Time for a Miata

[repoman0]

I think it's time for me to buy one of these. I loved the 2006 NC I rented for a week for a CA / Bay Area trip in 2017, and my brother just bought one (later NC) which got me jealous and thinking about it again. I was originally set on that gen but it looks like the ND gen is quite nice, and are one of the only new cars I actually like the look of. And if I'm looking at ND, obviously have to go for the newer 2019 ones with the extra 26 hp / higher redline 2.0L engine. I've always thought new cars are for suckers but here I am

Which car goes to make room for it though ... the sensible choice is to sell my pristine 05 M3 for some decent cash to make room for the next fun car. The better choice is to sell my rust bucket daily 04 330xi and have two "fun" cars. The M3 would probably have to take over winter duties in this case, and would also get a roof rack part time for kayaks, bikes, and skis. I justify this option to myself by saying that the two E46 BMWs are essentially the same car, at least the chassis, so might as well keep the cleaner and faster one ......... Plus I just installed and wired up the carbon fiber CSL intake that came on some of the Euro cars, which turns it into quite possibly one of the top five best sounding cars of all time.

Anybody a Miata driver here???

 

[JEDIYoda]

Miatas are fun cars to drive!! I also rented one a few years ago and fell in love with it!!

 

[JCH13]

The ND is an absolutely wonderful car, even with a little less HP. I had the chance to drive one on a track and had a total blast.

I couldn't stomach putting a clean '05 M3 through salt. Just feels like sacrilege against the car gods. And I'm not a particular BMW fan...

Might be worth considering selling both BMWs and getting a different winter vehicle? Or Keep both BMWs and the ND?

 

[repoman0]

The ND is an absolutely wonderful car, even with a little less HP. I had the chance to drive one on a track and had a total blast.

I couldn't stomach putting a clean '05 M3 through salt. Just feels like sacrilege against the car gods. And I'm not a particular BMW fan...

Might be worth considering selling both BMWs and getting a different winter vehicle? Or Keep both BMWs and the ND?

Yeah, that’s been my thought about the M3 since I bought it almost five years ago. But on the other hand, E46 cars seem to last 15 years before they start rusting with basically zero care. You’d think regular undercarriage washes through the winter and thorough spring and fall cleaning of the wheel arch areas would help significantly. And in the end, is it better to have a pristine car in 15 years with 70-80k miles that was barely driven, or a well-loved one with 150k-200k miles that I have to spend a few++ grand on fixing at a restoration shop ... (or send to the junkyard as the era of gasoline cars comes to an end)

Could always drive the Miata through winter but that would mean buying the RF, which I’d rather avoid due to weight, cost, looks and complexity. My GF has a 2018 Volt lease that could easily fit skis inside, but it’s terrible in snow at least compared to my unstoppable 330xi. I’d gift her the 330 but I don’t think she wants a 15-year old BMW with a six speed manual that she can barely drive.

 

[zinfamous]

And if I'm looking at ND, obviously have to go for the newer 2019 ones with the extra 26 hp / higher redline 2.0L engine. I've always thought new cars are for suckers but here I am

You're doing it wrong. You're supposed to beg us to convince you not to get one.

 

[repoman0]

You're doing it wrong. You're supposed to beg us to convince you not to get one.

That clearly doesn’t work though. Better to accept my fate and try to justify it to a bunch of internet strangers, because everyone I know in real life thinks it’s ridiculous. I did get some validation yesterday from a guy at work who drives a mustang and corvette year round, and he’s about as old as my dad so is obviously trustworthy and responsible.

 

[ISAslot]

I was looking at the 19' Miata. Took some test drives. Kept going back and forth on getting the RF or not. I was pretty set on the club. In the end, I just don't drive enough to justify a brand new car as a toy, and I don't live in an area with twisty roads.

 

[EXCellR8]

I'd buy an ND in a heartbeat, but around here most are garaged and people want a lot for them unless they're falling apart. There's actually a Miata specialist a town over from where I live and you can get really cheap parts. They've always got about 20 cars on the lot.

My mum's Z3 is similar in how simple most systems on it are, however parts are 10X more expensive.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

I test drove a 2018(2019?) RF Miata last year when I was car shopping. I thought the clutch and shifter were brilliant, but I was surprised at the lack of stability and confidence I felt driving on hard corners. I hear that's something you can fix up with springs and/or tires, but I was looking for something more aggressive from the factory (and less expensive, if I could find something I liked for less).

I wasn't dead set on a convertible, though, and although I thought I wanted RWD I found something likeable in another drivetrain layout.

 

[Fenixgoon]

briefly owned an NA. they're a blast. a miata is easily the most fun per dollar car. period.

 

[JCH13]

Yeah, that’s been my thought about the M3 since I bought it almost five years ago. But on the other hand, E46 cars seem to last 15 years before they start rusting with basically zero care. You’d think regular undercarriage washes through the winter and thorough spring and fall cleaning of the wheel arch areas would help significantly. And in the end, is it better to have a pristine car in 15 years with 70-80k miles that was barely driven, or a well-loved one with 150k-200k miles that I have to spend a few++ grand on fixing at a restoration shop ... (or send to the junkyard as the era of gasoline cars comes to an end)

Could always drive the Miata through winter but that would mean buying the RF, which I’d rather avoid due to weight, cost, looks and complexity. My GF has a 2018 Volt lease that could easily fit skis inside, but it’s terrible in snow at least compared to my unstoppable 330xi. I’d gift her the 330 but I don’t think she wants a 15-year old BMW with a six speed manual that she can barely drive.

The relatively exotic care and feeding of an E46 M3 was a significant annoyance for me when I was looking at getting one. With a special-order-only engine oil, differential mounts that like to rip out of the chassis, some suggestions to replace suspension components every 15-20k miles, VANOS threatening to puke its guts, mandatory rod bearing replacement at 100k, radiator end tanks that hate the cold, and many other identified issues it seemed like a huge pain to keep one in decent shape for the long haul. In your shoes I'd be sorely tempted to sell it before these bigger problems are realized.

I'd put $1 on your GFs Volt doesn't have good snow tires. Any 2wd car will do just fine in the winter with good snow tires.

But, it's your money/time/aggravation, so you can do what you want!

 

[repoman0]

The relatively exotic care and feeding of an E46 M3 was a significant annoyance for me when I was looking at getting one. With a special-order-only engine oil, differential mounts that like to rip out of the chassis, some suggestions to replace suspension components every 15-20k miles, VANOS threatening to puke its guts, mandatory rod bearing replacement at 100k, radiator end tanks that hate the cold, and many other identified issues it seemed like a huge pain to keep one in decent shape for the long haul. In your shoes I'd be sorely tempted to sell it before these bigger problems are realized.

I'd put $1 on your GFs Volt doesn't have good snow tires. Any 2wd car will do just fine in the winter with good snow tires.

But, it's your money/time/aggravation, so you can do what you want!

My M3 has the subframe mounts tied into the chassis with a metal bar so no worries there, and I installed the permanent VANOS fix from Beisan for a few hundred bucks and an afternoon of my time. The rod bearings are indeed a 100k item. Suspension components don’t need to be replaced every 15k though, 10w-60 oil is cheap and easy to get, and I have never heard of expansion tank issues on the M3, only the non-M. It’s actually a reliable car once you fix the couple BMW colossal engineering fuck ups (subframe and vanos)

My GF’s volt has Blizzaks starting in November, same as my 330, and it couldn’t get up my old driveway without some serious manual pushing while the 330 didn’t even slip. It’s significantly less confidence inspiring in snow. You owe me a dollar.

 

[JCH13]

My M3 has the subframe mounts tied into the chassis with a metal bar so no worries there, and I installed the permanent VANOS fix from Beisan for a few hundred bucks and an afternoon of my time. The rod bearings are indeed a 100k item. Suspension components don’t need to be replaced every 15k though, 10w-60 oil is cheap and easy to get, and I have never heard of expansion tank issues on the M3, only the non-M. It’s actually a reliable car once you fix the couple BMW colossal engineering fuck ups (subframe and vanos)

My GF’s volt has Blizzaks starting in November, same as my 330, and it couldn’t get up my old driveway without some serious manual pushing while the 330 didn’t even slip. It’s significantly less confidence inspiring in snow. You owe me a dollar.

 

[zinfamous]

It's been like, 5 days and we still don't have pics of new car.

 

[repoman0]

It's been like, 5 days and we still don't have pics of new car.

Haha. My GF supports my car habit and even helps me work on the M3, but considering we moved into our new house this weekend, she probably would have killed me if I ditched that ordeal and went to go buy a car. Besides, what's the benchmark set in the GTI thread ... like four weeks?

 

[zinfamous]

Haha. My GF supports my car habit and even helps me work on the M3, but considering we moved into our new house this weekend, she probably would have killed me if I ditched that ordeal and went to go buy a car. Besides, what's the benchmark set in the GTI thread ... like four weeks?

different threshold, my friend: The actual goal was to stop the purchase (serious), not promise a purchase. (nakedfrog still has the best argument, imo)




anyway, I would fricking love a Miata, too, but I'm a one car for all things sort of person. I've already hauled 5 people on 2 occasions (without choice), so Miata never was an option

The only 2nd car that makes any kind of sense to my needs right now is a 25+ year-old rusted out enormous pickup truck that I can park most months of the year and for like, $20 bucks a year title or whatever that costs here in "commieland" (MD).

 

[JEDIYoda]

I test drove a 2018(2019?) RF Miata last year when I was car shopping. I thought the clutch and shifter were brilliant, but I was surprised at the lack of stability and confidence I felt driving on hard corners. I hear that's something you can fix up with springs and/or tires, but I was looking for something more aggressive from the factory (and less expensive, if I could find something I liked for less).

I wasn't dead set on a convertible, though, and although I thought I wanted RWD I found something likeable in another drivetrain layout.

Whatd did you finally get? A Volkswagen convertible.....

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

Whatd did you finally get? A Volkswagen convertible.....

I smell a parody thread: "Convince me I don't want a convertible Beetle"

 

[zinfamous]

View attachment 9011
I smell a parody thread: "Convince me I don't want a convertible Beetle"

this would be the perfect photo (and thread) to shop ilovetruenos's face onto that driver. lol.

...oh man, does anyone have that classic photo saved anywhere? I doubt it.

 

[snoopy7548]

How about a Nissan Murano Crosscabriolet?

 

[Ichinisan]

Something something bulk beef alternator size

 

[Vic]

Have you considered an NB Mazdaspeed? There's a few low mileage ones out there that can still be had for a reasonable price.

 

[repoman0]

Have you considered an NB Mazdaspeed? There's a few low mileage ones out there that can still be had for a reasonable price.

A coworker actually has one, and I did consider it but ... I’m not really interested in turbos, and also I have to admit that a newish car is kind of appealing. Warranty, carplay, 30+ MPG fuel economy and near 40 on the highway according to owners.

That said, still need to actually drive one ...

 

[MooseNSquirrel]

I have a 1991 Miata. Manual everything (including windows). 167k miles.

A blast to drive. Never has 98 HP felt so fast! and the handling is ridiculous. Its basically a little go cart.

 

[repoman0]

I decided to put this off a year or so. Least exciting end to the thread ever, but I really want a 2019 and can't stomach buying a new car. The piece that really killed it for me is the ~$750 first-year excise tax bill I'd be hit with. F that. I'll take the 1-2 year used ones and pay the 30-40% rate rather than 90.