1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review
Price: $4,995

Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What’s new
The love affair begins. 116 horsepower from 1.6-liter inline four. Driver airbag is standard. Available in red, white, blue and silver.
For sale near Philadelphia, PA
14 listings
- 233,744 miles
- No accidents, 5 owners, personal use only
- 4cyl
- Jeffrey's Auto World (9 mi away)
Close
Located in Rockledge, PA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (22 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JM1NA3517L0156644
Stock: 025-063
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 07-09-2025- $13,995fair price$10 below market
- 52,829 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 4cyl
- Speed Global (27 mi away)
Close
Located in Wilmington, DE
One owner! Mechanically flawless
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (22 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JM1NA3517L0125278
Stock: 125278
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 04-25-2025
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Pennsylvania
$161/mo for MX-5 Miata Base
MX-5 Miata Base
vs
$170/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Mazda MX-5 Miata Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
A Great Car with one potential problem
4.5 out of 5 starsrbarrwest, 04/04/2014
1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2dr Convertible
A great car!!!! I have had mine since December of 1989 and have 115,000 miles on it.
But as my wife points out, it's hell when your mid-life crisis car is 24 years old!
There is one problem to watch out for if you buy a '90.
Some of them have the infamous crankshaft problem.
It usually appears after the timing belt has been replaced and additional miles put on the car.
Mine appeared at … about 95000 miles.
The problem has to do with the design of the crankshaft nose, keyway, cam drive sprocket and pulley bolt.
The key was designed too short.
For a good discussion of this problem see www.miata.net/garage/crankshaft.html.
I had to replace the engine with one from a '92.
Love love love this car
5 out of 5 starspawprintboxers, 10/01/2014
1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2dr Convertible
I bought my 1990 just 2 years ago. It was an early Christmas present to myself. I had admired the Miatas but just never bought one.
Believe me I am making up for lost time. Excellent commuter car, great gas mileage, easy to park, zips all over, looks fabulous and I always have a smile on my face.
I gave it new rims and a new top. I have only had to replace a few minor parts that 25 … years dictated needing to be replaced. But nothing major at all. This is the little car that next quits. I am in love !!
Update: I sold my 1990 after 3 years to another Miata lover. I bought a 2008 Miata. Love the Mazda cars but just wanted a bit more power items. The 1990 was FUN car but it got hard to commute with a stick shift. Now I have an automatic but still get the zoom zoom fun.
Miata is the best damn car I have ever owned
4.63 out of 5 starsmy90miata, 04/14/2011
1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2dr Convertible
Bought this car with 182,000 on it and I have never looked back.
What a great car.
Not real fast but has plenty of giddyup and the handling is awesome.
Very inexpensive to fix because there are so many still on the road.
I live in Florida and the top is down on a daily basis.
Got some wear on the top, but still not a lot out of the wallet to replace.
It's like a go-cart on the … highway.
Fantabulous! :-)
The Mazda Miata: THE Best Car Ever Built
5 out of 5 starsJC-MX5, 11/14/2010
1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2dr Convertible
Since buying my 1990 Miata, I've been nothing short of satisfied. This fun, 2-door rag top is great from every angle and will leave a smile on your face long after you've stopped driving. It's reliable, fuel efficient (Mine sips to the tune of 36 mpg highway) and the most fun you can have in a car for the least amount of money spent. I recommend it to everyone, literally. I have yet to … find a fault in my Miata and I don't expect to any time soon. After 20 years and 90k miles, she still has as much bite as the day she was born.
1990 MX-5 Miata Highlights
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 24 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $161/month |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver3 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
People who viewed this also viewed
5.0 average Rating out of 2 reviews. |
Starting at $37,550 |
5.0 average Rating out of 4 reviews. |
Starting at $24,150 |
3.7 average Rating out of 3 reviews. |
Starting at $31,920 |
Related Used 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Alfa Romeo Giulia 2020 Review
- Volvo S60 2021 Review
- Audi A3 2020 Review
- Mercedes Benz Gle Class 2020 Review
- Kia Cadenza 2020 Review
Shop similar models
- Used Mazda Mx-5-miata-rf 2025
- Used Fiat 124-Spider 2020
- Used Chevrolet Corvette 2025
- Used Mclaren 750S-Spider 2024
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Mazda MX-5 Miata 2010
- Used Mazda MX-5 Miata 2011
- Used Mazda MX-5 Miata 2012
- Used Mazda MX-5 Miata 2013
- Used Mazda MX-5 Miata 2014
- Used Mazda MX-5 Miata 2015
- Used Mazda MX-5 Miata 2016
- Used Mazda MX-5 Miata 2017
- Used Mazda MX-5 Miata 2018
- Used Mazda MX-5 Miata 2019
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2025 GMC Sierra 3500HD
- 2024 Range Rover Evoque
- BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe 2025
- New GMC Sierra 1500
- 2024 Jaguar F-TYPE
- 2025 5 Series
- Lamborghini Revuelto Price
- New Audi S8
- Land Rover Defender 2024
- 2026 Lexus GX 470 News
Research other models of Mazda
- 2025 Mazda CX-5
- New Mazda MX-5 Miata
- Mazda 3 2025
- 2025 Mazda CX-50
- 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
- 2025 3
- 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata
- New Mazda CX-5
- Mazda Protege 2024
- 2025 CX-90
Other models
- Used Lincoln MKS in Oshkosh, WI 2016
- Used Hyundai Accent in Lynwood, CA 2023
- Used BMW X5-Edrive in Fayetteville, NC 2016
- Used Mclaren 600Lt-Spider in Brattleboro, VT 2020
- Used Mercedes-Benz Cla-Class in Mansfield, OH 2025
- Used Jeep Grand-Cherokee-4Xe in Windsor, CA 2025
- Used Mitsubishi Montero in Venice, CA 2006
- Used Toyota Crown-Signia in Jasper, AL 2025
- Used Mazda Mazdaspeed-Mx-5-Miata in Ambler, PA 2005
- Used Cadillac Ats-Coupe in Tiffin, OH 2019