NMNA, 1990 "The Answer"

There is a Miata for sale up the road from me. I was mildly interested, but not really looking for another car. Talked to the lady who is selling it and got a little info but not much.

1990, 5 speed, red, 196k miles.
Antique tags (so no inspection) but she said it was inspected last year (Sept 2014.)
good (but generic) tires.
Didn't see any mods, but the car looks to be in very good shape. Couldn't see any rust but it is in a salty area.

Located in Carlisle PA 17013. Asking price is $2500 but she sounded really guilty saying that number. Might be able to get her down to challenge price. She said her name twice but I didn't really get it. I think its Ilyana. I asked her permission and she said it was OK to list her info. Call her at 717-385-9167.

I am quite willing to test drive it and look it over if anyone needs me to, but keep in mind that I don't know Miatas well. Make sure you ask me specific things to check because I can't be responsible if you don't like it or if it explodes the day after you get it.

Does she have a Russian accent?

Strangely, no accent at all... except when she said her name. So likely a transplant from very young; lost the accent but still pops in when she says her name. Either that, or just a pretentious bitch.

Nice, can't tell if Russian or pretentious bitch

Why can't she be both?

Of course its red.

Did you notice if the rear plastic window of the top zips out separate from the rest of the top?

RedGT wrote: Of course its red. Did you notice if the rear plastic window of the top zips out separate from the rest of the top?

Didn't notice, but I drive by it every day. I can check.

In reply to curtis73:

Carlisle huh? If you ever need an extra set of hands wrenching, give me a shout.

curtis73 wrote:

RedGT wrote: Of course its red. Did you notice if the rear plastic window of the top zips out separate from the rest of the top?

Didn't notice, but I drive by it every day. I can check.

Stopped by today. I reached in between the window and top and didn't feel a zipper. I was able to see that the window itself is stitched to the top. So unless there is a zipper way back in there, it is not a zippered window.

If I were to venture a guess I would say it is an older (possibly original) top that looks pretty good. It is kinda slathered in soul-glo so hard to tell.

Furious_E wrote: In reply to curtis73: Carlisle huh? If you ever need an extra set of hands wrenching, give me a shout.

Furious_E, where are you? I always need an extra set of hands, but what I really need now is a bigger wallet. Can I borrow yours? That would be really helpful getting projects done.

curtis73 wrote:

Furious_E wrote: In reply to curtis73: Carlisle huh? If you ever need an extra set of hands wrenching, give me a shout.

Furious_E, where are you? I always need an extra set of hands, but what I really need now is a bigger wallet. Can I borrow yours? That would be really helpful getting projects done.

If you guys need projects to work on I have lots of them.

In reply to curtis73:

Thanks for checking. If there is an 'in between' to reach into, it zips way up in there. Non zip ones look like one piece - no seams or overlaps.

If you drive by every day, can you report back if it is still there in a week?

Will do. The seller said she put it out for car show but was a little late getting it out, so it will probably will have been there one week on Sunday or Monday-ish.

So, given that I was able to reach back in behind a flap, its likely a zip-in? There was definitely a flap covering the seam between the clear and the black.

I'll also try to get some photos. She said she doesn't have a CL or ebay ad yet. I'll also try to get a test drive in it and report back.

For now, assume its sold

As of last evening and all day today, it isn't in the yard anymore. I called her and left a message but she hasn't called back to confirm.

I didn't buy it... one of you guys?

curtis73 wrote:

Furious_E wrote: In reply to curtis73: Carlisle huh? If you ever need an extra set of hands wrenching, give me a shout.

Furious_E, where are you? I always need an extra set of hands, but what I really need now is a bigger wallet. Can I borrow yours? That would be really helpful getting projects done.

Carlisle as well. You're welcome to borrow my wallet, but I doubt you'll find much inside . That's usually (by which I mean always) my limitation as well.

PM sent, Furious_E.

By the way, the car was back in the yard for sale again as of yesterday! Somebody grab it!

I'm looking at one a thousand dollars less and 50 miles closer, so probably don't care about this any more.