I currently have a supercharged '97 Miata making about 40 extra hp (for a Miata, that's almost double), some basic suspension mods - Konis, Ground Controls, sway - and R comps. It has only 40 k on it and is in very good condition. I use it for autocross and joyriding. I've owned it almost a year.

I'm thinking about selling it and getting an AP1. I'd have at the most $10k to spend, so I'd probably end up with a fairly high mileage Honda. I'm considering the exchange because to get the mods I still want for the Miata would cost at least $3000, and I feel that I could just buy a stock Honda and have a car that was as good, and probably better. Also, I have another Miata that's not nearly as nice, but will fulfill my Miata needs.

S2K's seem like really exciting cars. I love the idea of an engine that revs to 9000 rpm and makes 2 hp per cubic inch. I remember when that was seriously hardcore racecar power.

Anyway, I guess the point of this post is - has anyone gone from modded Miata to stock S2K? Is it goofy of me to exchange a low mileage Miata for a high mileage Honda? Thanks.

 

(Consider insurance when budgeting, dunno if its higher than a miata)

 

Sounds like a pretty sweet Miata, I assume you spent alot of money and hard work on your car, I think its best to test drive the S2K and form your own opinion.

S2K's are exciting cars, and in my opinion more hardcore than a Miata is. However going from a supercharged car to something that isn't might be disspointing to you. You'll just have to test drive the S2K and see what you think of it.

 

I think the modded miata with low miles is way better than a beat up stock s2k.... imo

They both handle similarly well and are convertible
Your supercharged miata is probably a better performing car overall

 

It is, I went from an 07 Miata to the S, and my insurance is higher now.

 

Insurance will be quite a bit more, and tires won't be cheap too. Maintenance costs should be about the same.

 

I think that sticking with a Miata that you built and know the history of is a far better idea than purchasing a high mileage AP1 of unknown origin. There are a lot of shady deals on AP1 that really make people cringe. High oil consumption, cracked valve retainers, cracked differential casing, bad transmission synchros are among a long list of potential problems that plague the AP1 S2000s.

Used cars can be a hit or miss. There are many problematic AP1's out there. There are probably more problematic Miatas out there, but a car that you maintained and modified is going to be far easier to keep.

 

Don't be stupid your gonna want to mod the s as well

 

It would be goofy if you bought the high mileage S and then found out that you didn't care much for it. Test drive and see if the S is a must-have for you.

 

I made the jump from a 220whp turbo miata to a s2k 3.5 years ago and never looked back. My s2k is just as fast as my miata was, but is a lot more reliable. I only wish I would not have spent all that money on my miata (AVO turbo kit, APR carbon hardtop, Volks....ect) and had just bought a s2000 in the first place.