My Mazdaspeed Miata is less than half what my S costs to insure; I pay 48 per month for full coverage on the S, no deductible, and 19/mo for my MSM, same coverage. There's some evidence for you. It happens more often than not...

 

You think your experience ("evidence") is conclusive in saying that the S2K insurance is always much higher than a Miata? SO many variables to consider. Food for thought for you, you anecdotal queen. I pay 420 dollars every 6 months for full coverage and a 500 dollar deductible and I'm 19 years old. People that claim insurance is outrageous on S2K's have NOT done all the research necessary to find great deals (I admit it is high, as it should be) and probably haven't thoroughly researched other sport car insurance costs for relative pricing which matters here. S2k insurance is high, but to claim with such dogmatic evidence, that s2k's are MUCH (your example was nearly twice as much, which is a bit "perfect" for your ignorant bashing) higher than a sporty rear wheel drive convertible of EQUAL value (who knows all your variables involved with your conclusion) is absurd. That being said, I stated that I "doubt" (I acknowledge being corrected with the viewing of somewhat fairly scientific data, none of which is offered here)that it is that MUCH more. I also just looked up some insurance pricing online using state farm (this proves nothing) and the premiums were actually pretty close. S2K being higher, not MUCH higher (subjective but being 120 more every 6 months can't be reason to shoo someone away from a car). To the OP, miata is a great car, but don't waste your time and energy with the buying and selling process and get what you want (and seem to be able to afford). Good luck with your purchase, let us know .
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You're so cute. I remember what it was like to be on mommy and daddy's insurance plan at 19 too. Enjoy that while it lasts.

 

You can get right into the S with some decent driver training. The biggest thing to learn is how RWD acts. A maita would be a great cheap platform to learn on

 

Get a used Miata (and get a prepurchase inspection), consider a roll bar for it. Any girl who can't appreciate the man who enjoys a Miata is probably not worth dating anyway (and lets be honest, most think the S2000 IS a Miata). Insurance will still be higher than a an old Civic, but that's a cost you have to pay for a 2 seater with a soft top.

The S2000 isn't some beastly car that's hard to drive, but the difficulty of handling it increases rapidly as you get near the limits, and sometimes all it takes is a little mid corner bump to bring the limit closer than you though it was.

Knowing what to do with the throttle, brakes, and wheel becomes critical in that situation, and getting it wrong, especially with the higher limits of the S2000, will be no fun for you (or your folks). The Miata can still bite, so have respect for it (learning to respect the limits is exactly what you will need to do for the S2000), and it will absolutely help to teach you the art of driving, and you'll have a blast in it too, it is still an absolute "drivers car."

 

The biggest part (IMO) is learning how to drive a rwd car. I think a a good car to learn how to drive would be a 240sx but I'm sure it's hard to get a clean one nowadays. The 240 was my first car and I drove that thing every where. It's funny cause when I first drove a fwd car I was like this is easy lol. Based on today's current choices Miata might be the best option. The s2k is not a monster out of the box but if I had this car when I started driving I might not be here. For me the 240sx was perfect.

 

^

 

Porsche Boxster would another good first manual car. Ladies sure like it , has more storage than S2000 and with an exhaust; sounds really cool.

 

Yeah I'm on my dads plan, saves about 150 every 6 months through this independent insurer. The discussion was supposed to be aiding the OP but instead got turned into an anecdotal war zone and petty comments. Hopefully someone will close thread.

Chris Brewer

 

Buy the S, take a driving school or two, and don't drive like a c**t. / thread.

 

^^^I agree with this completely.
That being said, the s2000 is a very easy car to learn stick shift. The clutch is light and linear, the shift lever is precise.