WHAT A SHAME! 02 Mazda Miata Special Edition With A Problem Even I Can't Fix
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2023
- If you'd like to buy parts from this Miata or any 1990-2005 Miata, visit www.Importapart.com or email us at Importapartsales@gmail.com.
A Midweek? You bet. Unfortunately that's where the celebration stops for me.
As not all of you know, I own and run a full service auto salvage business and we deal more in specialty cars than anything else. Land Cruisers, Chevy trucks, diesels, BMW's, and of course LOTS of first and second generation Mazda Miatas. I buy as many as I can and usually, they are rusty, wrecked hard, or otherwise unfit or financially disastrous to try to put back on the road.
This car was a Facebook marketplace find, a 2002 Miata SE. The only 2nd generation Miata ever offered in yellow. The SE's had some special parts, this one unfortunately has an automatic transmission but the SE's with a manual were 6-speed transmissions, had headlight and taillight covers, special wheels(missing from this car), and ground effects/lips along with minor interior changes. When I went to look at this car the battery was dead, had no idea of mileage, or if it ran. So in this video I go through my normal process to get cars running. Sometimes its easy, sometimes it involves lots of repairs and parts swapping.
Unfortunately, I cannot do anything involving returning this car back to the public streets. This rust free chassis is either going to be someones spec race car(while I understand NB2 chassis aren't the most desirable), or it'll end up cut up and scrapped.
I know many of you think its just another 20 year old Mazda, but to me these cars are pretty special and I only enjoy parting out cars not worth saving.
If this video wasn't your cup of tea, you can check out a new blown engine teardown every Saturday!
I hope you enjoyed this video and as always, I love all of the comments, feedback and even the criticism.
Catch you all this weekend!
-Eric - Авто та транспорт
BRAG VIDEO
Lol.
Ok.
This guy is so great at this stuff.
Time for the most risky swap of them all...the elusive VIN swap!
I know a thing about that😅😅😅😅
@@danielknepper6884yup. Just a little somethin somethin lol
Agreed
Illegal as hell, not worth the risk, for a business, it’s an automatic Miata.
Not a Ferrari.
@@metalted6128 I think an automatic Miata might be rarer than most Ferraris... 🤣
The DREADED car alarm. When I was a mechanic, we ran into those things all the time. They were always a complete butcher job.
Dealership's aftermarket ignition security system. If you didn't pay on time and they like trolling customers.
By the way, my mom paid off SUV since almost 10 years ago. During after COVID when they deactivated 3G wireless, then SUV won't start and goes to loud alarm in 5am to wake up the whole neighborhood until we disconnected the battery. After chasing the problem in driveway and found wires were tapped under the steering column where starter wire was tapped to relay to the ignition security box. Unfortunately, after deleted security box and revert to the original harness.
My mom's key remote stopped working, so we got a new remote box from Best Buy to get the key remote working again.
Every state SHOULD always have an inspection option so that any car can be inspected and found worthy of getting a usable title.
Hahahahaha. Yeah, that'll work. There are absolutely, positively no dishonest, shady inspectors who will sign on the line for a small stipend. Nope. That just never happens.
unfortunately that would actually be a service for the community, which is against their beliefs
I believe Kentucky will allow you to register junk titles and certificate of destruction with an inspection. Might be worth selling to someone in that state or another who will allow it back on the road
It looks like a banana that's gone a bit ripe 🤣
That's a friggin' shame. I know a MO Junk is a kiss of death. Dang shame.
Spec Miata racer up in Canada here. Sent y'all an email about the car to see if we can make something happen 🏎
We don’t have titles up here for cars. All you’d have to do is an out of province inspection, and you’d be good to go.
I don’t remember what the rules are fir importing cars are. I know they have to be a certain number if years, or older, but I’m not sure how old. Seem to recall something like 15-18 or so, and it will have to be converted over to kilometers.
@@kostaskritsilas2681 won't ever be registered anyways, track use only. Most SMs up here follow that as far as I've seen. Also if I did the proper import sequence there's RIV too, but I'd skip it all since it doesn't need to be street legal.
@@kostaskritsilas2681 I've got a '99 Eclipse that we bought in '04, so it was 5 years old. And it's all in miles, not converted to kilometres. It did have a DRL conversion however. We never imported it though, the dealer we bought it from imported it.
This car was sold at three auctions since 2018 and the original junk certificate was from florida. Which it was probably totaled for a reason maybe flood or collision damage. But it was being driven as of 2022 with a junk florida certificate from 2018. Something seems off.
Ship it to California, pretty sure if it'll pass inspection you can register it.
There's always Mexico as a destination too.
Good one: export it, import it. But hey, is it worth the cost. Eric has a business to run.
PA has a rebuilt title for cars previously listed as junked. It requires that at least one major mechanical and one minor cosmetic change occur to the car. From there it just has to pass a safety and emissions inspection and you're good to go. Had a guy I worked with do this to a 99 caprice and it was totally legal.
Sounds like a new manual transmission and then some paint and you have a PA title!
@@Omgninjas2the roof is cosmetic, and you wouldn't need to damage the rare paint color.
I’ll look to see if it can be re titled as salvage here in NH. I’d buy it.
It may only need a bill of sale here!
It would be awesome if you can get it titled. A nice car saved from being crushed.
I loved this segment but yes it upset me to think you can't make this car usable. Keep it up!
No title needed for Vermont registration and rust free cars are really hard to find here so great value
It is possible, in SOME states, to "wash" this car's title status and give it a title that you can work with, and do it legally. But you've got to do your research and do it right. So this car doesn't have to stay in junk status.
Ethically there is no way to do that. Notice I said ethically, technically legal does not mean ethically OK. To a business owner trying to stay on the right side of a potential lawsuit ethically OK means a lot, and is a line you can never cross. So yes you can take it to another state and clean it but as someone doing business in a state you should follow your home states laws at all times and never try to go around them for any reason or you will get a bad reputation back home.
@@greyfox79007 I disagree. There is no ethical issue with getting a usable title restored to a vehicle that is fully inspected and found to be in safe condition, free of hazards, and conforms to manufacturer's specifications. How could there be?
Florida you can get a custom built title.
I’ll buy it! I’m the lead sales rep for a local car dealership here in VT. Don’t even need a title for anything 15 years or older. For the right price I’ll buy it and pay for transportation!
Erick down south here in Guatemala you can import a junk title car and register it. There's a lot of people that import this kind of cars repair them and sell them cheap.
Eric I am starving, and the only meal I want is more E34 content!
If i could get it down here to Georgia i would be daily driving it next week. Mostly because i thoroughly enjoy breaking the rules!
That is really a shame Eric! I’ve always been a little leery of driving a Miata out of fear of getting in an accident in such a small car. I love the style of them, but everyone drives like a bunch of idiots with these big jacked up trucks. Sorry to see such a clean car be wasted. I would actually need to go with the automatic transmission due to multiple back surgeries, but man what a waste of a great looking car. I even like the color. Like the midweek video even though it’s bad news.
I spotted that slushbox shifter at 1:16 and my heart sank. Then it sank again when you talked about the title. This was a sad video, for sure........ A good life lesson, an experience in handling disappointment, and a reality check. But still very sad!
Loved this video. Sad subject. Somehow I get the sneaking suspicion that the junk title was caused by a contentious divorce.
That is a shame - it's just crazy that the Title cannot be reversed. I had one like the Red one you showed, but we call them an MX5.... It was a 1.8lt. Great little fun cars!
They are titled as a "Mazda MX-5 Miata" by Mazda.
In the UK they are just mx5.
A MX5 without a manual, is like a dance without music.
It's a real shame what happened to the previous owner. And I can't imagine why the state of MO wouldn't re-evaluate the title (after an inspection). I realize the laws vary from state to state, but could this possibly be registered as an 'assembled vehicle' (in another state) by replacing a few parts? Converting it to a manual perhaps? I'm in Michigan, and they have (or had) an assembled title procedure, which requires a bunch of reciepts and an inspection from a LEO. The state then issues a new VIN (and VIN plate) for the vehicle along with the assembled title, so with proper insurance the vehicle can be registered. I'd almost be a buyer if this is possible.
Wouldn't have to replace anything just go to the state of Michigan after removing vin plate and tell them you built it from parts on hand
Me with carvana but it wasn't a junk registered vehicle
I'm from Michigan also. This state is a charm to get a car licensed in. The advantage of living where the auto industry was created. It's a shame about the title, but face it, any good car is worth more for its parts than as a stand alone vehicle.
But I gotta ask WHY?? would anyone buy an automatic trans in a Miata? One of my favorite You Tube videos is merely a young lady driving around working the stick shift as she goes about her travels. No porn, no titillation, just someone that knows how to drive a nice stick shift car. It really is an art form.
@tradde11 He didn't say he didn't drive a stick. Only that he enjoys seeing someone driving one well.
@tradde11 why is driving a manual seen as some big deal in the US? Just about everyone in the UK drives a manual gearbox car, it's not considered anything special because everyone can do it
This made me think of something. In the last 5 years, I've bought 2 cheap cars, one a Honda, the other a Toyota, and looking back with the wisdom of hindsight, I think they were both flood-damaged cars. If possible, I'd really like to see a video on how to identify flood-damaged cars. Right now my pet project is installing a bit of high-pressure fuel line and some clamps over the rusted - supposedly stainless steel - fuel line in my 2000 Corolla.
take the trim off and look for water lines and excessive dirt
Yeah I think the water lines would be the ultimate telltale if it's been 'flooded'. Peel back carpet, check seats - foam, upholstery, etc, behind trim panels, inside the doors. If in a decent amount of water, there will be evidence there! You just have to go deep into the investigation to look for yourself. 👍🤔🛠️🔧🔩🔨🤷♂️
The moment you see T-taps, scotchlocks, etc. You just know you're in for a fun time.
Happy Hump Day!
Good morning Eric. Awesome to see what you have in store for us.
What could have caused this to be junked. It may be possessed.
What a shame. I always hated those stupid alarms. You know as well as I do that the States will not correct an issue like this. NY is the same way. People just drive them illegally. No worrying about paperwork with that. Loved the red Miata as well. Hope you are having good luck with the Porsche
That really is a shame but it’s good to hear your perspective on these things. And the whole junk certification is just weird.
Anything you upload is enjoyable!! Keep'em coming!!
Yes! I did enjoy this video. Please do more of these!
Save the Miata, You Can Do It! Happy Gilmore!
Love the change of pace. Variety never hurts
Love the look into another part of your business. Thanks for sharing.
It's alarming how much laws vary from state to state. You have the junk title, yet here in Mississippi they did away with the yearly vehicle state inspection. If that's not a recipe for disaster I don't know what is! Can you imagine the sketchy condition of an uninspected brake and steering system going 70 down the highway?
a few years ago I had to replace a left quarter panel. Had to wait 3 weeks for the new one and was told it was the lsst one in the nation.
Love the mid week video, more please!
I find the business interesting, so I appreciate seeing videos like this 👍🏼
Some years back, Car commercials for some dumb reason, liked to have brand new cars driving along the ocean beach. They were not allowed to title or sell them. because of what the salt water would do to them after a few years. So they were either crushed, or sometimes they'd go to research facilities for experiments, which sometimes ended with them being crushed there too, but not always.
Eric, you are AMAZING!
Love it when you come on during the week Eric thanks so much
Thanks for the mid week video. It was informative and enjoyable. 👍
I sense a Louis Rossmann fan...
Every time a miata related video gets posted I get so excited. I really do love those cars. Got a 1992 1.8 swap myself. But I have the urge to buy another one lol
Go day to you Eric,I’m a subscriber for a couple of year,I’m a CANADIAN fan of your content.I just recently purchased a 2002 mx5 miata low km,s auto(show room condition)for my wife’s retirement.I’m just touching base with you,knowing you have an abundance amount of parts for them.I would like to use your services in the future, if you could help me out to maintain my wife’s ride I would appreciate most thankfulness.Seasons Greatings to you and your family,Thanks
I really liked this video , Thanks Eric for showing me your side of the business .
Vermont loophole is closed, BUT West Virginia is open for business! Try that route first ;-)
It’s a shame,
Happens often, without a logical explanation , unfortunately!!
Great video, as always!
Love your channel!
Hey man,
I'm just seeing this video. I've posted it to a couple of fb pages to get the word out.
Having owned a few Vivid Yellows, it hurts to see a Blazing Yellow meet such a silly end. At least it's with someone who gets it, and I appreciate your soft spot for Mazdas.
Pretty Cool the way you went at that wiring ... I can tell you've worked on Many of them ..
Eric I enjoy videos like this and it’s a good opportunity for someone who wants to build a race car or a Drift car out of it that no title is needed. Thank you for sharing.
Excellent video , lots to learn. Thank you for this.
In Minnesota you can have a car re certified after a salvage title is issued, but it has to go through a full inspection. The one thing they won't recertify though is flood damaged cars unless you perform a full off the frame restoration.
Love these “insight into the industry” tidbits; this one’s more of a sales pitch, so good luck!
Seeing this 7 months later and I really hope that someone was able to save this Miata. Incredibly sad that a nearly perfect condition Miata was doomed to be parted out by some bureaucratic bullshit.
Yes, Eric, I liked this one too! One of my favorites was when you got a Miata running that had had a fire in the engine bay.
Agree with the three pedal statement. Thats all i ever drive. SPEC series is one of the most competitive, affordable and easily obtained from of racing and a whole lot of fun. SPEC E30/ E36 is my personal favorite, I've been building bimmer track cars like 20 years and running.
Eric you are right! it is aftermarket alarm. I have same thing with my Miata
Great video man. Thanks so much.
Thanks for sharing Eric. Next time you get a car in take us on a tour of the walkaround you do sort of an "unboxing"
I owned a BMW that the state of TN issued a Junk/Destruction title on. The states of MS and LA had no issue registering it as Salvage after a VIN verification by the state police.
I am wondering about my state neighoring MO, Oklahoma, too. The Libertublican types here have made sure that we don't care anything about a car's condition so I imagine MO's Junk Title can be converted to a Rebuilt Title same as Salvage. Not going to buy that Miata just to find out, though ;)
You do it because it's your passion. There's nothing wrong with that!!!!!
You dislike automatics...reason 996 why I love the content on this channel!
Oooh I like it, not gonna jinx my impromptu day off due to Floridian circumstances, but this is a nice piece of rainy day content
Same, from FL
Thank you Eric for a nice example why NOT to install an aftermarket alarm. They cause more issues than they are worth. Please dont rip it apart save it for a track car.
Ive done so many cars with aftermarket alarm systems on top of the factory ! all shoty as hell wiring and a pain in the ass ! You got lucky on that one !
Thank you for a mid-week vid😋
I owned a 1992 Miata, yellow with a hard top. Great little car. It was a 5 speed manual car.
“Totally fine, I know what I’m doing.” Lol and you actually do.
Had the same “factory” alarm on my 96m. Took me a while before I found out that was the reason it didn’t always start. Ripped it out and I’ve never had a problem since
I can definitely understand that frustration with all parties. I have an 05 G35 that runs like a top, but like all VQ motors it does burn some oil. I was reported and now unless I pay for a rebuilt motor I can't register it, at least in my state. Passes smog with no issues too
My 1999 NB has that crappy "factory" alarm system fitted. I've always wondered why the installation looked so "home made", now I understand, oh! ,the dealerships fitted them, thanks for the insight Eric. No real issues thus far 24.5 years on.
My 2010 Ford Ranger 110k was declared junk by the insurance company because it had hail dents all over it. Nothing else was wrong with the truck. Everything was fine except for about 100 very small dents. The hail was only about golf ball size at most.
Insurance companies are way too quick to declare total nowadays.
What a shame. Had a Sunburst NA for a while with sunburst hardtop. I let it rot in my driveway, shame on me. Gave it to a much younger and more motivated nephew of my passed away best buddy who cleaned it and made it run again. It is alive to this day.
It's possible that this car was not from Missouri. If so, having a Mazda dealer find out where it was originally sold may give you a leg up on finding where it was last cleanly titled. With that info in hand, it's possible that a mechanic's lien foreclosure title could be acquired outside Missouri. It could never go back to that state, but the right buyer might not care.
First Miata I’ve seen with an automatic. The Miata enjoyed Mazda’s build quality that was common before their relationship with FoMoCo came to pass.
The Miata was ALWAYS a top notch build quality AND RELIABLE car!
Mazda's relationship with Ford began in 1974 until 2015,
I've owned several Mazdas including a Miata, but the most reliable Mazda I ever owned was a 2011 Tribute AWD. It ran 265K miles with only front tone rings and a fuel pressure sensor besides brakes, tires, and batteries. I found out when I traded it for a CX-5 that Ford built the whole thing... I hope the CX-5 does as well (so far, so good).
@@deadon4847 Yes, but for years it was Mazda suppling Ford components. Mazda’s decline in quality began when they started rebadging Fords with Mazda emblems. One Mazda executive admitted in a recent interview that getting in bed with FoMoCo was the worst corporate decision in Mazda’s history. Of course, those of us who made our living repairing Asian cars already knew that. Mazda built B2000 trucks were even better quality- wise than Toyota trucks of the same era.
all you need is to bring it to Canada - our MTO's/DMV's are much easier to deal with.
Cool lil’ sports car😊
As a Miata fan, I hear you!
I had a 99 Miata with that transmission, as my wife couldn’t drive a manual, and it’s really a sad transmission. Not even a sport or manual shift mode. I now drive a 2018 Miata GT with a manual, and it’s awesome!
Sad to see this. I've been a Miata fan for a long time.
What ever happened to your "slightly flood damaged" Miata? Last I saw you were going to reupholster the seats.
Thanks for sharing your work! Good stuff.
I hope there's someone out there that can either get this one back on the road or has a shell or like a track miata with a better title situation to put all these parts in to and give it new life that way.
7:05 One of the things I hated when I did my own cars was turning myself into a human pipe-cleaner to get under the dash etc like that. That can be really tough on the knees and back!
Treasure Coast Miata in FL will turn these into Spec Miata.
Fight for it Eric, it is worth it.
Not with the automatic transmission, it’s garbage. Good luck trying to find a 6 speed manual to swap it; they are extremely rare to find.
@@applepoop10 it is a perfect car for a female teen, I know it might not be something a guy would go for but a female, heck yeah.
It could be legally registered overseas, all they need is a purchase receipt to prove ownership then they go over the pits to prove road worthiness prior to being issued plates. It's such a shame to part that out.
If it wasnt yellow it would be beautiful... facts black or blue with that body kit looks sweet
It just needs a VIN swap ;) Seriously, that's a damn shame. This thing is nicer than my legal '99 NB. But, you're not wrong about the automatic.
The automatic transmission was just stupid and very unreliable; I don’t know what the manufacturer were thinking. 🤷🏻♂️
@@applepoop10 Simple! The manufacturer wanted to make it available to those that can't handle a stick.......SAFELY (there are many), for more sales!
In Michigan you can go to the Secretary of State and ask for a reinspection they’ll give you the paperwork to have a state trooper come and look at all over and then they re-issue a clean title
How did you get the { Snow Globe } effect when you worked under the dash? 😎Hope you had safety goggles on.🍻
Disintegrating glue on metal tape like "Duck Tape"...
disintegrating foam rubber,
dust falling off the wiring/out of crevices...?
Oh man, same kinda deal hear in Oregon. If it's ever been to a scrap yard the title is turned in to the dmv, regardless of the coolness or condition, you can't register it again
The headlight and taillight bezels were added. Mazda made them but they were not part of the SE package. Neither were the sill panel covers or fuel door.
Right, but I see more of that on SE’s than the other trim levels. Especially 2002’s
Yea..but that doesn't make it factory for the SE. A lot of the Mazdaspeeds (2004-2005) got the "brow" treatments too. Not bustin yer balls..just being factual. Love your channel! :). @@I_Do_Cars
Good vid. Do more!
Great video!
Remember, when calling support folks of any sort, including DMV, etc. be sure to contact them more than once or even twice. Often you'll get ahold of someone who really cares and knows more about the possibilities.
There is a lot full of these at the local community college. Some of them need minor work. They are donated to the school by the manufacturer direct. Here in NC you cannot even sell the parts of them. It's just a hunk of metal never to roll asphalt again 😢
Love the Miata Rescue Ranch
@Eric, NO you do not have to junk it! You can restore the junk title!
I hate these State Titles because it is just a beurocratic rip off!! Here is just one reason😤🥂 Nice mid week show Erik!!❤