Same here, but a 95- and I drive her every day from April to the first snowfall here in NH. 140K miles and lots of typical parts replaced but engine clutch drive train and front end are all original.
Drove my 1990 MX-5 as my daily driver for 20 wonderful years. Followed that with driving a BMW Z4 as my daily, until I traded it in on my 2019 MX-5. Yes, my 71 year old bones do just fine in sports cars. I figure that, if you must drive somewhere, why not have fun doing so?
We’ll get back! M.E. Here we need to quit voting in people who stiffen growth. I’m voting for trump not because of the Culture war I just like building quality products! Can’t have a quality product in a socialist country.
Here in Europe I pay 60 euros (that's roughly 60 dollars!) to fill up my NA Miata.. Taxes are killing us here..Thank god the Miata doesn't drink a lot (1 liter of fuel=+-15km) 😎
Tbh as a girl that’s 4’11 I love this car, I’m planning to get this car as my first ever car and ik it’s small ik it’s old Ik there’s not much space, but I just think it’s so cute. Since my dad is a mechanic I feel like we wouldn’t have a problem with older cars (he has a few old cars himself) and I think my dad will be real proud of me liking an old car 😁
I currently have an NB miata. I use it to commute to work. I drive it 100 miles a day. I usually get 300 miles to the tank. I also drive on the interstate and I sometimes get nervous driving next to large trucks. The last 15 miles of my commute is twisty road, which is the main reason I bought the car. It's so much fun and it makes the commute worth it.
I have been daily driving Miatas for ten years. I also have three of them. I am a mechanic and I can tell you from experience that the Miata is the easiest car to work on. I have made one into race car and stripped one down to the shell in just one day.
@@nathenperri2826 I’m planning on getting a Miata, my uncle is fixing it up a bit then giving me it as a gift and I’ve been really wanting to start learning how to fix things if something goes wrong, I’m currently 17 and honestly only know how to change a tire but am wanting to learn more, do you think a Miata would be a good choice?
@@RASTALION_rawrA Miata is a very reliable good first car if preventative maintenance is done. Email me at nathenperri@gmail.com. I will give you a good list of some of the things you will want to check and replace as soon as you get the car.
Very impressed by your professionalism! You come across likable, clear and concise. You certainly have a gift. I will have to check out your other vids. Good luck to you, your channel and endeavors my friend!
Been driving my 1993 NA as my daily driver since 1993. Love it, extremely reliable, decent gas mileage, not a lot of driving, just under 200k miles on it now.
Everything in this video was spot on, especially towards the end. Bought a 96 Montego Blue at start of 2020, and was ready to sell my Camry so I could spiffy the miat up, until the 24 year old-ness of it started showing. Oil, coolant, exhaust leak, all rubber and parts just brittling away. So summer car and stock she’ll stay.
Did you really expect to just buy a 24 year old car and daily it without giving it a proper "freshen up"? I dont want to pick on you but being this gullible is kinda adorable. :) But no, you cannot daily a neglected 24 year old car. But you can take a couple of bucks from your pockets, replace stuff and then daily a 24 year old lady. Promise!
@@leereiyuu No, I sort of knew what could potentially happen buying a car this old, I just expected more mechanical and internal stuff to go wrong, not stuff like rubber hoses. This is the first car I’ve owned that’s actually older than me so it never crossed my mind these things would go bad before the other stuff did. Did do all the maintenance that should be done the first week I got it home though.
Great video as always! Have driven my 91 Miata for about a year and honestly it was absolutely brilliant! Must say, a hardtop really improves the comfort a lot. Lot less leaky (although mine still leaks a bit in heavy rain). Too bad fuel is soooo expensive where I live, that's the only thing holding me back now. I live in the Netherlands, and because I'm a student public transit is actually free. But if it wasn't, it would probably still be cheaper. One fuel tank for me is about €70,- unfortunately. Still my only car, and after a bit of maintenance in the first years of owning it, it has never let me down. Love it so much!
I have an ‘89 built 90 model which I drive daily. I have tremendous pride in that little car. I love the look, I love the design, I love the history. Great video.
Some nice insights here. Though I think, regarding suitability as a “daily driver,” you’re conflating two separate things: 1) should you own a 27 year old vehicle (that needs some work) as a daily driver, and 2) should one own a Miata as a daily driver; two separate questions really. No 30-year old convertible that has a leaky top and a noisy pump should be a daily driver, regardless of what make it is! To fairly answer your own question - daily driving an NA Miata, is it a good idea? - you need an NA Miata that’s had all its issues addressed. By doing that, any reasons, for or against, daily driver ownership will be reflect on the Miata itself - and not the wisdom of owning a rough 27-year old car. Make sense?
Been using my '92 as a daily driver for several years now and I love it. Nothing like getting out of a long stressful day of work and knowing that on my way home, I can have some fun. Safety is an issue though as I was living near the FL/GA border when I bought mine. Trucks like the one you show in the video along with jacked up trucks pose a big threat. some with bumpers at the same level as the back of my skull. Other than that though I have loved daily driving it and still haven't given it up. You can always add some safety with a roll bar, better seats and a harness, but that might be more of a pain than it's worth for a daily.
This is honestly the most true video i've seen, I just sold my 95 miata it was my daily. It started to smoke. I replaced the valve seals, but it still smoked. I took it to a shop to get it diagnosed they quoted me 5k for piston ring replacement. I just decided to sell it being I need a daily. This video is so true.
I’m a high schooler who loves cars and I love cars with pop up headlights. The 90’s Miatas always stick out with there quirky pop ups and I love that about them. In the end, when I’m in college or after I plan to buy an 90’s Miata for fun.
I have been daily driving my 93 miata for 3 years now. I love it. I have to agree with you on the leaking soft top which has been recently replaced though. Leaks like a screen door on a submarine. 309k on the clock and still going strong
@Kompadoodle I don't do much with mine. Maybe some vinyl protectant every once in a while so it doesn't dry out and try to shrink. I'm not into washing my car all the time so just occasional maintenance for me
Ontario here, I also drive my 2001 year round as my only car. When others are putting theirs into winter hibernation, I swap the bf sport comp 2s to its steelie winters. Such fun in the snow with the proper tires
How is it driving it in the snow in Alberta? Do you have a hard top for it? I was thinking it would be fine in the winter but it'd need a hard top with a defroster, winter tires, and an LSD rear
I wish I could have gotten you to review mine. Mine was like new when I bought it and I slowly replaced a ton of weird small stuff over the months, now it's even better. It had it's moments and for a few months I thought I lost her but she's dialed like new all over again. Mine runs best between 36ish and 68ish. It's the quietest 91 I've ever heard. I daily Mine but haven't gotten hit with snow yet. I need a new heater core but I honestly don't let it get me down.
As someone who daily's a ''97 M Edition, I agree with Mr. Shooting Cars. That being said, I'm terrible at taking advice, and I'm going to continue doing so. You absolutely have to be frosty on the highway, and just assume that nobody can see you. Always keep yourself an out, and your head on a swivel.
I agree! I would enjoy it as a weekend car & for errands on your days off. Not for traffic where there are many SUVs on the road and they can easily drive over your car without seeing. Yep!
I very much agree with everything Zach said. Having an old, unsafe, unpractical car as a daily driver is just... troublesome. But its so incredibly fun. The best decision I did in that regard, was to buy a modern daily driver (Skoda Rapid) and use the fun car (RX-7 FC3C) only on the Weekends. Nice Video, keep doing what you do!
It definitely depends on your lifestyle. I live in a semi-rural area and there’s minimal highway driving. For me, it’s the perfect daily and every second I have driving it is so much fun. Literally whenever I can’t drive it is a bad day 😂
I'm 6'5 and just bought myself an NA 2 months ago, been daily driving it since and I totally agree with what you're saying, but I'm making it work because I have a deep love for this little car for some reason. Seat has no more foam in it and I can't really comfortably drive with the top up yet, but I'm taking her out to the mountains next week for some fun anyhow.
Hey i am 6feet4 and i fit in the stock Miata ND(2016) just fine. Its ok with the top up, i have driven 5 hours trips, not the most comfy car for tall folks ofc but for shorter rides its ok.
Yes! I've had my 1995 rhd 1.8iS for 3 years as my daily and have done nearly 24,000 miles in it. I run it on a mix of unleaded 95 and E85 ethanol (which is half the price of regular here in France). I'm 6'1" with no issues. Great car. Very reliable and easy and cheap to maintain. Sure you have to be prepared to get your head under the bonnet to do regular maintenance, but is sooo easy. I was a total beginner and so far except for changing the shocks when I bought it I do everything myself - including diagnosing and changing a failed injector. Apart from that it's just easy regular stuff: spark plugs, belts, oil and filter changes, gearbox and diff oil change, brake pads and discs... RUclips is littered with tutorials to do all these jobs.
No belt squeaking issues with mine, replaced the top a number of years ago, no leaking. Yes, normal maintenance stuff needed to be done, and I love driving it still every day. I would recommend it as a daily driver.
I daily an NB2. Cargo capacity is terrible but it serves my needs most times. Granted, I am mechanically inclined and have a 4WD Ranger as a backup vehicle. I like that the Miata is a blast to drive, cheap to run, easy to work on, parts are widely available, mods and repairs are extremely well documented, aftermarket support is incredible... It has a lot of things going for it. It's SUCH a rewarding driving experience that I am willing to overlook its few faults
I've been daily driving a 94 in the Northeast for 2 years, literally agree with every single thing you just said and was laughing at some of the points you brought up. I bought a Mk5 Rabbit last week so I can keep the NA as the fun car lol
I have a 2003 Miata. Its very dependable, I'm 6'1, 73 y.o., love it. Very fun to drive, I put in up in winter. I added. Style bars, wind breaker. Its very clean. Its quick at accelerating at 75 or 80. Still lots of peddle, don't think I would like it in winter. I have high performance tires not good in snow
I'm 6'5 and I daily drive my NA Miata without any worries or floor drops or anything, just a driver seat-foamectomy, inner door handle and sunvisor delete and a deep dish steering wheel and I could drive it around the world without any issue if I wanted to. I drove it to the UK through the Canal tunnel a few weeks ago. Drove about 1500km through Belgium and France in two days and never had any comfort complaints whatsoever.. The old gal has 300.000km on the odometer and she still purrs like a kitten.. Best car I ever owned by far! 😃 P.S. They do really like to rust so be wary of that!
This video hurt, I want to buy one so badly, but I first have to think about having a daily car ;( . I think I'll eventually get one, and I'll come back for this baby
Get one. Even as a daily. I have a 95, 90hp with 286.000 km and had no trouble with it, except it was leaking a bit of coolant, which i fixed, it's the best car i ever had. Just buy a hardtop for the winter and decent winter wheels, and your good to go.
I did this too! Drive mine about 75 mile round trip to work every day. No issues at all! Except when it rained really hard and water pooled up in my seat and when the wind noise was just so unbearable with the soft top up. My shocks were old so there was this constant high pitches squeek. The pop ups would sometimes not go up or not go down, but i solved that by repeatedly clicking the hazards lights button until whatever was shorted out would fix itself. Most of the time wore noise canceling over the ear headphones to not hear the wind noise. But not too bad for a daily as long as none of that bothers you.
I daily drive my ND Miata and I absolutely love it. It never stops to put a smile on my face. Sure it may not be the most practical but I honestly don’t care. I am a single guy with no real responsibilities lol. But if anyone is on the fence about doing it, I say go for it!
I mean I daily my NA and I got no issues, having a hardtop makes it a lot better though. I personally hate soft tops in general and the leaky soft top on the NA in particular.
At 17 got a 78 MGB kept in 15 years was in excellent condition dont know why I sold it but years after got a miata 94 BRG tan interior and love it! The feeling of freedom driving this car is marvellous!😁 Just like my MGB was my miata sleep in during winter like the previous owner did! A rust free car in a prestine condition! Very happy!😃
If you live in Chicago dailying a Miata might not be a great idea but in the Bay Area it's the perfect everyday car. In 25 years of living here I've had two cars; both Miatas which rarely let me down and made me smile much more than they made me frown. If I had to deal with real winter I would put my Mazdaspeed away in the fall and get it back out in the spring but our winter isn't tough on the little roadster.
I’m 76 and love my ‘92 Miata. You are right about daily driving. I drive mine when I can in the Summer but don’t trust it for long trips. A great and fun 2nd car, though. Besides, it is not all that comfortable for long periods of time. Maybe if I was younger….
Ive driven a 93 miata as my daily for 2 years. It’s been my only car and I drift it every single weekend (banging limiter) putting a total of 30k miles on it so far it just went over 200k. I change the oil every 3-4K, as long as you do that the motor will be unbreakable stock. I fit a 195/50r15 in the trunk with a jack with zero issues. My ac blows ice cold for those super hot days sitting in the Walmart parking lot to eat lunch. The only thing I’d say is make sure you have a little bit of mechanical knowledge and it’s a great daily I love mine.
In 1990, my friend bought a brand new Miata, red with black top. I had a lowered Chevy Silverado and we would trade on the weekends from time to time. The first time I drove his car, there was no rattles and when you closed the door it was solid and was fun to drive. Fast forward 20 years later, another friend bought the same year Miata, red with black top from his sister really cheap. My friend and I worked together. The car needed a lot of cosmetic work like paint, upholstery, new top etc. I knew this was a great car so I told him, if he ever wanted to sell it, come to me first. Going to fix it up for my son. A few months later he said he was going to sell it. When he asked for $800.00, I could barely control my smile. I said ok. The parts for these Miata’s are fairly cheap on EBay. Little by little I began to replace what was needed. He didn’t really notice the changes on the car as I drove it to work everyday. After a nice paint job redo at Maaco, I drove it to work and he was flabbergasted. I know he regretted selling me the car. My kid did not like the standard shift so I kept it as a weekend fun car. Kept it for 10 years but after the 5th smog check (I live in California)) it barely passed so I decided to sell it to a nice kid for $2500.00 I told him about the smog check. He said he planned to put in a new engine and drift it.
im 17 and daily a 97 miata and well, its a miata, so much fun to drive especially on twisty roads however, rain, and semis on the highway are a pain. but i get to slam thru every gear and still not be breaking speedlimits so
I disagree with a lot of your points. I daily drove my miata for over a year and still drive it often now. The original motor has 280,000 miles and it has never let me down. The only part that failed for me was the clutch slave cylinder. Other than that I would say it is a very solid car to drive daily. Especially if you are low on money and want a fun vehicle to drive.
I have a 1990 NA with only 63,000 miles. I recognize that this is very low mileage for this car, but I don’t think twice about daily driving it from either a practicality or reliability standpoint. My top does not leak. It starts every time and runs like any modern car. I’m average stature and find it very comfortable.
I completely agree. I tried driving my 92 NA for a month while my CX-9 was in the body shop. I could only take it for 2 weeks and had to switch out with my son for his old pickup truck. On the other hand, as a cheap and fun second car you cannot do better.
I'm a 21 year old baby boy with a stock motor 92 miata. Before the miata, I daily drove an 82 dodge d350 440 swap. Switching to the miata about 3 years ago was definitely an odd time, but the miata hasn't let me down yet. However I rebuilt the motor 30k miles ago, so it better work great, which it has.
I've been driving a 1990 na miata since 2014 daily Absolutely love it and so did my daughter so now it's her's. I've towed it maybe 4 times since 2014 alternator, drivebelt broke on freeway a bad electrical connector on the cam sensor, took me an hour to figure it out and a transmission stuck in reverse which i have a video on youtube on how to fix it. Took motor off in 2014 took it apart put piston rings in it changed all rubber hoses belts seals sensors and haven't had a problem for several years. Did a preventive oil pump timing belt water pump replacement a year and a half ago and drive it to work 50 miles round trip. Changed front supension 4 years ago. I can't wait to get another one, the support for anyone having one that breaks down is tremendous if you're a diy er. One of my motors on the lights wouldn't go down last weekend I ot on RUclips looked up the problem went straight to the problem and fixed it in two minutes. A bad relay. If you can work on cars get one you won't regret it. Will it break down? Of course, have a plan. Parts are relatively cheap.
I think the takeaway is that you shouldn't daily drive any 25+ year old car that hasn't been completely baselined and that you don't know inside and out. I recently bought a '90 NA off Craigslist as a weekend/project car. After a fun test drive where the car seemed totally fine, driving it around for a week uncovered a laundry list of problems. Oil needed changing, coolant needed flushing, hoses and belts needed to be replaced, and on and on. I can't fix that all at once in my apartment's parking garage, so driving the car is a bit of a gamble until it gets fully baselined. It would be a nightmare to daily drive a car like that, particularly if you didn't have the money to put up for parts. That said, I daily drove an old '95 Chevy C1500 pickup during college, and if I could do it over again, the Miata is a far better choice for the limited budget of a college kid. It beats almost any 25-30 year old vehicle in this regard, so if you MUST be "that guy" and daily drive an antique car it might as well be an NA.
My 1990 Miata was my daily driver from July 1989 to March 2008. The last 18 years was a 50 mile round trip 5 days a week so I filled up once a week. I was in California and initially I got 30 mpg. Then when CA went to their reformulated gasoline with MTBE (a known carcinogen) as an oxygenate, it was announced there would be a 10% mileage hit. Then later when CA replaced MTBE with ethanol, there was another 10% hit, so my mileage is now about 24/25.
Liked the video, but I have to comment on a couple of things. First, if your belts squeal, adjust or replace them. Second, if your top leaks replace the seals. and adjust the tension of the latches. That being said, one of the weak spots on any Miata are the convertible top latches. The design sucks and while it's "fixable" they are never really 100% reliable. The cost to replace them is stupid expensive. Another problem area would be the clutch slave cylinder. Both my 99's failed around 100K miles with no warning. And the final common issue is the valve cover gasket leaking. Having said that, i would and do drive my 99 Miata everyday 52 miles round trip to work. I have several other cars to choose from, but the smiles per gallon far outweigh the minor issues. Speaking of smiles per gallon my 1.8L only averages 27 mpg. That's ok because it runs on 87 octane. Man up (funny to say when you drive a "hairdressers car") but it makes a great daily driver. Put the top down, grab a gear and enjoy the fresh air.
I've put 3K miles on my 99 within 13 months so definitely not daily driven but it would 100% handle anything you throw at it with good maintenance, its never been expensive or inconvenient in any way even when grocery shopping.
I recently delivered Miata for $ 2200. Both sports driving and open driving are too fun and I ride if I have free time. Miata is the most fun car in my life!
I am planning to buy this as my 2nd car I really wanted to buy it as a 1st but parents were smart enough to not let me get but I just graduated and I’m looking for one again to buy I found this video funny and made me smile to see how much you loved it I hope I do too
My car may be 25 years old, but it might as well be brand new (most of what you say applies better to a rough, high mileage driver than to a good, low mileage example). My last Miata (1994) was very reliable for 160K+ miles, and I expect my "new" '97 will be just as good!
Now this is a real question. I wanna drive it everywhere. I don’t have a lot of money but I want a Miata SO BAD. 😭. Granted I don’t go anywhere really far.
Dude, I love this video! Your Miata is amazing! Although lots of parts of this grandpa have been changed, he still has a healthy heart! I don't want my car changes his engine every ten years.
Hello! I’ve had a ‘90 for five months and I’ve done all of the maintenance except alignments. She’s been nothing but great but I’m sure that my Miata isn’t the norm. Coming from VW for 6 vehicles, I can’t say I’m happier with my decision. I can fix anything with a Phillips head screw driver and a 10mm.
@@SweetPeaAly follow me on instagram and you can see everything I've specifically installed in my stories and posts. NA6Prize Too much to list now lol.
I have a 2016 ND and drive it every day, including a 90 mile RT commute on back roads. I average 45-48 mpg and my best commute is 53mpg. The curvy roads always put a grin on my face. Sometimes a trip to Costco makes it difficult but otherwise no problems and all fun.
Broken top can happen to any convertible- If its not burning oil and still pulls, full tune up and away you go. Its 90s simplicity, theres not much to go wrong if everything up to date. And basic skills and basic tools can do it. Id like to see todays hybrids 30 yrs from now ;) You have a car with history, character and owned by individuals who normally have little to over compensate about.
im 6'1 and i love my NA. so much fun for such an inexpensive package. i have 12,500 in my car which is almost mint condition. bought it a few days ago. got the car and a color matched hardtop. soft top too, which is great. It isnt my daily, my daily is still a 2010 focus. but i have been dailying the miata just to get a good feel for how it handles, and getting some good seat time. though rainy days, and in the winter i will be driving the focus. in the winter, i will probably garage the car except for some nice winter days
I daily mine but mine's had a lot done to it and only has 70k on it. 2nd gen seats help a lot with comfort and a well-fitted mohair roof keeps the rain out. The safety is really the only unavoidable issue, the 97 merlot I drive has zero airbag protection for the driver.
I am 67 and I drove a 1979 MGB for twenty yrs daily in the most busy traffic in the world Hong Kong It is definitely possible but you have to be very devoted anything can break down, and $$$ in repairs thrughout these years totaled, parts not expensive cf other makes but labour is a concern if you add them up. MX 5 definitely OK as its Japanese and engineering is more advance. You also have to be a person who likes driving old cars, as even a corolla drives faster and more comfortable, that also includes your partner. The satisfaction driving your classic daily is great , you may look forward to every drive, you get to be SOMEONE on the road. I test drove an MX5 first series a week ago and it is great not fast but great fun and real motoring feel.
Hello Mr. Shooting Cars, I must respectfully disagree.
You are wrong.
MIATA FOR LIFE
GANG GANG
Miata Is Always The Answer
he has first world problems ;)
Zoom Zoom!
I'm a 60 year old guy that drives a 94 miata every day and love every minute of it.
Same here, but a 95- and I drive her every day from April to the first snowfall here in NH. 140K miles and lots of typical parts replaced but engine clutch drive train and front end are all original.
❤️
Huge respect sir 🙏
Drove my 1990 MX-5 as my daily driver for 20 wonderful years. Followed that with driving a BMW Z4 as my daily, until I traded it in on my 2019 MX-5. Yes, my 71 year old bones do just fine in sports cars. I figure that, if you must drive somewhere, why not have fun doing so?
My Man ✊
Pros to daily driving a Miata: it’s a Miata.
Cons: it’s a Miata.
It actually makes sense
this is pretty much the only explanation needed
this^
"The most I've payed on a fill up was 19.50"
Me: The good o'l days
The good oil days
We’ll get back! M.E. Here we need to quit voting in people who stiffen growth. I’m voting for trump not because of the Culture war I just like building quality products! Can’t have a quality product in a socialist country.
Here in Europe I pay 60 euros (that's roughly 60 dollars!) to fill up my NA Miata.. Taxes are killing us here..Thank god the Miata doesn't drink a lot (1 liter of fuel=+-15km) 😎
Tbh as a girl that’s 4’11 I love this car, I’m planning to get this car as my first ever car and ik it’s small ik it’s old Ik there’s not much space, but I just think it’s so cute. Since my dad is a mechanic I feel like we wouldn’t have a problem with older cars (he has a few old cars himself) and I think my dad will be real proud of me liking an old car 😁
i hope you get one! i also am looking to get a miata :)
Same here, turning 18 in 2 months and I’ll probably get a miata as my first car, i am sooo excited
I love Miatas!!!! so cute!!! ❤❤❤❤❤
I currently have an NB miata. I use it to commute to work. I drive it 100 miles a day. I usually get 300 miles to the tank. I also drive on the interstate and I sometimes get nervous driving next to large trucks. The last 15 miles of my commute is twisty road, which is the main reason I bought the car. It's so much fun and it makes the commute worth it.
My Miata is why I smile when I leave for work.
He is the chosen one.
What’s NB ?
@@sujithkondabrolu1684 You probably figured it out already, but it's the 2nd generation Miata. 3rd generation would be the NC, you get the gist.
I'm 18 going to get a NA anyway because I'm pretty determined to fix it. Thats what I love to do
I have been daily driving Miatas for ten years. I also have three of them. I am a mechanic and I can tell you from experience that the Miata is the easiest car to work on. I have made one into race car and stripped one down to the shell in just one day.
@@nathenperri2826 I’m planning on getting a Miata, my uncle is fixing it up a bit then giving me it as a gift and I’ve been really wanting to start learning how to fix things if something goes wrong, I’m currently 17 and honestly only know how to change a tire but am wanting to learn more, do you think a Miata would be a good choice?
@@RASTALION_rawrA Miata is a very reliable good first car if preventative maintenance is done. Email me at nathenperri@gmail.com. I will give you a good list of some of the things you will want to check and replace as soon as you get the car.
Get a NB
same
Life is short. Drive a car you enjoy getting into daily.
The day I bought my Miata, I took it on a 30 minute drive home and in that time an SUV almost ran me off the highway. Gotta stay safe out there!
Very impressed by your professionalism! You come across likable, clear and concise. You certainly have a gift. I will have to check out your other vids. Good luck to you, your channel and endeavors my friend!
Been driving my 1993 NA as my daily driver since 1993. Love it, extremely reliable, decent gas mileage, not a lot of driving, just under 200k miles on it now.
Heck yeah man. With how much they’re going for right now you should sell it and buy a lower mileage na.
@@stenooo2439 Nah, too much sentimental value, not to mention rusty body that doesn't help the value any.
High school student, I daily a 2000 nb Miata 5-spd manual and I’ll say it’s amazing zoomin around town getting smiles from everyone, I recommend it…
bro i dont want a car that will be reliable for 20 yrs i just want a cute baddass miata for my first car
They are tanks! Correct ur vocab
😂
@@HarrisonCountyStudio update: I got a volkswagen passat
@@balltrapsI just bought a Miata a few days ago lol
My Miata has no leakage, no matter how bad the weather is! And the heater does a great job☺️
Everything in this video was spot on, especially towards the end. Bought a 96 Montego Blue at start of 2020, and was ready to sell my Camry so I could spiffy the miat up, until the 24 year old-ness of it started showing. Oil, coolant, exhaust leak, all rubber and parts just brittling away. So summer car and stock she’ll stay.
Did you really expect to just buy a 24 year old car and daily it without giving it a proper "freshen up"?
I dont want to pick on you but being this gullible is kinda adorable. :)
But no, you cannot daily a neglected 24 year old car. But you can take a couple of bucks from your pockets, replace stuff and then daily a 24 year old lady. Promise!
@@leereiyuu No, I sort of knew what could potentially happen buying a car this old, I just expected more mechanical and internal stuff to go wrong, not stuff like rubber hoses. This is the first car I’ve owned that’s actually older than me so it never crossed my mind these things would go bad before the other stuff did. Did do all the maintenance that should be done the first week I got it home though.
Great video as always!
Have driven my 91 Miata for about a year and honestly it was absolutely brilliant! Must say, a hardtop really improves the comfort a lot. Lot less leaky (although mine still leaks a bit in heavy rain). Too bad fuel is soooo expensive where I live, that's the only thing holding me back now. I live in the Netherlands, and because I'm a student public transit is actually free. But if it wasn't, it would probably still be cheaper. One fuel tank for me is about €70,- unfortunately. Still my only car, and after a bit of maintenance in the first years of owning it, it has never let me down. Love it so much!
Was gonna show this to my parents to try to convince them to get me a Miata, maybe not the best idea now, but thanks for the insight
I have an ‘89 built 90 model which I drive daily. I have tremendous pride in that little car. I love the look, I love the design, I love the history. Great video.
Some nice insights here. Though I think, regarding suitability as a “daily driver,” you’re conflating two separate things: 1) should you own a 27 year old vehicle (that needs some work) as a daily driver, and 2) should one own a Miata as a daily driver; two separate questions really. No 30-year old convertible that has a leaky top and a noisy pump should be a daily driver, regardless of what make it is! To fairly answer your own question - daily driving an NA Miata, is it a good idea? - you need an NA Miata that’s had all its issues addressed. By doing that, any reasons, for or against, daily driver ownership will be reflect on the Miata itself - and not the wisdom of owning a rough 27-year old car. Make sense?
you snapped w this one
basically, get a NB or ND and daily it
@@ciello___8307 man did the Boat dirty
Driving a 1993 Miata as my daily driver for the last 27 years, I can wholeheartedly agree with this.
@@ciello___8307 Basically, get an NB or get a loan.
"This car has never not started for me."
*laughs in two blown naturally aspirated 1.6 motors*
Well yeah 1.8 is better 🤭
Almost 200k on my 1.6 now, still going strong.
@@tarsan894 1.6 is deff more reliable in my experience
I Delivered pizza in my big turbo 1.6. 50 hours a week. for 2 years. Drag race it every weekend. Granted I don't deliver pizza anymore.
dude that’s so sick😭
I'm 32. Bought my lowered 96 miata 2 months ago as a daily driver and I love it!
What a great vid, sir. You were so honest, and I appreciate it. Quite thorough.
Been using my '92 as a daily driver for several years now and I love it. Nothing like getting out of a long stressful day of work and knowing that on my way home, I can have some fun. Safety is an issue though as I was living near the FL/GA border when I bought mine. Trucks like the one you show in the video along with jacked up trucks pose a big threat. some with bumpers at the same level as the back of my skull. Other than that though I have loved daily driving it and still haven't given it up. You can always add some safety with a roll bar, better seats and a harness, but that might be more of a pain than it's worth for a daily.
would a roll cage prevent you from pulling up the roof when it's raining? Or does it depend on what cage are you getting?
This is honestly the most true video i've seen, I just sold my 95 miata it was my daily. It started to smoke. I replaced the valve seals, but it still smoked. I took it to a shop to get it diagnosed they quoted me 5k for piston ring replacement. I just decided to sell it being I need a daily. This video is so true.
How long did it take to start smoking?
Well maybe you bought a shit example
I’m a high schooler who loves cars and I love cars with pop up headlights. The 90’s Miatas always stick out with there quirky pop ups and I love that about them. In the end, when I’m in college or after I plan to buy an 90’s Miata for fun.
I have been daily driving my 93 miata for 3 years now. I love it. I have to agree with you on the leaking soft top which has been recently replaced though. Leaks like a screen door on a submarine. 309k on the clock and still going strong
does it take a lot of maintenance?
@Kompadoodle I don't do much with mine. Maybe some vinyl protectant every once in a while so it doesn't dry out and try to shrink. I'm not into washing my car all the time so just occasional maintenance for me
@@My68Tempest what about when you first got it?
Love your insights, you basically covered everything I needed to know before buying one
What you say makes sense. It's a fun little car with compromises that should be taken into consideration.
I daily drive my 2001 Miata, through the winter months in Alberta also.
How much miles you got on it and how much do you think it will reach?
Ontario here, I also drive my 2001 year round as my only car. When others are putting theirs into winter hibernation, I swap the bf sport comp 2s to its steelie winters. Such fun in the snow with the proper tires
What do you guys do to prevent rust?
I live in Montreal and bought mine last year, it's a 97 with 163k miles
How is it driving it in the snow in Alberta? Do you have a hard top for it? I was thinking it would be fine in the winter but it'd need a hard top with a defroster, winter tires, and an LSD rear
got a miata as my first car and still do this day love it n itsa fine daily
I wish I could have gotten you to review mine. Mine was like new when I bought it and I slowly replaced a ton of weird small stuff over the months, now it's even better. It had it's moments and for a few months I thought I lost her but she's dialed like new all over again. Mine runs best between 36ish and 68ish. It's the quietest 91 I've ever heard. I daily Mine but haven't gotten hit with snow yet. I need a new heater core but I honestly don't let it get me down.
I drove a 1991 as a DD for 18 years. I still have it, it's just no longer my DD. I get 32mpg on a regular basis.
As someone who daily's a ''97 M Edition, I agree with Mr. Shooting Cars. That being said, I'm terrible at taking advice, and I'm going to continue doing so. You absolutely have to be frosty on the highway, and just assume that nobody can see you. Always keep yourself an out, and your head on a swivel.
I respect your level of self awareness
97 M gang!!
Hey brother!
@ScibleMonk You got an NA, you're already in the club! All Miata's matter.
Got a 97 M edition too, freaking love it ❤
I agree! I would enjoy it as a weekend car & for errands on your days off. Not for traffic where there are many SUVs on the road and they can easily drive over your car without seeing. Yep!
I very much agree with everything Zach said. Having an old, unsafe, unpractical car as a daily driver is just... troublesome. But its so incredibly fun. The best decision I did in that regard, was to buy a modern daily driver (Skoda Rapid) and use the fun car (RX-7 FC3C) only on the Weekends.
Nice Video, keep doing what you do!
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 6th⁶58
"I like this car more than I like McChickens." I laughed out loud. Coincidentally, I love my 07 Miata, and I love McChickens.
It definitely depends on your lifestyle. I live in a semi-rural area and there’s minimal highway driving. For me, it’s the perfect daily and every second I have driving it is so much fun. Literally whenever I can’t drive it is a bad day 😂
I subscribed to your channel because of how clear and very detailed the way you explained things pertaining to cars. Thank you!
I'm 6'5 and just bought myself an NA 2 months ago, been daily driving it since and I totally agree with what you're saying, but I'm making it work because I have a deep love for this little car for some reason. Seat has no more foam in it and I can't really comfortably drive with the top up yet, but I'm taking her out to the mountains next week for some fun anyhow.
im 6’4 and i wanna buy one, is it a good idea?
@@trajedys5501 You might have to cut some foat out of the seat so you have more head room
@@trajedys5501hey I’m 6’4 too! Did you ever end up getting a Miata? How’d it go?
Hey i am 6feet4 and i fit in the stock Miata ND(2016) just fine. Its ok with the top up, i have driven 5 hours trips, not the most comfy car for tall folks ofc but for shorter rides its ok.
Yes!
I've had my 1995 rhd 1.8iS for 3 years as my daily and have done nearly 24,000 miles in it.
I run it on a mix of unleaded 95 and E85 ethanol (which is half the price of regular here in France). I'm 6'1" with no issues. Great car. Very reliable and easy and cheap to maintain.
Sure you have to be prepared to get your head under the bonnet to do regular maintenance, but is sooo easy. I was a total beginner and so far except for changing the shocks when I bought it I do everything myself - including diagnosing and changing a failed injector. Apart from that it's just easy regular stuff: spark plugs, belts, oil and filter changes, gearbox and diff oil change, brake pads and discs... RUclips is littered with tutorials to do all these jobs.
I'm 6.2 do u think I'll fit without touching the roof
@@radio-180cc
Yes to be precise I'm 6' 1 1/2" . But then again I'm rarely proof up!
No belt squeaking issues with mine, replaced the top a number of years ago, no leaking. Yes, normal maintenance stuff needed to be done, and I love driving it still every day. I would recommend it as a daily driver.
I daily an NB2. Cargo capacity is terrible but it serves my needs most times. Granted, I am mechanically inclined and have a 4WD Ranger as a backup vehicle.
I like that the Miata is a blast to drive, cheap to run, easy to work on, parts are widely available, mods and repairs are extremely well documented, aftermarket support is incredible... It has a lot of things going for it. It's SUCH a rewarding driving experience that I am willing to overlook its few faults
I've been daily driving a 94 in the Northeast for 2 years, literally agree with every single thing you just said and was laughing at some of the points you brought up.
I bought a Mk5 Rabbit last week so I can keep the NA as the fun car lol
Dude! Your eloquence is amazing. Like, spoken word poet level. Hella good!
Daily’d mine for 10 years. I drive back country roads, and look forward to every drive.
I have a 2003 Miata. Its very dependable, I'm 6'1, 73 y.o., love it. Very fun to drive, I put in up in winter. I added. Style bars, wind breaker. Its very clean. Its quick at accelerating at 75 or 80. Still lots of peddle, don't think I would like it in winter. I have high performance tires not good in snow
Man i subscribed i love your honest opinion, not trying to please anyone
6’4 and fit in my miata perfectly fine
I'm 6'5 and I daily drive my NA Miata without any worries or floor drops or anything, just a driver seat-foamectomy, inner door handle and sunvisor delete and a deep dish steering wheel and I could drive it around the world without any issue if I wanted to. I drove it to the UK through the Canal tunnel a few weeks ago. Drove about 1500km through Belgium and France in two days and never had any comfort complaints whatsoever.. The old gal has 300.000km on the odometer and she still purrs like a kitten.. Best car I ever owned by far! 😃
P.S. They do really like to rust so be wary of that!
This video hurt, I want to buy one so badly, but I first have to think about having a daily car ;( . I think I'll eventually get one, and I'll come back for this baby
Get one. Even as a daily. I have a 95, 90hp with 286.000 km and had no trouble with it, except it was leaking a bit of coolant, which i fixed, it's the best car i ever had. Just buy a hardtop for the winter and decent winter wheels, and your good to go.
I did this too! Drive mine about 75 mile round trip to work every day. No issues at all! Except when it rained really hard and water pooled up in my seat and when the wind noise was just so unbearable with the soft top up. My shocks were old so there was this constant high pitches squeek. The pop ups would sometimes not go up or not go down, but i solved that by repeatedly clicking the hazards lights button until whatever was shorted out would fix itself. Most of the time wore noise canceling over the ear headphones to not hear the wind noise. But not too bad for a daily as long as none of that bothers you.
didnt watch the video. the answer is yes
I daily drive my ND Miata and I absolutely love it. It never stops to put a smile on my face. Sure it may not be the most practical but I honestly don’t care. I am a single guy with no real responsibilities lol. But if anyone is on the fence about doing it, I say go for it!
u made me sit through the whole video, very well done^ ^
As a 18 year old with no mechanical skills, wish me luck with my 93 miata
I mean I daily my NA and I got no issues, having a hardtop makes it a lot better though.
I personally hate soft tops in general and the leaky soft top on the NA in particular.
At 17 got a 78 MGB kept in 15 years was in excellent condition dont know why I sold it but years after got a miata 94 BRG tan interior and love it! The feeling of freedom driving this car is marvellous!😁 Just like my MGB was my miata sleep in during winter like the previous owner did! A rust free car in a prestine condition! Very happy!😃
If you live in Chicago dailying a Miata might not be a great idea but in the Bay Area it's the perfect everyday car. In 25 years of living here I've had two cars; both Miatas which rarely let me down and made me smile much more than they made me frown. If I had to deal with real winter I would put my Mazdaspeed away in the fall and get it back out in the spring but our winter isn't tough on the little roadster.
I'm on the cusp of buying on here in the Bay Area but they still seem terrifying, people here drive like psychos
I’m 76 and love my ‘92 Miata. You are right about daily driving. I drive mine when I can in the Summer but don’t trust it for long trips. A great and fun 2nd car, though. Besides, it is not all that comfortable for long periods of time. Maybe if I was younger….
Ive driven a 93 miata as my daily for 2 years. It’s been my only car and I drift it every single weekend (banging limiter) putting a total of 30k miles on it so far it just went over 200k. I change the oil every 3-4K, as long as you do that the motor will be unbreakable stock. I fit a 195/50r15 in the trunk with a jack with zero issues. My ac blows ice cold for those super hot days sitting in the Walmart parking lot to eat lunch. The only thing I’d say is make sure you have a little bit of mechanical knowledge and it’s a great daily I love mine.
In 1990, my friend bought a brand new Miata, red with black top. I had a lowered Chevy Silverado and we would trade on the weekends from time to time. The first time I drove his car, there was no rattles and when you closed the door it was solid and was fun to drive. Fast forward 20 years later, another friend bought the same year Miata, red with black top from his sister really cheap. My friend and I worked together.
The car needed a lot of cosmetic work like paint, upholstery, new top etc. I knew this was a great car so I told him, if he ever wanted to sell it, come to me first. Going to fix it up for my son. A few months later he said he was going to sell it. When he asked for $800.00, I could barely control my smile. I said ok.
The parts for these Miata’s are fairly cheap on EBay. Little by little I began to replace what was needed. He didn’t really notice the changes on the car as I drove it to work everyday. After a nice paint job redo at Maaco, I drove it to work and he was flabbergasted. I know he regretted selling me the car. My kid did not like the standard shift so I kept it as a weekend fun car.
Kept it for 10 years but after the 5th smog check (I live in California)) it barely passed so I decided to sell it to a nice kid for $2500.00 I told him about the smog check. He said he planned to put in a new engine and drift it.
you are so well spoken my guy
im 17 and daily a 97 miata and well, its a miata, so much fun to drive especially on twisty roads however, rain, and semis on the highway are a pain. but i get to slam thru every gear and still not be breaking speedlimits so
I disagree with a lot of your points. I daily drove my miata for over a year and still drive it often now. The original motor has 280,000 miles and it has never let me down. The only part that failed for me was the clutch slave cylinder. Other than that I would say it is a very solid car to drive daily. Especially if you are low on money and want a fun vehicle to drive.
As a Miata NA owner, you are absolutely right. It is a fun car and relatively reliable... however, it isn't safe on highways, if you drive daily.
I have a 1990 NA with only 63,000 miles. I recognize that this is very low mileage for this car, but I don’t think twice about daily driving it from either a practicality or reliability standpoint. My top does not leak. It starts every time and runs like any modern car. I’m average stature and find it very comfortable.
I completely agree. I tried driving my 92 NA for a month while my CX-9 was in the body shop. I could only take it for 2 weeks and had to switch out with my son for his old pickup truck. On the other hand, as a cheap and fun second car you cannot do better.
As a 27 year old like the miata😂 I also have some parts that have gone bad 👍. Loved that point.
I'm a 21 year old baby boy with a stock motor 92 miata. Before the miata, I daily drove an 82 dodge d350 440 swap. Switching to the miata about 3 years ago was definitely an odd time, but the miata hasn't let me down yet. However I rebuilt the motor 30k miles ago, so it better work great, which it has.
I've been driving a 1990 na miata since 2014 daily Absolutely love it and so did my daughter so now it's her's. I've towed it maybe 4 times since 2014 alternator, drivebelt broke on freeway a bad electrical connector on the cam sensor, took me an hour to figure it out and a transmission stuck in reverse which i have a video on youtube on how to fix it. Took motor off in 2014 took it apart put piston rings in it changed all rubber hoses belts seals sensors and haven't had a problem for several years. Did a preventive oil pump timing belt water pump replacement a year and a half ago and drive it to work 50 miles round trip. Changed front supension 4 years ago. I can't wait to get another one, the support for anyone having one that breaks down is tremendous if you're a diy er. One of my motors on the lights wouldn't go down last weekend I ot on RUclips looked up the problem went straight to the problem and fixed it in two minutes. A bad relay. If you can work on cars get one you won't regret it. Will it break down? Of course, have a plan. Parts are relatively cheap.
I think the takeaway is that you shouldn't daily drive any 25+ year old car that hasn't been completely baselined and that you don't know inside and out.
I recently bought a '90 NA off Craigslist as a weekend/project car. After a fun test drive where the car seemed totally fine, driving it around for a week uncovered a laundry list of problems. Oil needed changing, coolant needed flushing, hoses and belts needed to be replaced, and on and on. I can't fix that all at once in my apartment's parking garage, so driving the car is a bit of a gamble until it gets fully baselined. It would be a nightmare to daily drive a car like that, particularly if you didn't have the money to put up for parts.
That said, I daily drove an old '95 Chevy C1500 pickup during college, and if I could do it over again, the Miata is a far better choice for the limited budget of a college kid. It beats almost any 25-30 year old vehicle in this regard, so if you MUST be "that guy" and daily drive an antique car it might as well be an NA.
My 1990 Miata was my daily driver from July 1989 to March 2008. The last 18 years was a 50 mile round trip 5 days a week so I filled up once a week. I was in California and initially I got 30 mpg. Then when CA went to their reformulated gasoline with MTBE (a known carcinogen) as an oxygenate, it was announced there would be a 10% mileage hit. Then later when CA replaced MTBE with ethanol, there was another 10% hit, so my mileage is now about 24/25.
Liked the video, but I have to comment on a couple of things. First, if your belts squeal, adjust or replace them. Second, if your top leaks replace the seals. and adjust the tension of the latches. That being said, one of the weak spots on any Miata are the convertible top latches. The design sucks and while it's "fixable" they are never really 100% reliable. The cost to replace them is stupid expensive. Another problem area would be the clutch slave cylinder. Both my 99's failed around 100K miles with no warning. And the final common issue is the valve cover gasket leaking. Having said that, i would and do drive my 99 Miata everyday 52 miles round trip to work. I have several other cars to choose from, but the smiles per gallon far outweigh the minor issues. Speaking of smiles per gallon my 1.8L only averages 27 mpg. That's ok because it runs on 87 octane.
Man up (funny to say when you drive a "hairdressers car") but it makes a great daily driver.
Put the top down, grab a gear and enjoy the fresh air.
I've put 3K miles on my 99 within 13 months so definitely not daily driven but it would 100% handle anything you throw at it with good maintenance, its never been expensive or inconvenient in any way even when grocery shopping.
I love my Miata. It’s fun, practical, and reliable.
I recently delivered Miata for $ 2200.
Both sports driving and open driving are too fun and I ride if I have free time.
Miata is the most fun car in my life!
Great video man! This was the first time I checked out your channel and this video was super informative!
been daily driving na miatas in canada year round for 20 plus years and smile every time i get in it.
I am planning to buy this as my 2nd car I really wanted to buy it as a 1st but parents were smart enough to not let me get but I just graduated and I’m looking for one again to buy I found this video funny and made me smile to see how much you loved it I hope I do too
I'm 6'5" and I fit relatively well
You're a car guy then because I'm 5'10" and I fit just about prefectly. I can't imagine how you get your head under the windshield to put the roof up.
thanks for the review; glad to see you put out pros and cons and not just fanboy :)
My car may be 25 years old, but it might as well be brand new (most of what you say applies better to a rough, high mileage driver than to a good, low mileage example). My last Miata (1994) was very reliable for 160K+ miles, and I expect my "new" '97 will be just as good!
Now this is a real question. I wanna drive it everywhere. I don’t have a lot of money but I want a Miata SO BAD. 😭. Granted I don’t go anywhere really far.
Dude, I love this video! Your Miata is amazing!
Although lots of parts of this grandpa have been changed, he still has a healthy heart!
I don't want my car changes his engine every ten years.
Hello! I’ve had a ‘90 for five months and I’ve done all of the maintenance except alignments. She’s been nothing but great but I’m sure that my Miata isn’t the norm. Coming from VW for 6 vehicles, I can’t say I’m happier with my decision. I can fix anything with a Phillips head screw driver and a 10mm.
BRO I JUST WRECKED MY VW AND IM BUYING A 90 MIATA AM I IN THE MATRIX
but fr I can’t wait to do the same. What all have you done to keep up with it??
@@SweetPeaAly follow me on instagram and you can see everything I've specifically installed in my stories and posts. NA6Prize
Too much to list now lol.
I found out from a friend from new Zealand on Instagram that the na was sold up to 98 in new Zealand. God I can't wait to get my Monica back soon!
Also my friend Jason is 6.5 and he has 3 miata's and one of them he races spec(he wants me to race spec also) so it can be done.
I've always loved miatas I didnt know what they were called until recently
Why doesnt this video have more likes and views its really well made i enjoyed watching it
I have a 2016 ND and drive it every day, including a 90 mile RT commute on back roads. I average 45-48 mpg and my best commute is 53mpg. The curvy roads always put a grin on my face. Sometimes a trip to Costco makes it difficult but otherwise no problems and all fun.
Broken top can happen to any convertible- If its not burning oil and still pulls, full tune up and away you go. Its 90s simplicity, theres not much to go wrong if everything up to date. And basic skills and basic tools can do it. Id like to see todays hybrids 30 yrs from now ;) You have a car with history, character and owned by individuals who normally have little to over compensate about.
ive been daily driving na and nb miatas for 10 years, let alone food delivery for 5 years.
im 6'1 and i love my NA. so much fun for such an inexpensive package. i have 12,500 in my car which is almost mint condition. bought it a few days ago. got the car and a color matched hardtop. soft top too, which is great. It isnt my daily, my daily is still a 2010 focus. but i have been dailying the miata just to get a good feel for how it handles, and getting some good seat time. though rainy days, and in the winter i will be driving the focus. in the winter, i will probably garage the car except for some nice winter days
Love the paint and pin stripes. Very clean look.
I daily mine but mine's had a lot done to it and only has 70k on it. 2nd gen seats help a lot with comfort and a well-fitted mohair roof keeps the rain out. The safety is really the only unavoidable issue, the 97 merlot I drive has zero airbag protection for the driver.
I am 67 and I drove a 1979 MGB for twenty yrs daily in the most busy traffic in the world Hong Kong
It is definitely possible but you have to be very devoted anything can break down, and $$$ in repairs thrughout these years totaled, parts not expensive cf other makes but labour is a concern if you add them up.
MX 5 definitely OK as its Japanese and engineering is more advance.
You also have to be a person who likes driving old cars, as even a corolla drives faster and more comfortable, that also includes your partner.
The satisfaction driving your classic daily is great , you may look forward to every drive, you get to be SOMEONE on the road.
I test drove an MX5 first series a week ago and it is great not fast but great fun and real motoring feel.
I appreciate your opinion. It helped me consider my decision on owning an NB, it would’ve been a daily.
First time I'm seeing this Miata, and can I just say that I love the pinstriping!
Great vid man, love your vibe/energy too - keep it up! Fellow Miata owner
great job, you seem fairly sensible and credible. that said i daily drive a 99 miata and its awesome