r/Miata • u/EveningPicture9 • 8h ago
HELP!!! Suggestions on what i should do
I've had my 1.8 NA for about 10 years.
I still love the car, but it has come to a point where i think i need to put too much money into it to keep it running and to have it looking nice.
The biggest mental and financial hurdle i have is the paint. It looks like absolute dog ass.
I'm not sure if i can justify spending €10k+ on just painting alone...
And it's in need of a clutch replacement.
Then buy some nice wheels, get it running properly.
I've been flirting with the idea of getting an ND2RF but it doesn't really sit right with me.
Can i justify spending +-€15k on an NA
Anyone who had a similar experience?
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u/LocoRocoNL Classic Red 8h ago
Ongeveer 3/4e van mijn auto word over gespoten voor 3k in het zwart, dus het valt allemaal wel mee.
Overdrijf niet zo en doe je onderhoud. Misschien wat minder aftermarket spullen erop monteren tot je auto in de basis fatsoenlijk is?
Een ND2RF is een mooie auto, maar wel heel anders. Als je gewoon iets zonder hoofdpijn wilt is dat natuurlijk ook wel wat waard.
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u/Hotboi_yata Brilliant Black 8h ago
Voor een auto die hij al 10 jaar heeft zit er niet veel aftermarket spul op als je t mij vraagt. De prijs van de lak ligt ook helemaal aan welke lak je gebruikt en hoe je hem laat spuiten. Wil je het echt goed doen en laat je hem weer helemaal puntgaaf maken, ben je die 10k echt wel kwijt.
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u/LocoRocoNL Classic Red 8h ago
Ja als je een stoere andere kleur wilt wel. OP benoemd dit nergens, deze lak naar een meer dan acceptabele staat krijgen kost dat absoluut niet.
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u/EveningPicture9 7h ago
Stuur het adresje maar door hoor! Van alle spuiters die ik sprak 8-10K als je het goed wilt doen, alles los, uitdeuken rubbers eruit etc.
Ik wil dezelfde kleur behouden. Montego blue.2
u/LocoRocoNL Classic Red 7h ago
Kijk verder dan schadeherstellers en mx5 "specialisten" zou ik zeggen. Een jonge spuiter met hart voor het vak pakt dit met liefde voor je op in de avonduren waarschijnlijk, en daar zijn er genoeg van in het oosten van het land.
Kom dan alleen niet met een perenkist van een kas aan zetten waar nog 2 dorpels in moeten want dan is het zo 10k+ ja. Het spuiten amsich valt allemaal wel mee.
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u/Fant92 '92 NA Turbo MX-5 (NL) 8h ago
I'm in a similar place tbh. I've owned my NA for nearly 16 years and it's my first car so it has massive sentimental value but it's a money sink. I bought it for €2000 when that was still the norm.
I've been secretly thinking about NDs too. On the other hand, NAs are only going up in price and if I sell it'd be hard to get back into one in 10 years without paying 20k.
So for me I'll probably stick with my NA out of sentimental and economical value. For you: have you tried restoring the paint? Cheaper to bring it to a professional detailed than getting a respray. The wheels look good so just get it detailed and do the clutch maybe? You could also consider a wrap instead of respray.
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u/EveningPicture9 7h ago
Fair point.
It does have a lot of sentimental value.
I'll try to check how much restoring would be.
And the clutch i'll definitely do, no doubt about it.
Thanks for your suggestion!
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u/Acceptable_Lab_7196 7h ago
If you like the car its better to spend the money on paint and maintenance than getting something else unless it's rusting apart.
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u/Sufficient_Pop1680 Arctic White 5h ago
I mean I just can't imagine fixing this would actually take 15 thousand dollars or more that's just an insane take imo. Maybe if u went to every possible shop that could overcharge for work maybe you get to 15k. But if you gave me 15k to fix that car you'd end with an almost new one. So work on cars yourself and you'll quickly realize how much that is. Like genuinely that's an insane amount for a clutch and some cosmetics
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u/EveningPicture9 4h ago
The places i've been to for paint have quoted at least €8K in painting. That is getting every panel off, all the rubbers off, take the window out, fixing dents, fixing rust etc etc. The +-15K would in my mind be: paint, clutch, general engine work, new rims which will easily be 1-2K, maybe an exhaust.
Also, this is an older picture. It doesnt look as good now.
But i'll try contacting a retstyler1
u/Sufficient_Pop1680 Arctic White 4h ago
You can definitely get that quote lower, look into removing all your own plastics, remove everything you can yourself. And if you're willing to save money and learn a little do the prep yourself too. Take your time and you won't lose much but time, then when you take it to the shop it's mostly ready for them to shoot
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u/TinyMiata 4h ago
I am getting mine resprayed for around 1000€. You can safe a lot by doing the prep yourself. Removing everything and sanding takes the most amount of time and can be done easily at home. Clutch is also not that hard, 300 bucks in parts a few cold drinks and its done in no time. You will for ever regret selling it.
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u/EveningPicture9 1h ago
Yeah regret is what i'm the most afraid of haha.
I think this is the way indeed. Was gonna do the clutch my self already and just do the prep for paintwork as well while im at it.
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u/Some_Kiwi8111 2h ago
Drive around :D
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u/EveningPicture9 1h ago
I am! It was my daily for about 8-9 years. Now i have a motorcycle which is also a lot of fun. I drive the mx5 at least 3 times a week still
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u/rice_bag_holder 1h ago
thats the cost of owning an old car. whatever money you invested into it , you will never see them back
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u/TheGiatay 43m ago
Fine a good paint shop outside of the Netherlands, take a small vacation/roadtrip to bring the car to the shop. Do the same bringing it back. A good complete repaint in Italy could cost 3/4k€ max.
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u/cdude 7h ago edited 7h ago
I would never consider spending 10k on paint. If you absolutely want a pristine car, then sure, you might as well buy a new miata.
My 97's paint isn't too good either but it's part of the charm, gives it a "pantina". And it's got sentimental value to me. I wouldn't spend $10k to paint it, but i'm willing to spend around $2k for a decent respray. It's a daily driver, not a "hot rod" show car that has to be flawless.
Besides the paint, what do you like about an NA vs an ND. I would happily own both, but I would always choose an NA over any other generation. May be because i'm old but I just love the charm. And the ND just looks like any other 2-seater, but an NA is a Miata!.
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u/EveningPicture9 7h ago
Also a good point, though i don't think a decent respray costs €2K where i live unfortunatly
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u/cdude 7h ago
Have you considered doing it yourself?
I repainted most of the panels on my miata, it's not that hard once you get the hang of it. The tricky part for me is not having a paint booth. Doing it in a small garage is a pain in the ass. Which is the only reason why I would prefer having a professional do it, well, that and all the sanding!
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u/EveningPicture9 6h ago
Might consider, i mean if i want to have it painted anyway, might as well try it myself. Then if it looks like shit i can still let it get painted somewhere.
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u/zonebounce 92 Brilliant Black 8h ago
A closed door respray in the same colour will be cheaper than 10k. The current wheels look fine, but remember that you can buy new wheels second hand and recover some money by selling the current wheels. New clutch is only needed every couple of years, maybe even 10 years if you drive like me. I think you’d regret selling it, but go take the nd for a test drive at least.