There's a good article on buying a used Miata at miata.net. Further, I
would have any used car checked out by a mechanic familiar with the
model. He'll tell you about hoses and belts, as well as brake pads,
compression, and the rest. 75k is nothing on a Miata, as long as it's
never been seriously overheated or run too low on oil. It will probably
need shocks, though.

If the maintenance is truly up to date, all you'll need for a long trip
is to make sure there's enough sunblock in the glovebox. My '94 has 130k
on it, and I'd drive it across the continent tomorrow after checking the
tire pressures and the washer fluid level. (I know there's enough
sunblock.)

Your post caught my eye: I *just* bought a '92 with 65,000 mi, garaged,
well-cared for. The owner wanted $3,500, I offered $2,500, Kelley Blue
Book said it should be $2,800-$2,900. We agreed to $3,000. The car is
in mint condition -- not a ding or a scratch, the top is in great
shape. It, too, had the 60K service including timing belt. The tires
have a couple thousand miles on them. It has AC. Really only had it out
once with the top down but already I think it's going to be a fun car.

   For the last seven years, I have owned a 1990 Miata that I bought when
it had about 90,000 miles on it.  Before I bought it, I had it checked out,
and was told that it had two problems: there was an oil leak and the backup
light switch needed to be replaced.  I negotiated a price reduction, and
bought it.

   The car has been outstandingly reliable, and now has 137,000 miles on
it.  For about five years, I had no repairs on it at all, apart from a
second replacement of the backup light switch (apparently because the first
replacement had not been done properly).  The first major repair expenditure
I had was a clutch replacement, and then I had the timing belt replaced last
year.  I am particularly astonished at the life of the tires and the
battery.  Neither has been replaced since I bought the care, and the tires
still have plenty of tread on them.

   In short, I would recommend the car without hesitation.  You could have
the 92 Miata checked out and make any repairs they suggest.  One thing you
may want to consider is the condition of the convertible top.  The one on
mine is still in good condition -- partly I assume because I use the hardtop
during the winter -- but convertible tops are expensive.

   I don't understand about the AC.  I thought they all had AC.

   As for long trips, I don't think Miatas are good for this.

Big Bertha Thing positron
Cosmic Ray Series
Possible Real World System Constructs
http://web.onetel.com/~tonylance/positron.html
Access page JPG 56K Image
Astrophysics net ring Access site
Newsgroup Reviews including talk.politics.guns

Round photographic plates.

Caption;-
Another pair of tracks, arising simultaneously,
from a common point. The two particles responsible,
for these tracks, produce equal specific ionizations.
The one leaving the track of greater curvature is an electron
of 27 MeV energy. The one leaving the track of smaller curvature
was apparently left, by a particle not then known to exist,
a particle identical with the electron,
except that it carries a positive charge. It is a 450 MeV positron.

From a book by
J.D.Stranathan Ph.D.,
Professor of Physics and Chairman of
Department, University of Kansas.
The "Particles" of Modern Physics.
(C) Copyright The Blakston Co. 1942

Big Bertha Thing forward

Friends and family postings are included in the category,
forwarded by you from the internet, to the internet,
First Class users or conferences.
The same terms and conditions apply.
There is no student or accademic only exclusion clause,
written or implied in them. You are personaly responsible for them.

On the question of from address, a new mail item,
in reply with quote format, either from you or the conference moderator
will do. For the subject line use Fwd: prefix.

Occams' Razor says the simplest explanation is usually right.

(C) Copyright Tony Lance 1997.
To comply with my copyright,
please distribute complete copies, free of charge.

Tony Lance
tonylance@uku.co.uk

Big Bertha Thing chronicles

Did you hear the one about the chinese historian, Wan Thing the Just,
also called Just Wan Thing?
1. He does not exist.
2. He is a contradiction in terms.
3. He is a student of mythology.
4. You cannot write history by enforcing it.
5. Unofficial history is not an executable offense.
6. The errors and omissions page is bigger than the book.
7. He is a storyteller of the chinese diaspora.
8. Politics makes poor history.
9. He is a bigger liar than I am.
10.The father of lies, wishes he had written it.
11.The ancient greeks had the decency to call it myths and legends.
12.It is a 6000 year long political diatribe.
13.He invented '1984 newspeak.'
14.His name is mandarin, princeling and warlord.