Great to hear from another (former) miata owner. Was wondering what other cars you might have looked at? I'm currently driving a sedan (Audi S4) and my heart breaks a little everytime I see a convertible roll by. I think the only other two convertibles I'm interested in are the Boxster S (but a bit pricey) and possibly a BMW 3-series convertible (except I sort of sworn-off on owning BMWs, bad experience with a 318i)...

 

subdriver,It was down to the boxster or the s2000 for me as a replacement for the miata.Performance is about the same.As someone who likes to modify their car and drive it hard the s2000 was the better choice for me.

 

As an owner of a MY02 S2k, I can say the VTEC engagement is pretty dramatic, not unlike a turbo spooling up-- it feels great. Reports of the 2.2L MY04 engine have this effect being less pronounced with a more linear power delivery. It seems the car to car comparisons everyone is making may be affected by the model year of the s2K. I should probably go test drive an 04 just to see myself.

Matt

 

So I drove my friend's MY02 S2000 yesterday and here are my impressions:
- Wow, 9K rev limit really is insane. It is so crazy to cruise around at 4-5K because your ear is telling you....buddy, why aren't you shifting?
- You really do have to get used to driving it, it's unlike an other vehicle other there. One thing I found particularly tricky is the speedo and tach setup up. I'm much more used to analog. It's crazy to look down and realize you're going 10 to 20 mph faster than you thought because you don't have a speedo needle that you're tracking the whole time. Also on the tach is pretty tricky since it's not proportional...
- VTEC engagement, all hell breaks loose at 7K rpm is probably the best way I've heard it described. Some people say it feels like turbo...I guess it does feel as strong as turbo, but the thing with turbo (like on my turbo miata, it starts pulling like that a much lower RPM and I can hold it to rev limit before I shift so you get the rubberband turbo effect)...with VTEC it's crazy power, but you hit rev limit real fast so almost as soon at VTEC engages you're in the next gear....but I guess if you have 6 gears you just keep shifting.
- Overall, a very very fun drive! I think if it wasn't so overpriced I'd go for the Boxster S over the S2000, but I'm not sure I can justify 20K extra...

 

I have a 99 Miata with a Stage 3 BR Performance M62 supercharger with intercooler, computer, headers, exhaust, and ACT clutch. I'm putting 225 to the wheels on 10 psi, and will soon be bumping that up another 15hp or so.

I also have a set of Wilwood oversized brakes.

I run 0-60 in the mid 5s in 90 degree heat here in Florida.

I've dusted Mustangs, RX-8s, and hung tail to nose on a Porsche 996.

I haven't raced any S2Ks yet, but based on what I've read, my car is faster 0-60, is lighter by 400 lbs, can brake better, and has more horspower. I also have torques in gobs from 1500 rpm.

Be careful talking smack. I am not even the fastest Miata in my area. I know of one that is running in the 12s at 118 mph, @ 16 psi of boost.

I used to have a Boxster that I supercharged, and my Miata is much faster.

PS, I'm not gay, and i have the kids to prove it!

 

^^^ that's a beast of a miata! man i'd love a ride in that thing...shoot me a PM if you're up in the DC metro area!

 

"ITS A MIATA" -- name that movie

 

I don't get up that way very often, and if I do I'll be in my Suburban!

I got to the drag strip tonight and got 3 races in before I had to leave.

temps were around 85 degrees, and I had my son riding along, so 80 lbs of extra weight.

I dusted a Sentra SE-R by about 10 car lengths, beat an Integra that had a bunch of mods, and lost by 1 car length to an Evo. He killed me on the start, and I was catching him at the end. I thought those cars were waay faster, but maybe he was just a bad driver.

I am having huge problems with hook up, as light as my car is. In every race I was behind at the start, but was gaining at the end.