but the PCM includes the engine control unit so if the update was to the engines brain, it would affect both manual and automatic cars.

Also, according to the internet, drive train just refers to the the components that get power to the ground (transmission, clutch, driveshaft, differential, axles, etc) whereas…

(Mazda recommends premium gas on the 2018 model year, but the minimum requirement is regular. That doesn’t stop my mom from pumping the more expensive gas into her 2017 Miata, for whatever reason.)

No, I think you are right. But I do believe a PCM encompasses both systems (engine and transmission). Sorry for the confusion. :)

According to the internet, PCM encompasses both the ECU and TCU. 

Yeah, but the Miata being a open top car has really hurt it’s popularity in the trackday/race community. /s

Yep. No point fretting if it’ll match, because it never did! ;)

Truth. 

Because you know it isn’t out there :p 

Find me a clean NA8 with under 60k miles for $2300 and ill buy it today. Serious. 

You definitely did deny it, in your initial comment, you made it sound like $300 is what this car was worth. 

And nobody is suggesting that you shouldn’t spend the money fixing it up right, but even so, $2000 is too much. I have spent a LOT of money on my miata, but mines a “racecar”. I also spent $3500 on an imperfect 95 with 82k miles and people were bugging the hell out of the seller to try and beat me to it.

The market…

Yes, Ebay and Craigslist want a premium for Miata body parts. Definitely look on facebook or a Miata forum for your used parts. Street price is usually 50% or less of whatever they are asking on Ebay. 

Can I tell you a secret?

A used front bumper is about $100, this car is black, which is one of the most common Miata colors so it’ll be easy to find a color correct bumper. The light is like $20. These plastic windows are a common failure point. run through the basic maintenance items, timing belt, water pump, radiator, fluids, accessory…

Yeah, but it’s a 22 year old Miata. You can find parts for these cars for cheap. You could have this back in perfect shape for less than $500. And your point about it needing mechanical work doesn’t hold water either, if it’s always true, then you can’t add in that cost for this car, and not for other miatas of this…

Where are you seeing $2000 worth of work? 

Honda Element would be my choice. A miata is fun, but it’s not a great “get outta town car”. An element is a good all around and quirky road trip car. 

I dunno, it’s pretty cool to watch them learn and explore the world. I am pretty excited for when my son is old enough to be into legos and R/C cars and video games and stuff like that. The thing that makes me the happiest though is seeing pure joy on his face. The kind that adult humans have learned to suppress for…

I mean...people don’t really need life hacks for the enjoyable part of parenting... 

carinsurancequotes.net

Yeah...I dunno about that list, that’s just like, their opinion man.