1994Number sold in U.S.: est. 21,481Price (base): $16,650Notes: Minor facelift, introduction of OBD-1 compliant 1.8L BP-ZE inline-four with 128 bhp, passenger airbag is standard, larger brake discs, front subframe brace added, rear subframe brace redesigned, cockpit brace between seatbelt towers, "flash to pass" added to headlights, gas tank enlarged, lighter wheels (10.3 lb) introduced. M-Edition in Montego Blue Mica with polished M-Edition wheels (lightest factory wheel), R-Edition available with stiffer springs, Bilstein shocks, aero trim with rear spoiler, and Torsen LSD as standard.
1995Number sold in U.S.: 21,400Price (base): $17,500Notes: Oil gauge changed to lo-hi, M-Edition came in Merlot Mica with 15-in BBS wheels weighing 9.6 lb each, tan vinyl top, tan leather seats, Nardi trim.
1996Number sold in U.S.: 20,174Price (base): $18,450Notes: 1.8L BP-ZE engine OBD-2 compliant with 133-bhp, M-Edition came in Starlight Blue Mica with 15-in. Enkei wheels, tan vinyl top, tan leather seats, Nardi trim, remote keyless entry with alarm.
1997Number sold in U.S.: 18,408Price (base): $19,125Notes: Special Touring Edition (STO) available in Twilight Blue Mica, and M-Edition in Marina Green Mica with 15-in. polished 6-spoke wheels.
The air conditioning vents in the dashboard sometimes loose tightness, causing them to constantly slip to the "down" position. To fix them, disassemble and reassemble with some tape attached to the vent to tighten clearance.
Some Miata air conditioning compressors have been known to whistle, but it's nothing to worry about.
These cars are likely to exhibit a shimmy at about 65mph, so test drive up to that speed to check for it.
The taillights have been known to leak, causing foggy lenses. Check for this after a wash or with a hose.
R-package Miatas came with front and rear lip-spoilers, Bilstein shocks, stiffer springs, lightweight wheels and a Torsen limited-slip differential as standard equipment.
The rubber and zippers on the convertible top can be a nightmare if the top wasn't stored properly in the past, so check for smooth operation.
Check the rear window for hazing, yellow spots or scratches that may indicate the need for replacement, which isn't cheap.
The contacts in the window switches may go bad over time, making it difficult to get the windows up or down (usually down).
The radio may be slow to start, taking as long as a few minutes. The guys at www.miata.net have a DIY solution for this problem.
Spark plug wires have been known to go bad at around 30,000 miles, which will cause an erratic idle and hesitation under load. Be careful, because a 1.6L equipped car exhibiting these conditions could also be the victim of a broken crankshaft.
The short-nose crankshafts in 1990 and some early 1991 cars have been known to fail. Watch the crankshaft pulley for wobbling when the engine is running, though it may be broken and not wobbling. The easiest way to determine if the car is equipped with the less robust early crank is to count the slots in the front of the crankshaft pulley-if it has four slots, it's a short-nose crank. Later 1.6L and 1.8L engines both have eight slots cut into their pulleys.
The body of the car can be contacted through the leftmost part of the trunk, which means debris floating around the trunk can slide and actually dent the car from the inside. Check on www.miata.net to find an aftermarket piece that will block the gap.
Check the depths of the trunk for water and rust by pulling up the carpeting-specifically, check the well that houses the jack on the left and around the drains for the soft top.
Check to verify the battery is a sealed unit, usually saying "Panasonic" on the side. Many people mistakenly replace it with an acid-type battery, which can cause extensive damage in the trunk.