A left-field choice - a Honda Beat.

Very small, convertible, inexpensive to run, mid-engine, interesting exhaust note and can be driven like a maniac...

 

Given your real world day to day driving scenario, and sensible realisation that you can rarely use huge gobs of power, the MX-5 is a confident thinking persons choice.
Put childish taunts about girliness aside, for I suspect you are old enough and have enough personal confidence not to require a mobile expression of your manliness. Better still I detect you are no badge snob - most refreshing.

I came from a mildly tuned 1990 MK1 1.6 MX-5, which after 70k miles was in concours ex-factory condition, was as sound as the day it was made and a delight and joy to drive. Loose change to run, it never went wrong and I only had to buy tyres & a couple of callipers.
Went round corners as well as my geo. checked S, and to be honest my S is not that much faster, certainly not fast enough to justify the huge extra cost of buying and running the Honda.

The SPM ( Smiles Per Mile ) I get from the Honda are the same as I got from the Mazda, which in my view makes the Mazda the better value car.
BUT I love the slightly more up-market classless image of the Honda, its planted looks especially in black, that fact that there are fewer about, and I admit that sometimes the power is useful and fun.

In my view for your purposes the Mazda is a no brainer, and yes the lighter original Mk 1's are the sweetest - beware though you cannot tweek the timing which is essential for better throttle response & a tad more urge, on later 1.8 Mk1's

 

...........forgot to add that you will feel a little more vulnerable in an MX-5, it being smaller and has a less solid feel about it. Also be aware that it is has poor safety features ie no drivers air bag I ideally you should bit a proper roll-over bar - which you will do for track days in any case.

 

I was behind one on a lovely long dual carriageway near me and he was trying to get away and I was toying with him, letting him have a length then pulling two back with ease...

That'll be the bummer for me, if I got one and an S2k came up behind and mullered me I would cry thinking about what I'd left..

 

Some good advice...I totally agree about the smiles per £.

The timing can be adjusted on the 1.8 Mk1s however. The CAS is on the other side of the cam cover, and the timing mark you need to use should be yellow, not white IIRC.

 

What planet are you on?

Get some wheel time in your S2000 and report back...

On the subject of 'is it a comedown?'
Yes, it certainly is.
Like the Skoda owner who believes he's driving an Audi, for example.
But, if needs must...

 

The planet where I've owned and driven both......how about you?

 

 

Not entirely true, my 60 year old father-in-law has one

 

I've literally just made the switch from a heavily modified 1990 1.6 with a turbo and tricked up suspension including a Type I Torsen.

I don't doubt that the S will out handle a 5, but one has to factor in 215/245 rubber on 17" rims versus 195/50 rubber on 15" rims. The main difference between the 2 is that the 5 gives oodles more feedback. When I used to give demonstration drives in my 5 I would tell peeps to watch the steering input to get an idea how telepathic the 5 was - it really was a great handling car and perhaps less intimidating.

The 5 is also cheaper to insure and mods are significantly cheaper. Servicing is cheap as chips and they are very very reliable. They are also very sensitive to alignment. Best to go for an import, the Eunos roadster, as they tend to have less rust, A/C and lower mileage. The 1.6 is a great a engine and revs to 7k no problem, but a 1.8 import may be a better buy as they came with bigger brakes, LSD (Torsen) etc etc. A 1994-1995 model 1.8 is viewed by most to be as goods as it gets as they're nearly as light as the original 1.6 but have bigger brakes, better engine etc.

I wouldn't go back to a 5 as I find the S more grown up and it suits me for now. If you're seriously considering one go for it. The Mx5 forums are also very friendly and helpful - a great bunch.