1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Five-Speed

Description

The Mazda Miata moved much of the enthusiast community near to tears when it was introduced in the fall of 1989 for the ’90 model year. Prior to that, few thought we would ever see a British roadster re-imagined as a competent and dependable yet utterly charming automobile.

Miata seemingly came out of nowhere, and suddenly it was everywhere you looked. Known globally as the MX-5, the Miata reinvented a vehicle segment in ways that its contemporaries — like the Toyota MR2, the Australian Mercury Capri, and even the Pontiac Fiero — never could. And, perhaps more importantly, it thrived.

By 1999, the hidden headlights of earlier Miatas were gone, which not only changed the look of the front end but shaved 12 pounds without the pop-up mechanism. "Shoulders" appeared over the tires, along with a little flare at the top of the tail. Car and Driver magazine wrote of the car: "(It's) where zing meets zest and makes whoopee." Many enthusiasts wholeheartedly agreed, as 17,738 MX-5 Miatas were sold in the U.S. that year.

Highlights 

• Finished in Highlight Silver Metallic paint over black/tan interior with tan leather bucket seats 

• Powered by a 1.8-liter, DOHC inline-four engine rated at 140 horsepower 

• Desirable five-speed manual transmission 

• Clean CARFAX Vehicle History Report 

Features 

• Maintenance and upgrades under current ownership: 

  • New alternator 

  • New Falken Azenis RT615K+ 205/50R15 tires 

  • Four-wheel alignment 

  • Oil change  

• Timing belt replaced under previous ownership 

• Wilwood front disc brakes 

• Power brakes, steering, and windows 

• Dual air bags 

• Air conditioning 

• Bose AM/FM/Cassette/CD stereo 

• Dash instrumentation: 140 mph speedometer and odometer, 8000 rpm tachometer, and gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, and coolant temperature 

• 10-spoke alloy wheels 

Known Imperfections 

• Minor whining noise at 1000 rpm and 3500 rpm 

• Small tear in the soft top, about 4 inches on the right side 

• Noise from the right rear suspension on bumps (potentially bad bushing) 

• Paint is touched up on the hood (about 1 inch) 

Included 

• Miata embroidered carpet floor mats 

Ownership History

According to the accompanying CARFAX Vehicle History Report, this 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata was leased new on 22 July 1999 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and purchased three years later in August 2002 with 11,263 miles on the odometer. It changed hands three times, all in Michigan, before going to a California buyer in September 2023. “The car has been a joy to own. It's spent a lot of time in the canyons, and it's an awesome driver's car. I bought it from a local collector who, like me, was impressed with the originality and honesty of the car.”