1993 Mazda MX-5 for sale by owner - Wilmington, NC - craigslist (2024)

This low-mileage Miata is one of the least modified, mostly stock NA MX-5s you will find. At just 77K in the ticker, that’s only about 2,500 miles a year. It drives like a dream, smooth, zippy, confident. You'll enjoy carving up twisting country roads or cruising to the beach as I have. It’s the perfect car for the start of summer.

As you would expect from an early Miata, it is reliable and bulletproof. Starts every time, pop-up headlights work perfectly, crank windows go up and down smoothly. The 5-speed manual transmission is crisp and strong. There is a lovely analog feel to everything about this car.

EXTERIOR
No real dents, just a few parking lot dings. The paint is not bad for a 31-year-old car. It has patina and some wear, particularly behind the driver's door where occupants have rested their elbows to extract themselves from the car (don’t do that). No rust. Aftermarket pinstripes set off the flanks nicely, but they are deteriorating. If I were repainting this car, I would add them back. Headlight doors line up nicely. Wheels could use some hard scrubbing or paint/plastic dip for a cleaner appearance. No major curb rash or scrapes. All lights work properly. This car looks fantastic from 15 feet away and turns heads all day long.

INTERIOR
All black. Very nice condition for its age. Cloth seats have no rips or major wear. The door panels are in good shape. Aside from two cracks in the top of the dash, this interior is pristine after over three decades. The hidden stereo head unit is not hooked up. The steering wheel cover is not hiding anything… no cracks, only the texture is worn smooth at the top (I like the bumpy, grippy cover that’s on it).

DRIVETRAIN
Runs smoothly, with nothing fishy under the hood. Does not burn or leak oil or coolant. The 5-speed manual transmission is snappy and hits its shift points perfectly.

TOP
The top works okay, but you will want to consider replacing it at some time. Original style vinyl, there are some splits in the seams at the top of the zip-out window and also at the bottoms of the zipper on both sides. If you keep the zipper waxed (I use candle wax for that), it zips open and closed without too much problem. All of the damage is tucked underneath the main part of the top, so leaking is not really an issue. The plastic window has no rips and is not yellowed at all. If replacing, I would recommend a later year top with the glass window, as they are more durable and easier to operate.

PERFORMANCE
Drives like a dream. These are not terribly fast cars, but if you dance on those three pedals just right, you can coax a good launch off the line. Handling is crisp and snappy, making every corner a delight. Great pickup when downshifting to accelerate. You will have a silly grin on your face every time you get behind the wheel.

SERVICE
When I bought it 4 years and 10K miles ago…
New tires (General Tires, tons of tread life left).
New brakes.

In the last 6 months…
New battery.
Oil changed.
Transmission fluid changed.
Coolant flushed and filled.
Brake fluid changed.
Shifter serviced (all rubber rings replaced and bushing at the bottom of the stick replaced).

THINGS THAT NEED ATTENTION
AC does not blow cold. Compressor kicks in when you hit the button. I never felt the need for AC in this car, so I never bothered to look into it.
Hidden stereo unit is disconnected (It had a very ‘90s 6-disc changer in the trunk, which added weight and took up space, so I chucked it).
Washer jets are pretty weak.
Airbag light does the familiar “Mazda 10-3” flashing sequence (blinks 10 times, then skips 3 beats and starts over. You are not likely to find a Miata of this age where it doesn’t give that warning. It only has a driver steering wheel bag anyways.)
The aforementioned top.

OTHER STUFF
Chrome aftermarket luggage rack is a must. Very practical and looks classic.
Has soft parade cover for when the top is down.
Has “frankenbolts” for mounting optional factory hardtop (hardtop NOT included).
Original 7-spoke alloy Daisy wheels with correct hub centers.

This car has a clean, clear North Carolina title. It has not required inspection in the three years I have lived here, so it appears to be exempt because of its age. It shouldn’t have any issues passing regardless. I would not hesitate to drive this car 500 miles today if I had to. Did I mention pop-up headlights?