One by one the personal CCs of the editorial team are going away. Jim Klein gave us the news that the Official CC Porsche has moved on, which reminded me that I have done the same with my Miata. And have, for some reason, been reluctant to write about the event. But here we go.
I had begun to entertain thoughts of selling last fall. The problem was that I had noticed a pattern: every year I would drive the car about half the number of miles I had driven it the year before. But I did not sell last fall, because fall in Indiana is perfect MiataWeather (which is a real thing, and if it’s not it is now).
The other big issue was more personal. My favorite part of owning the car was going out with Mrs. JPC for little trips in good weather. A farmers market, some downtown shopping, or maybe just a run for dinner out or an ice cream cone. But my Mrs has been experiencing some knee issues which made getting in and out a chore. The car was still fun for me to drive, but not as fun doing it alone as doing it with the one you want along for the ride.
The Miata has amazing defense mechanisms, one of which is that whenever you think of selling, you need to drive it somewhere – to a store to buy some cleaning supplies, or to the gas station or some other such place. When you drive it you can no longer sell it because it brings such joy.
The kicker came this spring. Many places experienced abnormal heat in late spring and early summer, but not where I live. May and June were rain, rain and more rain. Rain is not MiataWeather, so the car sat in the garage.
A side note about that garage – I have long been a “2 cars in a 2 car garage” person. When I got the Miata, the Honda Fit got kicked outside. It has been surly about the situation and shows it by letting its white paint deteriorate. The problem came when there was an office move last winter which brought a bunch of boxes and such into the garage. And of course the twenty-year-old “we never drive it this time of year car” stayed indoors while the “drive it all the time” Sedona joined the Fit in the driveway. This is not, for those curious, the path to wedded bliss.
A long, slow series of events eventually reached critical mass and I decided that the time had arrived. It was a good car that sold to the first guy who looked at it and everyone was happy. Mostly. I wrote about the experience on my blog (here) but somehow held off here at the place where I should have been breaking the news. Was it that I kept finding other things to write about? Or just a touch of remorse after the weather finally improved? I have no idea.
All in all I owned the car for four and a half years. In that time it gave me very little trouble, most of which involved a battery that I nursed for too long and finally replaced. I sold it for right around what I had paid for it looked and drove right for the entire time.
There are two kinds of cars – real cars and play cars. The Miata could be a real car (and occasionally was when an extra car was needed in the family) but was a play car for me. It really made an almost perfect play car. I think the only one that rivaled it as a perfect play car was my 1929 Ford Model A – something even simpler than the Miata.
A great play car is small. I loves me my automotive gunboats, but devoting that much space to one is costly in terms of what it would displace in my none-too-large garage. The Miata’s small footprint was perfect for this. And it was the complete antithesis of a Whiny Bitch Car (TM) – a Jim Klein phrase that has become part of my automotive vocabulary. It was everything that the best Asian cars of the 1990’s always was in terms of reliability, but with a dose of sports car fun that made for an unbeatable combination.
So now I confess to all of my car friends that the Miata has been gone for about eight weeks. What is life like?
The Sedona is back inside and Mrs. JPC is happy about it. In truth, I am as well because I hated watching it collect tree detritus in the cowl area. The car has been garaged its whole life and, at almost 8 years old, still looks fabulous. I am left with a walnut that has somehow made it into an inner cowl channel and rolls noisily back and forth when I make turns.
And I no longer look in the garage and think “I need to give the Miata some exercise”. Or think about this little project or that one I could tackle, like the noisy speedometer cable. Now I have that time to devote to things I am not doing on my regular cars like trying to bring the white paint back to some kind of shine on the Fit.
As I have gotten older I have become more attached to the cars I like. My daily drivers have become genuine long-term relationships. But my automotive ADD is still there and I still have that flicker of desire to own something else. I really do want a Studebaker some time in my life. That time may come or it may not, I don’t know. But all in all, the Miata was a near perfect ownership experience. I hope its next relationship works out just as well.
Further reading:
Counselor, I’m sure you have mixed feelings about the sale of your Miata but I trust it’s gone to a good home and has many miles of pleasure to give some lucky new owner. May the automotive gods lead you to a mint Avanti or Daytona soon.
Thanks Mr T, I will confess that this past weekend of sunny and 75 degrees has a twinge of remorse hanging around.
A while back I came across a 1964 Studebaker Daytona convertible. Bright red and in mint condition. I told myself that it would be more fun to look at than to care and feed. That might even be true.
What’s funny is that I have always been less than in love with the red paint on this one. Until I went to sell it. Resale red indeed. 😀
Never have owned a Miata I can’t assume to understand the subtleties, but looking at the rear 3/4 shot of it in the driveway (my goodness, it’s so shiny…and red…and throwable…), I’m feeling the pain even 2000 miles away.
Sheesh…how could you sell something a small block Ford fits into like it was made for it? 🙂
My oldest son has a ‘92 that he’s owned since 2000. I don’t think he’ll ever sell that car. He’s made so many performance upgrades to it that it’s about as perfect a Miata as one could find.
Happy hunting!
There’s an old saying in the auto industry that timing is everything. While that may be true for most, some cars are so good, there’s really no way they’re going to fail, whenever they’re built. The original Mustang, T-115 Chrysler minivan, Model T, VW Beetle, to name a few.
The Miata falls into that category. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone that’s owned one have a bad experience. Hardly practical, there’s still enough room for two average-sized adults and a weekend’s worth of clothes in some (soft) luggage. While Mazda may have cribbed the Lotus Elan’s styling, in spirit, the Miata was much closer to an MGB without the assorted maintenance annoyances.
Maybe someonce got a mangled second-hand one that the previous owner made some ill-advised mods which turned out to be a headache. But a well-kept original? No way.
I don’t even HAVE a garage, but I understand what you’re saying.
But damn, at least one time in my life I’d like a Miata…..
I’ve occasionally entertained similar thoughts about my SLK, and for some of the same reasons you mentioned.
But then, like you, I take it for a drive, and all is forgiven. Even if I barely put 3000 miles per year on it, those are the best 3000 miles that I will drive in that year.
As for garage space, a decent weatherproof cover is a good alternative. The SLK had to spend its first several winters in the driveway under a weatherproof cover so that the daily drivers could spend the winter in the garage, and it emerged none the worse for wear.
…perfectly stated. Like Tom mentioned above about his SLK, I have similar feelings about my Thunderbird… oh, about once a week when I say “I haven’t driven the T-bird in a week.” Considering I drove the T-bird about 1,500 miles per year, I put more into it on a per-mile basis than I’d care to think about.
But, then I take it for a drive, or think about how my wife has owned it for 25 years, and the T-bird comes up with its own defense mechanisms. I just can’t bring myself to give it up. Someday, probably, I’ll reach the realization you came to a few weeks ago. But I’m still not there yet.
But it seems like for you, the Miata was a great investment… four years of providing happiness, with very little cost. Can’t do anything but look back and smile.
Same with my ’96 4Runner Limited. It’ll sit collecting dust for a few weeks, I say to myself “what do I ever need this thing for anymore?” then I’ll take it for a spin on a nice day with the sunroof and tailgate glass open, big AT tires pounding over our crumbling streets, and I fall in love all over again. I suspect I’ll have a lot of regret if I sell it.
I dont have a garage a carport suffices, two cars could fit in but the whole space is occupied by my old Hillman and the junk accumulated to keep it going most of which I have disposed of because after collecting it all the car proved horribly reliable once I sorted the powertrain the way I wanted it but like your MX5 it rarely gets driven, I should sell it as an impending interisland move around xmas means it will become more nuisance than anything else but Ive had it forever it seems and its quite hard to part with, a friend has a paddock it can live in so that where it may end up ironic really the gearbox and front axle originated there.
Coincidentally one of my friends had a very early 1.6L MX5 from new, until he swapped it with his father for a series 3 Minx convertible. He was driving the MX5 even less than he does the drophead Minx, and his old man decided he didn’t want an old car after all, so it worked out for both of them.
Up to your ears with three cars, huh? I gave up my ears long ago so that can’t happen.
It’s not just you, Jim, I’ve about decided to sell my Miata too. I’ve had mine for almost eight years now, since right after the Portland CC meet-up, where I discovered I really could fit inside one.
When I got it, the Miata was an attractive alternative to the Prius for the long drive to work. Now that I’m retired I’m not commuting anymore, Lily and I have four cars (!), and my electric Fiat is a ball to drive, so Miata miles have really dropped off. Better for someone else to take a turn behind the wheel of this sweet little car.
A nice summary, although the idea of parking daily driver cars inside is completely foreign to me.
I hope you have another interesting car in your life someday, but a simple life is nice too
I’ve owned 3 miatas 93 95 03. They are a pleasure to drive inexpensive reliable. What more can a car offer. It’s fast enough most other cars like the Miata are less reliable.
I completely understand the sentiment and reason for selling. But everybody should have a Miata at one point in their lifetime, it’s just such a great all around car, and even better as an “extra” car. The best part is that it can easily be replaced if remorse ever strikes. You had a good run with it, and now can enjoy the memories even though it’s gone.
Yes, just Friday I saw a gorgeous black NA that made my heart stir a bit. Mine was nice, this one was stunningly gorgeous.
I always said we’d sell our Miata when I could no longer get in and out of it, so I can relate to your wife’s knee issues affecting usage levels.
As it turns out, our daughter has inherited the NA, and my wife has replaced it with a 2017 MX-5 RF. Oddly enough, the newer car is the greater challenge when it comes to ingress and egress (for me). However, my wife is only 5′ 0″ (152 cm), so my complaints fall on deaf ears.
I can sort of relate. I’m not sure I’m going to put 1000 miles on my ’65 Chrysler this year. May & June were pretty much rained out in Michigan too.
The day I read your original blog post, I felt an urge to take it out for a ride only to discover I had left the interior lights on and killed the battery. That got sorted out, and I did enjoy 4 shows in a week during Mid-August. However, the forecast doesn’t look great, so I’m not sure how many more times it will be out this Fall.
I have considered selling it a few times, but I keep coming back to the facts that it doesn’t cost much to keep, I wouldn’t get much selling it, and I would really have trouble justifying another toy to replace it. So for now I keep poking away at projects, and enjoy it when I can.
All good thing must come to an end, and the actions noted above do make sense, but I’m just not ready.
After almost 21 years, my ’99 NB (bought in Nov. 1998) is a part of my psyche; like a favorite rocking chair or painting, but one in which I can run up the revs and then shift into third with out breaking any laws. I can’t do that in my (*) JFK bent-back rocking chair.
This summer was too hot for topless driving, but autumn may bring some nice Miata weather.
I only have a one car garage and my other vehicle (a Tacoma DC/LB) is too big for it.
And yes, getting out of the Miata involves a type of arm/back/knee exercise that I hope is doing me some good.
(I can rationalize anything given enough time).
(*) I got this JFK rocker in the mid-1980s; it is also a favorite of mine and is just a bit easier to get out of than the MX-5.
IMO there is a different level of attachment between a car owned for 20 years from new, and one owned for 4.5 years. Keep on with the Miata workout I say!
Highly relatable story Jim, my 4Runner is in the same boat, except it occupies our single garage space all year, to my wife’s chagrin. We’ve also only got a single-width single car length driveway, further limiting options. It’s hung around so far, but with the new van and the baby, the 4Runner’s two remaining use cases (road trips with the dogs, camping trips) have basically been eliminated. For the time being anyways with the camping. We’re strongly considering upgrading to a roomier house, and getting into something with a 2 or even three car garage and wider driveway would give the old ‘yota some time to linger yet. I was planning on passing the 4Runner down to my son as his first car, its condition and increasingly desirable/cool status warrants it I think, but at times it feels like an albatross around my neck. Most recently I’ve started to drive it at least a bit more, I have all my tools loaded in the back to go wrenching on my circle track project car that’s parked over on the far west side over by the Lucas Oil Raceway.
Sad to hear you decided to let her go, but if she’s gone to someone who will use her more, then maybe that’s a good thing, overall. As you imply, you now have a Studebaker shaped space in the garage……classic CC territory……watch this space?
I’ve had similar thoughts about mine, just gently, as you need to refresh your toy box, sorry, continue the journey of exploration and learning that is CC ownership. And then you go and drive it again……:-)
“And then you go and drive it again……:-)”
I was not kidding about the defense mechanisms. 🙂
Jim, I am just catching up on the CC reading so I just read this article. I am sad to see your Miata go, but your rational for selling makes a lot of sense.
Now that you vacated the space in the garage though, you need to get something fun. Keeping a DD in the garage is no fun at all (although concessions for your better half are understandable). I vote for that Stude. With your enthusiasm for the make, you have you own one at least once in your life.
I’ll get my mean, shoot from the hip response out of the way…the boxes should have gone out of your garage…time to retire already!
But that’s really hypocritical of me. I used to think I never had a midlife crisis car, except I actually did own one, but it wasn’t during my midlife, but rather my Father’s…he bought a 1980 Omni 024 right before he turned 50, and I in my early 20’s bought a corresponding 1978 VW Scirocco…still my favorite car of all that I’ve owned.
Why wait till you are middle aged to have a midlife crisis…get it out of the way early.
Except—neither the Omni nor the Scirocco had air conditioning…of course it is possible to add it to an existing car, but we didn’t…in the course of moving from Vermont to central Texas, the casualties ended up being these fun cars. My Dad traded his Omni for another Dodge (complete family car though, an ’86 Dodge 600). I didn’t quite go so extreme away from a fun car, and bought an ’86 GTi (yes, I do know you also owned an ’85 for a short while which you didn’t care for). Part of the reason was of course to get Air conditioning, which of course the replacement cars had. But neither was the replacement perfect for me (had manual transmission and lacked power steering, which was a trial when I broke my ribs and collar bone and my only car was not right for one with such ailments to drive daily)…but I liked it enough to keep around for 14 more years until I bought my current car (2000 Golf).
But…I still pine for my ’78 Scirocco even more than 30 years after I sold it…to me one of the most lovely shapes made into a car ever, and now a very rare sight…but, I have to admit, it’s not for me anymore…the Scirocco was a car for non-scramblers, and fine when I was in my 20’s but now in my 60’s even my Golf seems a bit low to get into when I have my occasional knee issues (maybe need a short wheelbase Crown Victoria?). I guess the car you love isn’t necessarily the car for you, just like I like Pizza, but often it doesn’t like me back.
Back to garage space, I’ve only kept one car at a time except for very brief periods where I hadn’t sold my previous car (having never traded my cars in), with the result that since I bought my home in 1986 I’ve had a 2 car garage with only 1 car in it most of the time…so I’m lucky to have spare space in my garage. In central Texas almost no home has a basement (the ground here is like poured slab so digging for a basement is basically unheard of, it is hard enough to justify digging for a pool)..but I do try to keep my other car bay basically uncluttered in case I need to put another car in there (with some rearrangement of stuff in the garage)…sometimes a friend’s or my parents or siblings or nephews (all of us eventually migrated to Texas and live close by). But I’m also thinking of uncluttering the garage not of cars, but of bicycles, which I no longer ride on a regular basis (and one of them is my sister’s (bought new) 1966 Sears Spaceliner which I’ll admit I’m just hoarding, no plans to ride it again).
Even sadder to me I plan to get rid of manual transmission in my next car…nobody else in my family can drive my car, and as I get older the manual transmission seems more like a luxury in that in case of medical impairment, I might not be able to drive myself makes that point more evident to me…with the result that I’ll likely try to hang onto my current car as long as possible since I really don’t *want* an automatic transmission…kind of like delaying taking castor oil…and that medical impairment of course won’t happen till much later…if at all :-;