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Too hard to name a price without seeing the car.

What needs to be spent on it, what's the quality of the paint, soft top, interior, suspension (shocks and bushes), autobox , diff, engine, radiator ...?

The difference could be almost triple depending on these factors.

Wouldn't it depend on what the seller wants for it, a better question might start with what you budget is and what you should expect for that. If you are new to MX-5s it would be prudent of you to let us know where you are and arrange some socialising.
Greg.
P.S. There is a wealth of info regarding what to look for in here viewtopic.php?f=73&t=18802 Check the technical guides etc.

Most cars 17 years old are worth $500-750 wholesale.

Really nice 92 Honda CRX with 152k needing a clutch, tyres, removal of ABS warning light fetched wholesale offers between $300 and $500 today. Probs worth $1,500 wholesale with those items sorted.

Keep in mind it's a 17 year old car, all the rubber parts will have started the harden/shrink, the shocks may have "200k" miles? The gear box might be as tight as (the proverbial) or as loose as (the other proverbial). The tyres might be brand new, they might need replacing, same with the brake pads and discs? The timing belt and water pump might need to be done soon. The radiator might be brown with age and ready to crack or it might have been replace last year. The car might need an alignment, perhaps new suspension bushes or camber bolts. The carpet might be immaculate or ratty, same with the seats. The steering wheel might be worn through, exhaust rusty... a photo usually won't show you if the car has had flood or accident damage.

A well maintained car is worth a lot more than one that has been neglected.

davekmoore wrote:Most cars 17 years old are worth $500-750 wholesale...

Case in point, you can't generalise.

Okibi wrote:

davekmoore wrote:Most cars 17 years old are worth $500-750 wholesale...

Case in point, you can't generalise.

Fair comment.

Most cars 17 years old I see offered in trade are worth $500-$700.

Go see it, it might be awesome but i'd recommend getting a manual car unless you have some disability that prevents you from being able to shift.

Think very hard about an auto. It will cost you far more to convert it than buying manual.


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bzbzbz wrote:Just wondering what is the market price for a secondhand 1997 1.8L Auto NA? Assume that it is mechanically sound and has 200k of mileage. How much will you pay for it?

bzbzbz wrote:But may I know why is manual much preferred? Is it because of the driving experience or the maintenance costs?

Personally wouldn't buy an auto NA6 or NA8 if there was a choice. Why? The driving experience & the potential maintenance/repair/replacement costs.

an auto is also harder to offload if and when you decide to sell it because you are trying to appeal to a very very narrow field of buyers.

bzbzbz wrote:Thanks for the advice!! But may I know why is manual much preferred? Is it because of the driving experience or the maintenance costs?

Another factor is the lack of choice. A quick check on carsales.com.au and of the 57 NAs currently listed for sale, only 3 are autos (one each in Qld, SA and Vic). Only one of those three is likely to have been Australian delivered. There were five auto NA6s brought here by Mazda Australia for evaluation, and they were all quietly sold (a sixth was brought in later for a visiting Japanese dignitory). We did not officially get the auto until 1993 when the NA8 was released. (see page 3 of Club Talk - Sep/Oct 1993 for more detail)

bzbzbz wrote:I sort of get the idea. But since there are few autos around, doesn't that makes it more rare and therefore more desirable?

Short answer?
No

No.

Diving engagement will be down if you into driving it around twisty roads. The autos also had a less powerful engine.


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bzbzbz wrote:I sort of get the idea. But since there are few autos around, doesn't that makes it more rare and therefore more desirable?

I like your optimism

..but the judges have had their say and it's a No from me too..