Automatic NA Miata

Why are they not cheap?!

Been trying to find one for my wife.  In a perfect world we would find an unmolested, red one that needs maybe a little TLC.  Its what she has wanted for a very long time and I intend to find her one.

There was one last week...seemingly solid shape body wise, but it needed full servicing, tires and suspension work to even remotely consider driving it.  It was about 45min away.  They wanted 3500 but sold it before we could even get in the car and look at it.  I know the miata world is kinda volitile these days but youd think a 1.6 auto NA would still go for cheap...at least I do.

$3500 is cheap.

They arent cheap cause there are plenty of wrecked manual trans NA Miatae that can be swapped over

Manual cars are cheaper than automatics because so few people can drive them now. 
 

In reply to SV reX :

The problem with alot of the affordable manual ones is they all been Fboy'd up with crappy lights, mods and abuse.

She just wants a stocker.  Even said I wasnt allowed to modify it...

No decent Miata is going to go for $3500, and if you should stumble upon one , keep a wad of cash in the house so you can react quickly. Around here (SE Michigan) you need to have a budget of $6-7000 for anything that isn't needy, and nice ones are going for considerably more. If she has to have an automatic look for NBs. They seem to be more available with an auto. I sold my rusty NB last summer and from the time I messaged the price to the kid ($4500) and he handed me the cash was 90 minutes, and he lived 60 miles away. He said mine was the cheapest one he had been interested in.

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

No decent Miata is going to go for $3500, and if you should stumble upon one , keep a wad of cash in the house so you can react quickly. Around here (SE Michigan) you need to have a budget of $6-7000 for anything that isn't needy, and nice ones are going for considerably more. If she has to have an automatic look for NBs. They seem to be more available with an auto. I sold my rusty NB last summer and from the time I messaged the price to the kid ($4500) and he handed me the cash was 90 minutes, and he lived 60 miles away. He said mine was the cheapest one he had been interested in.

Hard pass for an NB (for her) however I loosely keep an eye out for an NB with a manual for myself

Automatic NAs are cheaper than any comparable five speed.   Seems like its about a $1000 discount for two pedals.   If they are much cheaper than that, then yeah, it gets to be worth the effort of swapping to a five speed.

Also, if you're getting an automatic NA, make sure you get a 1.8.  The 1.6 automatic is a slug. 

Just passing through to drop some somewhat relevant shopping advice:

https://classicmotorsports.com/articles/na-mazda-miata-buyers-guide/

In reply to Colin Wood :

Seeing a buyers guide for an NA Miata with the Classic Motorsports URL is like hearing Mötley Crüe on the oldies station.  Get off my lawn, whippersnapper.

Max P. Dingrods (Forum Supporter) said:

Automatic NAs are cheaper than any comparable five speed.   Seems like its about a $1000 discount for two pedals.   If they are much cheaper than that, then yeah, it gets to be worth the effort of swapping to a five speed.

Also, if you're getting an automatic NA, make sure you get a 1.8.  The 1.6 automatic is a slug. 

 

The automatic 1.6 has low compression pistons ready for a turbo.

I also agree that $3500 is very cheap. They're on the appreciation part of the curve, right now.

As a more relevant bit of content to add...  I was playing around with the Hagerty valuation tool the other day and at least for a 1997, they say to take off 20% of their value for an automatic.

FYI, the sales rate for the 1.6 autos was really low. Something like 0.5% of sales if memory serves. The 1.6 autos are down on power compared to the stick shift cars, too. So it's low supply and relatively low demand, which usually means inconsistent pricing.

The 1994-97 cars have a better trans, the same power regardless of transmission and are more common - not super-common, but more so. 

Automatic take rate has gone up with every generation. Last time I saw numbers, it was about 1/3 of the NDs - and even higher for the RF. This is not really relevant :)

Keith Tanner said:

FYI, the sales rate for the 1.6 autos was really low. Something like 0.5% of sales if memory serves. The 1.6 autos are down on power compared to the stick shift cars, too. So it's low supply and relatively low demand, which usually means inconsistent pricing.

The 1994-97 cars have a better trans, the same power regardless of transmission and are more common - not super-common, but more so. 

Automatic take rate has gone up with every generation. Last time I saw numbers, it was about 1/3 of the NDs - and even higher for the RF. This is not really relevant :)

I have been low key hoping we stumble across a 94-7 auto.  She aint racing or anything tho.  She just wants her own fun car.

In reply to wae :

I know, right? Crazy that the NA is now over 30 years old.