Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (Full Version)

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defiantbadgirl -> Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 9:28:25 AM)

I'm looking to buy a used sports car. How do Mazda Miatas compare to Cameros and Mustangs in reliability? I've always liked convertables, but was told anything without a hard top leaks and is expensive to fix. Then I found out Mazda Miata convertables are available with a hard top, which caught my interest. I usually get car advice from my father. He thinks the biggest danger with buying a used Mustang or Camero is possible damage due to hot rodding by previous owners. When I asked him about Mazda Miatas, he said they are junk. I just learned Miatas had top ratings in 2009. I'm not wanting a car to race. I just like the look of sports cars. Is my father right about Miatas? Would I be better off with a Mustang or Camero?



DomMeinCT -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 9:34:35 AM)

Cars.com has a place for you to see reviews for every make and model provided by actual owners:  http://www.cars.com/go/crp/index.jsp?aff=cartalk, so does Edmunds.com, and other car sites.

Consumer Reports has an annual edition of used car ratings compiled from their huge survey.  It will cost you to get online if you don't get the magazine.  But the annual guide should be available at your local library (or interlibrary loan) for free.

That car choice (sports car) + your multiple moving violations may cost you a fortune in car insurance.



defiantbadgirl -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 9:52:10 AM)

My moving violations won't be on my record much longer. I haven't had any tickets for over 2 years.



maybemaybenot -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 10:08:44 AM)

They get very good rating, dfb. A friend of mine had one in the 90's when they first came out and loved it. My neighbor bought a used 1998 Miata about 2 years ago, and has been very happy with it.

I generally buy Fords and had a Mustang. It was one of my fave cars, altho the Ford Probe was the balls. < for me >

Here's a couple of links that may be helpful:


http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1999-to-2005-mazda-miata-1.htm

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2006-to-2010-mazda-mx-5-miata-6.htm



pahunkboy -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 10:11:03 AM)

I think you should buy something practical.    



defiantbadgirl -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 10:21:02 AM)

I've always owned practical cars. Right now I drive an 05 Cavalier but it has over 80k miles on it. I figure I have about a year and a half before it becomes unreliable. I don't know much about cars other than checking oil, putting gas in them, and driving them so I don't like having a car with high miles. High miles = more problems.



isoLadyOwner -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 10:34:09 AM)

I've had nothing but bad experiences with Mazdas. The company didn't stand by its product. For example I had an RX 7 completely die almost instantly after the warranty expired.

Mazda was within their rights to claim they felt it was acceptable for an engine to basically fall apart almost immediately after the warranty expired (it had just passed the mileage thresh hold).

I've seen a few car companies actually offer to help with repairs on a catastrophic breakdown that required a completey new engine be put in, if the car was just out of warranty. Other car companies have stood by their product and felt their cars should run well even immediately after the warranty expired.

Mazda on the other hand took a "screw you" attitude. They probably spent more defending the lawsuit I filed against them which was based on breach of implied warranties than they made selling the replacement engine.

The new engine I had to buy ultimately caught on fire and destroyed the RX 7s body btw, that's two bad Mazda engines for one RX 7. Think they stopped making the rotary engine shortly thereafter.

Even GM, prior to the meltdown, took a completely different attitude on a similar issue and offered to help on a GM that was further out of warranty than the Mazda. GM management stated that their cars should get more than 30,000 miles out of an engine and they wanted a satisfied customer.

I will never drive another Mazda. They are a horrid company, and did not not stand by their product. Mazda still sends me advertisements. They worked hard to earn bad will, and no amount of direct marketing will change that. I wouldn't take a new Mazda for free, since I feel it it would end up costing sticker price plus in repairs within a few years.

I consider all Mazdas to be unreliable and worthless. Some people like Mazda, to me they are just an awful company all around.

Buy the Camaro or Mustang. Your father sounds like a shrewd person, I agree that Mazdas are junk.



LaTigresse -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 10:56:28 AM)

I ADORE my Mazda. I have 97K miles on it and have not had an ounce of trouble with it.

BUT.......consider this......do you have another vehicle you are going to drive in the winter through snow and on ice????

Because if you don't, you will often find yourself stranded, if not simply in the ditch.

A Mazda Miata is a fair weather driving car. It is NOT a snow and ice compatible car. Even my M3 is a motherfucker in snow due to the low profile 'sport car' wheels, and it is a front wheel drive. The Miata is a rear wheel drive car so that gives it two strikes against decent winter driving. Which is the case with most sports cars. I've a friend that has a Camero but stores it during the winter, refusing to even attempt winter driving in it. It will be the same with any rear wheel drive car, especially with the 'sportscar' wheels.

PS........the same company that makes the Mustang owns most of Mazda.[:D]

And then there is this....

http://www.buyingadvice.com/5best-used-cars.html

No Camero or Mustang on that list of most reliable!



isoLadyOwner -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 11:32:06 AM)

Subsidiaries and parent corporations often take different approaches to customer support and quality control. Stock owners have a different relationship than Corporations and Subsidiaries.

As far as Ford owning most of Mazda that seems a bit off:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/11/ford-and-mazda-to-sign-divorce-papers-tomorrow/

I'm not surprised that some Mazdas run like an automobile should run.

I would never support Mazda again since I ended up with two lemon engines and couldn't afford to buy a third especially since the second engine burnt the RX 7s frame.

If Mazda is on the list of "reliable" vehicles, I wouldn't believe anything else on that site.

My experience with Mazda has been very different, mine was the stellar opposite of reliable.



Termyn8or -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 11:42:35 AM)

FR

If you're going to spend money on a toy, why not make it a nice one ? Like a musclecar from the 1960s or so ? By the late sixties they had decent suspension etc., and still used old technology, points and rotor, a normally aspirated carb. things like that.

And they actually had some style. I went by Central Caddilac the other day, and looking at the new cars, the only way to tell it was a Caddy was the emblem. In the old days you knew, you just knew. A Pontiac, a Buick, they had a look. And for the most part, anything with a bigblock would blow the doors off most production cars today.

Most people don't like big car these days. I do. The problem is anything I want costs $$$$$$. A 1970 Olds Toronado GT is probably my one and only. Look it up, they were awesome and I had two of them years ago. The next best thing would be a 1970 Buick GS455. But you can find plenty of others.

A daily driver is a daily driver. The old beater with a heater, but a toy is a toy, so make it something special. I see nothing special about any Mazda. I can't comment on their reliability because I've never owned one. But an old car, who cars if it's reliable ? If it breaks down open the trunk, get out a couple of basic tools and you can fix it yourself.

Some people consider the cars I like to be land yachts. But when I ride in what I consider shitcans, it's like a go kart. Being able to slap that weight around like nothing is cool as hell. And what's even better is the "sleeping giant". People think "I can beat that old thing" and then you surprise them.

I know I sound like a maniac, maybe I am. However I've never raced title for title because if I just beat it, what the hell do I want with it ?

T^T



peachgirl -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 11:54:38 AM)

I've never heard good things about Mazda, unfortunately. A friend had a Miata and I remember being in it during a heavy rainstorm and thinking I was going to be swept away by the next gust of wind and rain. Also, when was the last year they made them? Would there be the possibility of not being able to get parts for it after a certain amount of time?



LaTigresse -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 12:31:04 PM)

They still make them......



LaTigresse -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 12:32:05 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: isoLadyOwner

Subsidiaries and parent corporations often take different approaches to customer support and quality control. Stock owners have a different relationship than Corporations and Subsidiaries.

As far as Ford owning most of Mazda that seems a bit off:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/11/ford-and-mazda-to-sign-divorce-papers-tomorrow/

I'm not surprised that some Mazdas run like an automobile should run.

I would never support Mazda again since I ended up with two lemon engines and couldn't afford to buy a third especially since the second engine burnt the RX 7s frame.

If Mazda is on the list of "reliable" vehicles, I wouldn't believe anything else on that site.

My experience with Mazda has been very different, mine was the stellar opposite of reliable.


30 years ago I had a lemon...........I venture to say they don't make them the same way.



DesFIP -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 12:58:02 PM)

My sister's Miata must be almost six years old, still runs great. However, not in winter. It lives in the garage during bad weather and she drives her old minivan then. Not a snow or ice car.



isoLadyOwner -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 12:58:05 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: LaTigresse

quote:

ORIGINAL: isoLadyOwner

Subsidiaries and parent corporations often take different approaches to customer support and quality control. Stock owners have a different relationship than Corporations and Subsidiaries.

As far as Ford owning most of Mazda that seems a bit off:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/11/ford-and-mazda-to-sign-divorce-papers-tomorrow/

I'm not surprised that some Mazdas run like an automobile should run.

I would never support Mazda again since I ended up with two lemon engines and couldn't afford to buy a third especially since the second engine burnt the RX 7s frame.

If Mazda is on the list of "reliable" vehicles, I wouldn't believe anything else on that site.

My experience with Mazda has been very different, mine was the stellar opposite of reliable.


30 years ago I had a lemon...........I venture to say they don't make them the same way.



I'll sell you my burnt out husk RX 7 if you like, it will require a third engine though (only Mazda makes them as they were rotary engines).

My RX 7 wasn't even close to 30 years old.

I think its only fair to warn the OP of what happened with my Mazda. If the OP wanted a lemon, Mazda is one of the first companies that springs to mind.



RacerJim -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 1:04:00 PM)

There's no valid reason why your current '05 Cavalier with only 80K on it should become so unreliable in about 1.5 years that it warrants pre-emptive replacement. I'd recommend you keep the Cavalier until something major, like the engine or transmission, needs overhauling/replacement.



divi -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 1:06:12 PM)

I so want a new camaro. 



defiantbadgirl -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 1:07:28 PM)

At which point, it will have no trade in value.



pahunkboy -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 6:40:22 PM)

80k is not really high mileage anymore.



TheHeretic -> RE: Are Mazda Miatas unreliable? (3/9/2011 7:03:32 PM)

Mazdas are crap. I don't need the grief of posting what I think of Mustangs and Camaros. Have you looked into the Toyota Celica, or maybe an MR2?




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