i think i need to buy a car

[Bun-bun]

My neighbor has a 1988(?) Buick Reatta he's trying to get $2k for. It runs and drives, paint is scratched to hell, but no dents, otherwise I know very little about the car. I can get more details if you're interested. It's in Norfolk VA, about 6 hrs from Philly, and I'll throw in a nights free lodging, as long as you're not allergic to cats.

[Turf]

haha i'm coming up in a few weeks, i'd drive the DFW car up if ya needed. I've got a friend in sellersville that was trying to sell a pos 80's VW for $650 not so long ago, i can see if he's still got it. Never thought the day would come that you bought a car....sellout 

[orangelion03]

A first generation Miata.  cheap to buy, cheap to own, reliable as a hammer, and fun to drive.   I had a 1990 that I bought in 1999 with 135,000 and eventually sold in 2008 with 235,000 miles on it.  No major mechanical issues.  Only wear and tear items replaced.  The only mechanical component that failed was a rear CV joint and I replaced the entire half-shaft with a used one for $50.  Low mile used parts are available cheap.  DIY maintanance is as easy as newer cars get.  With a few basic tools and a Saturday's worth of time you can  replace the timing belt, water pump, etc.  During the 100K miles I had the car, it was on the track 4-6 times a year, autocrossed about the same, and never babied.  The car came with all of the maintance records which never listed a clutch replacement, and I never did either, so it may well have been the original.

[Popeye the Sailor]

A first generation Miata.  cheap to buy, cheap to own, reliable as a hammer, and fun to drive.   I had a 1990 that I bought in 1999 with 135,000 and eventually sold in 2008 with 235,000 miles on it.  No major mechanical issues.  Only wear and tear items replaced.  The only mechanical component that failed was a rear CV joint and I replaced the entire half-shaft with a used one for $50.  Low mile used parts are available cheap.  DIY maintanance is as easy as newer cars get.  With a few basic tools and a Saturday's worth of time you can  replace the timing belt, water pump, etc.  During the 100K miles I had the car, it was on the track 4-6 times a year, autocrossed about the same, and never babied.  The car came with all of the maintance records which never listed a clutch replacement, and I never did either, so it may well have been the original.

The moose humper is like, 7 feet tall. Probably be a bit tight.

[KnightofNi]

if it's a convertible i should fit!

never thought of a miata. thanks!


i have been caught up looking for awd cars lately

[orangelion03]

The moose humper is like, 7 feet tall. Probably be a bit tight.

Yeah, that could pose problems...

I'm 6 foot tall.  With over a 100K on the original driver's seat, it was packed down enough that I hade plenty of room under both the convertible and hard tops. For track days, I used an aluminum racing seat that sat on the floor (with brackets to the stock seat mounts and a cross piece on the roll bar) as it was the only way to get my helmeted head to fit below the top of the roll bar and under the hard top (if it rained). 

I should add that at 235K, the engine still made spec compression numbers, though they were close to the minimum.  It used about a 1/3 quart of oil between changes (Mobil 1 every 3-4K).

[somegirl]

if it's a convertible i should fit!

never thought of a miata. thanks!

I feel a little claustrophobic in a miata.

[KnightofNi]

my criteria has changed slightly.

i now will accept a non AWD car.


i will prb revise them again when i can't find anything next week.

[orangelion03]

I feel a little claustrophobic in a miata.

It's not claustrophobic, it's intimate   

[KnightofNi]

It's not claustrophobic, it's intimate   

with the top on it might be claustrophobic. lol

[ducpainter]

A first generation Miata.  cheap to buy, cheap to own, reliable as a hammer, and fun to drive.   <snip>

The Moose make the beast with two backser can break an anvil.

[KnightofNi]

The Moose make the beast with two backser can break an anvil.

only if i use it and esp if i try to fix it 

[ducpainter]

only if i use it and esp if i try to fix it 

Don't hate me for being correct.

[KnightofNi]

Don't hate me for being correct.

no hate. just agreement

[somegirl]

It's not claustrophobic, it's intimate   

I would have felt more intimate with it if I weren't so busy shifting, had to get up to 5th gear to go 40 mph.
(this is a friend's car)