Sell my 4door nova for a miata for daily driver?

[Jasons72]

I have a 71 4 door nova that i've been using for a daily driver for about 6 months now that is a pretty good car. The trans is slipping a bit (powerglide) and i'm only getting about 12mpg(350). It was great all summer when i was only driving to work for the most part but now i'm driving to school twice a day twice a week and once one day a week, plus work everyday. I'm filling her up every 3 to 4 days and its getting crazy expensive. I've been throwing the idea around about selling it for a car that gets good gas mileage that will get me through the next two years or so of college. I want something very small so i was looking into something like a 90's miata. I know my gf won't like it because its not a 4 door/practical but a small 4 door is practically useless anyway since there is no room for the passengers. What do you guys think? I hope i could get something like 3500 for the nova and have seen a couple nice miata's around the same price range, just high mileage.

[twosaturns]

but a small 4 door is practically useless anyway since there is no room for the passengers.
kind of a general statement there. sounds more like you're looking for a 'fun' daily driver toy. the miata will be useless in the snow but otherwise is a great car.

[LS1NOVA]

$3500 is kinda high for a four door too. I agree, Miata would need snow tires for sure in the winter and you already have the blue Nova for autocross etc.

[Jasons72]

I'm just looking for something small that will get good gas mileage and will be very reliable, not going to be racing anything at all, I really don't want anything big enough to let my gf bring her dog in the car lol, he gets carsick!

[wmhjr]

I'll just throw my 2 cents in about Miatas. They're a blast. Cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, fun to drive. Only down side is that they are really small, and if you're somewhat tall with long legs, have fun getting in and out. With Blizzaks or something similar they aren't comfortable in snow, but get around OK unless the snow is deep. They hold their value pretty well. You can have immense fun at the track with them. Almost perfect weight distribution, and easy to throw around. I bought one a while back to see if I'd like having a roadster. Used it as a daily driver for most of a year and really enjoyed it. Sold it and bought a BMW M-Roadster. That was even more fun :)

[Tony_SS]

Sorry, not a Miata, but I like my compact. If you can stand a FWD, search for a Swift GTi. 1700 lbs, 100hp, 5speed, Factory Recaro Seats, 4 wheel disc brakes and the 32/40mpg is very nice too! Here's my daily:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Jasons72]

That is a pretty cool car, i looked them up and there are hardly any near me but i'm going to keep my eyes open, i'm also looking into the 90's saturn 5 speeds, all plastic and mid 30's mpg.

[Tony_SS]

If you don't need the room, I guess the Miata would be a fun car. Or a CRX. There are lots of options for MPGs and a fun driver.

Try a Mazda 323 GTX. AWD turbo. :)

[dadto2jays]

Cant beat a toyota celica or a toyota camry plenty in that price range. I think of a miatta as a girls car just my .02 cent..

[wmhjr]

I think of a miatta as a girls car just my .02 cent..

Get one on the track and you'll change your mind REAL fast. Miatas have been toasting far more expensive and powerful cars in autox and road courses for close to 20 years. They're not a girls car. They're a drivers car.

[DynoDon]

I wouldn't consider the Suzuki or the Saturn. Resale on both is poor, no one knows anything about the Suzuki's and dealers are fairly scarce. I had a Swift GTI and it was a lot of fun, but wouldn't own one (it was a company car) for the above reasons. As for the Saturn they were throw away cars and GM threw away the entire company so no one cares about them any more.
As for the Miata being a "Girls Car" think how embarrassed those types will be when you blow them off in a corner with your girl's car! I say go for it.

[Nessumsar]

I would be looking at an 83-87 Toyota Corolla Hatchback. Great car, 4 usable seats, great handling, great mileage; and there is a HUGE aftermarket for them.

You can find a GTS in decent shape for around 3k, comes with LSD, 125hp, 7700rpm.

[twosaturns]

As for the Saturn they were throw away cars and GM threw away the entire company so no one cares about them any more.

I'd have to disagree; they run forever, are easy to work on, have great chassis and parts are cheap and easy to come by. SL/SC1 are 100hp 40mpg and reliable as death. SL or SC2 are the twin cam version, 124hp 36mpg and pretty fun to drive. I had a '93 SC1 w/ a twin cam swap, factory header and cat back; car only weighed 2400lbs or less, still got 33mpg @ 75mph.
main issue, they burn oil, and the factory ECTS (temp sensor) cracks and no one knows how to diagnose it. replace it w/ a brass $12 unit and 10min later you're good to go.

[DreamSpeedPerf.]

A buddy of mine had a flat black miata..That thing was a blast to drive he had a couple bolt-ons it and it was sliding all over the place. he was gonna sell it to me for $800 , regret not buying that thing. I once took it out for a test drive after putting an exhaust on it and got a ticket for "improper lane change" cop told me that it was a good drift and i had impressed him with how well I drifted so he went easy on me. lol

[Tony_SS]

I wouldn't consider the Suzuki or the Saturn. Resale on both is poor, no one knows anything about the Suzuki's and dealers are fairly scarce. I had a Swift GTI and it was a lot of fun, but wouldn't own one (it was a company car) for the above reasons. As for the Saturn they were throw away cars and GM threw away the entire company so no one cares about them any more.
As for the Miata being a "Girls Car" think how embarrassed those types will be when you blow them off in a corner with your girl's car! I say go for it.
This is true.. the GTi's are unknown but easy to work on. Parts can be had easily too really. Finding someone else to touch them is a different story. Having a factory service manual helps though!

[Jasons72]

I may do a miata if i can get one for the right price/trade, i have someone who may want to trade one for the 4 door, otherwise i will sell the nova for whatever i can get and i will probably go with one of the saturns since they are so cheap.

[MonzaRacer]

OK so why not throw $500 at a 700r4, and a good tune up. You can cook 20 plus with that setup if done right.
Figure half that for a four door nova,
Get a look on car-parts.com in Salem you can get a tested one for $275, use one of the lock up kits that lock it up in 4th with a pressure switch.
Sell the PG on line or to local performance shop for say $100.
all you need is some help redoing the cross-member and shorten a driveshaft if you cant find one.
Id bet properly tunes that car could get in upwards of 25mpg or better. Heck my Cavalier only gets 30 and the Miata may be fun but they dont heat well and such in winter .
Honestly if the 350 isnt running bad, swap in some extended tip AC Delcos, make sure the dist is in good shape(heck now the time to install a cheap HEI, use a recurve kit and add light springs to stock weights, set initial at around 16 t o18, hook the vac advance to manifold vacuum and clean up your carb real good.
Also swapping in some real good plug wires like Taylor Spiro Pros or Summit Spiral cores.
Honestly that car should at least get high teens.
Another way to lock the converter up is by vacuum switch or put a button on a dash or steering wheel.
Most people simply use the pressure switch kits so they lock up in 4th. you can still use the PG column you just wont get low or second manually.

[Jasons72]

http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/2005805000.html

Sold the 4 door for just about nothing, so i have to go get my loan, but i'm going to go look at this asap, i decided to spend a little more on something newer and this one has a lot of work done that i would end up putting into an older miata anyway. I found another one, same color but solid tan leather interior with a 6 speed and less miles for only 500 more but its bone stock. He says he is a bit negotiable still on the price so i feel as though it will be a good deal, plus there has been a lot of parts replaced not listed in the add. What do you guys think?

[wmhjr]

Depending on price and what it looks like in person, that would be a blast to use as a daily driver.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/10/imagesqtbnANd9GcRyBkyHs1CC6DEeoXSnL8v13k-1.jpg
im glad youll like it..