So, a moment of inattention cost me my street car last week. I looked down to change the radio station, looked up, traffic had all slammed on the brakes, slid into/under the new accord in front of me. My fault, very little damage to the Accord, no ticket for me somehow...'91 miata needs enough work that it is not worth my money to fix it. (I didn't have collision on it, not worth the money for a car worth as little as this one was)

So that leads to the quandry: What to replace it with? Whatever comes next will be my daily driver (32 miles per day) and will see track use for both me and Sarah (wife) 4-6 weekends per year.

There are four cars that we am really interested in at this point. They are:

1) '99 Miata Sport
2) '99 Miata 10AE (just because it is a 6 speed)
3) '88-'91 Civic Si
4) Just get another early Miata and throw all my crap on it.

The first 2 would require getting a car payment again. It has been nice not having one for the last few months, but it would also be nice to have a reliable, dependable car. Our current fleet has a '99 Ranger as the lowest mileage vehicle, with 111,000 miles, and an '85 BMW 325e as the wife's daily/ trip vehicle with 170,000 miles.

Sarah likes the first 2 choices, as they are new and reliable, and have a bit more power for the track events. She also loves rear drive.

What would you guys do in this case? Just looking for input, as we are going back and forth, and trying to reach a conclusion.

 

I'd build a Locost, using the crunched Miata as a donor. Hey, it's a track car, right?

 

If this was to be the turblown motor project - definately keep the motor and find an early Miata again. I am more of a fan of the Civic though - too practical and all 4 tires fit in the trunk.

 

+1 for early miata. cheap, plentiful, you're used to it already, have the parts.

edit: rwd > fwd

 

I'd pick option #1 or #4. No point getting a 10AE - more money for a six speed that doesn't really make the car any faster. I almost bought a 99 Sport, but found a 97M for a good price and went with that instead (less money up front, and should do ok in E-Stock).

Civics are ok, but getting hard to find unmolested and rust-free cars. And it's a Civic.

 

1. Use what's left of your Miata as spares for the Punkin'.

2. Purchase 1995 M3 (I found one in Tallahassee for $12K a couple of weeks ago).

3. Smile alot.

 

Bowie will hate us now for not picking one of his choices.

If I just had to get a really good car for about $15k right now it would have to be:
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">2. Purchase 1995 M3 (I found one in Tallahassee for $12K a couple of weeks ago).</TD></TR></TABLE>
And I would also smile a lot, too. But first I would go and chase around Phat in his little civic.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
And I would also smile a lot, too. But first I would go and chase around Phat in his little civic. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Right up until that first Insurance payment you had to pay

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">1. Use what's left of your Miata as spares for the Punkin'.

2. Purchase 1995 M3 (I found one in Tallahassee for $12K a couple of weeks ago).

3. Smile alot.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

There will be No M3 right now. Punkin' spares are what made up THIS car!

[Cartman voice] I'm seriously you guys, help me out![/Cartman voice]

 

Bowie...if you buy the 1999 sport package and drive it for a couple of years you will have the option to race it in a couple of classes if you want to do that once it is paid for. What about a 1999-2000 Civic Si? It has future in racing as well on the regional level and honda challenge....

Future race classes for the 1999 Sport package:

ITS
Spec Miata National/Regional/Pro

Future race classes for the 1999/2000 Civic Si:

ITS
Honda Challenge


Scott Fredricksen

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">2. Purchase 1995 M3 (I found one in Tallahassee for $12K a couple of weeks ago).</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why a 95? Didn't the 96 get a displacement bump?

 

obd1 = much better.

 

You can allways build-up the wife's 325...

 

Dude, I'm starting to hate the CRX. Want it?

 

Why a '99 Miata specifically? Is it just because they're the cheapest 2g, or is there some performance advantage? The only reason I ask is that this is not the first time I've read something that made '99 seem like the ideal year. Oh, and I'd go with a Miata, probably the earlier one because car payments stink. That and for some weird reason I think they look better.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wreckedrex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why a '99 Miata specifically?</TD></TR></TABLE>

A 99 base with only the Suspension package weighs less than a 00+ Standard. In 00, power antenna, windows, locks, etc became standard.

The 01+ got larger brakes and a bit more power, but also more weight. It might make a better track toy, but the 99 Base+Sport will be lighter.

The 6 speed (99 10AE or 00+ LS) is a good transmission, but whether or not it makes the car faster is debatable. I think it comes down to course design more than anything. But most serious autocrossers seem to want the 99 Base+Sport on the theory that lighter is faster.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by specmiata51 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Future race classes for the 1999/2000 Civic Si:

ITS
Honda Challenge
</TD></TR></TABLE>

good luck with that

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dude, I'm starting to hate the CRX. Want it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe. You should call me tonight.

Others: The '99 sport is generally considered the "fastest stock" miata.

the 6 speed is just kinda cool.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RacerBowie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Maybe. You should call me tonight.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ya'll figure this out and take this sunroof off my hands

 

Step up to an MR2.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">1. Use what's left of your Miata as spares for the Punkin'.

2. Purchase 1995 M3 (I found one in Tallahassee for $12K a couple of weeks ago).

3. Smile alot.</TD></TR></TABLE>

A $12k '95 M3 will most likely require a few grand and lots of TLC to become track ready from what I've seen of them. BMWs have lots of problems Honda guys usually don't have to deal with. Old radiators have a bad tendency to burst, sometimes costing a motor - water pump failures are kinda common - lots of suspension bushings just utterly disintegrate(they are complete crap on the whole car), and are usually a PITA or really expensive to R&R - shocks will definitely be dead - belt tensioners die - PS hoses leak etc. etc. I could go on and on. I spent $2k in maintenence on my '98 M3 when I had it just replacing stuff that was wearing out around 70k miles, and I did all the work myself. In comparison, my '92 240SX with 150k miles on the chassis has almost none of what I'd call "designed problems" - bushings are still good for the most part, electrical connections are still good etc. etc.

I can only imagine what a '95 M3 with even more inherent problems and more miles would need on it.

Unless you can get one that's already slightly modded, as most mods "take care" of the little problems designed into the car.


They're nice cars - just not cheap track rides if you're used to small Japanese cars that tend to have a bit more thought into the little "details."

 

CRX Si: the cheap daily-driven racer that can carry its own spares in the hatch. :D

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hatch2k &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">CRX Si: the cheap daily-driven racer that can carry its own spares in the hatch. :D</TD></TR></TABLE>

'91-93 240SX hatch. Plenty of space, 155hp and something Hondas are unfamiliar with TORQUE driving the CORRECT wheels.

 

OK, I'm a little biased.

 

i went from a '90 A package to a '99 base and never, ever regretted it. the newer miatas are almost completely different cars. the engines make better noises, the body is stiffer, and they have better brakes.

get the '99 sport if you can find one... or get a '99 base and throw some konis and flyin miata springs on it. you wont be dissapointed