Is a reasonable price for a fixer upper, less than $1000? [Archive] (2024)

MX-5 Miata Forum > All Miatas > Pricing and Dealer Discussion > Is a reasonable price for a fixer upper, less than $1000?

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spacejunkiehsv

9th February 2009, 16:24

I just posted a Wanted To Buy add in the classified section a few minutes ago. Do you think I could get myself a running, and safely driveable, Miata for less than $1000 that matches the following ad? Below is the copied text.

I am looking for a Miata that I will turn into a weekend warrior. I need a cheap one. Here is a list of the things I want.
- Running and safely driveable (high mileage is ok)
- All body parts on car :)
- A top on car (can be in bad shape)
- Wheels and tires on car
- Manual transmission
- AC (working or not, to be negotiated)
- ABS (preferred but not a deal breaker)
- Straight frame
It can have the following items, but they aren't deal makers or deal breakers: radio, power windows and doors, keyless entry

I don't expect the paint to be perfect, but I don't want any rusted body panels either.

Please contact me if you live within a few hours of Huntsville, Alabama and have a car you think I might want.

Please call or send pictures to me (Jason, spacejunkiehsv at gmail dot com) if you have them. I am open to just about any color. I suppose any green color is my least favorite though.

If you think I am crazy and will not get what I want for $1000,please let me know that too. I don't mind being edumacated. :)

rx8rotary

9th February 2009, 16:26

As a fellow Huntsvillian I haven't seen any that meet your criteria at that price. I am not saying it isn't possible, but not likely IMHO. The only exception might be if it has a salvage title and high miles, needing paint and no maintenance has been done.

BOB

gludlow

9th February 2009, 16:45

That's a tough one... the only sub-$1k Miatas I have seen in the midwest (IL, IN, MI, etc) have had MAJOR problems; blown engine, missing body parts, undrivable. I have seen a few around $1,500 that run, but they go fast.

Your best bet may be to try and find a $2,000 runner with a hard top, and sell the HT for $1k. I've seen more of those than $1,000 runners without.

Greg 713

9th February 2009, 17:01

I think it is doable but you may need to broaden your search by several hours. Five hours one way to go Miata hunting is a good way to spend a Sunday. What else are you going to do? Watch the NBA?

Take a look at the 90 RIP on my signature line. Avoid that!! You may be money ahead buying a $2000 car. If you don't have $2000 then save. A cheap car may cost you more, MUCH more.

spacejunkiehsv

9th February 2009, 17:20

Well... I edited my WTB ad. I changed it to say "within 300 miles..." I was hoping now would be a good time to find a Miata at a lower price. I'm assuming Miata sellers demand a little more money in the spring and summer months.

shade tree dan

9th February 2009, 17:28

1500-2000 is closer to what you should expect to pay for just about any running condition Miata. At the lower end expect body damage or rocker panel rust. Also expect lots of overdue maintenance items.
Having said that, look for one that someone has listed with a "bad" transmission. If it is stuck in reverse, there is a 5 minute fix to reposition a shift rod back into place. I missed one of these for $900 last year by 2 minutes. The guy who bought it was on the phone with the seller when I called and got voice mail.

tom4416

9th February 2009, 18:08

I don't think you'll even get close, you're almost at the parts car price. I'd double my budget and hope you find something a little cheaper.

spacejunkiehsv

9th February 2009, 18:33

$1500 seems to be the minimum I can find for fully functional Miatas, so far.

Rich Wilkman

9th February 2009, 18:39

When they get down to the price range you're talking, seasonality is pretty much a non-issue. It's in crap-all condition 365 days a year so there's no rush to sell before "putting it away for winter". :)

-Rich

RI ZoomZoom

9th February 2009, 20:15

Miatas for under $1000 are HARD to find. I surfed local Craigslists several times a day to find mine. I had an email into the seller within a hour or so from his post. I am doing it again, looking for a parts car to fix up my 91. I don't care is it has a motor or tranny. I just want one with a decent body!

John Hewitt

9th February 2009, 21:55

Miata < $1000 = Parts Car
.
;)

tbearmiata

9th February 2009, 23:06

$1500 Miata (http://atlanta.craigslist.org/cto/1006214466.html)

Over your limit but probably the best you are going to find and this one obviously has issues at that price.

spacejunkiehsv

10th February 2009, 00:15

$1500 Miata (http://atlanta.craigslist.org/cto/1006214466.html)

Over your limit but probably the best you are going to find and this one obviously has issues at that price.
Yeah, I saw that one today. I really like that blue color. If I'm to get one, I have to talk my wife into it. I don't have $1500 of "my own" spending money.

Mr.Breeze

10th February 2009, 08:51

They are out there trust me.

rx8rotary

10th February 2009, 09:20

Since I restore and collect antique cars, I have owned 100's (literally) cars over the years. One thing I have found out - unless you enjoy money pits, it is best to (1) buy the best example of whatever car you want that you can afford to begin with and (2) if you don't have enough cash saved to buy a fairly nice example, hold off on your purchase until you do because in reality you will save more money in the end.

An $1000 Miata is going to need a ton of work. Unless you get extremely lucky and find someone wanting to dump a nice car quickly and cheaply, it will need paint (figure at least $1500 for an average paint job IF it needs no bodywork), it will need a top ($800 unless you do it yourself, and still probably $400 just for the top), interior work (unknown $$), up to date maintenance (timing belt, water pump) which will be around $600-700 if you hire someone to do it. Tires will most likely need replacement ($400 if you go cheapo). Just those things add up to around $4000. For $4000 you can find a nice early 90's Miata that will need very little.

If all you have to spend right now is $1000, I would hold onto that money and save enough to buy a nicer example later. You will be dollars ahead IMO.

BOB

Rich Wilkman

10th February 2009, 12:12

+1 on what Bob said. Everyone is looking for the divorcee-special but the simple reality is that you should almost never spend your entire car budget on just the car. A $1K Miata is going to need work; if you shoot the wad on the car you're probably a short time away from having a lawn ornament. Plan on spending about $500 to get a $1K car in so-so shape. Or spend $1500 to get one in better than so-so shape.

Barring the mythical divorcee car, the best deals are from guys that shot their wad on a low end fixer, dumped in more cash and had to give up a few feet from the finish line. Don't be one of those guys. :)

-Rich

liferj

11th February 2009, 14:43

Nothing west of you that meets your criteria. Had one listed on CL a few weeks back that was about what your listing states, but he wanted $2K for it. I wouldn't have done that as it would have taken another $2K to fix it up into decent shape. Keep looking and saving. Don't jump at first thing that shows up unless it is well above your min. You WILL have lawn ornament. BTW, want a '88 Jag? Cheeeep.

Satori

12th February 2009, 13:23

Only miatae I've seen for less than $1000 are parts cars. I spent $750+tow for one so I could get a Torsen 94 tranny, engine and interior. It was a rollover, there was not a single body panel without damage and it was far from being straight. I'm in the process of getting my basket case car, Satori, running again (IOW, turning it back to stock) just because it seems that a decent running and registered car is going to be worth $2500 forever.

DEye

12th February 2009, 13:31

I don't think you'll find a drivable / DMV safe car for that price.

My Car started out as a $1000 car.
The first guy picked it up -
- several new brake hard lines
- master cylinder
- Clutch master
- soft top
- valve cover / gasket

I picked it up for 2K
- new gas tank
- Alternator
- RR Caliper

Now i'm doing all the suspension
Shocks / spring / sway / bushings

Its gonna be a 6K car soon... :D

spacejunkiehsv

13th February 2009, 01:55

I've been on travel this week and just got on the forum to check this thread. Well... All of the advise here is telling me that I should just save my pennies for a Miata that is worth more than $1000. I don't want to spend every weekend or two tearing the car apart to fix something, instead of just enjoying driving the car.

I did plan on eventually spending $2000-3000 on a good paint job, if I find that I really like the Miata and plan on keeping it for a long time. However, I don't really know how much water pumps, oil pumps, hard lines, and things like that cost. My $1000 Miata might quickly turn into a $2000 Miata, the hard way.

It sucks not having a fun car to drive anymore. Damnit!

just me

13th February 2009, 10:16

Spacejunkie, Good cheap cars are out there. In Jan. 2004, I bought a '94, so I wasn't searching for another miata. In Dec. 2004, I saw a mariner blue '90 with 118K miles advertised locally for $800. I paid $700 for it from the original owner, the car came with a stack of maintenance records. The car ran and drove like a top, the paint needed a good compound/wax to get the color back. The front fenders needed to be replaced (lower rusted area) the top was OK, the rear window was cracked. The only thing I did other than change the fluids, was replace the shift boots, I drove it for 7 months and sold it for $1500. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
PS. If you can scrape up $2000-$3000 for paint, scrap buying a $1000 car, add it to the $1000 you'll be throwing away and buy a $4000 car with good paint and decent milage.
Bill B.