A few months ago, I purchased a 1990 Mazda Miata. The process of buying one can certainly be confusing, as these cars can be upwards of 30 years old at this point, and each model has different things to be mindful of. For sake of simplicity, I will only be referring to the NA Mazda Miata (1989-1997) as that is the generation Mazda Miata I own.

A big thing to look out for when purchasing an older NA Mazda Miata is rust. Miata’s are famous for having rust issues when not properly taken care of. Check the underside of the car, looking at the exhaust and rear suspension components. Some rust is okay, but if the car literally flakes apart in your fingers, that’s not good.

If you are looking at a 1900-1991 Miata, it may be important to check the crankshaft pulley. All 1990 and some 1991’s had a “short nose crank”. This can be identified by a crankshaft pulley with 4 slots on it. The short nose crank had some failure points, especially when changing the timing belt, but it shouldn’t be a big issue as long as you properly change the timing belt.

Another thing to look for is any leaks coming from the engine area. After many years, rubber seals can begin to break down and this will form oil leaks. A small oil leak shouldn’t be a big issue as long as you keep up with checking and refilling it when necessary. A large oil leak is usually a sign of something else being wrong, so I wouldn’t recommend getting a Miata with a large oil leak. Some Miatas also have issues with overheating, so take the car for a test drive and see if it holds temperature well. The coolant temperature needle should usually remain in the center of the gauge when the vehicle is at operating temperature.

When buying any car, find the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and look it up online. Make sure the car isn’t a salvage title, hasn’t been reported stolen, and comes up clean. Make sure the owner has an intact title as well, otherwise you may not be able to register your new Miata.

Searching and buying an NA Mazda Miata can be a very difficult process, and they certainly are becoming harder to find as they get older and more people buy them. If you look out for these things, you should be able to find a decent Miata that will last you for years to come!