$22,000 For A 36 Year Old Mazda Miata Is A Great Deal, Actually

When it comes to buying used cars, I usually gravitate towards cheaper, higher-mileage examples, since usually, those are the only way I can afford getting into those cars. For the Mazda MX-5 Miata, this is especially true. No matter the generation, you’re getting a pretty reliable, easy-to-fix vehicle that, even well-used, will deliver smiles every time you turn a corner, provided it’s well taken care of.

I’ve owned a couple of Miatas over the course of my life, and neither one cost me more than $5,000, and both had over 190,000 miles on the clock. Despite their age and odometers, they both drove fantastically and never gave me any huge mechanical problems.

I usually advise anyone who asks me about NA or NB Miatas—the first- and second-generation versions—to buy a clean, well-used example, and spend no more than around $7,000. For seven grand, you can get a Miata that drives beautifully and doesn’t have any rust. For most people who want a Miata, that’s ideal.

To me, spending over $20,000 on an NA Miata is unfathomable. Hell, I wouldn’t spend $20,000 on a current Miata when used examples can regularly be found in the low teens. But I have to admit, this particular NA Miata, listed for sale right now on Craigslist, might actually be worth the money. Just hear me out.

Face It: These Cars Are Collector’s Items Now

If you look back 15 years ago, most gearheads considered the NA Miata a simple, accessible used car that was cheap to own and modify. Good-running examples were a dime a dozen on Craigslist, and most of the time, it wasn’t hard to find a super clean, unmodified example for under $10,000.

While there is still no shortage of first-gen Miatas on Facebook Marketplace nationwide, super clean, untouched examples without rust, mods, or a billion miles on the clock aren’t as plentiful as they used to be. Being cheap, fun, and reliable out of the box meant enthusiasts have snapped these up constantly over the past 35 years, using them and tailoring them to their preferences. Plus, many NA Miatas have either succumbed to rust, been parted out, or been turned into race cars. The pool gets smaller and smaller every day.

One look at the market will tell you I’m right. Back in September, this Sunburst Yellow Miata with 20,000 miles on the clock sold for over $21,000 on Bring a Trailer. Later that month, a black-painted Miata with 46,000 miles on the clock sold for $21,000 on the dot.

Things get even pricier if the cars have truly never been driven. Back in 2024, this basically new, virtually untouched Miata with just 38 miles on the clock sold on Bring a Trailer for over $40,000 back in 2024. Just this February, an unmodified MX-5 with 150 miles on the clock sold for the equivalent of $35,000 in the Netherlands. To find an NA Miata more valuable, you’ll have to look to cars with V8 swaps.

I’m not exactly surprised to see early Miatas trending in this direction. Aside from being universally loved and well-designed, they’re also one of the most exciting vehicles I’ve ever driven. The classic front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, convertible top, beautifully slick shifter, and thrilling chassis balance come together to deliver a truly fulfilling experience. It makes sense why collectors have begun to snatch them up.

Ultra Clean AND The Best Spec

That brings me to this car. Listed for sale on Craigslist in Los Angeles and brought to my attention by Barn Finds, this is what I’d describe as my ideal NA Miata. It’s an early build—May 1989, the second month of production, according to the seller—which means it has the less powerful, but more eager-to-rev 1.6-liter inline-four, rather than the more powerful (but in my opinion, slightly less exciting) 1.8-liter engine.

This Miata is also the right color: Mariner Blue. Only offered in the first four years of production, this paint has become especially desirable amongst NA enthusiasts, and anyone with taste can see why. It’s bright and vibrant, and matches the car’s bubbly attitude. There’s a five-speed manual between the seats, of course, while the only option box ticked is for the air conditioning.

Being a base trim, there’s no power steering, no power windows, and no limited-slip differential. The steelies are factory-fresh and, in my opinion, are the best-looking wheels to come on the NA (sorry, daisy-shaped seven-spoke fans). This is exactly how I’d order a Miata if I were sitting in a Mazda dealership in 1989. Pure and simple, with enough tech to keep me cool when it gets hot outside.

There are many Mariner Blue Miatas in this spec out in the world, of course. Mazda built over 13,000 Miatas in this shade, according to Miata.net. What makes this one special is its mileage, condition, and originality. This car currently has just 37,900 miles on the clock, and it’s totally stock aside from a new soft top, which replaces the plastic rear window with a glass item. It also appears to be virtually new, with no fading paint or signs of use in the interior. The only real giveaway that this car is over 30 years old is the seatbelt buckle release button, which has faded from red to a dull pink.

Listed for sale for $22,500, it’s certainly one of the priciest bone-stock Miatas in the country right now. But I’d argue it’s also one of the most original, highest-quality examples out there, too. If I were a collector, this would be the Miata I’d buy. Do you agree? I want to know what you think in the comments. Am I crazy here, or is this actually a fair price for this car?

Top graphic image: Seller, Craigslist