Car, ship or buy local?

I don't think everyone agrees with the advice to ship your vehicle from the mainland. There are differing opinions and several different angles to look at. First of all, if you don't own your vehicle outright (no car loan), you will have trouble getting permission from your lender to take the car off the mainland. Second, shipping a car is fairly expensive -- anywhere from $800 to $1500 depending on various factors including size of vehicle, carrier you use and port of departure. Yes, a car assembled in the US will have a lower tax rate, so that is a factor. You can identify where your car was assembled by the VIN number. The local VI papers list cars for sale every week and from my perspective the prices don't look bad compared to prices in Scottsdale, Arizona. But island cars have lived their lives going up and down steep hills and being exposed to corrosive salt sea air, warm sun and frequent showers, mud and potholes. So an island car with the same number of miles as the same model and year stateside car will have a lot more wear and tear to show for it (especially if the stateside car came from somewhere relatively flat and dry). For that reason, a car that has been recently brought on island from the mainland will frequently pull a higher price in the market. One important factor is whether you expect to stay on island a long time and whether you would be thinking of taking your car back with you later. It's just as expensive to take your car back to the states as it is to bring it to the VI's, and it will be less attractive to resell. Another consideration is the kind of car you have. Something that would bottom out easily on hilly terrain or doesn't have enough power to climb a steep grade might not be a good choice to bring with you even if it was built last year and you own it free and clear.

I'm planning to bring a Mazda Miata over , good idea or not?

Lots of Miatas here. Looks like the perfect car! If it's all yours and you really want it, bring it. You can get top dollar for it if you want to leave it behind.
Ronnie

I would agree with Ronnie as long as you are moving to STT. Miatas ride low, but they have a very short wheelbase, which helps (except for potholes). If the island you are considering is STT or possibly STX it is probably fine. STJ is a little more challenging. Also remember that while convertibles are popular in the islands, showers sometimes come on quickly, so think ahead.