1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata

MX5 MIATA Convertible

4 Cylinder 1.6 Liter

Manual

jm1na3517l0118394

Gasoline

I call these "The Poor Man's Ferrari," a brilliantly engineered car (in the best Japanese tradition... wish we could have made something like this in America in 1990). Nimble, sharp-looking, and great fun to drive, especially in the nice weather with the wind in your hair. You will not find many like this one. Here is a rare, near-immaculate, garage-kept, pushing 21-year-old, Mazda Miata MX5 with only 37,007 miles. I have owned four Miatas (all the same vintage... the 1990 as the best of all Miatas in my opinion) and this has been the best of mine (I love these cars). This one feels like it is practically new. It handles beautifully. It starts immediately. It looks like a gem. Alas, I am selling it (and I will most likely regret it) because I have bills and taxes to pay and need the $ (like I said, poor man... wish I could afford to keep her). The suspension is as tight as a new car. The clutch is perfect, as is the transmission (5-speed). Smooth shifting through all gears. Wheels perfectly balanced so when you hit the higher speeds it is highly stable. Excellent rubber. Alloy wheels amazingly clean (very, very slight curb rash on one of them) and really stand out. Engine purrs (1.6 liter, 4-cylinder, double overhead camshafts, fuel injection, throttle body). Perfect idle. Surprising acceleration. No rattles. No oil or fluid leaks. Even completely stock (as this one is.. all factory equipped, no modifications) Miatas can really move (they are lightweight and have about 115 horses under the hood). Power steering is perfect. Exhaust is solid and quiet. Brakes are solid and even-- amazing stopping power. Hand brake fully functional and works perfectly. Windows are hand-operated and work perfectly. All glass is crack free and scratch free. Upholstery and carpets are excellent. Leather covering on steering wheel good as new. Body is solid and rust-free. Seat adjustment mechanisms work perfectly. Doors are solid and lock mechanisms work perfectly. Trunk is clean (jack and lug wrench are in compartment-- not pictured) and lock mechanism works perfectly. AM-FM radio and tape player work perfectly. Speakers give great sound. All electrical (wipers, lights, horn, fans, etc.) and instrumentation work perfectly (recently replaced battery). The only issue with this car is the air conditioner no longer blows cold... but I have not bothered to have it checked. It is probably in need of a refrigerant recharge but I almost never used the air. I know many people want the AC even in a convertible but it never really appealed to me. Two other minor flaws. There was a tiny hole (about a third the size of a dime) in the convertible top caused by a sharp end of a falling twig (damn!) which I patched-- no leaks. The top is otherwise excellent. The rear window is still very clear and is the type requiring that it be unzipped before you put the top down (I have the black vinyl boot you snap in place when the top is down but I have never used these on my Miatas because I don't think they look that good). Also there is a little ding about the size of a quarter in the front driver side fender you can see in one of the photos. The exterior finish is remarkable for a car this age. Look closely and you can see a few faint scratches in the paint job but nothing you can find without getting in real close. Again, after 20 years rather amazing. The owners manual comes with the car along with a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Inspection sticker good through the end of May 2012. The 1990 Miata comes equipped with a drivers side air bag. Winning bidder please see the terms below for making the final transaction. THERE IS NO RESERVE ON THIS AUCTION. THIS CAR IS WORTH EVERY CENT IN THE STARTING PRICE. PLEASE NOTE: upon observing the photos it appears that there is some sort of discoloration in the paint (for example the photos of the open doors). THIS IS NOT THE CASE. It is the lighting. I took those photos in bright sunlight. The orange glow is nothing more than the reflection of the sun. The paint is NOT faded. It is in excellent condition, high gloss, and ORIGINAL. Never any body work, no accidents, no paint job, ALL ORIGINAL.