Learned to drive manual tranny on my dad's 69 Midget. Its my experiences in that car that made me get the S2k. Along with that came the do-it-yourself car knowledge of having to constantly trace down electrical problems and keep those dual SU carbs in tune. Ha ha... yeah kinda hard to break any speed limits with a engine the size of a loaf of bread and 4 gears.

 

Yeah, I remember all the fun I had in my 73 MGB in high school (and 79 B just out of HS, and another 79 B in college). That's what made me go for the S.

I wanted something that was a convertable and RWD but somehting w/ more power and that I didn't have to work on every day just to keep running from one day to the next, like w/ the MG's.

Before I bought the S, I test drove a Miata and while it was nice, it was just waaaay underpowered. Add another 100HP or so and you have something that would compete w/ the S. Why Mazda didn't do that w/ the latest version of the Miata I don't know.

4yrs and 3months later and w/ 81,000 miles, I still feel I made the right choice w/ the S.

Warren

 

Like you guys, it was the memory of those old British sports car that I grew up with that had me looking at the S2000. I discovered the S2000 in 2001 after purchasing my Odyssey that year. I hadn't really given any thought to a roadster up to that point.

I looked at the Miata, the Z4, the 350Z Roadster, and the MR2. I didn't fit the Miata's of that day. The new one's a bit bigger. It'll be interesting to see if the interior room is improved enough for me. I liked the feel of the Z4's interior (won't comment on the exterior here. ) but it was too expensive, especially if I spec'd it the way I'd "really" want it. The 350Z Roadster came the closest to getting me off the S2000 but I wasn't completely sold on the styling, it's a heavier car than I had in mind, and it was still more expensive than the S2000. The MR2 was cute but also too small and no luggage space.

Honestly, if I'd fit the Miata better, I probably would have wound up with one. As it is, I'm thrilled I got the S2000. It's still the best bang for the buck on the market and includes Honda reliability to boot.

Drive Safe,
Steve R.

 

No way around it...the new Miata is a nice car. Up on HP from the old ones (170), a great 6 speed, rides/handles great. No it's not an S2000 with 240 hp but it's also staring around $20K for the club spec (yes, a car without power options or A/C for the dedicated, no S2000 comes like that from the factory) and they have a variant for just about everyone from club spec to super touring. I don't see the rant about all the press it is getting, it is the newest roadster on the block I guess. If they do a complete redesign of the S I'm sure it'll get just as much press too. Like someone else said, the newest, shiniest item always gets the cover.

 

I think it also has to do with the "entry level roadster" getting more like the non-entry level roadsters. S2000 has always been better than the miata in just about every aspect. The miata is now catching up, though. You are paying roughly the same price (when adjusted for inflation and the market demand) as you would have for the original 1989 version.

They have also been the most successful convertible of all time, and have been for 16 years now. I think its that amazing that a single car line can have THAT much success for THAT long. That is getting into Mustang territory (maybe in another 10 years). The car is becoming a legend, much like the old MG's and Alpha's.

John

 

Have you driven the Miata?

Miatas are one of the most fun cars on the road. Sure, the acceleration is underwhelming, but they handle like nobody's business.

My only problem with Miatas are the owners who complain that the S2000 has no torque. LOL! Kettle....black...

 

Funny, for the price of a new S2k i could make an 06' club model miata faster, both in a straight line, and around the track than the S2k.......for the same price........So why is this miata so crappy? Just because they dont intend to create a $32,000 version with 240hp?

Just for reference i race Spec Miata with SCCA and my previous car was a 1992 Miata with a custom turbo kit, putting out 255 RWHP. I decided to get the S2k because of the similarity in handling to my miata and the extra interior space. The miata is a very enjoyable car to drive, and is the essence of what a true Japanese sports car should be.........mazda just put that package together 10yrs before Honda..thats all.

So dont judge the car without first driving it.

 

The new Miata,

Replaced spare tire with a puncture repair kit. Don't know what I think about that one.

Aluminum whish bones up front. Like that one.

Mid-Front Mount Aluminum Block Engine. Sounds familiar.

AT 6 speed transmission controllable by paddles behind the steering wheel. Sounds interesting. (Power is down from 170 to 166 with AT)

Light weight flywheel. How light is light?

Variable intake valve timing. Poor mans V-tec?

Red line, 6700ropm. Not to impressive here.

Aluminum hood and trunk lid. Pay attention here Honda.

Speed sensing automatic volume control for the stereo. Nice addition, or gimmick?

Side impact air bags. And still Under 2500lbs.

I will have to check it out, but the S is in no danger.

 

[QUOTE=dead-bird,Sep 17 2005, 11:33 PM] Speed sensing automatic volume control for the stereo.

 

i have driven a new Miata, great car no dought ....an S its not .
2nd best roadster on the market in my book