This thread is back from the dead...

 

No questions asked here ... S2k all the way

 

I'd like to reinforce one point and add another:
#1. Driving our cars 'at the limit' or even near the limit on public roads is dangerous and asking for trouble for many reasons. Anyone who does track days or autocrosses (my favorite) has experienced these limits and knows what I mean (see all the previous track notes, and put all the comments together). For anyone else just take our word for it: Limits are very high, or better yet; go try an autocross and find your limits yourself!!
#2. I believe that most of the spinning issues I've read about our cars are from people with either bald tires, or 'marginal' (near or at the wear bars) tires that have tried driving in the rain (BAD IDEA) at their normal speeds and styles.. Our cars will 'bite back' in these conditions, if you don't know what you're doing, and aware of the state of your tires..

I have a 2002, and my rears tend to wear out twice as fast as the fronts. From personal experience, when our rear tires get down near the wear bars, the handling is much different, and twitchier than with a good set of BALANCED wear tires, esp. in the rain....

Finally, you know my vote (S2000)..

 

Don't be concerned about the behaviour of the S2K at the limit. People forget to mention the following equation (S2K at the limit ) + (foolishness) = (untoward experience)! Like for example, pushing the car to to limit in the wet with high performance tires - in fact, if you pushed a Miata to its limits in the wet, you'd have the same end result!!
Trust me, you will have serious fun well before you get to the limit of the car. And if you do overdo it, VSA will keep you in check.

Now, follow that feeling you got during the test drives, and go buy your S2K.

 

Both cars are respectable and great cars. Honestly, I've always loved the Miata and ended up buying one a couple years ago. But the Miata was like that awesome girlfriend who you dated. No matter how much fun whe was and no matter how much you enjoyed each other... there was just that missing spark.
Enter the S2000.
She's that girl you waited your whole life for and she is everything you could ask for.

It's your choice... do you want to settle or go for what you've always wanted?

 

My dentist had a new Miata, claims it was 'boring' him on his commute to work.

I let him drive my S2000 during my routine dental cleaning, he traded his Miata for an '05 S2000 a month later. He is thrilled with the purchase.

you've probably already decided anyways by now based on the age of this thread...but I added my two cents.