30 replies to this topic

[MSJP]

This is my first time choosing and buying a miata so I may need some pointers on what to look for.
I have bought and sold tons of cars but are there any special quirks about the miatas I should be looking for?
Shall I buy a first gen body or second gen?
I am able and willing to prepare this car with my blood sweat and tears and feel like I should take on this project to get back onto the track again after a 5 year vacation. I would like to get serious and hit the track again soon.
How much did you guys spend building your "spec miatas" while doing almost all or most of the work yourself?
Thanks for your answers guys.

[LarryKing]

If I were to start from scratch I would buy the cleanest '99 I could afford - simply because its a later model.

Jeez - my '91 is 21 y/o now!!!

[Caveman-kwebb99]

If I were to start from scratch I would buy the cleanest '99 I could afford - simply because its a later model.

Jeez - my '91 is 21 y/o now!!!

+10,000,000

[dstevens]

How much did you guys spend building your "spec miatas" while doing almost all or most of the work yourself?
Thanks for your answers guys.

Mine's not done, but I about 12k in parts on a shelf, a clean rebuilt street engine and an empty tub on dollies in the shop. Read my blog and you'll find I'm the poster child for rushing into a shitty donor and what it takes to get it to a condition that isn't embarassing. Tom Hampton has a good newbie build blog, http://www.tomhampton.info/ . If you are going to build find the cleanest 99 you can afford. You wanna build or you want to race? For what you could build a mediocre car for you could buy the same used for less. The plus side for me is I aquired enough tools and shop equipment to hang out shingle and start my wife's dream business, vintage American rides. Miata is going into the corner of the shop as we are getting a 73 Gran Torino with 35k original miles from a family member to restore and flip.

You can build a cheapie for around 10k if you can do your own fab and mechanical. Anything decent will run you 15k or so. That said, were I to do it again I would have still built, just with a better, cleaner donor. If you want to get out on the track right now, go buy a complete car and put a couple grand into it.

First though, buy this book....

http://www.advanced-...&products_id=42

It will be the best 20 bucks you'll spend in SM. And there ain't much on these chick cars that cost only 20 bucks.....

[Caveman-kwebb99]

To build a nationally competitive SM you will spend between 16-19k plus your time. You can buy one pre built for around 24k, New for 32k. That is if you buy and install the right parts.

I would start with a pre built SM, race a year and learn as much as you can and then build a car or buy another more competitive car, when you actually know what your looking for.

[Johnny D]

NoCal or SoCal?
How much you want to spend?
Happy to be racing, mid pack, up front? Depends on the car , the nut behind the wheel and $$$.
J~

[Ron Alan]

If your in Nor Cal pm me! Several options for you!

[LarryKing]

Unsolicited endorsement - talk to Dan at TiSpeed in Charlotte. Man does beautiful work. If I ever get the funds I'll ask him to build me a roller and I'd finish it.

Fly in, tow home.

[MSJP]

Ok Finally back to check on this and thaks for the replies guys!
I been looking at some 06+ models and want to spend from 10-15G on the car + time and parts.
I am serious about getting back into some form of racing and got to talking to someone about skip barbers mazdaspeed race coruse.
Even if I do not get into national races it will be a good car to start with since I will be learning on a playboy cup car and hope to build my car up to those standards one day. I did see a built 06 on craigslist for 20 grand right now and may be a good idea to get it if I can scrounge up the extra funds.
Posting here. Tell me what you guys think about this car.
http://sfbay.craigsl...2878504791.html

[MSJP]

If your in Nor Cal pm me! Several options for you!

Hello Ron, Contractor? Me to! I could also be tempted to find a 04+ mazsaspeed miata turbo, love those things.forget the spec racing and build a weekend warrior?

[MSJP]

NoCal or SoCal?
How much you want to spend?
Happy to be racing, mid pack, up front? Depends on the car , the nut behind the wheel and $$$.
J~

I am 20 miles north of you Johnny! When I get the miata you may be the first one I contact for help!

[Glenn]

Unsolicited endorsement - talk to Dan at TiSpeed in Charlotte. Man does beautiful work. If I ever get the funds I'll ask him to build me a roller and I'd finish it.

Fly in, tow home.

Or Bob at Race Engineering, BEST cages in the country even better motors!!!!

[Bailey Sigler]

Unsolicited endorsement - talk to Dan at TiSpeed in Charlotte. Man does beautiful work. If I ever get the funds I'll ask him to build me a roller and I'd finish it.

Fly in, tow home.

agreed

[davecarama]

Ever think of getting into B-Spec?

[Rob Burgoon]

Ok Finally back to check on this and thaks for the replies guys! I been looking at some 06+ models and want to spend from 10-15G on the car + time and parts. I am serious about getting back into some form of racing and got to talking to someone about skip barbers mazdaspeed race coruse. Even if I do not get into national races it will be a good car to start with since I will be learning on a playboy cup car and hope to build my car up to those standards one day. I did see a built 06 on craigslist for 20 grand right now and may be a good idea to get it if I can scrounge up the extra funds. Posting here. Tell me what you guys think about this car. http://sfbay.craigsl...2878504791.html

If it's an 06, you won't be in SM.

[Glenn]

If it's an 06, you won't be in SM.

No but would be the cheepest SM5 car in the country! Need a suspension and wheel package and few other items to be "legal" but you can sell the goodies to pay for the Bilsteins.

[Justin Fowler]

As dstevens said, Best investment ~ http://www.advanced-...&products_id=42

[MSJP]

Thanks for all the info and feedback, I am deciding between either 99+ or 06+ depending.
Looks more towards a 99+ since it would probably be much cheaper. 5 or 6 speed? What are most using in SM races?

Thanks

[Glenn]

Thanks for all the info and feedback, I am deciding between either 99+ or 06+ depending.
Looks more towards a 99+ since it would probably be much cheaper. 5 or 6 speed? What are most using in SM races?

Thanks

99 ONLY can use 5 speed

[davecarama]

Are you going to get a license and race or are you going to be participating in HPDE for a while?
The 06 car you are looking at looks like a decent deal, but you would need to do some things to make it legal for SM5 and other classes. The reason SM5 was created (to the best of my knowledge) is because there were a bunch of Cup cars laying around rotting because they didn't have a home to race in once they lived their cycle in the pro classes.

If you are going to do HPDE and not race right away, this car is great! You will most likely not be able to register it for road use, so you will need a trailer and truck to haul it around though.

If you want to race it, there will be a little more you will need to tack on top of your initial purchase fee to slide it into a class.

But for that kind of money, you can build a B-spec car and have even more options with an even newer car. That could be fun too!

Dave