quote:

Originally posted by RNshooter:
http://www.motortrend.com/news...he-downshift-240445/

You can thank me later

Bruce

Flyin' Miata has been doing V8 retrofits for years in Miatas. The problem is you need to own a Miata then give them $50k

Z4 M is on my short list of desired project cars

I'll put a shameless plug in for a Porsche Boxster.
One of the best handling cars ever made with enough HP for any legal road you want to drive on.
The Boxster S has more HP, bigger brakes, tires etc...

I had a 2001 LS Miata (6 spd.) that was an absolute joy to drive!

Sold it only because of family needs / lifestyle.

IMHO, the Miata, at least then, was THE perfect balance in terms of the car's front-to-rear weight ratio, power, drivability, cost of ownership (purch price, insurance, sticky tires, maintenance, etc.)

I usually drove that car like I stole it. Easy to shift up to redline in early gears without having to worry too much about drawing too much attention.

Snickety, snick snick snick, up thru the gearbox - so much fun!!

I raced in a bunch of auto-x's with it, stock class, and learned a lot, had a ton of fun and made new friends!

DIY mods are also relatively easy to do and affordable (intake, headers, exhaust, trim jewelry, etc.) if you are into that.

As some will say, "It is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow."

If you go with Miata, Miata.net is the go-to forum. I also belonged to lvmoc.net (lehigh valley miata owner's club) for many years.

A Miata may not carry the big badge panache factor as some of the other brands mentioned here, but it is a damn fun car, and very capable car to drive!

Good luck with your decision!

Rob
__________

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cookster,

Drove the new Miata, last year. LOVED the car, but simply too small for me at 6'-3". Plus so little storage space I couldn't get by with using it when I shoot trap or especially LR rifle. NO room for all the junk.

Between the BMW and Miata.....go MIATA. Lighter weight, more of a traditional roadster than the overweight Bimmer.

I owned and raced two Miatas. I currently have a STi and go through waves of wanting a Miata on a regular basis. Miatas are affordable in every way. I do like the BMW Z3 and would buy one. If you are going to hammer on it I would go with the Miata if you are worried about costs if not go with the BMW.

Get an older Miata and drop a 289 in it. Have more fun all day long than a barrel of monkeys.

How tall are you? I'm 6'3" with long (36" inseam) legs.

A friend offered me a ride in his Miata. I could not fold my legs enough to sit in the passenger seat.

I also had the same problem when I was thinking about a new XKE back in the early 1960s. I wound up with a Porsche 356B, which had more than ample leg room for the driver.

I've had numerous sportscars over the years starting with a '58 Triumph TR3A with it's 121.5 cu in engine bored out to 150 and the SU carbs replaced with Weber sidedrafts among other tweaks.

To the point of this thread I had and thoroughly enjoyed a '96 Miata and currently own a '03 S2000 I bought new. As an aside I "auditioned" all the then available convertible two seat sportscars and for me the Honda won with the Boxster coming in second. It is a true enthusiasts car with its rear wheel drive, 50-50 weigh distribution, and oversteer handling... not for the careless or novices. Mike (mcrimm) is spot on about the joy the S2000 provides. Only error he makes is about stating red is fastest. Not true. Sebring Silver with all red leather interior trounces all comers! LOL

Both the Miata and Honda were/are utterly reliable. The S2000 was a significant step up from the earlier Miata. The new model Miatas are attractive and worthy of a good "look see" and appear to still be the best bang for buck in the sportscar category.

Those who decry lack of torque and 0-60 speed miss the whole point of these two seaters. It's the joy of their handling in twisties with the top down that makes them special! That said my S2000 is not only faster in the curves than "normal" cars but was straight line quicker than my '73 Dodge Challenger!

1st Generation Miata's are inexpensive, inexpensive to maintain, and easy to maintain. God Bless

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
currently own a '03 S2000 I bought new.

And, being an AP1, you get that 9k redline

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
currently own a '03 S2000 I bought new.

And, being an AP1, you get that 9k redline

Damn straight! hahahaha

Take a drive in the Subaru BRZ. It's worth a look.

Bruce

Miata = always working
Z4 = usually broken

quote:

Originally posted by RNshooter:
Take a drive in the Subaru BRZ. It's worth a look.

Bruce

The BRZ is a fun little car, but, not a convertible.

Youngest son has had two Z4's. They have been solid.

RMD

quote:

Originally posted by muddle_mann:
Miata = always working
Z4 = usually broken

They are actually considered some of the most reliable bimmers out there so not sure where you are seeing that.

We own a 2008 MX5; and we have a friend with a 2009 Z4. We can tell you that the Mazda is far cheaper to keep and operate. The Z4 is more powerful and has a higher "cool factor." Our MX5 has 146K and has been absolutely bullet proof.

We trudge on.

I'm working on a contact that knows of a 91 Miata with 31k miles that may be available. It's a few states away, but maybe worth the flight. The guys is said to be meticulous, so it sounds cherrie.

NO IDEA how I could/should value such a unicorn. -- Pointers there?

At least, I've no idea on one with a manual transmission. If it had an automatic, I'd have no problem valuing it.... $0.00 .

Another vote for the Honda S2000. I have had 2 of them. I used to run track days with the Porsche and BMW clubs (They would rent out racetracks and if they didn't fill up they'd invite other clubs to come in and help defray costs.) Usually by the end of the day it was just a couple of S2000's and Miatas going lap after lap, all the Porsches and BMW's parked/towed in the pit vomiting forth various fluids. I have also owned 2 variations of the 911. I doubt I'll ever buy another Porsche.