The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

General Category => Totally Off-Topic Discussions, Rants, Tire & Oil Threads, Etc. => Topic started by: Luca on August 07, 2013, 09:01:09 PM

Title: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: Luca on August 07, 2013, 09:01:09 PM
Went down to my college roommate's new place for a party Saturday night, and a friend of ours' said he had a 94 Mazda Miata that he was gonna sell cheap on Criagslist... but that I could have it if I promised not to flip it.  A stroke of good luck considering I bought a 98 Dakota (with a 5 speed, V6) two weeks ago and couldnt get it to complete a drive cycle and pass inspection.

I picked it up Sunday morning before he could come to his senses.

I have a new muffler on the way because it sounds like a slammed down Honda at the moment.  Need to drill a broken valve cover bolt, fix that leak, clean it up, change oil and coolant, and take care of some of the larger interior blemishes, as well as the beginning of rust/rot on the rocker panels and the crunched fender.  Still, not bad for a free car!  I've never had this much fun on 4 wheels.

Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on August 07, 2013, 10:59:33 PM
Wow!  How neat!  It will be a while before you get upside-down on that deal!
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: marcmax on August 08, 2013, 04:15:42 AM
Great score. Be sure to check out Miata.net Their forum is a wealth of information about this great little sports car.
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: livingdeadhead on August 08, 2013, 07:33:32 AM
jammy barstard! :D
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: Luca on August 08, 2013, 07:41:30 AM
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It will be a while before you get upside-down on that deal!

it even paid me to take it with a couple bucks in the cup holder

Thanks marcmax.  I already checked out their review section to pick out my new (almost as quiet as stock) muffler

Only question is, can it tow a motorcycle?  I'm betting there's a way
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: montmil on August 08, 2013, 08:42:20 AM
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jammy barstard! :D

Love it, deadhead!

The Miata is a modern version of many classic Brit sports cars... only way better.
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: Ed Miller on August 08, 2013, 12:21:44 PM
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Wow!  How neat!  It will be a while before you get upside-down on that deal!

I hope you don't mean like that picture of your R65!

Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: Luca on August 09, 2013, 09:08:37 AM
It's got a luxury package I think.  Leather seats with speakers in the headrests, CD player, power windows and mirror.  And they all work! (windows are a bit slow atm).  The 94's with any option package came with a limited slip diff.  It's been lowered and stiffened.  Turns out at least one front sway bar link is shot, but with no roll, it's pretty hard to think it would do much.  Looks like the camber has been upped too, which means breaking it out in a corner is kind of an all or nothing affair.

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The Miata is a modern version of many classic Brit sports cars... only way better.
Reminds me of a joke:

Why didn't the Brits build televisions?
..
..
..
..
..
They couldn't get 'em to leak oil!
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: montmil on August 09, 2013, 01:57:22 PM
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The Miata is a modern version of many classic Brit sports cars... only way better.
Reminds me of a joke:

Why didn't the Brits build televisions?
..
..
..
..
..
They couldn't get 'em to leak oil![/quote]


Rim shot! Ba Da Bing [smiley=beatnik.gif]
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on August 09, 2013, 03:29:24 PM
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(windows are a bit slow atm)
My brother-in-law taught me a neat trick for slow electric windows - pull the master switch panel on the driver's door and clean all of the electrical contacts there.
Maybe it will work!
Don't forget the dielectric (or any kind of) grease!
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: marcmax on August 09, 2013, 04:42:19 PM
Whatever you do with it, DO NOT look at monstermiata.webs.com

You will be drawn over to the dark side.
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: Ed Miller on August 09, 2013, 08:20:58 PM
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Whatever you do with it, DO NOT look at monstermiata.webs.com

You will be drawn over to the dark side.

What, do they put the car bodies on big, lifted 4WD running gear and frames???


Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: Luca on August 09, 2013, 09:46:32 PM
Quote
My brother-in-law taught me a neat trick for slow electric windows - pull the master switch panel on the driver's door and clean all of the electrical contacts there.
Maybe it will work!
Don't forget the dielectric (or any kind of) grease!

window switches will be cleaned, as well as window tracks, and some greasing of the cables.

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marcmax wrote on Today at 17:42:19:
Whatever you do with it, DO NOT look at monstermiata.webs.com

You will be drawn over to the dark side.


What, do they put the car bodies on big, lifted 4WD running gear and frames???

might be the folks who drop a Ford 302 in em.  As fun as it sounds (think A/C Cobra or Sunbeam Tiger), it kinda ruins the package.  Nor do I have thousands of dollars to toss around.
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: clonmore1 on August 21, 2013, 08:42:21 AM
"The Miata is a modern version of many classic Brit sports cars... only way better".

Cheeky bugger... :)

At least our cars can go round bends... ;D

And anyway where's the fun in getting to your destination in one piece and on time? 8-)
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: montmil on August 21, 2013, 11:24:45 AM
TessTaylorArlington
Quote
"The Miata is a modern version of many classic Brit sports cars... only way better".

Cheeky bugger... :)

At least our cars can go round bends... ;D

And anyway where's the fun in getting to your destination in one piece and on time? 8-)

[smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif] Now that's funny!

Back in the early 60s and while still in high school, my younger brother and I shared an MGA. OK car, sorta, but you had to wear asbestos socks so the rubber melting off one's sneakers didn't blister your feet.

Later, we upgraded to a red Jaguar XKE coupe. A regular maintenace whore she was. IIRC, there were over 100+ linkage bits between the gas pedal and the triple SU carbs.

A marvel of English complexity rivaled only by the Italians. ;D

Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: clonmore1 on August 22, 2013, 08:32:03 AM
I hear you Monte,

However...

The early Lotus cars were the worst, my mate spent most of his early life and ALL of his money under the thing!

But, when it was working ::)

He has tears in his eyes when he sold it :'(
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: Luca on August 23, 2013, 09:18:39 AM
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you had to wear asbestos socks so the rubber melting off one's sneakers didn't blister your feet
this little Miata does let a bit of heat up through the shifter boot... not too bad, just enough for romance.
It does have one heck of a heater in it though, which will be nice come wintertime.  Should be lots of fun in the snow  :)  It's got twice the horsepower of the 77 Mercedes 240 Diesel (w/ a 4 speed) I owned until a few months ago, and just as much torque!

Quote
The early Lotus cars were the worst, my mate spent most of his early life and ALL of his money under the thing!

But, when it was working  
Part of the reason I've really started to dig American cars and trucks is that while not only are the parts cheap over here, but they will run poorly as long as most other things will run!
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: livingdeadhead on August 24, 2013, 12:52:26 PM
wouldn't know! never been into cars, there just tools to move my dogs , girlfriend , tow bike trailers etc . i've a browny orange one at present . wish i didn't have to have one at all and go back to just bikes but the dogs have trouble holding on and getting helmets and protective clothing in their sizes is difficult.....
Title: Re: Incredible Freebie!
Post by: Luca on August 25, 2013, 08:32:23 AM
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wish i didn't have to have one at all and go back to just bikes but the dogs have trouble holding on and getting helmets and protective clothing in their sizes is difficult.....
that's what sidecars are for  :D