal driving, but be prepared for less traction if you are doing any spirited driving at low temperatures.

I have Cooper Cobras on my `92 Black and Tan and they hold awesome, good in wet and dry conditions. And not too pricey either.

Bill

BZZZT! Sorry to contradict you, Bill, but I cannot let you recommend those hunks of trash without rebuttal. My (used) Miata came with Cooper Cobras. They had a dangerously-sudden breakaway in the dry, and were too scary in the wet to allow my wife to drive (would break loose in third gear by gassing it in a straight line). They were the absolute worst tires I've ever used, and were replaced immediately by D60s. I was going to give them to a neighborhood teenager, but my conscience intervened.

I suppose Cobras might be OK for a Miata that was never driven briskly or in the rain, and never had to deal with an emergency. Practically ANY other tire would be safer and offer better performance, though.

I have Toyo Proxie T1-S on my car now (well not NOW. The snow tires are on now :) They're awsome. Way better than the stock Pilots that came on the car.

Really? wow I have never had any problems with them. Could it be the diffrence in when they were made? I would hate to have em if they were bad. I havn't had any problems out of them and I drive em hard and in the rain as well, but, If anyone else has had bad experiances with them I would love to know before my next tire purchase comes up and I may have to reconsider......

Bill

I was considering them, was wondering how they do in the rain, and also on bare, dry pavement at 25 degrees. I also heard about the Toyo Proxes FZ4. The tire dealer says they are all season, but then again he says that all "summer tires" are all season.?? Something doesn't add up.

Tom

I'm pleased as punch with my Yoko YK420's good wet or dry and handle much better than the eagle gt's that were on it..

-- Jerry Randolph '90B Red Houst>

Trust me on this--the Toyo FZ4s are *not* all season tires. They're nowhere near as good as the T1-Ss, but they are terrible in the winter. I've tried it and had to abandon my car in some strange places.

Based upon recommendations here, then some heavy research based on same, I am leaning heavily toward the yoko es100 now. I have visited every dealer in town, and found out that most of them don't know squat about tire-ing a Miata. Most have never seen one. Money really isn't the issue. I can tell you one thing, though. The Bridgestone ER30 OEM's that came on it are awful.

Tom

The manager at the tire dealer that installed my Toyo T1-Ss for me looked at me like I was crazy when I brought them in. He'd never heard of Toyos before and seemed rather amused at the whole situation.

No, tire dealers don't know a lick about the proper tires for cars.

Amen to that, I've never met a tire dealer who really knew anything about high performance tires - just reinforces my use of tirerack.com

Hey Tom,

I love my Yoko ES's - not so good in winter/wet but once it's dry the fun begins

got mine at tirerack.com last year

Wes

By not so good, do you mean deathtrap? Or would I stand a chance of geting home in a small, unexpected snow. The Bidgestone ER30's I have now did a 180 in less than a quarter inch of snow at 10 miles an hour. Not that I planned to drive in the snow, but......

Tom