Miata List Archive

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Mail From: jrowe (Jennifer Rowe)

Hi. As a wanna-be Miata owner, I have been a "lurker" around Miata.net for
a while, but only now find myself in the position to actually need to ask
a question. I am desperately hoping someone can give me some advice on a
questionable subject. I have an opportunity to buy a '91 miata MX-5 with
98,000 miles on it. This is through a dealership (not a Mazda dealership,
however), so I'm not sure how many owners its had, previous history, etc.
(You know how dealers are . . . everything's GREAT to hear them talk. It's
like it just rolled off the assembly line.)

I have been doing some research and have read about the crankshaft problem
with the '90s and early '91s (this car is one of the affected '91s with a
VIN number lower than 209447). I have no way of knowing if the crankshaft
has been replaced and, short of the test drive (it actually performed
beautifully at all speeds), have no way to check it without shelling out
more money than I have. My question is, would you recommend I buy this car
or do you think it's better not to chance it? I would have a difficult
time coming up with $1500-$2000 to fix the car (I'll be paying $4000 for
it). It does come with a 6 month/6,000 mile warranty though (not much, but
better than nothing, I guess.)

Any information anyone could give me on this would be GREATLY appreciated.
I've wanted a Miata ever since I first drove my aunt and uncle's brand new
one in '95. Until now, however, I have never been in a position to buy
one. I have been going back and forth over this for several days and I'm
about to make myself nuts obsessing over it! :)

Thanks,
Jennifer Rowe

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Berck E. Nash" <berckums (Berck E. Nash)

That's a tough one... Personally, I'd probably shy away from it, but there
are lots of '90s running around with lots of miles on the original crank.
$4,000 is hardly a great deal on a '91 unless it's in GREAT shape... you
could probably find one a bit cheaper if you looked... And, something with
some indication of maintenaince is always nice...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jennifer Rowe" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2001 1:12 PM
Subject: [Miata] '91 Miata question


> Hi. As a wanna-be Miata owner, I have been a "lurker" around Miata.net for
> a while, but only now find myself in the position to actually need to ask
> a question. I am desperately hoping someone can give me some advice on a
> questionable subject. I have an opportunity to buy a '91 miata MX-5 with
> 98,000 miles on it. This is through a dealership (not a Mazda dealership,
> however), so I'm not sure how many owners its had, previous history, etc.
> (You know how dealers are . . . everything's GREAT to hear them talk. It's
> like it just rolled off the assembly line.)
>
> I have been doing some research and have read about the crankshaft problem
> with the '90s and early '91s (this car is one of the affected '91s with a
> VIN number lower than 209447). I have no way of knowing if the crankshaft
> has been replaced and, short of the test drive (it actually performed
> beautifully at all speeds), have no way to check it without shelling out
> more money than I have. My question is, would you recommend I buy this car
> or do you think it's better not to chance it? I would have a difficult
> time coming up with $1500-$2000 to fix the car (I'll be paying $4000 for
> it). It does come with a 6 month/6,000 mile warranty though (not much, but
> better than nothing, I guess.)
>
> Any information anyone could give me on this would be GREATLY appreciated.
> I've wanted a Miata ever since I first drove my aunt and uncle's brand new
> one in '95. Until now, however, I have never been in a position to buy
> one. I have been going back and forth over this for several days and I'm
> about to make myself nuts obsessing over it! :)
>
> Thanks,
> Jennifer Rowe
>
> _______________________________________________
> Miata mailing list
> (email redacted)
> realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: mhagerla (Michael Hagerla)

Roger that! $4k for a '91 miata w/ 100K, and at a dealership? We are
talking low 3K price range. Personally, I would go there and test drive
it. Take it out on a road with some dips and make sure the shocks do NOT
bottom out- you should be able to feel it if they do. Then, take it out on
the freeway and find a straight stretch where you can (almost) let go of the
steering wheel- to check the alignment. If the car has the original shocks,
or even if they were changed within the last few years, they are probably
close to being toast. Check the brakes, the steering feel, the tires, etc.
If it drives great and you love the car, wave $3k in their face. If you are
unsure, wave $2500 cash in their face, then when they laugh at you, hand
them a card with your name and phone number and tell them that is what the
car is worth, you are actively looking for a used miata, and then if they
want to sell the car to you for CASH, they had better call you soon. THEN,
just walk away- if they start giving you the sales pitch again, just laugh
and tell them that you know miata's and you do not have the patience, nor
the time for any BS. Just say, "I have ___ cash, take it or leave it!"

Play hardball- it is a buyers market, especially if you have cash! They
probably picked that car up @ auction for $1k, believe me, I have been to
auctions, and these dealers make a killing on used cars.

good luck,

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: (email redacted) [mailto:(email redacted)]On Behalf
Of Berck E. Nash
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2001 3:54 PM
To: (email redacted); Jennifer Rowe
Subject: Re: [Miata] '91 Miata question


charset="iso-8859-1"

That's a tough one... Personally, I'd probably shy away from it, but there
are lots of '90s running around with lots of miles on the original crank.
$4,000 is hardly a great deal on a '91 unless it's in GREAT shape... you
could probably find one a bit cheaper if you looked... And, something with
some indication of maintenaince is always nice...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jennifer Rowe" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2001 1:12 PM
Subject: [Miata] '91 Miata question


> Hi. As a wanna-be Miata owner, I have been a "lurker" around Miata.net for
> a while, but only now find myself in the position to actually need to ask
> a question. I am desperately hoping someone can give me some advice on a
> questionable subject. I have an opportunity to buy a '91 miata MX-5 with
> 98,000 miles on it. This is through a dealership (not a Mazda dealership,
> however), so I'm not sure how many owners its had, previous history, etc.
> (You know how dealers are . . . everything's GREAT to hear them talk. It's
> like it just rolled off the assembly line.)
>
> I have been doing some research and have read about the crankshaft problem
> with the '90s and early '91s (this car is one of the affected '91s with a
> VIN number lower than 209447). I have no way of knowing if the crankshaft
> has been replaced and, short of the test drive (it actually performed
> beautifully at all speeds), have no way to check it without shelling out
> more money than I have. My question is, would you recommend I buy this car
> or do you think it's better not to chance it? I would have a difficult
> time coming up with $1500-$2000 to fix the car (I'll be paying $4000 for
> it). It does come with a 6 month/6,000 mile warranty though (not much, but
> better than nothing, I guess.)
>
> Any information anyone could give me on this would be GREATLY appreciated.
> I've wanted a Miata ever since I first drove my aunt and uncle's brand new
> one in '95. Until now, however, I have never been in a position to buy
> one. I have been going back and forth over this for several days and I'm
> about to make myself nuts obsessing over it! :)
>
> Thanks,
> Jennifer Rowe
>
> _______________________________________________
> Miata mailing list
> (email redacted)
> realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata
>


_______________________________________________
Miata mailing list
(email redacted)
realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: bonni (Bonni Weatherwax)

As the proud owner of a (late VIN) 1991 Miata myself, I think that 4k with
98k on the odometer is already pushing it just a bit . . . add to that the
crankshaft problem potential and it goes down even more. I'd offer him the
difference between his price and the cost of possible repair -- meaning that
Miata isn't probably worth much more than 2k. He won't go for it, more than
likely. Print up some research on that VIN problem, present it to him, and
see what the dude says. I would not sell my Miata for anything less than
6k, BUT -- it has lots of pricey mods. Otherwise, I'd not ask for more than
3k on it, and it has 168k, though it is in excellent condition and doesn't
have the potential VIN problem, either. I could easily snag up 3k on that
car -- an early VIN though, not in a million years could I get that. This
dealer is hoping to snag someone unaware -- but you ARE aware, so perhaps
just save that cash and keep looking . . .good luck.

Bonni Weatherwax
1991 White M1 ~ "Zippy!"
"I am NOT an addict -- I can stop zooming any time I want!!!"

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: whawn (Wayne Hawn)

Aren't you guys getting a little crazy about the crank problem? I thought
it only affected about 2 or 3 percent of the 90 and 91 cars out there. I
know it is a design problem that all the cars have, but it actually
manifests into a problem only rarely. My own fears about my 90 have me a
bit defensive about this issue. I don't know that I would discount a
vehicle over it, if the car was otherwise a good deal. Now, about the
$4,000 part, I guess it depends on where you live. Don't even get me
started on car prices in Alaska......

Wayne and Caly

-----Original Message-----
From: Bonni Weatherwax [mailto:(email redacted)]
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2001 4:03 PM
To: (email redacted); Jennifer Rowe
Subject: Re: [Miata] '91 Miata question


As the proud owner of a (late VIN) 1991 Miata myself, I think that 4k with
98k on the odometer is already pushing it just a bit . . . add to that the
crankshaft problem potential and it goes down even more. I'd offer him the
difference between his price and the cost of possible repair -- meaning that
Miata isn't probably worth much more than 2k. He won't go for it, more than
likely. Print up some research on that VIN problem, present it to him, and
see what the dude says. I would not sell my Miata for anything less than
6k, BUT -- it has lots of pricey mods. Otherwise, I'd not ask for more than
3k on it, and it has 168k, though it is in excellent condition and doesn't
have the potential VIN problem, either. I could easily snag up 3k on that
car -- an early VIN though, not in a million years could I get that. This
dealer is hoping to snag someone unaware -- but you ARE aware, so perhaps
just save that cash and keep looking . . .good luck.

Bonni Weatherwax
1991 White M1 ~ "Zippy!"
"I am NOT an addict -- I can stop zooming any time I want!!!"

_______________________________________________
Miata mailing list
(email redacted)
realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: bonni (Bonni Weatherwax)

Yeah, well it's also pretty rare that you'll actually get run over in the
street if you don't look both ways before crossing -- but you still look,
now don't ya? Risk is just not worth it when the gal only has about 4k or
so to begin with.

BW


> Aren't you guys getting a little crazy about the crank problem? I thought
> it only affected about 2 or 3 percent of the 90 and 91 cars out there. I
> know it is a design problem that all the cars have, but it actually
> manifests into a problem only rarely. My own fears about my 90 have me a
> bit defensive about this issue. I don't know that I would discount a
> vehicle over it, if the car was otherwise a good deal. Now, about the
> $4,000 part, I guess it depends on where you live. Don't even get me
> started on car prices in Alaska......
>
> Wayne and Caly
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: kevin (Kevin Morrison)

Jennifer,
I'd keep looking. When the right car comes along, you won't have to agonize
over whether to buy it or not.
A few years ago, when I first got into Miatas, the bad crankshaft thing did
appear to be pretty rare. I only heard of a few cars having the problem.
Nowadays, it seems like those shortnose-crank cars are dropping like flies.
Yes, there are still a lot of them out there that are just fine (I have one
of them), but I've seen a LOT of cars in the last year or two that have bad
cranks. I see them for sale online, in the paper, in my friend's shop. I
race a Spec Miata in the SCCA and I know of several racers that have picked
up cars cheap because they had bad cranks. There seems an endless supply.
I have no doubt that a lot of people will disagree with me here, but I just
have a feeling that eventually almost every shortnose-crank engine will
munch itself.

The car you're looking at would probably be more fairly priced at $3500 or
less, IF it was checked out by a mechanic you trust, who knows Miatas, and
declared to be ok. Without those assurances and at $4k, I'd skip it.

Kevin Morrison, and Spider, '94 R, and Swampy, '90 SM
morrisonwebtech.com
Flaming Blue Weasel Motorsports,
a division of Roadster Rage Racing
roadsterrage.com/clubracing/




----- Original Message -----
From: "Jennifer Rowe" <(email redacted)>


> Hi. As a wanna-be Miata owner, I have been a "lurker" around Miata.net for
> a while, but only now find myself in the position to actually need to ask
> a question

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: John Freas" <john.freas (John Freas)

Previously on '91 Miata question, "Wayne Hawn" <(email redacted)>
said...

> Aren't you guys getting a little crazy about the crank problem? I thought
> it only affected about 2 or 3 percent of the 90 and 91 cars out there.

Allegedly it did, as to getting crazy, I guess it depends on whether or not
/your/ car broke. Mine did.

> I know it is a design problem that all the cars have, but it actually
> manifests into a problem only rarely. My own fears about my 90 have me a
> bit defensive about this issue. I don't know that I would discount a
> vehicle over it, if the car was otherwise a good deal.

I had a very good deal, needed to trade (couldn't afford to buy and then
sell privately), had a dealer who would give me a very good trade-in
allowance and a fair price on my car. Had I not had the security of a
heavily discounted aftermarket warranty for protection, I would have walked
quickly away in spite of the rest.

FWIW.

-John
_______________________________________________
John Freas ((email redacted)) - American
Red '90 Base-ish #7690
Loouhvull, KY
Team LS1,2, SP, the Gap...
I love my Miata girl.
"I have no idea what those dimple things on the windshield frame are for."