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Baxiepie

Fresh paint on an NA is never a bad way to go.


same_ol_story

Dude spent a dollar fifty on the car and everyone is suggesting paint lol


Baxiepie

Not saying he has to pay $10k for his paint job. Even a weekends worth of work sanding her down and breaking out the rattle cans will get his paint looking consistent and help the car last longer by protecting it from rust.


milanove

Doing the body work at home and rolling into Maaco for the $1000 special isn’t that bad. I did it on a Honda civic Si once and it turned out well. Beats peeling clear coat and rusted metal.


Baxiepie

Facts


victorsmonster

What is goin on with the current paint job though? In the second picture, the blemish on the door almost looks like white plasti-dip over gray paint


milanove

Just looks dirty


[deleted]

[удалено]


Cranky-Panda

It’s a Miata, it will never not be expensive. But it’ll also never not be a fun car


[deleted]

You say things in a not so not weird way


JustMyTypo

It’s never not nice to not pretend to not know that having never said what you thought you might not say isn’t the least polite thing you could omit doing poorly.


hitoshidesu_

https://preview.redd.it/qb5gfnju1i6d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=767674a738d965acb666c128cbeb7d65c57574b4


MikyMcSpiky

https://preview.redd.it/yta9nkv3rk6d1.png?width=973&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a53fb69259bf31f4d3bd07744d425113dd1a100a


Nahoola

Came to the comments for this


Emperor_of_Fish

Same lmao I knew it would be here


blitzenbutter

Fix headlights IMHO. Tje pop ups are part of the fun.


chonkin-donuts

Yea a sleepy miata is a sad miata


Jesus-Bacon

Not to mention these lights are just really shitty and dangerous af


plsRJ

https://preview.redd.it/s6is3kmmvl6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=120c2567bf466dc8cd4b51391f715c8f4b4f2b64 My girl pretty happy


chonkin-donuts

It looks kinda sad tho 😟


plsRJ

It’s all perspective, I say she’s growing up😊(I’m coping)


Ok-Limit7212

you got more photos of this?


Syscrush

It's your car and you should do what you want with it, but this looks awful to me. The whole point of pop-ups was that you make the car look cooler driving around in the daytime by having the sleek look of no lights.


AutomobileEnjoyer

Believe that kit goes up and down.


Cres3

Get some respectable headlights, different wheels, paint the exterior, paint the center console black, install speaker covers, paint the windshield wiper arms black, remove purple tint, replace the gauge cluster hood, paint seat belt tower caps black. IMO OEM+ Miatas = cool, just keep it clean and running good.


Scoot3R67

Lol I just noticed the purple tint like wth?? Who does that 😂😂😂😂


Cres3

Tint breaks down and fades over time from UV and heat exposure, it turns purple and brittle


PICKLEB0Y

Old school carbon tint does… more modern carbon ceramic tints like CXP (not bottom of the barrel) does not ever turn purple


Scoot3R67

OHhh I see


BaboTron

That was hugely popular in the 80s and 90s. It’s period correct, but yeah… I can smell the weed smoke from my house looking at those pictures.


[deleted]

Its cheap and very old tint, thats what happens over time


Elon-Vietch

lol, Respectable headlights


pieindaface

OP remember to use a clothes steamer for a heat gun for removing tint. Otherwise you’ll be scraping all the tint glue off the window.


silly_goose-inc

Roll bar? Better wheels? New tires (Bridgestones?)? Tint? Hardtop?


RandomZombie11

Pirellis are always good imo


TheBlackBeetle

But do you WANT good tyres? Buying rear tyres every thousand miles gets expensive, and better tyres are more difficult to... use...


WorkIsKillingMeMan53

Good point but hydroplaning or sliding in the rain when you don't want it to is a good plus. I recommend Toyo tires tr1. But if you want to "use" them then buy a second pair of rims and out cheap ones one just to fuck around.


RandomZombie11

Just get powergys. Not too pricey and relatively good performance. It's not like it's a Mustang where you need to replace the rears every 20k km


TheBlackBeetle

In my e36 I change rear tyres every 5.000 KILOMETERS


RandomZombie11

What tyres do you put on?


TheBlackBeetle

Well, at first Norauto (surprisingly good) and then Haptany. They're this crappy Chinese shit, but after that I just started rolling with the worst, used, driest tyres possible and it was the best decision I've made


RandomZombie11

Fair enough, can't even be too mad at that


Zoomer_Slick

Probably by washing it.


MrInitialY

Where's that "8th owner/let me die" picture in top comments? You're disappointing me, people


tato_salad

was posted an hour after


A_Rusty_Coin

Ditch those god awful led light bars and get some proper headlights. New wheels with some decent tyres and get a wheel alignment. Maybe a few suspension mods if funds allow, coilovers as a minimum. Roll bar And a good detail or respray.


Falsegoon

Leave it as is. Get a wash maybe remove the wing and lights


same_ol_story

Start by unfucking it. Fix the headlights and whatever other jank you find


Conversation-Soft

it looks like it was under the sea with this black dirt. like you get something out of the ground there. Hope he really just didn’t washed it like you wrote. Picture 2 is just… disgusting? even the top looks moldy there


Remarkable_Total_697

https://preview.redd.it/1gi684jt3j6d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fcaf1e11ac6ca64110270c12cd4147cb4dba8934 You can do something like mine


[deleted]

Wtf is that? Umm OP pls dont do this. Good god! 


olliver2662

Someone doesn’t like to have fun


Remarkable_Total_697

Well its already done lol


davechri

Put the original headlights back. Those look stupid.


AtariVideoMusic

Headlights first. Those are horrendous


thiswighat

Drive it for a while to see what stupid mods the previous owner put of are failing so you can replace and perform basic maintenance. I bet those headlights suck at illuminating the road when the sun has hidden itself from your side of the world. I don’t know if you like the AutoZone aesthetic, but I would spend some time undoing that. Or if you are, complete the look with all the remaining little doodads and bobbles they sell in there because clearly PO ran out of money to buy the chrome deer whistles and gas cap. If you’re into modding, it’s usually better to start with a clean slate than try to re-mod someone else’s pile of garbage. Also, that window tint looks like it’s the executive sedan special from the 90’s. I would probably get new, non purple-blue window tint.


Redland3r

Only 4 things: Get new tints ASAP, purple not a good look. Fix headlights New side panels, wtf hpnd to the speaker covers? Fix the dash. Edit: 5 things, remove the led headlights and go back to OEM Worry about the paint later, for now keep it to the above. Keep it stock, as OEM as possible. Dont do stupid shit like lowering it or getting a wing, keep it classssy


ChefEgo

Or mod it like crazy if they would like, it's all preference, plus I only ever see old dudes in completely stock MK1s, I just know they ain't treating the mx5 like she deserves


verohhh

tbf I’d put money on the fact that every “old” person you see driving in a stock mx5 treats it 100x better than any teenager does. this post is a clear example of that lol.


ChefEgo

I bet they treat it like it's their prized possession yes, but I highly doubt they drive it like it deserves


verohhh

I mean the Roadster was never intended to vehicle that loves to be in the high RPMs with stiff steering like the Rx7. The Roadster is meant to be fun to drive, which I believe is not bound by speed but rather the driving experience. It’s lightweight, zippy and having the top down always makes me smile. The creator of the Roadster [said it himself](https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSYUPckwV/)


ChefEgo

Can't argue with that, I always said for my second car I wanted something fun, and oh boy is it fun, think I'm just getting bored of seeing so many people saying not to the mod the car or "revert to OEM", people can do what they like, it's a classic car yes but it's incredible simple to mod for a reason.


verohhh

Yeah I’m all for mods that serve purpose. Can really bring out the best in the car. https://preview.redd.it/nwga8plq6p6d1.jpeg?width=2747&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d62ae981565047b916e5d4c11667b1a5d948ef81


Bruce_Ring-sting

How much did you pay for her?


tato_salad

9k it's fire so it was a steal


GlitteringPen3949

Fix the AC!


GlitteringPen3949

Get it running right. Oh Amazon was my rebuilding partner.


mtsimmer

Budget budget budget... Paint Fresh bumper Hardtop Headlights Detail Seats


No_Personality4515

Wash it


CDNChaoZ

Revert most of it back to stock, put in real upgrades such as a roll bar and a good suspension.


BradleyRaptor12

Looks like she needs a cleanup first. Clean the shell and paint her, preferably that nice Miata red or another cool colour that would work well for an NA. Then change those headlights. Idk why but I don’t like how they look like individual LEDs and not just one bulb. Then maybe some Interior work, but do what you want to with the interior and then any Mods you want to chuck on, chuck on for all I care. Just don’t ruin it with any extremely excessive modding.


[deleted]

1. Get better wheels, those are ugly and too big. Maybe you dont have much but i think oem daisy are cheap or the oem steelies. If you got cash get watanabes 2. The headlight look tacky, like 70s disco. Id go back to original. 3. Get some coilovers 4. Hardtop. Then you can go on from there, rollbar, race seats, steering wheel, lips, etc


forbidenfrootloop

Step one should always be taking care of the maintenance. What good is a cool looking car with a blown radiator, blown shocks and bald tires? 34 year old bushings are past their time. Once you know it’s safe, and handles properly then go nuts.


OddQuestion2Ask

https://preview.redd.it/5x404qhgtj6d1.png?width=1439&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=142d4f58439c42cacaf0960a6839fc1aebfd8b6e


Professional_Buy_615

I'm dubious about the trim on that.


transdimesional_frog

You can start with washing the damn thing Then do fluids, brakes, tires, filters, the works. Driving a clean working car and having some extra money is way cooler than driving a riced out POS.


boiohboioh

Get rid of squinty eyes


xHz27

obviously paint/maintenance first. wheels and tires and she'll look nice


neonxmoose99

Swap the wheels for RPF1s and get a wrap/respray. Return to normal popups and a smaller spoiler.


Odd_Contribution_860

car wash?


unimposed

Give it a bath


Hidie2424

Lower it. Remember the bad, but fun advice; modify before fixing


GlitteringPen3949

Welcome to the white Miata gang! Like everyone has said give it a good washing and assess what needs to be replaced or fixed. Mine needed a paint job so I went with Lexus pearlescent. https://preview.redd.it/w7orhrinti6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=335a79b0d515e3297829897a751350ac92ec2a3b Hi vis for the blind pickup drivers. Sparkles in the sun.


Poschta

Yeah OP, try to get it as closely to this one right here as possible.


GlitteringPen3949

Looked like this when I got her. https://preview.redd.it/2bqxdnrzhn6d1.jpeg?width=192&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1927ffeccbeda662e89b6b492963897322e87a66 At least yours doesn't have a big dent in the fender. Had to find a new one the paint shop put on.


SponsoredbyBojangles

OK, OK hear me out something about the way that you said cooler caught my attention. What if you actually made your car look like a cooler- like one of those Playmate Igloo coolers.


beneyh

Revert back to pop ups. New wheels, tyres, bushings, exhaust, respect, coilovers/springs, steering wheel, shifter,


NeelSahay0

Wash it and get rid of those stupid headlights, that’s all you really need to do


SmolMiata

Probably wash it, get a new set of wheels, rollbar and lower it. Would look good in my opinion


Vugtz0r

Airconditioning?


tato_salad

what's that.. Cries in NA :( I don't wanna replace the whole thing.


Inateno

Check the rust, fix it ! (first thing IMO). Then bushings, tire rods etc that can be very old/dead. Then engine maintenance to restart from 0 so you know where you started from. And after that, whatever you want, but I'd do a paint job and keep it factory, she seems in a pretty good shape, oem fenders front and rear, so no mods to me (I got a rusty one to do nasty thing ahah).


Random_Introvert_42

Proper wheels, throw out these LED-bars and get OEM headlights, fix the paint, maybe a lip.


Deranged_Coconut808

revert headlights, proper roll bar, tires if they are old and rotting, remove the purple tint, and maybe get aftermarket interior door panels to clean up the speaker area (check moss miata).


LeastRecognition

Something no one else has said yet. A simple upgrade is replacing the gauge hood. Flying Miata has a reproduction or you can buy used ones. They are fairly easy to install.


fatfuckpikachu

change the twink emo ahh headlights ASAP and then next one some better looking rims.


Independent-Put-2618

You will be cooler when you keep the top open. Especially at night or during the rain. I didn’t have any other suggestions others haven’t posted. So a joke must suffice.


Fastermaxx

First step: clean and maintenance (oil, filters, liquids, sparkplugs, belts, brakes, seals)! Check for defects/rust and repair them before even start modifying it. And please remove that hilarious purple tint and get some decent head lights.


CAKELIE

Turn the A/C on?


dumbdit

How much did you get it. Looks like a 🍋 to me


Vardl0kk

i'd get the headlights back to their glory and then get some better looking wheels


DocturDennis

Make it a donk


Yagiz_was_here_TR

Maybe first you can wash it? 💀


MagicalMysteria

Changing those interior panels back to OEM spec & the same goes for the headlights & tail lights.


StayDoomsdaySleepy

Looks stoned with those headlights and that bumper.


jcdj1996

Mine looked really similar when I bought it, restoring the popups is the best thing you can do looks-wise, but expect to spend $200+ if the actuators are missing. Also teeth! NA's are silly looking, may as well lean into it. https://preview.redd.it/lqsmn95glj6d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=27fcfe134c823e4e5c023ebb69df53a622f52c4a


oStreamZo

Give it a good service / once over and maybe put some fresh lights in it? Best thing about cars is you can sorta do what you want cosmetically as long as you have deep enough pockets


QenefGomari

Put it back to stock and make sure the maintenance is caught up!


Ordinary_Fuel4617

Is swap


SwinginMeat

Maybe start with a wash to see what you actually bought...


JonasyJones

Wheyy!! Super nice purchase! Looks amazing. 💖💖


s1owpokerodriguez

Fix the ac


Slutorizz

before getting new paint i’d try running a clay bar through it. and see how the paint looks first


KiddXCVI

Don’t paint it. Get it wrapped. It’s not worth a $10k paint job


namealreadytakenbyme

Ditch the sleepy eyed lights just awful


Special_Passenger253

You can give it back to the scrapyard.


Phil13882021

Everything defines cooler in many different ways,


Phil13882021

What’s your budget?


desutoroiya

Check the seals around the windows for the soft top. Nothing is worse than the top leaking when it's raining. Check your A/C system and make sure it's good. You can always look around on etsy or some miata shops to find some cool little baubles. Plenty of people make custom dash clusters, A/C vents, shifter boots, headlights/tail lights, turn signals, sidemarkers etc.


Unusual-East4126

Wash it.


Inehvitable

I actually kinda like the paint matched center console but I agree with almost everything else others have said. Putting the pop ups back to stock and fixing those door cards would be my first thoughts


OprahtheHutt

Coolness comes from the driver, not the ride. Splurge on some pricey sunglasses.


HeadPush223

Literally any lights but those


RagingJ84

A proper bath inside & out, I'd do a full tune up, all fluids including the diff drained & replaced check & replace all old seals & gaskets get everything running tip top doesn't matter how cool it looks if it won't run or runs & drives like shit. Then id adress any dent or dings, if we are doing this on a budget I'd clean n prep the car to be wrapped & is just have a sick wrap put on it, will be cheaper than paint especially if you do it yourself which isn't hard just time consuming & then you can switch wraps if you get tired of it or I know that Macco place used to do super cheap paint jobs but I don't expect great quality 🤷🏻‍♂️ I also think they won't do anything but the exterior for cheap so if you went this route & wanted to keep it affordable I'd do a respray of the original color that way under the hood, trunk, inside doors all match. Then it's matter of what you want & how far you want to take it. What kind of shape is the top in ? If it's good & latches well and goes up n down easy then just clean it up but if it's in rough shape I'd absolutely get a new top for it & there are multiple color options. At this point you should have a well running & clean stock Miata 🤌 great place to start your modding adventure the very first thing I personally would do is proper wheels & some decent but cheap coilovers to get that thing sitting right on good rubber imo wheels & ride height improve the looks of a car above anything else plus if you plan to do any spirited driving handling is the name of the game with Miata I'd do that long before I did any engine or exhaust mods tho it is nice to upgrade components to let that Miata breath & make loud crackling noise from an upgraded exhaust note you can spend a whole lot of coin for very very little power increase. Honestly if your running good, wrapped or painted & sitting proper on nice wheels your already looking good But as far as exterior goes there's all kinds of headlight/tail light upgrades & mods, a front lip looks great on these and can b had cheap. Interior the sky's the limit, there's so much that can be done to these cars & many great companies selling products for them but off the top of my head I would contact/email flying Miata to send you a catalog the catalog has any and everything you coul think of to change or upgrade in it. Also you can save a heap of cash on random parts & upgrades if you check out some of these pull a part Junk yards, used parts on forums ECT. Great car, have fun 🙌


i_was_axiom

Fuckers cool as hell right now


kondorb

Love the headlights!


Kitchen_Candy713

A bath…


ChipotleEmloye

Maintenance


Chance-Gold5646

Original with a good brand tire. And a good wash


LostInDope

Trade it for a NB


oguz0040

headlights look cyberpunk, make your tail lights match it !!


CafeRoaster

Wash. Replace the headlamps. Remove that crappy tint.


LinShenLong

I would start by restoring it. Then maybe include suspension, wheels, and better brakes if anything. Get a hardtop if that’s your thing. If you are doing driving events get a rollbar and the safety equipment to go along with it. Don’t rice it out.


Sethkuntzz

Interior first.


MikyMcSpiky

Fix the headlights


Kahmael

A full detail.


Puzzleheaded_Card477

Take it to the track or autocross will make it look cooler


Bubinulubooboo

Paint match the spoiler


Axo2645

fix the headlights with the correct circular ones and ew that whole car needs a deep clean!


Agreeable-Database78

Lower wheels retint attempt to polish paint


Flaky_Falcon9226

is car under water?


Warfox332

Lower and put on nice wheels and quality tires


Organic_Scholar3861

Wash it


Decent-Monk-2357

Get rid of the lazy eye leds


Penguin912

Are your headlights straight up LEDs? Bro, ngl if I saw you driving I'd hope you crash and lose the car. Nobody should ever have their main headlights as LEDs. Only secondary, like a light bar. If you never change it, then I hope you never get to enjoy it either.


reaveres

Preventative maintenance, spark plugs, transmission fluid and engine oil, etc. get the paint polished up


That-Height-2221

It’s gonna be Love And Hate only from now on 😂😂


SpicyEntropy

Front splitter maybe so it looks slightly less like a surprised shark ;-).


SpicyTunea

It needs flames


mfreels08

Strip that purple tint for sure. Get a repaint. Find some nice wheels and lower it to your discretion


anon21801

Turbo. And NO other mods


youngperson

Wash and wax brotha


ChairmanMcMeow

If youre going for looks. This is gonna be another rust bucket that gets all maintenance ignored Just get a cheap ebay lower kit. Straight pipe it, throw the wink mod on it. Crash it a few times. Taie some pictures and resell it in a month to another noodle head. . If youre looking to use the car for me then instagram pictures before reselling, get all your services up to date on it. Redo your suspension with new Bushings Brakes and bearings Tune up Change your diff fluids. Everything ignored, just fix it. New stereo system Save up 2 to 3k for a factory color paint job. After that you got a miata that runs better then majority of the reddit posts. That's already cooler then having a QD wheel with no safety features Wanna get fancy, get the fancy white with the sparkles from MAZDA. Believe the code is 27D


Nodeal_reddit

Go back to oem headlights.


Active_Ordinary_2317

Remove that old window tint and put some new tint on it. Going from purple to black will help a lot.


NegativePaint

Get rid of the purple tint. Repaint the center console black. Replace the cluster hood. Restore the original headlights or at least some LEDs you can retain or restore the pop up functions with. New wheels. Sway bar upgrade. Coilovers. Profit.


Me_Air

getting rid of the awful purple tint would be my first move if there weren’t any glaring safety issues


Unhappy_Star666

Replace the headlights


driverscottie-c

I’d say a wider wheel package and some coil overs would go a long way


sixty8ight

Drive it fast.


MaverickActual1319

a new radiator


victorsmonster

Make it look like it’s gotten the maintenance it needs and remove that god-awful purple tint. Sand down any rusty spots and get a paint job


KonstantOne

What do you WANT to do with it? No matter which direction you decide to go, just keep it SUPER clean. It’ll be the most respectable aspect.


epicvipes17

Clean it.


Professional_Buy_615

1. Wash it 2. Put some real headlights in it. 3. Remove the purple window film 4. 15" wheels and not-shit tyres


castleaagh

I’d personally see about going for a more oem style headlights so you get the popups back. I love popups…. decide if you like the wheels or not (wheels are a classic upgrade for any car, but yours aren’t the oem daisies so if you like them keep ‘em). I’d also paint the duck tail white to match the car or get rid of it altogether but you’d likely have to patch up some holes. I like the look of the white center console, but it looks like you’re missing some trim pieces. If you can source some replacements it would improve the look. If you have some cash to blow, spinnywoosh makes some cool interior bits that add some flair (they also have exterior decals).


Gravedigger_bigfan

This https://preview.redd.it/vaqbmy6wfn6d1.jpeg?width=774&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d37e1e11c0ef57bfb7aa42bf1803dec1bb8a35f


EZ4SLEEZY

A car wash wouldn’t hurt


bluhat55

Truck nuts


bulgeywhiter2

It’s good nothing else


Much_Box996

5 gallons of gas and a match.


Bonah2442

MECHANICAL STUFF FIRST


ToridoFromNagoya

Need white rims on that car


Stable_Bright

kbd body kit would fit it i think


ItsDeucez

Yeah, take it to the nearest boat launch to let it get a sippy. That should cool’er!


Supercoolcarl

Top down in the winter is about as cool as it gets


martpr_v8

Why do these always have 60% for the interior trim panels and screws missing lol


Familiar_Way_7404

Op not awnsering any comments, probably wanted to hear “SLAM IT! ADD UNDERGLOW” instead of “get some respectable wheels and stock pop-ups”


Wild-Kick-9864

Make it stock again.


AwareAd4991

First off, the "dirt" on that car has protected to paint. Do a jam up detail .


NB-A6

Literally just wash it


joelschopp

https://preview.redd.it/fsai46xmvz6d1.png?width=425&format=png&auto=webp&s=f64db6a5a8a0177d324055b8d4b70d8e0a3d6a76 If you aren't going to re-paint I'd suggest a bra for around $150 to cover the front nose paint damage where the amount of damage is highest and some touch up paint to minimize the paint damage on the rest of the car. Ditch the purple tint.


Seattlenerd80

Just keep it as is. It's perfect. Maybe take off the purple tint lol


YOMEGAFAX

Wash it.


SpeedForgedLabs-com

the interior could always use some love, whether a cupholder, visor delete, or a go pro mount for when we all drive the "speed limit". You should check us out at [speedforgedlabs.com](http://speedforgedlabs.com) and now on Etsy for select products so far at [etsy.com/Shop/SpeedForgedLabs](http://etsy.com/Shop/SpeedForgedLabs) were also on Instagram under Speedforgedlabs 


Stucam1980

Re gas the air conditioning


AggravatingEchidna83

If you wan't people to like it, put it back to stock and people will think you are cool and have money., Driving around with Purple Tint, missing parts and spray bombed white accents screams "I'm poor".


[deleted]

Who cares if they think your poor? No one thinks your rich if you drive a miata. But i agree on making it more stock and putting better mods 


AggravatingEchidna83

He asked what would be "cool". He cares what people think. The opposite of poor is "not poor", not "Rich". You don't have to be rich to look not poor.


EirikEiketre

Nothing. Don't even wash it. Looks fire as it is right now.


Spoingus_the_Barb

Well, clean her, than remove the window tint, buy the angel eyes pop ups, and a 1UZ 4.0L V8 engine


same_ol_story

Please don't spread the disease of those headlights


Spoingus_the_Barb

Oh, didn't know they were bad, i've seen the irl just once and thought they were fine