Bye Bye Miata
As of August 1, I’m officially Miata free! I stuck to my plan of selling it at the end of July or the beginning of August. A very nice couple drove about four hours to buy it. Today I wanted to share a bit about the experience and the finances behind it.
The Experience
I came away from Miata ownership with three new appreciations:
The joy of a small, lightweight car.
The engagement of a manual transmission.
The fun of having a convertible.
I didn’t know what to expect going in. I had watched plenty of videos, and everyone online said Miatas were fun. Coming from five Mustangs, this was quite the switch-up. But after owning one, I completely understand why people love them.
What surprised me most was just how tiny Miatas are. Even compared to a Mustang, they feel minuscule, about as close to a go-kart as most people will ever get. And I had plenty of fun taking it down twisty backroads.
To be honest, at first I didn’t enjoy driving a manual. The first 300 miles were rough. Constantly thinking about which gear I needed to be in wasn’t much fun. But by mile 1,350 though, where my Miata journey ended, I was much more confident. I finally understood why people find manuals engaging. I’m now open to owning another manual in the future, though I don’t think I’d want one as a daily driver. As a weekend or fun car, though? Absolutely.
The biggest surprise of all was how much I loved having the top down. I dropped it at every chance I had. The open air and visibility was great. That said, I think I’d prefer a power hardtop convertible next time, mainly to avoid replacing a soft top. Mine was starting to crack, and I didn’t want to deal with the hassle.
The Financials
So, what did it cost to own and operate a Miata for the summer? $1,990 for 82 days and 1,350 miles—not too bad. I expected to spend somewhere between $1,000 and $2,000, so this landed right within range.
The Breakdown
Registration, tax, and title: $725 (the biggest expense).
Depreciation: $400. I sold the car for less than I paid, but considering winter storage would have cost around $900, I was fine with the loss.
Maintenance: $355 (a few small body pieces, a thermostat, coolant, plus fresh oil and filter).
Insurance, storage, and misc. purchases: $500.
Overall, the point of this car wasn’t to get the best deal or to buy the nicest example. My goal was to learn how to drive a manual—and I did. For the cost, I think it was a pretty reasonable way to enjoy a fun little car for a few months before moving it along.
Would I Do It Again?
100%. It was great having a car I didn’t care too much about. Not that I abused it, but I knew it had one purpose and a short lifespan with me. Because I expected to sell it soon, I didn’t stress over dings or scratches. It felt freeing to just use a car without worrying.
Now there’s only one thing left on my car bucket list that I’d love to try for a summer: a Corvette.
The Corvette might be the perfect middle ground between a Mustang and a Miata. Decent handling, power, and an amazing sound—the whole package. One of these summers, I could easily see myself picking up a C5 or C6 Corvette just to enjoy.