Our instagram was hacked. 🤬 So we are starting over again. Sorry to trouble you, but could you refollow the ‘@realcarwizard’? instagram.com/realcarwizard/ Thanks 🧙
i was a "miata hater" until my wife wanted one... ive always had, & still have, muscle cars, but... after driving this little miata thru the local mountain roads around here in tennessee, man i can tell ya, this is by far the Most Fun car in the stable! ...& its "Bone Stock" ...for now...
@@ruthlessreid9172 Yep. These motors are pretty stout for what they are. 200-250hp at the crank you should be safe. And it's not that difficult to do, MCM has a whole video serios dedicated to it
British Racing Green has always been my favorite color for Miatas since I saw them on Gran Turismo. I honestly think the world needs more green cars because people pick boring colors too often.
Just to be picky... This is actually emerald mica green, which is slightly darker and metallic. Which I actually prefer, and I'm a British guy who also owns a BRG tr6 as well as my 2000 emerald mica green miata daily.
dark green is a boring color... if a dark green is exciting to you then I fear to know what is considered boring for you. Poppy colors like bright red, blue, and sunburst yellow are fun colors, not dark green.
I was always "No" to Miatas. 3 years ago my wife got to ride in a few cars at 2 autocross events and wanted to learn to drive a manual. She never wanted to drive my cars because they're manuals. So, I bought her a 2001 6 speed Miata. She learned really quickly in that car and then never wanted to drive it again, she much preferred my cars, so, I got a Miata out of the deal. It's a great low mile car and I love it. Great fun. We drove it from our Indiana home to our Arizona home and I had a great time crossing the country in it.
Well engineered, well built cars doing exactly what it says on the tin - very little reason not to at least appreciate it for that. A lack of appeal to some doesn't detract from its sales success over the last 30-odd years. 🇯🇵🙌
Very well said. I’ve owners two and although they’re not exciting, they’re very well built vehicles with some appealing attributes in terms of driving dynamics and control engagements. But I wouldn’t say they’re sports cars, more of a roadster.
@@OtomoTenzi No, the issue is that they put a FWD transverse engine in a RWD car. there is a simple kit that will reroute the coolant so it is no longer an issue. The ONE mod that should be done.
I have a nice 99 model. 82k miles on it. I have replaced the timing belt on it two times and only major repair was a recent water pump replacement. Book calls for 60K miles timing belt replacement but I have had it done due to age. My Mother purchased this car new. She was 78 years old at the time. I became the caretaker in 2015. It is an Auto which was rare at the time. Remember she was 78. I am now 76 so near the age where I will be happy it is an auto. Very smooth shifting and taking it out of overdrive does change shift points makeing it more fun in the NC mountains. Hower mountains in Western NC have been mostly destroyed. by the Hurricane I do not know how much news you receive in Kansas but it is an epic event.
On a Miata, when you see rust bubbles on the lower quarter area like that, all of the metal behind it is gone. That area rusts from the inside out, and it's due to debris clogging up the drain holes for the top
Unless I was an expert body guy who could cut and replace the section of rocker myself, that is a "walk-away" defect on the car. I looked at almost 50 Miatas between 2015 and 2018, and found that no matter how pretty they looked on top they were rusted out in key areas... unless they were a one-owner garage queen with a CAD$15-20K asking price (and this was before the price run up). I found my rust-free '99 with higher mileage (125K miles) and lots of rock chips, but no rust and mechanically great.
Years ago when my son was looking for his first car, he wanted a first design Miata. He's 6'1" 225. My wife was with him, she's 6'. So, this was this was an interesting sight when they presented a test car to me. I asked my son, who was clearly sticking out of the car. Are you sure about this? Oh yeah, the top was down at this point. Needless to say it was not going to happen.
Dang even though its clean I've had 150k mile Miata's in similar shape. These little guys are a blast to drive and work on, Ive been able to strip the entire car with almost only a basic wrench set.
What size wrench kit what do you suggest that wouldn’t be too costly I have a show car Miata if you click my channel you’ll be able to enjoy it. But I’m just starting out learning how to change all of the oils and coil overs on it
Love my '91 Eunos Roadster (JDM Miata) always starts & always brings a smile even after 8 years of ownership. Kept outdoors on the coast so rust treatment is a must. Just spray the inner sills with Rust Anode paint every couple of years & go for a drive while its wet to let it run into the edges. Cleaning the drain holes regularly is a must. A trumpet brush does the job perfectly, always from the outlet up or you knock the drain tubes off.
Wizard! That aftermarket hood strut blinded you to the original hood prop laying there right by the radiator! You even zoomed in on it! LOL!!! No need to hold the hood up by hand.
I had one, same year (‘99), same color. Loved it. But Divorce was eminent, needed more Room. Got a VW GTI. Plenty of space to grab my stuff & go. Great video, Great videos. Love this channel 👍🏼
@@danielthomas5486 If he had kept the Miata, it would put him in a bad place in negotiating a settlement. You need to go into court with zero fucks to give.
Noticed that there is an aftermarket grill installed on this car. The reason Mazda didn't put any grill on is anything that restricts air flow to the radiator and engine compartment contributes to the cooling issue.
Beautiful NB! Wizard, something you should look into or let the owner know, the radiator will need to be replaced at some point. It’s starting to turn brown, which for Miatas is a sign it’s getting old and the plastic is getting brittle.
Oh ya, although they last longer than you think. my Miata was hitting 230-240f on a drive back from sacramento last summer so i went for a new radiator cos mine was green, went with aluminum cos it was barely any more than a plastic one. And guesss what? Same result - it just needed a new thermostat. mind you i like the nice alu rad in there so no worries :). Wish I'd done cooling reroute at same time. The other thing I learned is that in these cars the temp needle stays in the exact same position for 180F as it does for 230F. Miatas all run a little hot so mazda made the temp gauge less linear in its output for the NB miata to set owners at ease lol. That's also why the oil pressure gauge is a lie in NBs. barely moves. Compare with an NA where both these gauges read accurately and responsively.
Yep, Damn good cars! but our radiator needed replacing too; did it myself (all thumbs) in one afternoon. got an all aluminum racing radiator for LESS than the price of the plastic/tin OEM version. another thing to look out for: lubrication of the rear axles/ differential (check every-other oil change) had to replace those at about 115,000 miles.😁😁😁
I LOVE the fact that you brought up the license plates. I’ve never understood why people freak out about having their license plate displayed. You’re literally displaying it every time you drive. I GET if it’s a famous person or something and they don’t want people to know which plate is theres. But still. Plates are public info.
I had a 99 that same color. I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely loved it. I did so much work to it. Protege dual deck, cluster from a 2000, so my interior lighting were all red. Suspension, Mazda side skirts. Memories!!!!
Driving a Miata on twisty roads is pure fun, especially the first gen. The combination of low curb weight and low center of gravity is missing in affordable cars today.
It is a very nice ‘99 NB but it is silly to spend nearly $3k just to have a specific mechanic work on it. These are simple, common and easy to work on. The only reason to do it is to see his car featured on Car Wizard’s RUclips channel.
Exactly, I think that is insane to spend that money to ship a car that’s only worth a couple grand more. It’s a 90s Japanese car, anyone can work on it. Person must be very rich or have a lot of disposable income
Seems to be a spoof or a joke. I am an automotive engineer and originally from Michigan aka the motor city and most of us grew up building muscle cars. That Miata which I have driven a lot is about as hard to work on as a riding lawnmower. Can rebuild the engine in your kitchen. Its odd also its so filthy inside and outside...the engine isn't clean...wacky remote oil filter disconnected. The owner seems clueless.
Can easily think of a few good sensible reasons such as it being a possible gift or already going past Omega anyway while in transit. Not my dollar, not my business.
I have a 99 green miata, its my 3rd 99 model and 4th miata, if you ever mod the suspension you wont want to drive anything else. Mine has just hit 60k miles. The low mileage versions are getting harder and harder to find. After owning an 07 and the other 99 models I have to say I love the NB models the best. I cant see myself ever being without one. Also I am a pro musician and have packed my entire pa system, guitar, mic stands etc and clothes and toured the country in one. If you know how to utilize your space you can fit a lot of stuff in a miata
Years ago when I bought my 2005 GMC Sierra from CarMax, I paid them $150 to transport the truck from Independence, MO to Nashville, TN. So that’s probably where people are getting that $150 figure for shipping a car, which has to be a discounted figure that CarMax can charge because they’re gonna recoup that $ by other means.
Did you mean hood strut or the prop itself is broken? I didn't think NBs had gas struts unless they bought them aftermarket from Flyin Miata or something, but I can clearly see the hood prop resting over the rad Tell the customer he should look into undercoating because if there's a bubble in the skirt there might be a lot more that you can't see, that area is usually a big flag for concern with rust
it is aftermarket, and you can see it mounted on the driver side firewall. I assume the hood prop just gets in the way when they're trying to get close ups filming the engine bay
Battery tray is also one big issue or the bracket for the windshield washer fluid. Have seen a Miata in my workshop days, where both of these were pretty much gone. And that was already almost 20 years ago.
@@slade9372 This is NOT a good example. The rear rockers are rusting out with under 50 K miles. The 99 is the WORSE of all NAs and NBs (I have one ;)) And their are good Miata shops in Chicago
@@yojoebananas Exactly. All that for a brake job and few cosmetic details. Makes no sense other than wanted to be featured on the channel. I have a 04 and there are a couple of specialty shops in Toronto that could take care of that. Would never even think of paying $3k to ship (& also take a chance getting damaged). Odd.
6:15 Does the disclaimer also notify the customer that their vehicles may be “licked, hugged, groped, or otherwise touched in a lewd or offensive manner by Tyler Hoover”?
There are a few BRG NB Miatas, but I think this is more likely in Emerald Mica. The biggest weak point of the B is that the sandwiched design of the front frame rails allow moisture to collect between the two layers and rust from the inside out.
NAs also rusted out. Biggest issue is the salt and keeping the drains clear. This is NOT a good example. Just looking at it, my silver 99 is in better shape with 90K miles.
Who’d ever think that building a affordable, simple, reliable, fun to drive “English style” roadster would be a great selling car? Maybe if UK automakers would’ve figured that out they’d still be around. The haters can hate but the Miata is a classic.
Hi from Spain, Wizard! it might be different in the US so I'm mistaken; the charcoal canister in the NB (and NA) is in the engine bay (to the left in LHD models 7:49). What you mentioned under the car towards the rear passenger wheel is a cover that inside contains a fuel filter, easily mistaken for a charcoal canister. Love all your content, thanks for the work you put in to show us all the cool cars you work on!
I've driven one of these (well, MX-5 UK version) for many thousands of miles around England and Wales and across to and around Europe. Really quite comfy for such a small car, not fast, but handles sweetly. In truth, it is what my MGB's should have morphed into. Now in Australia, I might get one of 'em for fun. Mazdas are really popular here.
@@arricammarques1955 Thanks: I am aware of that but the fact remains that the MGB (of which I have owned several) should have been developed into a MX5 equivalent.
Had a '94 Miata for 15 years and loved every minute of it. Drove it across country twice also. Nothing like it on the road or as reliable and easy to repair. The car in this video has some aftermarket parts installed (Upper strut brace, Hood Lift, Oil filter as mentioned... ) but otherwise OEM and these are becoming difficult to find. People dislike these cars because they don't have a bunch of HP etc... but they just don't get it... Another sad commentary as to customers shipping their vehicles outside where they live. Here in the Phoenix area, we were blessed to have a guy named Mike who ran "Miata Mecca" and wow..this guy ate, drank and slept Miata's. He ran clinics for owners and his shop was one of the reasons mine stayed healthy for all those years. It's too bad every state doesn't have a shop like this. Well....apparently, in Kansas they do!
about 4 years ago, I bought a car sight unseen on the other side of the country. 4,000KM away!! (~2,500miles). As always such a thing is a risk on the condition of the car but I am very familiar with the type of car and how incredibly bullet proof they are & if there were mechanically issues getting most part are certainly not an issue. I should mention I live in Sydney & purchased the car from Perth. The agreed price ended up being $14,500 but it was another $1,100 to bring it over to Sydney. Which I dare say is pretty good value considering the distance. Flying and driving back would easily be a significant chunk of that cost. Why did I just buy it sight unseen.. well that particular car I purchased (known as an Avalanche.. no America, not that one.. Australia's Ava is way better!) They only built 57 of the VZ's.. so even if you have the money for one.. good luck finding another for sale! So there are times where it's well worth forking in deep to transport vehicles across state or country! (maybe even globely if it's automotive royalty!) People that have their cars shipped to Omega, that's totally cool - I'm just wondering is there really no decent fair mechanics in your area? or have you been f**ked with one to many times? just curious!
Yeah, that's bizzare. I could see if it was some super expensive sports car, but a Miata? Even old ones are fairly common and not that expensive. It's like someone buying an extended warranty for a $20 table lamp.
I have owned several of these Mazda MX5s as they are called in the UK. Mk1, 2 and 3s I have owned and indeed have a Mk 2.5 Sport with lsd etc. Brilliant, reliable small go karts however: CHECK for rusting in sills, wings and subframes and chassis rails! Can be total rust buckets in cold climates!
I worked as a detailer at a Mazda dealership when these MXs rolled out. I love them. Any excuse I could to move them around the yard, clean or look after them.
I have a ‘90 MK1 Eunos, and it is fantastic fun. I don’t care about any of the flaws people say it has, and I will admit some, but when I drive it I smile. And I think that’s the essential feature of the driving experience.
No hood struts from the factory, just the hood prop. The aftermarket on NA and NB Miatas is insanely good. Moss Miata has all the doodads, flyin Miata and Goodwin have the quality performance stuff.
This is my all-time favorite little roadster that my dad ever had. So easy to shift. Specially when you’re just starting to learn an a manual transmission. We ended up selling it to my uncle and he still has it today.
I just bought one last Wednesday and now the wizard has one in his shop what a coincidence! It's an EU spec MX-5 NB1 from 2000 with a 1.6 and 110hp, all the rust (What's been discovered so far.) has been repaired, it has a new soft top and came with an original hardtop. It's slow as h*ll but I don't even care when I'm behind the wheel, it's so much fun around the corners. Greetings from Belgium.
hey wizard just to let you know when the stock radiator is light brown it's usually time to replace it, you could look it up if you don't believe me it's a known thing
The hood is propped on Miata's with a rod, no hood struts- Battery is in the trunk. I just picked up a 2000 Miata, installed a 3" Paco Motorsports lift, 27 inch General off road tires mounted on old BMW "bottlecap" alloys and sprayed the entire car in Raptor liner..! SO FUN to drive :)
I’ve always liked how the designer even went to the trouble of copying the valve cover of the twin cam lotus engine when designing his tribute to the elán. Cool car. In an appropriate colour.
Love the Miata! Had a 2001 for about a year and had a great time. Wrong time to own that car in my life aka little kids with car seats but yea buddy! Great drivers car, I want another for fun drives and will do it again! It’s a simple, cheap, fun car to play with.
The shipping fee is very reasonable. I have had cars from the 70’s and shipped from Europe to the United States. I shipped a g20 long wheel base van/camper from Italy to the United States. Miata is very reasonable. Lot of people thinks the license plate is some kind of secret, just to know it is public record and does not belong to the owner of the car. The plate belongs to the state, you only rent according to your state renewal periods.
I could see where you would think that. Except none that I know ask for them back when the state changes plates, everybody I know keeps them, and once expired you're free to buy and sell them (and re-register them in certain states for your historic).
I’ve owned two of these, a 1990 NA6 and I just sold a 2005 NB2. Both of them were fantastic little vehicles and they were so much fun to throw around corners and carve the back roads! That being said, I had a blast with them but I hated daily driving them. Miata is always the answer… when it’s a fun second car!
Hi wizard i had a teal 2003 miata it was fun and reliable. I bought it in Florida and i live in upstate ny, i never drove it in winter. Best sports car for people on a budget!
Not sure if its surprising but shipping a car from the port in Oakland, CA to the Big Island of Hawaii, it was "only" $800 but it goes literally by ship and took 5 weeks to arrive!
Thank you for pointing out the craziness about blocking out license plates. People are crazy blurring it out in a pic, or covering it with their finger….so can’t do that while they are driving down the road.
The only real reason to do it is if you don't possess the title of the car...and then the dimwit public saw it and thought oh hey I guess we should all cover that up in video/pics for no reason.
I finally got one recently. I wanted one for decades but preferred much more powerful cars. I needed a cheap car and I wasn't going to settle for anything that isn't fun. It's quickly becoming my favorite car. It's a toy and is just so much fun to drive ❤
I own a 2001MX5 with the 1.8 vvt engine. It's not quick but great fun. They are ridiculously easy to work on as well. That one looks like it's not been looked after despite the low mileage. Mine has 150,000 miles on it and still going strong : the engines can go for silly mileage if you keep an eye on oil changes and coolant.
In the past, I owned two early Miata models. I found them both to be very fun cars to drive, but there were some problems that you should be aware of if you are thinking of buying one. The fuel economy is not good and the sports tires on my models were quite expensive to replace. After some years, my 2001 model started to rattle quite badly and the plastic panel under the steering wheel kept on coming loose and falling down. I would strongly recommend a Miata with the tan leather interior and tan top and boot cover. This combination makes the car look very sharp. Much nicer than the car in the video.
That bubble in the door sill below the door, very likely rust. I’ve seen it on other Miatas. Also have the owner check the bottom edge of the front fenders, common spot for water to get trapped. Solid cars and tons of fun to drive, they just have their quirks.
I have two Miatas (a 1994 Mk1Japanese Eunos 1600cc and a 1998 MK1.5 1800 MX5, - what the Miata is called in the UK). They're used for off-road gravel Autosolos. (Gymkhana). Neither will be on the road again, they get trailered to events, but they're tough as old boots.
Thanks for going over the Miata. Also, for not blurring the license. Unless you're LE, there's almost no way to get an owner's information from a plate.
Had a '99 for a few years. When buying check the underside very carefully. Miatas rely on frame rails underneath the car for strength and rigitity, if they're beat up find another car to buy as they can't be economically repaired.
That is about what shipping costs in Australia if sending by roads transport. Not sure if it is an option in the USA but I shipped a vintage car from the west to east coast of Australia 2 years ago for about USD650 (AUD900) by placing it in a 20 ft container and sending it by rail. That was much cheaper than trucking it despite the handling costs at either end. It was also fully protected for the entire journey.
Got 2 MX5's in my collection, 1 is a modified track tool, the other is modified for road use, taught both my niece & nephew to drive stick in them, enough power to have fun, not enough to get into to much trouble, everyone should own a convertible once in their life, Rj in Oz
My Miata died at 289,122 miles. didn't want to see it junked so I did a 1.8 swap but almost 300,000 miles with the original engine/transmission is pretty good, especially considering how the previous owners probably drove it. including me. I drove it very hard, slammed gears, did some drifts, etc. despite the abuse I put the transmission through, it still refuses to die. these are surprisingly durable cars
The 90's/2000's Mazda almost all have amazing reliability. Got 300k out of my 2000 protege before the transmission started to go. Only real thing it needed in that time was a valve cover gasket change around 225k.
That color is not British Racing Green (non-metallic). The name of the color is Emerald Mica. Also, the hood struts are not stock, and there appears to be a hood support at the front of the engine bay. Car is going to need a radiator soon also - they turn green / brown as they age, and that one is looking pretty old.
In 1999 I shipped an '80 Volkswagen Jetta 2 door from Jacksonville to Zeebrugge, Belgium and it was $800. The return was another $800 [I debated abandoning it, and this guy in East Midlands Airport wanted to bring it to the UK, but he chickened out], so freight prices have gone up. Hahah! I had that thing for a year in Brussels with Florida tags, and people on the street used to point at my front bumper all the time, since Belgian cars have to have a front licence plate.
Good rule of thumb to estimate shipping prices is to count around $400 of incompressible costs then add a dollar per mile. When you take into consideration all of the costs (purchase / maintenance of the trucks, gas, insurance, wages, taxes...) it always goes down to this figure.
Miatas always have been a success - and rightfully so. You could either have a dead reliable convertible for years or an affordable base for modifications with huge aftermarket support.
It's insane how so many Americans are confused about what can and cannot be photographed. Anything you see in public is legal to photograph. If you park in a public parking spot anyone can come to your vehicle and photograph any part of it -- interior or exterior. Its a protected constitutional right.
It blows my mind that people freak out about plates, people don’t realize that their plates are visible to everyone when they drive, park in a parking lot and in their driveway, what are they hiding?
From a guy who grew up in Buffalo NY, the driver side always rusted sooner because the road salt gets pushed to the center of the road in the winter by the traffic passing each other.
I love Miatas. Such fun cars. And cheap as hell until about a year ago. Thank you for discussing the shipping issue. I’d like to buy cars from other places but the shipping is expensive and complex.
I have an 06 miata (NC, third gen), I wish I had gotten one like this but at least I fit comfortably in my car. These cars are like go-carts, they're a whole lot of fun if you accept the limitations that come with them
Actually met a fellow yesterday that out right hated my and all Miata’s. Said you cannot find parts for them. I told him it may be a bit harder to find but there are plenty of sources to get parts for these little wonderful cars. That said if it was not for the fact my late friend asked me to drive his, now mine, Miata while he was in the hospital I would not have ever looked at a car like this when I need a more economical car when the company I work for relocated. Now I understand and love these great cars. I look forward to the weekends to being able to drive it.
Wizard, we had a discussion about showing license plates on a collectible/enthusiats forum some years ago, after several odd thefts. Apparently if the car is unusual and someone either wants a prime example, or parts, they will run the license plate (sometimes not legally possible but done anyway) and get the owner's home address. At that point they have found the rare car, and easily steal it. Yes, anyone on the road can read your plate. But thieves love the convenience of finding rare classics that they can't just spot by cruising the streets. In big cities, they pay kids to cruise the streets and call in locations of wanted cars. And a half hour later, "gone in 60 seconds" as the tow truck comes to the car. Yes, it IS a real and known issue.
One thing to look at on the NB and NB2 miatas are the chassis rails which can rust from the inside out. Most cases you can see it bubbling up. I own an NB2
I had a 2000 Green LS and daily drove it even during snow. Great car, but definitely a small car. I could literally look OVER the windshield if I sat up straight. Also, if you hit anything resembling black ice you WILL spin the car - I did a 270 spin one time that freaked me out. Some issues I had (nothing major, more annoyances): Clutch Slave, Brake Master, Caliper, water came inside and had to be cleared, window rollers needed cleaning (slow window), top needed replacing and had a coolant pipe break from age. Nothing huge. As you figured out, no struts - a car with manual rolling windows isn't likely to have struts :)
I drove an 89 Miata hardtop set up for auto cross and it was a fun car. Also bought a used Acura Legend that was sent up to Vermont from Florida and it cost $1200.
I’m fortunate enough to live in the Wichita area, I could totally justify the Wizard working on a Miata in this shape, but I’m honestly shocked a dude is gonna pay 3 grand total to ship the car. Car Wizard certainly is getting a reputation as one of the best shops in the country
There are no hood struts, it has a prop rod. I had a first gen Miata and it had a prop rod. On your video I can see the prop rod. I dig your channel and watch every week.
@@michfloridaman I'm sure he doesn't miss the prop rod when mentioning hood struts. The 99 miata doesn't come OEM with struts and is definitely aftermarket. Likely the owner purchased it off another person who equip it for racing/tracking, hince the re-routed oil filter. Just like on my 2003 mustang that has a prop rod, aftermarket struts helps a lot when opening hood, just looks way cleaner too.
Our instagram was hacked. 🤬 So we are starting over again.
Sorry to trouble you, but could you refollow the ‘@realcarwizard’? instagram.com/realcarwizard/ Thanks 🧙
That's awful,sorry to hear this,hackers wreck people's lives when they do this sort of thing!Hope it doesn't happen again !🤔🌶👍💪💪💪
yessir.
Fucking Al has a Miata?! What is Alfonso thinking?!
my god wizard... the hood rod is right there in front of you!!!!
Rich Rebuilds youtube channel got spoofed. I reported it to him and flagged it on the comments. Its the internet....
i was a "miata hater" until my wife wanted one... ive always had, & still have, muscle cars, but... after driving this little miata thru the local mountain roads around here in tennessee, man i can tell ya, this is by far the Most Fun car in the stable! ...& its "Bone Stock" ...for now...
My wife's replaced a fiat 97 model with hardtop.
Throw a supercharger and some coils on it and i'll be really fun!
@@hojnikb yeah I hear just stay at or under 200 wheel hp and you won't grenade motor.
@@ruthlessreid9172 Yep. These motors are pretty stout for what they are. 200-250hp at the crank you should be safe. And it's not that difficult to do, MCM has a whole video serios dedicated to it
@@hojnikb cool I'll look ours is bone stock 135k never in shop except for maintenance.
British Racing Green has always been my favorite color for Miatas since I saw them on Gran Turismo. I honestly think the world needs more green cars because people pick boring colors too often.
Well said👍👍
Just to be picky... This is actually emerald mica green, which is slightly darker and metallic. Which I actually prefer, and I'm a British guy who also owns a BRG tr6 as well as my 2000 emerald mica green miata daily.
Respect for the Gran Turismo reference
dark green is a boring color... if a dark green is exciting to you then I fear to know what is considered boring for you. Poppy colors like bright red, blue, and sunburst yellow are fun colors, not dark green.
most cars are silver, black, white, gray, dark blue, red... automakers don't offer vibrant colors any more.
I was always "No" to Miatas. 3 years ago my wife got to ride in a few cars at 2 autocross events and wanted to learn to drive a manual. She never wanted to drive my cars because they're manuals. So, I bought her a 2001 6 speed Miata. She learned really quickly in that car and then never wanted to drive it again, she much preferred my cars, so, I got a Miata out of the deal. It's a great low mile car and I love it. Great fun. We drove it from our Indiana home to our Arizona home and I had a great time crossing the country in it.
She~ata...
Well engineered, well built cars doing exactly what it says on the tin - very little reason not to at least appreciate it for that. A lack of appeal to some doesn't detract from its sales success over the last 30-odd years. 🇯🇵🙌
Very well said. I’ve owners two and although they’re not exciting, they’re very well built vehicles with some appealing attributes in terms of driving dynamics and control engagements. But I wouldn’t say they’re sports cars, more of a roadster.
Except the odd overheating issues they can have.
@@burntnougat5341 Due to weak engines?
@@OtomoTenzi No, the issue is that they put a FWD transverse engine in a RWD car. there is a simple kit that will reroute the coolant so it is no longer an issue. The ONE mod that should be done.
@@bindingcurve OK... It's a shame, cuz the Miata is a HELLUVA bargain fer an underrated daily-driver's car if ya asked me!
I have a nice 99 model. 82k miles on it. I have replaced the timing belt on it two times and only major repair was a recent water pump replacement. Book calls for 60K miles timing belt replacement but I have had it done due to age. My Mother purchased this car new. She was 78 years old at the time. I became the caretaker in 2015. It is an Auto which was rare at the time. Remember she was 78. I am now 76 so near the age where I will be happy it is an auto. Very smooth shifting and taking it out of overdrive does change shift points makeing it more fun in the NC mountains. Hower mountains in Western NC have been mostly destroyed. by the Hurricane I do not know how much news you receive in Kansas but it is an epic event.
On a Miata, when you see rust bubbles on the lower quarter area like that, all of the metal behind it is gone. That area rusts from the inside out, and it's due to debris clogging up the drain holes for the top
Unless I was an expert body guy who could cut and replace the section of rocker myself, that is a "walk-away" defect on the car. I looked at almost 50 Miatas between 2015 and 2018, and found that no matter how pretty they looked on top they were rusted out in key areas... unless they were a one-owner garage queen with a CAD$15-20K asking price (and this was before the price run up). I found my rust-free '99 with higher mileage (125K miles) and lots of rock chips, but no rust and mechanically great.
I wanna see video of the Wizard getting in and out of the Miata
Years ago when my son was looking for his first car, he wanted a first design Miata. He's 6'1" 225. My wife was with him, she's 6'. So, this was this was an interesting sight when they presented a test car to me. I asked my son, who was clearly sticking out of the car. Are you sure about this? Oh yeah, the top was down at this point. Needless to say it was not going to happen.
Dang even though its clean I've had 150k mile Miata's in similar shape. These little guys are a blast to drive and work on, Ive been able to strip the entire car with almost only a basic wrench set.
What size wrench kit what do you suggest that wouldn’t be too costly I have a show car Miata if you click my channel you’ll be able to enjoy it. But I’m just starting out learning how to change all of the oils and coil overs on it
I don't know anyone that would bury a Miata. One of the most reliable cars around and FUN.
Zoom Zoom !
Love my '91 Eunos Roadster (JDM Miata) always starts & always brings a smile even after 8 years of ownership. Kept outdoors on the coast so rust treatment is a must. Just spray the inner sills with Rust Anode paint every couple of years & go for a drive while its wet to let it run into the edges. Cleaning the drain holes regularly is a must. A trumpet brush does the job perfectly, always from the outlet up or you knock the drain tubes off.
Wizard! That aftermarket hood strut blinded you to the original hood prop laying there right by the radiator! You even zoomed in on it! LOL!!! No need to hold the hood up by hand.
Not the first time this happens (last time was with the Dodge Magnum). Don't know why but almost seems like Wizard hates hood props! :)
I had one, same year (‘99), same color. Loved it. But Divorce was eminent, needed more Room. Got a VW GTI. Plenty of space to grab my stuff & go. Great video, Great videos. Love this channel 👍🏼
Should of kept the car and dumped the mrs ..
@@danielthomas5486 If he had kept the Miata, it would put him in a bad place in negotiating a settlement.
You need to go into court with zero fucks to give.
Noticed that there is an aftermarket grill installed on this car. The reason Mazda didn't put any grill on is anything that restricts air flow to the radiator and engine compartment contributes to the cooling issue.
Beautiful NB! Wizard, something you should look into or let the owner know, the radiator will need to be replaced at some point. It’s starting to turn brown, which for Miatas is a sign it’s getting old and the plastic is getting brittle.
First brown, then green.
Been there done that.
Oh ya, although they last longer than you think. my Miata was hitting 230-240f on a drive back from sacramento last summer so i went for a new radiator cos mine was green, went with aluminum cos it was barely any more than a plastic one. And guesss what? Same result - it just needed a new thermostat. mind you i like the nice alu rad in there so no worries :). Wish I'd done cooling reroute at same time. The other thing I learned is that in these cars the temp needle stays in the exact same position for 180F as it does for 230F. Miatas all run a little hot so mazda made the temp gauge less linear in its output for the NB miata to set owners at ease lol. That's also why the oil pressure gauge is a lie in NBs. barely moves. Compare with an NA where both these gauges read accurately and responsively.
Yep, Damn good cars! but our radiator needed replacing too; did it myself (all thumbs) in one afternoon. got an all aluminum racing radiator for LESS than the price of the plastic/tin OEM version.
another thing to look out for: lubrication of the rear axles/ differential (check every-other oil change) had to replace those at about 115,000 miles.😁😁😁
I LOVE the fact that you brought up the license plates. I’ve never understood why people freak out about having their license plate displayed. You’re literally displaying it every time you drive. I GET if it’s a famous person or something and they don’t want people to know which plate is theres. But still. Plates are public info.
I had a 99 that same color. I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely loved it. I did so much work to it. Protege dual deck, cluster from a 2000, so my interior lighting were all red. Suspension, Mazda side skirts. Memories!!!!
Driving a Miata on twisty roads is pure fun, especially the first gen. The combination of low curb weight and low center of gravity is missing in affordable cars today.
Agreed. Believe it or not, the second generation Miata is not that far removed from the first generation Miata.
@@vossler360 Exactly. Second gen is basically a more structurally rigid and safer version of the first one. Lots of parts are interchangeable.
as much as i love pop up headlights the second gen is superior in every wat to the first gen
It is a very nice ‘99 NB but it is silly to spend nearly $3k just to have a specific mechanic work on it. These are simple, common and easy to work on. The only reason to do it is to see his car featured on Car Wizard’s RUclips channel.
Exactly, I think that is insane to spend that money to ship a car that’s only worth a couple grand more. It’s a 90s Japanese car, anyone can work on it. Person must be very rich or have a lot of disposable income
@@mchuo7834 Or want the vid as a sales tool, while bending some sucker over for his low mileage gen II...
Seems to be a spoof or a joke. I am an automotive engineer and originally from Michigan aka the motor city and most of us grew up building muscle cars. That Miata which I have driven a lot is about as hard to work on as a riding lawnmower. Can rebuild the engine in your kitchen. Its odd also its so filthy inside and outside...the engine isn't clean...wacky remote oil filter disconnected. The owner seems clueless.
Can easily think of a few good sensible reasons such as it being a possible gift or already going past Omega anyway while in transit. Not my dollar, not my business.
@@t5ruxlee210 good viewpoint everyone else just wants to be right and sound smart
I have a 99 green miata, its my 3rd 99 model and 4th miata, if you ever mod the suspension you wont want to drive anything else. Mine has just hit 60k miles. The low mileage versions are getting harder and harder to find. After owning an 07 and the other 99 models I have to say I love the NB models the best. I cant see myself ever being without one. Also I am a pro musician and have packed my entire pa system, guitar, mic stands etc and clothes and toured the country in one. If you know how to utilize your space you can fit a lot of stuff in a miata
Years ago when I bought my 2005 GMC Sierra from CarMax, I paid them $150 to transport the truck from Independence, MO to Nashville, TN. So that’s probably where people are getting that $150 figure for shipping a car, which has to be a discounted figure that CarMax can charge because they’re gonna recoup that $ by other means.
That's a lot closer than this car is to Kansas. You're right that Carmax probably has a deal with shippers.
In my work now I am shipping pallets all over Europe, the prices are insane atm and only going up and up.
Did you mean hood strut or the prop itself is broken? I didn't think NBs had gas struts unless they bought them aftermarket from Flyin Miata or something, but I can clearly see the hood prop resting over the rad
Tell the customer he should look into undercoating because if there's a bubble in the skirt there might be a lot more that you can't see, that area is usually a big flag for concern with rust
it is aftermarket, and you can see it mounted on the driver side firewall. I assume the hood prop just gets in the way when they're trying to get close ups filming the engine bay
Battery tray is also one big issue or the bracket for the windshield washer fluid. Have seen a Miata in my workshop days, where both of these were pretty much gone. And that was already almost 20 years ago.
whoever owns this car really must not trust the mechanics where they live,the shipping cost are a good percentage of what the car is worth
Like everything else, Miatas are going up, especially sorted, unmodified examples.
@@slade9372 This is NOT a good example. The rear rockers are rusting out with under 50 K miles. The 99 is the WORSE of all NAs and NBs (I have one ;)) And their are good Miata shops in Chicago
@@slade9372 couple grand maybe for a clean Miata. Not much. Basically a civic.
Not only that but shipping a car from Michigan to Nebraska with a little shopping can be done for a fraction of $3000 round trip
@@yojoebananas Exactly. All that for a brake job and few cosmetic details. Makes no sense other than wanted to be featured on the channel.
I have a 04 and there are a couple of specialty shops in Toronto that could take care of that. Would never even think of paying $3k to ship (& also take a chance getting damaged). Odd.
5:48 THANK YOU! Can never understand why people try to hard to cover their plates in photos. You see it everyday on a regular day.
It's because plates look like clevage. Oh wait... they don't, do they? Then nevermind. 😅 😂 🤣
6:15 Does the disclaimer also notify the customer that their vehicles may be “licked, hugged, groped, or otherwise touched in a lewd or offensive manner by Tyler Hoover”?
$1,500 from Michigan to Kansas is not bad for shipping.
There are a few BRG NB Miatas, but I think this is more likely in Emerald Mica. The biggest weak point of the B is that the sandwiched design of the front frame rails allow moisture to collect between the two layers and rust from the inside out.
NAs also rusted out. Biggest issue is the salt and keeping the drains clear. This is NOT a good example. Just looking at it, my silver 99 is in better shape with 90K miles.
Not more likely... DEFINITELY Emerald Mica.
Who’d ever think that building a affordable, simple, reliable, fun to drive “English style” roadster would be a great selling car? Maybe if UK automakers would’ve figured that out they’d still be around. The haters can hate but the Miata is a classic.
Hi from Spain, Wizard! it might be different in the US so I'm mistaken; the charcoal canister in the NB (and NA) is in the engine bay (to the left in LHD models 7:49). What you mentioned under the car towards the rear passenger wheel is a cover that inside contains a fuel filter, easily mistaken for a charcoal canister. Love all your content, thanks for the work you put in to show us all the cool cars you work on!
I've driven one of these (well, MX-5 UK version) for many thousands of miles around England and Wales and across to and around Europe. Really quite comfy for such a small car, not fast, but handles sweetly. In truth, it is what my MGB's should have morphed into.
Now in Australia, I might get one of 'em for fun. Mazdas are really popular here.
Lotus elan inspired MX-5.
@@arricammarques1955 Thanks: I am aware of that but the fact remains that the MGB (of which I have owned several) should have been developed into a MX5 equivalent.
@@johnclayden1670 British roadster design remains peerless. Reliability isn't worry free motoring, sadly.
Eggsaklee
Identical to mine!!! As is life, I had to sell it for something more family friendly... Brilliant vehicle, like a gokart on rails.
Same as my 2000
@@hankrogacki8356 s2ks have gone mad with the prices!
I love my Miata. I bought it a few months ago. 2001 with 75k miles.
Shipping distance is about 1,000 miles so the cost discussed seems to be reasonable but expensive option for repairs.
Had a '94 Miata for 15 years and loved every minute of it. Drove it across country twice also. Nothing like it on the road or as reliable and easy to repair. The car in this video has some aftermarket parts installed (Upper strut brace, Hood Lift, Oil filter as mentioned... ) but otherwise OEM and these are becoming difficult to find. People dislike these cars because they don't have a bunch of HP etc... but they just don't get it... Another sad commentary as to customers shipping their vehicles outside where they live. Here in the Phoenix area, we were blessed to have a guy named Mike who ran "Miata Mecca" and wow..this guy ate, drank and slept Miata's. He ran clinics for owners and his shop was one of the reasons mine stayed healthy for all those years. It's too bad every state doesn't have a shop like this. Well....apparently, in Kansas they do!
about 4 years ago, I bought a car sight unseen on the other side of the country. 4,000KM away!! (~2,500miles). As always such a thing is a risk on the condition of the car but I am very familiar with the type of car and how incredibly bullet proof they are & if there were mechanically issues getting most part are certainly not an issue. I should mention I live in Sydney & purchased the car from Perth. The agreed price ended up being $14,500 but it was another $1,100 to bring it over to Sydney. Which I dare say is pretty good value considering the distance. Flying and driving back would easily be a significant chunk of that cost.
Why did I just buy it sight unseen.. well that particular car I purchased (known as an Avalanche.. no America, not that one.. Australia's Ava is way better!) They only built 57 of the VZ's.. so even if you have the money for one.. good luck finding another for sale!
So there are times where it's well worth forking in deep to transport vehicles across state or country! (maybe even globely if it's automotive royalty!)
People that have their cars shipped to Omega, that's totally cool - I'm just wondering is there really no decent fair mechanics in your area? or have you been f**ked with one to many times? just curious!
Someone spent $2,800 to have that car shipped roundtrip just to have it looked at? Didn't even have any issues really. That's odd.
I was thinking the same. Some people more money than sense.
@@ozzesty7314 There's WAY MORE to this story.... I mean the wizard is good, but damn. That's crazy.
People are nuts.
Well, after all, It needed a brake job, a console door and hood strut. 🙄
Yeah, that's bizzare. I could see if it was some super expensive sports car, but a Miata? Even old ones are fairly common and not that expensive. It's like someone buying an extended warranty for a $20 table lamp.
I have owned several of these Mazda MX5s as they are called in the UK. Mk1, 2 and 3s I have owned and indeed have a Mk 2.5 Sport with lsd etc. Brilliant, reliable small go karts however: CHECK for rusting in sills, wings and subframes and chassis rails! Can be total rust buckets in cold climates!
as a 99 miat owner, this video was clicked on within .0001 seconds of seeing the thumbnail
Same lol. I've got an 02 and a 97.
I worked as a detailer at a Mazda dealership when these MXs rolled out. I love them. Any excuse I could to move them around the yard, clean or look after them.
I have a ‘90 MK1 Eunos, and it is fantastic fun. I don’t care about any of the flaws people say it has, and I will admit some, but when I drive it I smile. And I think that’s the essential feature of the driving experience.
We should just take a moment to recognize how much of a power could Mr. And Mrs. Wizard are. Thats really relationship goals right there!
I bought a 99' with 26k. Best car I've ever owned. Kept it for 13yrs.
No hood struts from the factory, just the hood prop. The aftermarket on NA and NB Miatas is insanely good. Moss Miata has all the doodads, flyin Miata and Goodwin have the quality performance stuff.
I think I see the good prop laying across the radiator.
This is my all-time favorite little roadster that my dad ever had. So easy to shift. Specially when you’re just starting to learn an a manual transmission. We ended up selling it to my uncle and he still has it today.
I just bought one last Wednesday and now the wizard has one in his shop what a coincidence!
It's an EU spec MX-5 NB1 from 2000 with a 1.6 and 110hp,
all the rust (What's been discovered so far.) has been repaired,
it has a new soft top and came with an original hardtop.
It's slow as h*ll but I don't even care when I'm behind the wheel,
it's so much fun around the corners.
Greetings from Belgium.
hey wizard just to let you know when the stock radiator is light brown it's usually time to replace it, you could look it up if you don't believe me it's a known thing
Lol, I'm in Michigan and I'm shipping you my Jeep Patriot. There's nothing wrong with it, I just want you to roast it and make fun of me 🙃
The hood is propped on Miata's with a rod, no hood struts- Battery is in the trunk. I just picked up a 2000 Miata, installed a 3" Paco Motorsports lift, 27 inch General off road tires mounted on old BMW "bottlecap" alloys and sprayed the entire car in Raptor liner..! SO FUN to drive :)
You are thorough and honest. We need more traders like you
I’ve always liked how the designer even went to the trouble of copying the valve cover of the twin cam lotus engine when designing his tribute to the elán. Cool car. In an appropriate colour.
Love the Miata! Had a 2001 for about a year and had a great time. Wrong time to own that car in my life aka little kids with car seats but yea buddy! Great drivers car, I want another for fun drives and will do it again!
It’s a simple, cheap, fun car to play with.
The shipping fee is very reasonable. I have had cars from the 70’s and shipped from Europe to the United States. I shipped a g20 long wheel base van/camper from Italy to the United States. Miata is very reasonable. Lot of people thinks the license plate is some kind of secret, just to know it is public record and does not belong to the owner of the car. The plate belongs to the state, you only rent according to your state renewal periods.
I could see where you would think that. Except none that I know ask for them back when the state changes plates, everybody I know keeps them, and once expired you're free to buy and sell them (and re-register them in certain states for your historic).
Lyv the content Wizard,luv to watch something decent on a Sunday! Thank u wizard!💪👍🌶🌶👍👍👌
I’ve owned two of these, a 1990 NA6 and I just sold a 2005 NB2. Both of them were fantastic little vehicles and they were so much fun to throw around corners and carve the back roads! That being said, I had a blast with them but I hated daily driving them. Miata is always the answer… when it’s a fun second car!
Hi wizard i had a teal 2003 miata it was fun and reliable. I bought it in Florida and i live in upstate ny, i never drove it in winter. Best sports car for people on a budget!
Sounds like Splash Green? Very rare color!
Not sure if its surprising but shipping a car from the port in Oakland, CA to the Big Island of Hawaii, it was "only" $800 but it goes literally by ship and took 5 weeks to arrive!
Thank you for pointing out the craziness about blocking out license plates. People are crazy blurring it out in a pic, or covering it with their finger….so can’t do that while they are driving down the road.
The only real reason to do it is if you don't possess the title of the car...and then the dimwit public saw it and thought oh hey I guess we should all cover that up in video/pics for no reason.
I finally got one recently. I wanted one for decades but preferred much more powerful cars. I needed a cheap car and I wasn't going to settle for anything that isn't fun. It's quickly becoming my favorite car. It's a toy and is just so much fun to drive ❤
I have a Mk1 30 years old this year, passes its annual inspection every year without a problem. Great little cars .
Miata Is Always The Answer! Don't knock 'em until you try one. Lovely cars and most smiles per miles of any car.
Would love one of these in mint shape. Pretty rough for such low miles.
Neglect. I have a '00 SE with just 40K miles, that compare to this, is mint.
Michigan car.....
WIZARD IS A GOOD GUY. HE DOESN'T MAKE UP REPAIRS NEEDED
I own a 2001MX5 with the 1.8 vvt engine. It's not quick but great fun. They are ridiculously easy to work on as well. That one looks like it's not been looked after despite the low mileage. Mine has 150,000 miles on it and still going strong : the engines can go for silly mileage if you keep an eye on oil changes and coolant.
In the past, I owned two early Miata models. I found them both to be very fun cars to drive, but there were some problems that you should be aware of if you are thinking of buying one. The fuel economy is not good and the sports tires on my models were quite expensive to replace. After some years, my 2001 model started to rattle quite badly and the plastic panel under the steering wheel kept on coming loose and falling down. I would strongly recommend a Miata with the tan leather interior and tan top and boot cover. This combination makes the car look very sharp. Much nicer than the car in the video.
I have one. for the first time in my life I look at other cars and feel no trace of jealousy. I'm happy with what I have.
That bubble in the door sill below the door, very likely rust. I’ve seen it on other Miatas. Also have the owner check the bottom edge of the front fenders, common spot for water to get trapped. Solid cars and tons of fun to drive, they just have their quirks.
I have two Miatas (a 1994 Mk1Japanese Eunos 1600cc and a 1998 MK1.5 1800 MX5, - what the Miata is called in the UK).
They're used for off-road gravel Autosolos. (Gymkhana).
Neither will be on the road again, they get trailered to events, but they're tough as old boots.
Thanks for going over the Miata. Also, for not blurring the license. Unless you're LE, there's almost no way to get an owner's information from a plate.
There are many reasons these mx5 have been the best selling sports car for the last 30 odd years ,manual or auto and I love mine.
Had a '99 for a few years. When buying check the underside very carefully. Miatas rely on frame rails underneath the car for strength and rigitity, if they're beat up find another car to buy as they can't be economically repaired.
That is about what shipping costs in Australia if sending by roads transport. Not sure if it is an option in the USA but I shipped a vintage car from the west to east coast of Australia 2 years ago for about USD650 (AUD900) by placing it in a 20 ft container and sending it by rail. That was much cheaper than trucking it despite the handling costs at either end. It was also fully protected for the entire journey.
Got 2 MX5's in my collection, 1 is a modified track tool, the other is modified for road use, taught both my niece & nephew to drive stick in them, enough power to have fun, not enough to get into to much trouble, everyone should own a convertible once in their life, Rj in Oz
I regret selling my 90' 2 years ago... should've just kept it cause now I want another one. Such fun little cars to throw around
ive tried to sell my 91 several times.....just couldnt go through with it...still got it after 15yrs.........get another one mate YOLO.........
My Miata died at 289,122 miles. didn't want to see it junked so I did a 1.8 swap
but almost 300,000 miles with the original engine/transmission is pretty good, especially considering how the previous owners probably drove it. including me. I drove it very hard, slammed gears, did some drifts, etc.
despite the abuse I put the transmission through, it still refuses to die.
these are surprisingly durable cars
The 90's/2000's Mazda almost all have amazing reliability. Got 300k out of my 2000 protege before the transmission started to go. Only real thing it needed in that time was a valve cover gasket change around 225k.
That's insane each state I'm pretty sure has at least one good shop somewhere that seems extremely excessive to ship a car to you wow
That color is not British Racing Green (non-metallic). The name of the color is Emerald Mica. Also, the hood struts are not stock, and there appears to be a hood support at the front of the engine bay. Car is going to need a radiator soon also - they turn green / brown as they age, and that one is looking pretty old.
In 1999 I shipped an '80 Volkswagen Jetta 2 door from Jacksonville to Zeebrugge, Belgium and it was $800. The return was another $800 [I debated abandoning it, and this guy in East Midlands Airport wanted to bring it to the UK, but he chickened out], so freight prices have gone up.
Hahah! I had that thing for a year in Brussels with Florida tags, and people on the street used to point at my front bumper all the time, since Belgian cars have to have a front licence plate.
Good rule of thumb to estimate shipping prices is to count around $400 of incompressible costs then add a dollar per mile.
When you take into consideration all of the costs (purchase / maintenance of the trucks, gas, insurance, wages, taxes...) it always goes down to this figure.
Last year bought a project Miata that ran and drove for $1700 on Craigslist. Most fun car I ever had.
I bought a NEW 2000 LS with leather/Bose/Factory body kit. It was silver with beige interior. Probably favorite car of mine.
NB1 crew 💪💪
The fact that a northern NB1 looks that clean underneath is crazy!
There's a hood prop sitting right there on the core support! LOL
Miatas always have been a success - and rightfully so. You could either have a dead reliable convertible for years or an affordable base for modifications with huge aftermarket support.
It's insane how so many Americans are confused about what can and cannot be photographed. Anything you see in public is legal to photograph. If you park in a public parking spot anyone can come to your vehicle and photograph any part of it -- interior or exterior. Its a protected constitutional right.
It blows my mind that people freak out about plates, people don’t realize that their plates are visible to everyone when they drive, park in a parking lot and in their driveway, what are they hiding?
From a guy who grew up in Buffalo NY, the driver side always rusted sooner because the road salt gets pushed to the center of the road in the winter by the traffic passing each other.
I love Miatas. Such fun cars. And cheap as hell until about a year ago.
Thank you for discussing the shipping issue. I’d like to buy cars from other places but the shipping is expensive and complex.
I have an 06 miata (NC, third gen), I wish I had gotten one like this but at least I fit comfortably in my car. These cars are like go-carts, they're a whole lot of fun if you accept the limitations that come with them
I've got a 1999 Miata... the gorgeous 10th Anniversary Edition. One of the most reliable car I've had. 115,000 miles.
Actually met a fellow yesterday that out right hated my and all Miata’s. Said you cannot find parts for them. I told him it may be a bit harder to find but there are plenty of sources to get parts for these little wonderful cars. That said if it was not for the fact my late friend asked me to drive his, now mine, Miata while he was in the hospital I would not have ever looked at a car like this when I need a more economical car when the company I work for relocated. Now I understand and love these great cars. I look forward to the weekends to being able to drive it.
Parts are easy to find even for the early ones. Lots of 3rd party specialists.
Wizard, we had a discussion about showing license plates on a collectible/enthusiats forum some years ago, after several odd thefts. Apparently if the car is unusual and someone either wants a prime example, or parts, they will run the license plate (sometimes not legally possible but done anyway) and get the owner's home address. At that point they have found the rare car, and easily steal it.
Yes, anyone on the road can read your plate. But thieves love the convenience of finding rare classics that they can't just spot by cruising the streets. In big cities, they pay kids to cruise the streets and call in locations of wanted cars. And a half hour later, "gone in 60 seconds" as the tow truck comes to the car.
Yes, it IS a real and known issue.
Having been in logistics, that price seems pretty good for a car shipping.
One thing to look at on the NB and NB2 miatas are the chassis rails which can rust from the inside out. Most cases you can see it bubbling up.
I own an NB2
Great little video thank you for all the information.
I had a 2000 Green LS and daily drove it even during snow. Great car, but definitely a small car. I could literally look OVER the windshield if I sat up straight. Also, if you hit anything resembling black ice you WILL spin the car - I did a 270 spin one time that freaked me out.
Some issues I had (nothing major, more annoyances): Clutch Slave, Brake Master, Caliper, water came inside and had to be cleared, window rollers needed cleaning (slow window), top needed replacing and had a coolant pipe break from age. Nothing huge.
As you figured out, no struts - a car with manual rolling windows isn't likely to have struts :)
I drove an 89 Miata hardtop set up for auto cross and it was a fun car. Also bought a used Acura Legend that was sent up to Vermont from Florida and it cost $1200.
People that hate them have either never driven one, or never driven one properly.
I’m fortunate enough to live in the Wichita area, I could totally justify the Wizard working on a Miata in this shape, but I’m honestly shocked a dude is gonna pay 3 grand total to ship the car. Car Wizard certainly is getting a reputation as one of the best shops in the country
I have two of them in British Racing Green one a NA and an NB 1991 and 2001.
There are no hood struts, it has a prop rod. I had a first gen Miata and it had a prop rod. On your video I can see the prop rod.
I dig your channel and watch every week.
same thought
Ditto. This is the 2nd video car wizard has missed the prop rod while advising new hood struts, not a good look for such a talented tech.
@@michfloridaman agree, and not caught in editing either
@@michfloridaman I'm sure he doesn't miss the prop rod when mentioning hood struts. The 99 miata doesn't come OEM with struts and is definitely aftermarket. Likely the owner purchased it off another person who equip it for racing/tracking, hince the re-routed oil filter. Just like on my 2003 mustang that has a prop rod, aftermarket struts helps a lot when opening hood, just looks way cleaner too.
Also explains the stone chipping on front lower lip.