I’ve owned about 35 cars in my life, which I believe is on the low side around here, and never more than three at one time. Currently I’m back down to two, which has been the average number over the years. Whether or not I end up with a third again in the near future depends on a lot of factors, but given a space to put it, I can definitely see something else making it to my driveway.
But what would that third car be? That’s what I’m exploring this week: possibilities. I’m on a cruise ship, currently docked in Nassau, Bahamas as I write this. I never thought I’d be one of those people who works through a vacation, but honestly, I’m enjoying it. It keeps me grounded, gives me a little bit of my ordinary life on this giant surreal floating resort. I am the sort of person who likes to look at ads for old cars, so this job has never really been “work” anyway.
Out of all the cars I’ve had, I think I can safely say the one I enjoyed owning the most was a 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Mine was red, the base model with no power steering or air conditioning, and it had a little over 200,000 miles on it when I bought it. I had it for eight years, using it as a daily driver for two of them, and while it wasn’t flawlessly reliable, it always made it home under its own power. I miss it more than I thought I would, especially seeing the prices that good ones command these days, so when a cheap running and driving example appears, my ears perk up.
But the world is full of cars IÂ haven’t yet owned, like C4 Corvettes. They’re cheap right now, especially imperfect ones, but the vast majority you see for sale have an automatic transmission. I’ve driven two C4 Corvettes, one automatic and one with the Doug Nash 4+3 speed manual, and while the automatic was fine, it seems to me that if you’re going to go through the trouble of owning a Corvette, it should have the more interesting transmission option.
So today I present to you one cheap manual Corvette, and one cheap Miata, and you can tell me which one you would rather have. Here they are.
1986 Chevrolet Corvette – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 5.7-liter OHV V8, four-speed manual with overdrive, RWD
Location: Sacramento, CA
Odometer reading: 138,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and moves, but needs brakes
The Corvette timeline, in my mind, goes like this: Those ’50s Ones That Are Hard To Drive, Those ’60s Ones Only Baby Boomers Care About, C3, Ugly C3, C4, Ugly C4, C5, Some Boring Stuff, That New One Which Is Also Kinda Boring. The C4 appeared when I was ten, and I still think of it as “the new Corvette.” My neighbor had one, and so did a high-school girlfriend’s dad, and I coveted both of them. I know they’re not exactly great cars, but I feel like owning one, even briefly, would scratch an itch.
Only one engine was available in the early C4, a 350 small-block. In 1984, it used the twin-throttle-body “Cross-Fire Injection” setup carried over from the C3, but a year later it got a tuned-port injection system and a bump up to a respectable 230 horsepower. Not a ton by today’s standards, especially for a Corvette, but we were all just excited to see a number that started with a 2, after the doldrums of the late ’70s. This one starts and runs just fine, but the car’s brakes are shot, so it will need to be trailered home. Luckily, it looks like brake parts are all still easily available, and not even expensive. Even an exotic Chevy is still a Chevy.
The main thing that would give me pause about owning a Corvette in my fifties is getting in and out of one. There is no graceful way to do it, even if you’re young and limber. I suspect that’s why so many Corvettes end up as garage queens: not because the owners wanted to preserve them, but because of that low, wide doorsill. This one looks well-preserved except for some wear on the steering wheel rim and a grubby shoulder harness.
I think I’m in the minority, but I vastly prefer the early C4 styling to the later facelift. This one looks sleek and trim; the bulbous rear end and elongated nose of the later cars looks too heavy. I do wish this one were some color other than white, but I guess I prefer white to red. Those stupid spinners added to the wheels need to go, obviously, and whoever put them on there should be forced to go sit in a corner and think about what they’ve done.
1992 Mazda MX-5 Miata – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Milpitas, CA
Odometer reading: 223,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
For a few glorious years, you could find cheap NA Miatas all over the place, especially the earlier 1.6-liter cars with less horsepower. It was during this time that I bought – and sold – my last one. These days, they’re either completely trashed or overpriced; there’s very little middle ground. You have to hope to find one that’s only kinda trashed, like this 1992 model, which has definitely seen some things, but is said to run and drive well.
The 1.6-liter engine has a potential Achilles heel: the nose of the crankshaft where the pulley bolts on can crack, and the only repair is tearing down the engine and replacing the crank – or better yet, replacing the engine with a 1.8-liter from a later car. The best indicator is to watch the crankshaft pulley while the engine is running: if it wobbles, walk away. The seller says this one runs and drives fine, with no issues, but it’s worth checking to make sure. Otherwise, these are mechanically stout cars, but at over 200,000 miles there is a list of things that are going to start needing replacement. The cheap price is just a starting point. But they’re easy cars to work on, and parts and technical advice are everywhere.
We don’t get any interior photos in this ad, which makes me fear the worst. I’m sure the seats are worn through on the sides of the bolsters, the instrument cluster hood has broken tabs (if you even think about removing the hood, the tabs break off), and the carpet is likely trashed. But all those things can be replaced; I replaced them on mine.
Outside, it’s beat-up, faded, and tired, but at least it isn’t freaking red. That’s the only thing I really didn’t like about mine, and I thought several times about painting it, but never got around to it. Replace the left front fender and the rear filler panel on this one, and you could paint it whatever color you want – as long as it isn’t red. I also suspect, due to the fact that no photos show it with the top up, that the top is toast and needs replacing. I had to do that, too. It’s a chore.
Either one of these would be a worthy project and wouldn’t cost a lot of money to bring back to a respectable standard. I would have a hard time choosing between them, actually. One I know and love, and the other I have loved from afar for years. But what about you? Which one would you rather fix up?
I’m with you all around on the C4. I’ll also add that they sound properly low, rumbly and wonderful at idle, NOT like a pack of angry beavers in a steel drum (my descrpiton of the sound created by basically all new V8 performance cars today). Say what you will about GM of this era, but they really paid attention to making their cars sound cool (likely at the cost of flow restriction, but hey…).
Both these cars are pretty high mileage, and the next repair each needs might be the one that sends it to the junkyard. Thus, I’m going with the ‘Vette, seeing as how it needs a lot less investment.
Im not big on c4s but someone needs to save that poor na before some moron stances it. For that reason I went Miata.
Although I don’t own any New Balance shoes (my wife does, ironically, so I guess that checks that box), I picked the Vette. It’s in much better shape, has less miles, and…did the rear panel on the Miata next to the driver’s side taillight melt? Also, I’m not a Miata hater, but I’m just not that interested in convertibles.
I’m guessing someone was using a heat gun to remove the sticker and wasn’t careful, and that’s why it melted.
Like you I’ve driven a NA Miata plenty, and while it was a really fun car to throw around and OMG that perfect shifter snick-snick-snick I would have to go with the C4. That’s the ‘Vette from my childhood.
Corvette for me too. I also prefer the pre-facelift looks. I still remember the first one I saw; it was two tone silver and it was in Montreal. The Miata is too far gone and I’m not handy.
However, I will have to disagree on red. I just love red cars, except, oddly, Ferraris.
I went Vette, mostly because that poor Miata is in such rough shape. I would prefer a 1991 C4, to get the L98 with the ZF6, but the same sort of applies to wanting a later NA with the 1.8L, so it’s a bit of a wash. It does make me angry to see a Miata treated so poorly, but not enough that I would want to invest as much time and resources as that car needs to bring it back to its former glory (especially since I would still be too tall to fit in it).
This is more of a Miaata (Miata is almost always the answer). The Vette speaks to me since I am a sucker for a red interior. Also I have never owned a bad car, but I also haven’t owned the perfect car, so I would not be re-hashing cars of Christmas past.
The Miata wins by default. Also, it’s half the size on the outside, twice the size on the inside 😛
Man, so many people voting for the Corvette. So many wrong choices. You all should think about your life some and try and figure out where you went wrong.
Miata is the Answer. Always.
Mark even has the right stance on the engine. Swap in the 1.8 if the 1.6 is giving you trouble. Hell go aftermarket and find an LS kit if you “have” to have a V8
That Miata is pretty used up. Still probably has some miles left in it, but you can tell it’s been through a lot. For a fun NFG car to take in the twisties, it’s obviously the one to have, but between the two I’d take the vette. The C4 isn’t a pinnacle of performance, but they can be made reasonably quick and fun, and this one looks to be in good shape.
Vette for me, that interior is so clean for the money! White is meh, disagree Mark on the color, while red is not my fav color its better than appliance white or silver.
Hobson’s Choice today – a plastic penis extension, or a beaten to crap Miata. I don’t understand how people even let cars get like that? No thanks, but I guess gun to my head, the Miata.
Corvettes are just NOT my jam in any way. I am too young at 56, too not retired Navy, and I don’t have an inappropriately young trophy wife. Or jorts.
You also need the New Balance shoes and the big phone clipped to your belt… just like my father-in-law.
Today really is a Both day.
The Miata needs love and deserves it. And if memory serves the ‘92 and ‘93 Miatas (last of the 1.6 cars) had the improved crankshaft. Generic aftermarket primed front fender is $100. Take it to Earl Scheib, paint it black and go enjoy your new car. If needed, seat upholstery kits are under $500. You’ll spend more on tires for the Corvette than you will fixing up the Miata and it will not be as fun to drive.
I was ready to go Miata from the headline, but after looking at both cars I’m going Vette. No interior pics, plus rough Miata means it isn’t the answer this time. Could you get that Miata and do all the stuff to it? Yes, but doing that list of things versus brakes is a no brainer for me.
Plus red interior. I know some people don’t like them, but I grew up in cars with red interiors. Hell, I’ve owned cars with red interiors. I need something more than black and tan these days.
Mark – let us know how you like your new vette. I’m sure you can make the payment arrangements from port.
The best color for a vette is yellow. There’s a reason they call it ‘Corvette Yellow’.
New brakes and tires on the ‘Vette will probably exceed the original price, but I’m in.
The Miata has been beaten like a rented mule.
I prefer the later C4s in styling and performance, but I’d still take this one over the troubles with that Miata.
I’m a big fan of Miatas and have extensive seat time in an NA. They’re very, very fun, joyous little things. But I don’t think I’d want to commit to one that costs less than two of my guitars with no interior photos or top up photos. These are relatively reliable, but they’re not bombproof, and when stuff goes wrong it can be a bit of a hassle.
My aunt still owns one she bought brand new and I’ve watched her have to put a lot of time and effort into it to keep it drivable. She’s also gone through two convertible tops and her second one is broken/she just keeps it garaged with the top down now. Their interiors don’t exactly age gracefully either. They’re perfectly fine, but if you drive these frequently lots of stuff just wears out and they start to look and feel very tired.
For how much money and time it’ll take to fix this one up I’d probably rather just have an NB or even the much maligned NC. Or you could hold out and get a nicer NA, although I do think they’re a little overvalued right now. The fact that nice ones are $20,000 propositions now is a little silly to me when you can get a used ND for the same price.
Anyway, I’d take my chances with the Corvette. I actually think C4s are cool time capsules. They just feel like the 80s in all the best ways. Plus they make V8 noises and this is one of the rare ones with the correct transmission. I also think this one is closer to being a nice enough driver’s condition one than the Miata and it has nearly six figures less mileage.
It’s also probably been treated better than the Miata. Corvettes are often owned by people that really care about them, and unfortunately NA Miatas were so cheap 10-15 years ago that a lot of them were driven hard, put away wet, tooned, etc. It’s why the values are inflated now. But anyway…I’ll don my New Balances and jorts on this fine morning.
I’m a Vette guy and was ready to, just based on the title, go Miata because the Miata is always the answer. That Miata though, the answer is a full resto OR a trip to the junk yard…permanently. The latter more accurate. That Vette is so clean for an early C4 that are usually tinkered far too much with to make them viable. Would a later one be better/faster/more reliable? Absolutely BUT that one isn’t gonna break your bank account on much and be a hoot to drive with all the low end torque.
The Vette! Do it while you still CAN get in and out of it. Sell it for even money when you’re done with it.
Tough one.
My brother had a 1984 Corvette when I was in high school. It was difficult to get in and out of even as a teen, the ride was horrible, and it wasn’t fast. My wife and I had the option to drive it to prom and turned down the offer and took her Ford Ranger instead. (She wasn’t going to try to get in and out of the Corvette in a gown)
I haven’t driven a 1st gen Miata but I almost bought a 2nd gen when my wife finally insisted I get a newer and reliable car instead of cycling through $500 beaters. Was all excited to go shopping for a Miata then actually sat in one and my head rubbed on the top. A strange series of events lead to me eventually buying a 2005 Toyota Prius instead. (Great if very boring car)
If I’m buying a fun sports car it is going to be a Toyota MR2 Spyder. If I have to chose here it is the Miata and there is no reason to even replace the top. Maybe just stretch a bimini top over the roll cage that would need to be added.
I have never been a big fan of the red interiors that GM seemed to place in so many cars in the 80’s and early 90’s, but I would still take this Corvette over the Rattle Trap Miata presented here. I have never really thought of the Miata as the right answer so I am perhaps the exception here. That first gen car was definitely not made for people over 5’10” which I always thought was strange since I generally fit in a TR7, MGA’s and definitely the later GM Solstice SKY twins.
That said, I have also never really like that Gen of Corvette, and I know with that being 1986, the biggest issue is the diagnostics setup and lack of electronics available to keep them going sometimes. but for that money it is an acceptable gamble that would result in a replacement of the low revving TPI with a basic 5.3-6.0 truck LS. Actually, I do have a 300HP all aluminum 5.3 in a Hummer Alpha that would fit in there pretty well and really wake up that Vette.
Oof. That Mazda is BEAT. Gimme the Vette.
Also, regarding this statement: “I do wish this one were some color other than white, but I guess I prefer white to red.”
https://www.amazon.com/Corvettes-Inside-Rebirth-American-Legend/dp/0671685015