Spec Miata: Which Should You Race?

There are a number of factors to consider before buying your Spec Miata... Which generation of the Miata do you want? Are you planning to build your own race car or have one prepped for you? And if it's the latter, how do you choose a builder? It can all seem a bit daunting, but here's a quick rundown of considerations to help you get started.

Build or buy? If you choose to build your own Spec Miata, expect there to be some big money items. The most obvious one is going to be the car itself. You want to try and find a donor car with a decent motor and tranny. (One with a hardtop would be an even better find!) Then you will have to think about buying the suspension package, having a roll cage installed and some spare wheels for your rain tires.Ideally, you want a car that hasn't been in any bad wrecks, doesn't have any rust (cars from southern states tend to have fewer rust spots because they don't go through winter driving conditions), and has relatively low mileage. You also want a decent motor because even though you'll probably have to rebuild it eventually, the better engine you have to begin with, the better off you'll be. Finding the right Miata is actually really similar to what you'd look for in a street car. And since you'll be building the car yourself, you can gauge what issues you're willing to inherit based on your mechanical knowledge and your budget.