1990 Red Miata with 22,000 miles (no HT) [Archive] (2024)

willythenry

6th April 2013, 17:04

Greg 713

6th April 2013, 17:52

Thinking about selling my 1990 Red Miata with just over 22,000 miles on it. Manual, but no HT. What's it worth? Thanks!Thanks for the robust description of your Miata!! :-)

Lets assume it is as cherry as it can be sitting its whole life, except for the 22K miles, inside a garage. Lets also assume the fluids have been changed a few times during the life of the car, at the very least accessory belts have been changed and the tires are at the very most 7 years old but hopefully newer. Lets also assume the top is perfect and the back window is scratch and crease free. I am also assuming stock with no modifications. If your car meets those assumptions it should trade hands at $7,000ish.

zen

6th April 2013, 18:51

ksd

6th April 2013, 19:11

I concur. At my club's meeting this morning, I got to ogle the newest acquisition of one of our members -- a 1990 Classic Red B package (cruise, power windows) with factory hard top and 19,000 one owner miles. He picked it up for $8,000 even.

So $7,000 for an essentially identical car minus the hard top sounds about right.

Vince3

6th April 2013, 19:28

$7000 sounds about right...that is assuming it does have working A/C and looks like a 22k mile Miata should?

If no A/C (?) I could see less than $6000. There have been some nice super low mile NA's on Ebay auction the past year without A/C that have had a hard time getting north of the $6K mark IIRC.

Greg 713

6th April 2013, 19:30

Wow. Greg and I rarely agree on pricesC'mon! it isn't that bad! :-) We agreed on the great looking wheels on the "low mileage" Mariner.

ksd and DEC talk at length about the "market". I think the classic red low mileage Miata is one that I agree with them on. There is little scarcity in the low mileage classic red market and it is just too hard to push one above $9000. There will be several next spring too. Kokomo Tony was able to get over $10K on a Silverstone with hardtop (much like ksd's club member) because it was NOT red.

If no A/C (?) I could see less than $6000.Assuming the car is from the same general locale as the OP I imagine it has A/C. The non A/C cars were saved for the cooler climate markets. I bet a dealer would have had to work hard to find a non A/C car is MS. But maybe it doesn't have A/C and that is why the car only has 22K miles!

DEC

6th April 2013, 20:41

..ksd and DEC talk at length about the "market"...

"At length" ?... You young kids raised on television and the interweb want everything in 3 second sound bites or 140 characters. (I'd like to read more of this ksd. He sounds to be a thoughtful scholar.)

As spring has arrived, it seems there's a new ad for a sub 30,000 mile NA6 appearing twice per week.

On a '90 (and given the likely needs of a 23 year car) I'd be out above $6,000. (The market has too many alternatives.)

Greg 713

6th April 2013, 21:09

"At length" ?... You young kids raised on television and the interweb want everything in 3 second sound bites or 140 characters. As spring has arrived, it seems there's a new ad for a sub 30,000 mile NA6 appearing twice per week.
Yes AT LENGTH! read some of your numerous comments on the subject. :-) I don't know how young you think I am but I was around a long time before dot and com got hitched. In fact I even know how to fine tune rabbit ears with aluminum foil.

Yes, the sub 30K Miata is brought to our attention but that is because there is a network of Miata hunters nationwide. How many do you see in the greater Detroit area? You don't see two sub 30K NA Miatas a week pop up do you?

I still think a person needs to sell a handful of Miatas to understand how the market is not as "pure" as a cell phone or a toaster when it comes to a toy or an emotional purchase like the Miata. The first few Miatas I sold I left a fair amount of money on the table because I followed the conventional wisdom of this forum. Not any more. The "what I would pay" answer is of little value. The what "I would sell it for if my sister asked me to sell it for her" is much more accurate.

DEC

6th April 2013, 22:35

The what "I would sell it for if my sister asked me to sell it for her" is much more accurate.
I’d like to meet this sister of yours…

(That’s a joke, as was my comment about youth…I actually pegged you to be one of the wiser and more experienced members of our society.)

Yes AT LENGTH! read some of your numerous comments on the subject. :-)
I know, I know. I think my blood pressure medicine has mind expanding qualities. Sometimes I get started and just can’t stop.

…Yes, the sub 30K Miata is brought to our attention but that is because there is a network of Miata hunters nationwide. How many do you see in the greater Detroit area? You don't see two sub 30K NA Miatas a week pop up do you?
I’ll grant you that and I see your point. When a fair priced and attractive Miata appears in my area, they certainly don’t sit around. For example: Two days ago, a one-owner 2000 with 29k and an asking price of $6,799 appeared on Craigslist. The ad was down within a day. I assume at that speed it sold for near asking.

The "what I would pay" answer is of little value.
I think it’s of some value. It may not point to the highest obtainable bid price, but it gives some indication where the bidding competition will drop off and the price levels. I’m out at $6k, others have said perhaps $7K…This probably isn’t going to be a $9k or $10K car

Greg 713

7th April 2013, 06:04

sajack

7th April 2013, 07:19

mrmustang

7th April 2013, 07:22

Thinking about selling my 1990 Red Miata with just over 22,000 miles on it. Manual, but no HT. What's it worth? Thanks!

I feel like a broken record when I post the following:

Interior color?
Exterior color? (yes, we know it is red)
Options (IE: AC, leather, power windows, cruise control, etc)

Is the car all original or has there been paint work done to it at all?
Dings, nicks, scratches, smoked in or not?

Condition of the top and rear window?

Any modifications from stock?

Are you the original owner?

All of the above make a difference in what you can ultimately get for the car.

Answer these questions in extreme detail, and we can then assist you with the rest.

Posting well lit pictures will help as well.

Bill S.

ksd

7th April 2013, 10:06

I feel like a broken record when I post the following:

Interior color?
Exterior color? (yes, we know it is red)
Options (IE: AC, leather, power windows, cruise control, etc)

As a 1990, it has to be a black interior, and it has to be cloth.

And I generally assume on these types of questions about prices for extremely low mileage cars that they are unmodified. The seller can usually be expected to tell us if that is not the case. Price estimates here will therefore assume an unmodified, rust-free car in very good condition.

It would help to know whether it is a base (steel wheels, manual steering), A package (alloy wheels, power steering), or B package (power windows, cruise control) car, and whether it has AC and/or a limited slip diff. That said, for really low mile cars, values don't vary much depending on option package. Auto vs 5 speed and AC or not are the only two things that drive significant price differences on these cars. Base vs A vs B package doesn't factor into the price much at all.

mrmustang

7th April 2013, 10:21

As a 1990, it has to be a black interior, and it has to be cloth.

And I generally assume on these types of questions about prices for extremely low mileage cars that they are unmodified. The seller can usually be expected to tell us if that is not the case. Price estimates here will therefore assume an unmodified, rust-free car in very good condition.

I never assume anything when it comes to low mileage cars, why, because I have seen more than my fair share that are not all stock. I ask the same basic questions time and time again as the more information the owner gives, the more qualified and accurate an answer I can formulate. Without the very basics of what I posted above, it's playing "pricing roulette", spin the needle around the board and see what price it lands on.

Bill S.

ksd

7th April 2013, 19:47

mrmustang

7th April 2013, 19:58

Bill, I take the same approach when I am buying a car. But when someone comes on here asking for selling price advice, I try to be reasonably accommodating. If they fail to disclose something relevant, it's their loss.

But without the basics, how can you respond appropriately :dunno:

Bill S.

Rod Knock

7th April 2013, 20:04

But without the basics, how can you respond appropriately :dunno:

Bill S.

Oh the OP wanted "appropriately"? With the lack of info, I was thinking he/she wanted WAG's (wild a$$ guesses). :rofl:

Honestly, if the OP cannot provide basic info, and most of time this is their first post, then why bother responding. I'd let the thread die of loneliness.

ksd

7th April 2013, 21:26

But without the basics, how can you respond appropriately :dunno:

Bill S.

He provided the basics -- 1990 red, 5 speed, no hard top, 22,000 miles. That's more than enough to provide a reasonable value range.

mrmustang

7th April 2013, 21:29

He provided the basics -- 1990 red, 5 speed, no hard top, 22,000 miles. That's more than enough to provide a reasonable value range.

I'll respectfully disagree.

Bill S.

Rod Knock

7th April 2013, 22:01

Lets assume it is as cherry as it can be sitting its whole life, except for the 22K miles, inside a garage.

Lets also assume the fluids have been changed a few times during the life of the car, at the very least accessory belts have been changed and the tires are at the very most 7 years old but hopefully newer.

Lets also assume the top is perfect and the back window is scratch and crease free.

I am also assuming stock with no modifications.

I think Greg sets forth the problem succinctly and accurately. ALOT of assumptions have to be made.

Even if the car was sitting inside a garage all of its life, there's no guarantee that it survived with or without bicycle scratches, dings and from the general crap that people sometimes store on top of a car.

willythenry

7th April 2013, 22:18

willythenry

7th April 2013, 22:20

mrmustang

7th April 2013, 22:29

Also, I don't know much about Miatas, but I do know this is a special one!

And with that mindset best you take a look at the following other thread. This seller came here in hopes of getting the same type of information so he could sell his. Same lack of communication and lack of information, now attempting to get more than the car is actually worth for it on ebay

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=495184

Don't be that guy.

Bill S.

zen

7th April 2013, 22:41

[T]his is a special one!
You think it is special because it is yours. We all think that way about the ones we own (except Bill, but he is an outlier).

Truth is, we have seen a few NA6s (90-93) with fewer miles than the OP's sell just this week for ~$7k.

mrmustang

7th April 2013, 23:07

You think it is special because it is yours. We all think that way about the ones we own (except Bill, but he is an outlier).

I resemble that remark ;)

Bill S.

PS: For those wondering what an outlier is: "Outlier" is a scientific term to describe things or phenomena that lie outside normal experience" :cool:

Greg 713

8th April 2013, 08:19

now attempting to get more than the car is actually worth for it on ebay

Don't be that guy.
Why not give it a shot? If I was the OP, not knowing anything about Miatas, I would throw it on fleabay. Put it up with a "Buy it Now" price of $8500 or even more and see if anything happens. You won't get $8500 if you don't ask.

Remember he isn't us. He doesn't have a tracker that searches every new Miata that pops up for sale all over the US. He simply has a car that he knows little about and the best place to sell it is likely ebay. All he needs to do is find ONE buyer who thinks his car is rare and a good deal at $8500 and the rest will be history. That buyer won't be us but we comprise 50 or so people. Not even a blip on the statistical Miata buying radar.

mrmustang

8th April 2013, 08:24

Why not give it a shot? If I was the OP, not knowing anything about Miatas, I would throw it on fleabay. Put it up with a "Buy it Now" price of $8500 or even more and see if anything happens. You won't get $8500 if you don't ask.

Remember he isn't us. He doesn't have a tracker that searches every new Miata that pops up for sale all over the US. He simply has a car that he knows little about and the best place to sell it is likely ebay. All he needs to do is find ONE buyer who thinks his car is rare and a good deal at $8500 and the rest will be history. That buyer won't be us but we comprise 50 or so people. Not even a blip on the statistical Miata buying radar.

I meant it more for the poor presentation of the car for sale. Just like the lack of information on the car the OP asked us to place a value on with little to no real information that can be used to value such a vehicle.

Bill S.

willythenry

8th April 2013, 10:28

mrmustang

8th April 2013, 10:37

Pics and more information coming in the next 2 days!

As an example of how to present a car, see todays posting in the classified entitled 94 R. Took me less time to take the pictures than it did to write the ad. The more specifics you can give a prospective purchaser, the better a chance you have of actually finding one willing to buy your car.

Bill S.

willythenry

8th April 2013, 23:07

160801

160802

160803

willythenry

8th April 2013, 23:18

willythenry

8th April 2013, 23:35

willythenry

8th April 2013, 23:47

zen

9th April 2013, 00:46

mrmustang

9th April 2013, 07:14

This is the reason to post pictures (like that 32K mile car in upstate NY), after reviewing the pictures, the car as it sits I peg in the $5,500-$6,300 range. It is going to need a new top rear window (it was stored down, makes me believe there was a hardtop with the car at one time), and complete service (all fluids, air and gas filters, plugs, wires, belts, etc). As soon as the next owner drives the car, suspension pieces that have started to dry out and crack will need to be replaced as well. Also, is there a small crease in the bottom of the last rocker picture? Again all adds up when you start looking at the car with the eye of a serious buyer.

Bill S.

Greg 713

9th April 2013, 08:10

Allow me to look at this with a "glass half full" perspective. The top is fine. Let the top up with the window in the warm sun and it will straighten out fine. It isn't creased too hard. What kills the rear window is leaving the top down with sun hitting it. This window isn't brown so I doubt that happened.

Dry rotted suspension bushings? I don't know where that comes from. The bushings on my 92 are fine. I can't see where two more years is going to make them magically fall apart.

If you can't do the work yourself go to a garage and get the fluids changed/flushed, replace the air and fuel filters and have spark plugs and the blue NGK wires on. This will run you $250 or so. Get a pro detail done to the car from front to back and the engine bay. This will run you $250 or so. So for $500ish you will have a car you can sell for greater than $7300.

If you have basic mechanical knowledge you can do the mechanical work for $75 to $100 in parts. If you know anything about detailing you can do it all yourself (see the Car Care forum for advice).

If you don't want to put in the time and effort you could dump it in three days for $6000 to a guy like me (but not me because I am too far) who will do what I just mentioned and sell it for greater than $7000 maybe $7500.

THammy

9th April 2013, 08:20

ksd

9th April 2013, 09:35

Mazda sticker on front bumper in the wrong spot too

I was just going to ask about that. Every one I've ever seen has been below the left lamp, not next to it. It makes me think that the bumper may have been repainted, which on such a low mileage car typically means collision damage.

I concur with the others above that this car needs some restoration if it is going to get top Dollar. It has a patina that says "I've been neglected." If I was selling it, I would have it professionally detailed, including the engine bay (the valve cover looks like oil was spilled on it), the undercarriage, the top, and a full cut and buff of the paint. That will cost $500 to $1,000 depending on where you are and how good the detailer is, or its about $100 in supplies and a couple days of your time to do it yourself. The rear window may polish up, but more likely will need to be replaced. It should also have the cooling system and brakes flushed, new belts and hoses, and probably new tires.

With all that done, it could be a concours ready car worth $7,500 or so (assuming the bumper hasn't been repainted). As it sits, I think FMV is $5,000 to $5,500.

rsa

9th April 2013, 10:56

willythenry

9th April 2013, 11:06

mrmustang

9th April 2013, 11:29

And there you have it, a $4,000 low mileage Miata.

Enough said

willythenry

9th April 2013, 11:30

Forgot to mention...... the left headlight, reverse lights and radio don't work. The AC and heat do though.

Does the glove box take a different key? Can't unlock it with regular key.

Would posting the VIN number help?

How does all of this information affect the value?

Thanks!

mrmustang

9th April 2013, 11:37

Forgot to mention...... the left headlight, reverse lights and radio don't work. The AC and heat do though.

Does the glove box take a different key? Can't unlock it with regular key.

Would posting the VIN number help?

How does all of this information affect the value?

Thanks!

The best troll ever you win

willythenry

9th April 2013, 11:39

ksd

9th April 2013, 12:07

Forgot to mention...... the left headlight, reverse lights and radio don't work. The AC and heat do though.

Does the glove box take a different key? Can't unlock it with regular key.

Would posting the VIN number help?

How does all of this information affect the value?

Thanks!

Wow. Why would the transmission have been replaced? What could possibly have been done to it that would cause the electrical problems? All of that plus what appears to be a repainted front bumper make me highly suspicious of this car's history. Flood damaged, perhaps? And no, the glove box does not have a different key, so the fact that the ignition key won't open it tells me that it may also have been replaced at some point.

At this point, you have a car that will be very hard to sell. No reasonable buyer will touch it without a thorough personal inspection and lengthy test drive. It's just too much of a gamble given the multiple warning signs.

I suggest that you run Autocheck and CarFax reports, and see if there is anything there you don't know about (reported accidents, thefts, flood damage, etc.). If not, it would be worth your while to have all of the identified issues professionally corrected.

willythenry

9th April 2013, 12:20

mrmustang

9th April 2013, 12:20

I see the best way to happiness is by owning a lot of convertibles. Thanks Bill S.

Fixed it for you.

Bill S.

PS: I'm not the one with the chip on his shoulder. You asked for free assistance, all we asked for in return is a little effort on your part, without the bad attitude.

mongrel

9th April 2013, 12:20

He provided the basics -- 1990 red, 5 speed, no hard top, 22,000 miles. That's more than enough to provide a reasonable value range.

I agree.

Based on the information provided, the car is worth $3K.

Rod Knock

9th April 2013, 12:22

There was some rust on the underbody and a few minor leaks.

I think this statement needs further expansion. Can you elaborate about leaks and rust on the under body?

As for the transmission being replaced, maybe the OP meant clutch or clutch slave. The circ*mstances of replacing a transmission on any Miata with less than 200,000 +/- miles seems awfully strange. Those 22,000 miles could have been a 1/4 mile at a time and the tranny should still be good to go.

DEC

9th April 2013, 12:22

Don't 90's suffer from the potential to have the transmission jam up. I think it can be unjammed and be good as new, but my guess is that most shops don't know this and perform an R & R.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

Rod Knock

9th April 2013, 12:41

I see the best way to happiness is by owning a lot of Fords. Thanks Bill S.

In Bill's signature line, you'll notice that he owns four (4) +/- Miata's as well.

And then there's these go-kart looking Lotus L7's, he seems interested in too, which I can't understand. Of course, unless he needs something to model his Pinewood Derby cars after. :rofl:

Life-size Pinewood Derby cars aside, Bill and the rest of the folks here in this thread do know what they're talking about, so listening to them is advised. Best of luck.

Rod Knock

9th April 2013, 12:43

One more item for the OP.

IMHO, the luggage rack on the trunk has to go. Try to find a nice red replacement trunk lid. Otherwise, as I buyer, I'd be subtracting $$$ for that item.

EDIT: OP, I passed on this really nice low mileage Smurf partially because I just can't stand the luggage rack. And it was a 1990. http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=489247

willythenry

9th April 2013, 12:59

willythenry

9th April 2013, 12:59

mongrel

9th April 2013, 13:02

Guess I'll keep it since I can't get much for it!

You will get even less if you keep it. :D

Sharpie

9th April 2013, 13:27

What a great welcoming committee we have here.

Willy enjoy the car. If you want to sell it, clean it up, fix the little things and bring yourself about $4500. Super cleaned up and everything working, maybe more.

Greg 713

10th April 2013, 08:30

Guess I'll keep it since I can't get much for it!Really, a good idea. Work through the little issues and enjoy the car. They are fun and very inexpensive to keep.

btw-when you took ownership of this car what did you think it was worth? Don't be afraid to say, you were uninformed and didn't know about Miatas. It would be cool to know what people's gut opinion is.

Despite all of the pros and cons thrown at this car if you couldn't sell it for $5500 I would be shocked.