I consider myself a very average driver, and the S is my first RWD and I find it perfectly predictable and stable in 90% of my spirited driving. I've spun it once (bad tires) and almost spun it again one time but was able to bring it back under control very easily.

 

What the?! I've got a 2000 s2000 and this is actually my first RWD car... (had a truck once) .. anywho, it can be a bit squirrley but I think it's definitely not a deciding factor when making a .... decision. Then again, I'm fairly new to the scene so I could just be ignorant. But from personal experience, i've only slid the back end out very minorly.. and that's just fun.

 

LOL damn! that beard is awesome! (just curious, how old are you? )





To the OP, the MX5 vs. s2000 isn't hard to choose ... obviously you are going to just daily drive it so get the one that looks and sounds better *cough* s2000 *cough*

 

Old enough to know better, but too young to resist.

I'm 20, with nearly 40 years of experience. (IOW, I'll be 60 in October.)

I need a bumper sticker that says, ...
"I may be old, but I'm ahead of you."

 

i believe a 2008 lease or 2007 purchase will both be cheaper outright than leasing or purchasing a NC grand touring + suspension (which is how you'd have to option the miata to make a fair comparison). iirc, mazda finance makes their most aggressive lease rates available on the sport model only. this makes it worthless to someone on your shoes because with the NC options structure, you need Touring or Grand Touring trim to even order the suspension package.

the NC is an amazing car. the z-fold top manual top with a single latch is the thing i most wish that my s2000 had. the new 6-speed shifter is very, very good, but the ap2's is still better. the seats, trim, and engine are all upgraded from the previous miata but the s2000 still has better equipment in all those areas.

with an s2000 you don't have to search and haggle for just the right configuration. it doesn't come in automatic. LSD - standard. 17" wheels - standard. leather - standard. "sport" suspension, HID headlights, cruise control, 6-speed - standard, standard, standard, standard. some of these options i would pay extra for on a miata, some not, but having them ALL is really kind of nice. often, options cost disproportionately more than the increase they lend to a car's value because dealers and buyers ignore them when pricing a car. when every car is fully loaded, it's all built in.

i'll admit as a former miata owner i had my eye on the NC for a long time. it impressed me the first time i test drove it and still does. in contrast, i drove the S on several occasions before becoming comfortable with it. but once i got used to the idea of having to actually stop the car (so annoying) in order to lower the top, the "miata for men" really started to grow on me. today, it keeps on getting better and better. i even like the video game gauges and i've forgiven the steering wheel for not tilting.

the miata cult is hard to give up. follow your heart, friend.

then turn the hell around and buy the S.

 

hahaha. You're my hero.

 

The only other cars I considered when I went S2000 shopping were a Mazdaspeed Miata and a new MX-5. The MX-5 was by far the most comfortable of the three. It had the smoothest ride, the most interior room, and FOUR cup holders. This allows the passenger and driver to enjoy both hot coffee and a cold soda AT THE SAME TIME! Driven sedately, the MX-5 and S2000 very similar in performance, with the S2k really out pacing the MX-5 once the vtec hot cam kicks in. The MX-5 also has the best convertible soft top design I have ever seen. As a daily driver, the MX-5 has an edge over the S2000.
Cup holders aside, I got the S2000 because it is a better performance car. If you ever plan on autocrossing or tracking your car, an S2000 will be much more fun. It has more horsepower, more grip, and a better suspension (for that kind of thing). The two MX-5s I've seen at autocrosses have left me unimpressed. In stock form, the seem to have too much body roll and not enough speed in second gear. I would guess an S2000 would hold up better on a trackday than an MX-5. The only S2000s I've heard of running into problems at trackdays are heavly modified ones. Stock S2000s seem to be able to handle a trackday with a simple brake pad and fluid change.
I went with an 03 AP1 b/c it gives a slightly better radio, glass rear window, ans some nice interior touches, while keeping the rawness of the original 9k engine. I've only had problems at the limit of the car at the track and autocross. Drive the car 8/10 and under on public roads and you shouldn't have problems.
If you're short the Mazdaspeed is another great car to consider. It actually had the best steering feel of all three. However, at 6'1" I was too short to really be comfortable in it.

-James

 

I owned a gorgeous Brilliant Black NB Miata and loved everything about the car. It was my first sporty car and after owning nothing but trucks and jeeps it was a pure pleasure.Lady friends thought it was cute even with the rollbar and SSR wheels . Whatever, I thought, the car is a blast to drive!

However, I need power. Call it juvenile or whatever, but being able to take on ramps at 40+ mph and place my car into oncoming traffic where I want it and not having to slow and merge is important to me. Then one night disaster....

A Prius out-accelerated me on the highway at about 50mph.

Like I said for whatever reasons, not being beat by a funboy in a Prius or somesuch is important to me.

The next day I traded the miata for my S2000 and have never looked back. The Honda is TWICE as good for me in every way.

When I came to work the next day the car saw more love from coworkers than my miata ever did. Even after the rollbar and wheels.

 

from what I read, the new miata isn't what it's cracked out to be. it's still fun, but for competition, not so fun.

 

a little off topic but has anybody else noticed on tv shows and movies they usually have a gay character driving a miata? i noticed it watchin tv the other day