New Member from Middle Georgia

[Mike92Miata]

Just picked up a high mileage 92 Miata today (my first) to use as a beater to save on gas. The car has bad paint, needs a new roof and the windshield has a big crack across it. All the mechanics were sound, stack of repair receipts, 2 owner car, 243k on the clock and I got it cheap so expectations... set low. Made the transaction and embarked on a 120 mile ride home. I did not expect to be smiling for the next 2 1/2 hours!! The car drove flawlessly, I took a couple of twisty roads and almost peed myself laughing I was having such a good time. I almost forgot to check on the gas situation when I looked the needle was buried in E. I put 15 bucks of gas in and it gave me a 1/2 tank?? The needle is still between 1/4 and 1/2 are you kidding me. How did I not buy one of these before now? Anyway I look forward to picking some y'all brains about maintaining this thing. With the miles she has on her I wont be driving her to hard but I am looking forward enjoying this ride.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Welcome to the madness! As long as the maintenance is kept up with, even 243k miles is ok for the engine! :)

[fastnfurious7]

Cars will last a long time with some care. Welcome to the site, glad to have you!

[theothersawyer]

Welcome! It seems like you have already fallen in love with your car! Post some pictures!!

[nickt93]

Welcome to the site!

[Bob_Bobber0]

Welcome aboard!!

[bovaco]

Welcome to the asylum.

[Reverend Greg]

Thats How it happens to a lot of Us....once you go Miata You never go Back....Welzcomez
(G)

[Dr.Drew]

Heyooooooo!!!!!!

[Beastinthebushes]

Waddup?

[waylont]

welcome im from the middle ga area too (dublin)

[atlnb]

Heller, just moved back from Macon

[Mike92Miata]

Couple Cellphone pics of ugly betty


http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/mike89lsc/2012-02-01_12-54-03_804.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/mike89lsc/2012-02-01_12-54-18_917.jpg
http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/mike89lsc/2012-02-01_12-54-37_609.jpg
http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/mike89lsc/2012-02-01_13-06-07_758.jpg

Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk

[jzilla]

just needs new paint and top.. overall looks like a winner.

[Bernie]

Looks like a good solid car.

[fastnfurious7]

Not bad @ all for the cheap intro price. Nice pics!

[ant_96]

Great car to start the obsession with. Congrats.

[ez4u2chere]

Warner-Vegas Mike? That looks like the old mall in the pics.

[Bob_Bobber0]

Someone was selling a nice looking silverstone trunk lid on here a week or so ago. If its still around you should grab it and replace that faded one.

[atlnb]

Nice ride man, just needs a paint job. Welcome again

[oldgrayfrog]

The guy selling the trunk,was the place that does the conversions of miatas into exocet kit cars. Look up Exocet here on the forum, and you'll see he had a couple of really nice silverstone body panels. When you get ready to replace the top, give forum member Miatastuff a PM. You'll want to buy the glass window top off an NB (99-05). Buy the whole top on a frame , usually around $350-400, and you can unbolt and bolt the whole thing in about an hour. Much easier than doing a replacement top.

At 240,000 miles your 1.6 is about broken in. Seriously, they run forever with just basic maintenance. I'd change the oil, and filter, the fuel filter(folks rarely get these done), spark plugs and wires (NGKs work really well, you can get cheap "tune up" kits off Ebay Motors) Look carefully at your radiator. If the top is brown, or particularly if you see any green residue, this needs replacement asap. The end tanks are plastic and become brittle and then fail. You can get a replacement off Ebay, OEM type for around $80, but I'd highly recommend an aluminum one instead. You can get a Mishimoto or similar Chinese Koyo knock off for around $200.

The only other major maintenance item is the timing belt and water pump. Normally, you change these at the same time. RSpeed in Marietta runs specials about once or twice a year, keep an eye out for one of these. The good news is that the Miata is a non-interference motor, so if the timing belt breaks, the car just stops moving. There isn't a great collision of valves and pistons:) These should be changed every 60-80k miles, so if you don't know how long it's been, plan on it coming up. The nice thing is Hector at RSpeed can take a peak, and tell you if it's the belt is in good shape.

Welcome to the fun, and enjoy your new toy. Think about buying Keith Tanner's Miata Projects book, it has a lot of good info, and runs through changing radiators, timing belts, and how to get an extra 14 horsepower bumping the timing:)

[Mike92Miata]

Thanks for all the info that was cool of you guys. I went through most of the receipts, the timing belt, water pump, and "tension wheel"? was done at 222k 2 years ago. Brakes and rotors 3 years ago, adjust throttle body jan 2011. Clutch at 187k. Oil change, and coolant flush was done in Novenber of last year. I cannot read the date but the a/c was converted to 134a but the compressor will not come on. So besides a few cosmetics and a leaky exhaust I am feeling better about this every day. I will get a chance to tear into the car over the weekend. I want pull out seats and give everything a good cleaning. I will be sourcing the top in the coming weeks.

[Mike92Miata]

well cleaned her up Sunday pulled the interior and steam cleaned what I could, all the surfaces are in good shape one small snag on the pass door. I found an ashtray to replace the broken cup holder. I have no idea why i even have a miata ashtray in my parts collection (all VW stuff) ... but there is a business card in the ashtry from a miata place in tampa. Put her up in the air had to fix an exhaust leak behind the cat. Everything else underneath looks good, all the control arm bushings are good struts feel good, there is a NEW fuel filter. All in all except for cosmetics and what sounds like a rear wheel bearing, I am feeling even better than before. Also found the orginal window sticker.

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/mike89lsc/Scan.jpg