pricing of 1991 Miata

A used car dealer in Roseland Florida on US1 had a '91 on the lot a few months ago. It had 180,000 miles on it. There was rust evident in many places, not serious rust but rust none the less. The body panals did not fit well. The enterior was shappy. I didn't drive it. It was a stick. It was listed at $2,500. I don't know what they got for it.

The edmunds.com price calculator says about $1,500 from a private party, or $2,300 from a dealer. Personally, if the VIN is lower than 209447 I would avoid the car, because it has a potential crankshaft issue that could be expensive to fix. FYI, the timing belt is due for replacement at 60k.

You'll find excellent advice on buying a used Miata at miata.net.

That's about right for a "typical" 1991 Miata. (120,000+ miles, worn seats, and/or trashed top, possibly rained-in, etc.) This one sounds especially clean and well-cared for, no dings and a clean interior. It has low miles, but not necessarily too low.

If it has not been wrecked, has a good top and runs well, it would fetch $3,000 almost immediately in Austin on Craigslist from a private party, maybe $3500.00.

I agree about the VIN, unless he plans to swap that 1.6 for a 1.8 liter anyway. Same with the timing belt, it is time due to age as much as anything.

Pat

Actually, at edmunds I specified that mileage and checked the highest condition category. A high-mileage '91 would be worth about $500 less.

Austin Miata prices may indeed run higher than the national average. We don't know where the car in question lives.

Must be, I would love to be able to pick up a 1991 Miata in great, low-mileage condition for $1500.00 from an individual. Any Miata in that price range around here is badly trashed.

This is also a terrible time to be driving a Miata here except at night or early morning. October through March was great, but the time of the year seems to have little effect on the cost of Miatas that I have seen.

$1500.00 is less than many people will put in their gas tank in a year, scary.

Pat

I sold my for almost 6000 Euro. But it was a BRG.

so goodbye group

schreef in bericht news: snipped-for-privacy@k37g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

Crank and belt issue aside (hard to put them aside), I've seen similar go for around $5k. The older they are with lower mileage...when well cared for, that is...the more and more they seem to be thought of as collector cars. It feels pretty good to drive a classic!

If you're set on that year, research the crap out of the short nose crank issue. Not pretty.

If you're not set on the year, and you're looking for something in the $5K range, I'd seek out a 96 or 97 with low mileage in good condition. Got mine with a few bumps and scratches for $3900 at 84K miles, wearing Montego Blue. Lots of options out there, anyways.

That comes out to $9,226.79 USD. Which country?

I remember that it is extremely expensive to buy a car in Denmark because of the taxes involved. Do you know what the car cost when it was new?

Pat

You'll be back, they all come back. Well, most of them.

Where has Leon been hiding for so long? No chance that he got bored with our jabberings. Maybe he traded his Miatas in on a BMW. ;-)

Pat

Last night my wife and I went out to dinner and instead of a movie we tooled around on the back roads for a couple of hours. Very pleasant, I have to say.

Here in Central Florida, during the day this time of year I usually have the top up and the air on blast.

"r0lliSl1fe" wrote

Then the '97s can have the oil pump issue and the tail pipes can fall off the muffler. Perhaps at 11 years, those have already happened if they are ever going to. Tailpipe at 31,000 miles and oil pump at 41,500 for my '97. I'd go for '96, given the choice.

I'd agree. It's old and a bit beat up, but all the problems I've had with it were normal things or induced by me fiddling. Sure enjoying my brand new Illuminas though B-)

There's a list somewhere of all the little changes they made from year to year...even within an engine/body style.