Compared to, say, an S2000, it doesn't seem like a lot of the parts for a Miata are that much cheaper. Clearly, smacking a wall with a Miata is much less painful on the wallet because of the abundance of shells and salvage parts, but in terms of regular daily driving, how much money is being saved?
Apart from the $1k or so a year in insurance, of course...
Miata vs. S2k for street-only...the Miata would only be very slightly cheaper through lower brake & tire wear and better MPG.
How much damage to a car are you expecting to do?
For the most part, the cost will be in tires, gas, and oil.
I've got +200k miles on my Miata, I've spend WAAAAY more money on gas than parts, more money on tires than the alternator, more money on oil than the two times I've paid someone to change the timing belt.
If you don't run into things, and don't break the car on purpose, both an S2000 and a Miata will be reasonable to own.
I made the decision to go from a Miata to an S2000 because I know longer use the Miata for track duty.
The operating cost difference is negligeable. The S2000 costs more to buy. Most of the operating differences come in me caring more about the S2000 than than my Miata and wanting to treat it nicer and put higher quality stuff on it.
Fuel efficiency is nearly a wash, provided I can keep from running the S2000 up to red line constantly. 
I figure 22/28 on premium in the S2000 vs. 24/26 on regular in the Miata. Tires are 16" (plan to buy some 17" wheels for more tire choices though) vs. 15" and I put better street rubber on for auto-x use instead of cheapo street tires and a spare set with DOT-Rs for the Miata. Brakes... probably a similar story.
Insurance is also a wash for me. Single guy, early 30's, clean driving record. The only difference in insurance cost is that I insist on keeping comprehensive insurance on the S2000 instead of the just collision I had for the beater Miata.
Plus, the S2000 is just newer and lower mileage than a Miata, so it is not at the point of needing to replace all the rubber bits that were going bad on a Miata.
So, there is maybe some cost difference, but if it is not a problem for you to purchase an S2000, you are not going to notice the difference in costs. You will definitely get your money's worth of a nicer car.
Beer Baron wrote: I made the decision to go from a Miata to an S2000 because I know longer use the Miata for track duty. The operating cost difference is negligeable. The S2000 costs more to buy. Most of the operating differences come in me caring more about the S2000 than than my Miata and wanting to treat it nicer and put higher quality stuff on it. Fuel efficiency is nearly a wash, provided I can keep from running the S2000 up to red line constantly.
Or keep the Miata as a track car...
OSULemon wrote: Or keep the Miata as a track car...
I have a 944Spec race car. That is why the Miata didn't see track duty anymore. Otherwise, yeah.
Beer Baron wrote: I made the decision to go from a Miata to an S2000 because I know longer use the Miata for track duty. The operating cost difference is negligeable. The S2000 costs more to buy. Most of the operating differences come in me caring more about the S2000 than than my Miata and wanting to treat it nicer and put higher quality stuff on it. Fuel efficiency is nearly a wash, provided I can keep from running the S2000 up to red line constantly.
+1 to everything this man said. I've had an 03 Miata, 06 S2K and now a 94 Miata.
Main cost difference between the two is
A) The time-value of having $15K more tied up in a sports car ~$1000/yr
B) The addition of collision/comp over liability only on the Miata ~$600/yr
C) Property Taxes (if applicable)
ProDarwin wrote: B) The addition of collision/comp over liability only on the Miata ~$600/yr
I skip the collision coverage. I just have liability and comp. Collision is definitely the most expensive, and the one I need least. Puts the difference at like $250/year. BFD.
Beer Baron wrote:ProDarwin wrote: B) The addition of collision/comp over liability only on the Miata ~$600/yrI skip the collision coverage. I just have liability and comp. Collision is definitely the most expensive, and the one I need least. Puts the difference at like $250/year. BFD.
On the S2K? Ballsy!
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