At $10,800, Is This 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata Shinsen Edition a Fresh Deal?

A 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata Shinsen Edition is up for grabs on Craigslist in California’s Bay Area with an asking price of $10,800.

Mazda built around 1,500 Shinsen Edition Miatas in 2003, each finished in Titanium Silver Metallic with a blue canvas roof, matching blue upholstery, and a body kit wrapping all four corners.

Under the hood sits the NB-generation Miata’s 1.8-liter DOHC inline-four, rated at 142 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque, mated to a five-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive.

The Shinsen package also added cruise control, power windows and locks, and power steering as standard.

This example rolls in with 151,000 miles and a service history that includes brake pads and rotors, spark plugs and coils, fluid changes, a resealed cam cover, new front struts, and replacements for the water pump, starter, and alternator. The ad does not mention whether the clutch disc, pressure plate, or timing belt have been renewed.

The seller notes the factory 16-inch alloys show curb rash, the cloth top is a replacement with a glass rear window, and the cabin remains largely stock except for an updated JVC stereo.

The car carries a clean title, a Carfax report, current registration through September, and a smog certificate in hand.

The big question: does the Shinsen’s rarity and freshened maintenance justify the $10,800 tag, or is this asking price a stretch for a 21-year-old roadster with 151,000 miles?