Mazda Miata: Oh the anguish of buying. Advice needed.

Please be patient. I know I've posted before, but I'm looking for the
voices of experience. I continue to try to be patient and look for a good
deal on a Miata like so many others have described here. I've found the
following in classifieds that look interesting:

1999, garage kept, single owner with 73,000 mi., asking price 10,400

2000 LS, not garage kept, but only 22,000 mi., but multiple owners, asking
price 12,980

Same color. My first inclination is to want to look at the 2000 with the
lower miles. Then, I think about the reliability I read about in the group
and think that 73,000 may not be anything. Therefore, saving $2000 before
even trying to negotiate may be a real deal. Especially if it has been
garage kept and only one owner.

I guess I don't know if there any real differences between the 1999 and the
2000 that I should be concerned about, if all things were equal. What do
you think? Obviously, I would have to consider the condition of the
exterior and interior, but beyond the obvious wear and tear things, what
should I be concerned with?

Thanks,

David

Don't trust the ebay prices on automobiles. I just bought a Miata off an
eBay ad and made the deal offline. The guy wanted to get some feedback so
he closed the auction early and the ending price showed $1300 less than what
I actually paid for the car. After talking to the dealer it sounds like
most of his deals are done "offline" and closed early like this. I would
check the local listings in the paper and see what market value is in your
area. Check with your bank or credit union too. They usually have somebody
in the loan department that is up to speed on vehicle prices. Personally I
think buying the car is the cheapest part of the miata experience. It's all
the accessories that I want to buy that's going to put me in the poor house
;-) Happy 4th

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