1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata - $7,800 (Ballard)

Up for sale is my 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata in Montego Blue. I've owned it since 2014, and it has been the most fun car I’ve had the pleasure of owning, along with being dead reliable. At the time I purchased the car in 2014, it had 127,000 miles on it, and the previous owner had just completed a full baseline, which included the following: • Timing belt & tensioner • Water pump • All fluids • All hoses and belts • New Radiator • Differential seals In addition to the baseline maintenance, he also added the following upgrades: • Flying Miata suspension kit including Tokico adjustable shocks, billet rear shock mounts for increased travel, sport sprints and adjustable rear and front sway bar • Stoptech brake pads, stainless steel brake lines and new rotors • Completely rebuilt shifter assembly (it feels incredible) • Alpine stereo with modern replacement speakers in door & head rest Since the maintenance and upgrades above were done, I’ve only put on an additional 10,000 miles – and it still runs and drives perfectly, just as it did when I bought it. Since I have owned the car, I have done the following: • Regular oil changes, with the most recent being 7/8/25 • Valve cover gaskets replaced • Clutch Master & Slave cylinder replaced • Drivers side window regulator fixed I would rate the exterior condition a 7.5/10. Considering the car is nearly 30 years old, the paint still shines (not faded) and is in reasonably good condition. There are, however, a number of small dings and scratches that have occurred over time. The front bumper has a small dent where the license plate was, the clearcoat on the rear bumper has gone, and there is some paint chipping on the drivers-side rear quarter panel. Overall, it’s definitely nicer than your “average” NA Miata. I would rate the interior condition a 9/10. The dash, door cards, and instruments are all in excellent shape. The only issues are some blemishes on the steering wheel and some fraying on the drivers seat bolster. THE GOOD: • In great mechanical shape. Drives, stops & handles excellent • Overall, the body, paint and interior are in good condition given the age • Nicely modified, with high quality suspension components, with a good balance between handling capabilities and comfort on the road KNOWN ISSUES (Because I prefer to be as up front as possible) • Clearcoat gone on rear bumper • 1 large chip / crack in paint on drivers side rear quarter panel • A number of (small) dings and scratches from nearly 30 years of use – it’s NOT a show car, but still presents very well overall as you can see from the pictures • The top has a number of small tears along the seams and a few rips near the base. If you were going to park this Miata outside, a top replacement would probably be a good idea. If you store it covered like I do, the top still works fine and doesn’t leak in occasional light rain (or when I’m washing the car) • A very slight oil leak, possibly coming from the front seal. It hasn’t been enough for me to worry about (no measurable decrease to oil level between oil changes) • AC is currently inoperable. It worked up until last summer, but no longer blows cold. I haven’t bothered to address it because if the weather is warm, the top is always down .. I almost never use the AC. I’m not in a rush to sell, but the reality is that I don’t drive it as much as I probably should … so it is time for it to go to someone who will have more time to enjoy it than I do. Asking $7,800 OBO. Thanks for looking!