Is This Gorgeous $12,000 1992 Miata Still The Answer?

• We love a good Miata, but is there a limit to how much we love them?
• $12,000 USD gets you in this NA Miata, but is it truly worth double (or sometimes triple) the usual market value?

Miata Is Usually The Answer

It doesn’t take long for any newcomer to the car world to understand the community loves the Miata. We love the Miata so much that we have put unlimited resources into engine swaps, crazy builds, and even an entire racing circuit. What we love most about the Miata is the price tag. From day one, the Miata has always been cheap, plentiful, and most importantly, fun.

But what happens when we see a 1992 Miata pop up on a car sales ad for more than $5,000? Our ears certainly perk up. While the ND Miata can fetch a solid price in the new and used market, an NA Miata with a high price is hard for me to wrap my head around. Understandably, I did grow up in the time where one of my best friends picked one up for $1,800.

The NA Miata

The NA Miata, spanning from 1989-1997, is the quintessential Japanese roadster. A featherweight champion in a world of bloated cars with electronic nannies galore. Instead of computers telling you how to drive, the NA Miata challenges you to take it to the limit. While this car is no powerhouse, it is automotive fun in the purest way.

Dynamic handling, a revvy engine, a 5-speed, and the wind rushing through your hair while you’re on the open road is all part of the experience. The NA Miata is so iconic that it is synonymous with racing and hair dressers alike!

What enthusiasts love most about the NA Miata is that it is a true driver’s car at an attainable price. Other roadsters like the Honda S2000 are skyrocketing in price, but the Miata’s abundance has kept the costs low. Altogether, the Miata has captured the automotive world and clearly has no sign of stopping. There is a reason the response to most “what car should I buy?” posts are always answered with “Miata”.

The 1992 Miata In Question

Here we have a Sunburst Yellow 1992 Miata in its purest form. Unmodified, a 5-speed manual transmission, and a hard top. What more could you ask for right? The owner of this car claims 0 accidents, original paint work, and boasts 193,000 on the odometer. There’s only one glaring question I have for you. Is this worth $12,000?

Immediately, we notice the factory hardtop actually matching the paint of the car. Not very common in today’s world. I’ve seen countless Miatas with mismatched hard tops so this is an absolute pro to this car. However, we did notice a little door ding down on the driver’s door. Sign of parking lot trouble or is our owner a little more careless than they let off?

A stock 1.6 Liter engine in the 1992 Miata isn’t an uncommon sight, neither is the 193,000 miles on the odometer. The owner writes they have maintenance and service records which shows the owner cares about the car. Fortunately, it features a clean title which is starting to be a rarer sight for JDM Legends like the Miata.

All-in-all, it sounds like we have a very healthy car ready for someone else to enjoy it. But what do we say about this price? Do we embrace the idea that the Miata is turning into a classic car or do we rebel and say “Ney! Best I can do is $3,000”.

Admittedly, this probably is one of the cleanest Miatas you’ll find online. It seems like the owner(s) of this car have truly loved it, which I can appreciate. While there is no doubt it has been cared for, the car overall still raises the question of is it worth the asking price of $12,000?

Let’s think about what we can get for $12,000 shall we? First things that come to mind are a used 86/BRZ, RSX Type S, Subaru WRX, and on some occasions a first-gen Coyote Mustang. Now taking that into consideration, you’re getting newer cars with more capabilities and a lot more power. On the other hand, you are purchasing the purest form of a driver’s car in a very clean condition. And with today’s world of wild auction results, this could possibly be an investment.

So what do you think of this car sale? Is this a good price tag or a total drag? Hit up the comments and let us know!

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