Help Me Make Some Decisions Please.
 

New guy here, well, if you consider 66 years old a new guy. Last fun car I had was a 2005 STI heavily modified at TopSpeed in Atlanta. Doug did a great job of tuning, turned 1:40 second laps at Barbor track, stock tires and suspension. Have always auto x'd and had fun there to....anyway, to cut to the chase.

Step son has a 2001 Miata convertible, 101,000 miles. I don't know much about them, always thought about one I could strip down and auto x. This isn't it. It is an automatic. :D The car is in beautiful shape except for a few drivers side lower rust bubbles on the sill and small area on front of left, rear fender. The passenger side has a small...4" square kinda rusted area. No holes. The rest of the body is excellent, lines are good, top good, heated glass, Bose, did I mention automatic :o Interior, trunk, dash, doors, etc. all look new. There is some crinkly wear to the brown leather or whatever is in it. Small tear, 3" in drivers seat bottom. Brown inside, top and British racing green outside. Paint about 95%. Some small chipping on nose due to road rocks. No big dents, only one or two small dings. AC works as does cruise, etc. Everything works, blinkers etc. Needs right front fog light, it is cracked.

The car doesn't drip oil, has had the brakes, suspension, timing belt, water pump, radiator flushed, etc. by Mazda not long ago. An expensive process according to his records. He isn't a hot rod like me. OK, the auto is killing the sale. It works fine, crisp shifts and people look good in the car. No hardtop, new space saver spare. Jack, everything there, new battery. The engine compartment looks pretty good, clean but some surface rust at a few spots. Bolt on front of PS, some on face of AC pulley, light rust on a couple of other connectors and some on the strut tower. Nothing that is about the break through. Surface only and not a lot in my opinion.

He wants $3,250 for the car. Tires are 50% tread. Carpet good. No smoke, no oil burning. All the kids love it....except for the auto. That is a killer for you young peeps I know.

So, a little advice please. I'm thinking about purchasing. I think I want to upgrade the stock wheels to something with finer spokes, new tires, add roll cage ( are those functional), a chrome luggage rack. Aftermarket exhaust, possibly new seats or covers. get the rust spots professionally repaired and the front bumper painted to remove the rock dings. I can tear the car apart and do anything mechanical if I need to so some stuff I'm not too concerned about. What do you guys think and are there other things I should consider. Anyway to improve performance but in a reasonable manner. I'm not interested in big turbos and big fuel pumps/injectors for this one. Thanks M1911

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It is this color

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y66...M/IMG_1895.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y66...M/IMG_1916.jpg

Engine

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y66...M/IMG_1880.jpg

Worst rusted area, passenger side. The drivers side has about a 12" long of rust also at the base of the rocker panel. So, two rocker panels and one front of the wheel well. I don't see much rust under the car or on critical suspension components. Anything I should be looking for in particular?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y66...M/IMG_1876.jpg

Drivers side, about 12" long area. The rotors all look like new, the car drives well, stops well.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y66...M/IMG_1915.jpg

I have not inspected the underside of the towers but they sound solid when tapped.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y66...M/IMG_1889.jpg

Are there any structural body problems I should be concerned with regarding the rocker panel rust. Looking underside the frame I don't see anything of concern. Recommendations on parts suppliers? Thanks.