MR-S vs. 1st Gen Miata

This isn't so much a 'what car should I buy' thread as just conversation about the cars that I'm considering. I have long flipped back and forth between utilitarian cars and fun cars and I am long overdue for my next shot of four-wheel fun.

I have owned a 2nd Gen MR-2 and an NB Miata. When I originally bought the Miata, I also test-drove an MR-S and I absolutely loved the on-rails feeling, but the dealer wanted half again what the car was worth. Recently the car dealership next to my apartment complex had one for a few weeks and I went and drove that. Yup. Still just as much fun as I remembered. So at the moment I'm keeping an eye out for an MR-S at a good price. I've got a line on one not too far away over in Alabama and hopefully I will get a chance to drive it next weekend.

There is a voice in the back of my head that keeps saying I could get an NA Miata for half that price, or less, and it would be nearly as much fun (probably more if I put that much money into it.) For good or ill though, my wife is not a fan of Miatas. She is pretty well sold on the MR-S. Half of me wants to keep trying to convince her that the Miata is not the car it is perceived to be. The other half says shut up and let her 'win!'

I have had a bad habit of buying the first car that comes along that even remotely resembles what I am looking for. This time around I'm making a concious effort to take my time and make a good buy. In the meantime, would you rather have an MR-S for $7k or a Miata for say, $3.5k?

personally I'd go for the cheaper Miata. $3.5k should get you a good example and then the $3.5k to put into it could make it quite the fast little car.

...few years back i drove (and fit into) an MR-S... not so much with the miata...

but i don't know which i'd prefer... mr2 is less practical... but i'm an mr2 guy... even so a mx5 would prob win out (assuming I knew for sure that a seat mod and replacing the steering wheel would take care of my fit issues)... that extra money would go a long way for a turbo kit and a nice suspension ;-)

don't think you can go wrong with either though...

MR-S but I alway like having some thing diffrent

I didn't think to mention that part... I'm 6'1, and I definitely fit more comfortably in the MR-S than I did in my NB. It's been a long while since I sat in an NA, so that is definitely something worth testing.

They are both great fun to drive. The only really glaring mistake they made with the Toyota is the near total lack of storage space.

The MR-S is kinda funky, with a real 80's vibe to the dash, and interior.

As a toy, the MR-S may win. (in stock form)

With the abundance of aftermarket options for the Miata, and the useable trunk though, it would be my choice.

$3,500 NA Miata + $4K Flyin Miata Turbo = driving bliss

Joe: My parents got together thanks to a TR-6 just like yours (she only said yes to a ride home because she wanted a ride in the car.) My dad really wanted a BMW 2002, but both that and his second choice (the brand new 240Z) were scarce, so he wound up hauling around six people at a time in a tiny little british roadster...

Back on topic. I should have known better than to ask "Miata or X" in this forum. (Still happy to read all the opinions and stories you've got though!)

Seems to me that you can not go wrong with either, but...

You state that:
1. The wife prefers the MR-S. For me, a happy wife makes a happy home.
2. You say you fit better in the MR-S. Your comfort is a good thing.
3. You have had a Miata in the past. Since your married, different cars are really the only thing left where you can "take a new model out for a spin." Replacing the car is much cheaper than the alternative!

Enjoy your new MR-S.

Personally, i found the MRS to be a better performer stock vs. stock.

It's a newer car, if you find you don't want it a year or two down the road, you'll probably get out of it with minimal loss. It's newer, theoretically you'll have less headaches.

Almost anything you can do to a miata, you can do to an MRS. LSx swap might be harder, but you get the idea.

And with a hardtop, nothing (in my opinion at least) looks as cool as an MRS.

For a daily driver, with no need for luggage space? The newer MR-S.

For a weekend toy, with another vehicle serving DD duties? The cheaper Miata.

I have gone away for a 5-day weekend with my wife on a Motorcycle. The MR-S is fine.

Perfect topic, I came across this today:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/1043371007.html

I didn't know they could be had this cheap, I'm sure this one would need some work.

What's the MR-S like to maintain? The picture of the engine bay on that CL ad doesn't make me think that basic maintenance is going to be real fun, never mind something like a cam belt or water pump change. Anyone care to comment?

93celicaGT2 wrote: Personally, i found the MRS to be a better performer stock vs. stock. It's a newer car, if you find you don't want it a year or two down the road, you'll probably get out of it with minimal loss. It's newer, theoretically you'll have less headaches. Almost anything you can do to a miata, you can do to an MRS. LSx swap might be harder, but you get the idea. And with a hardtop, nothing (in my opinion at least) looks as cool as an MRS.

HOLY CRAP!

I'm selling the wagon.

Yeah, the hard tops are gorgeous. Apparently very rare and go for 2 to 3 times the amount a Miata hard top goes for.

Edit: TRD no longer makes the hardtops and they sell for $4500 and up, if you can find one. That's the same price as the car I listed in my earlier post

As far as basic maintenance, it's a Toyota, change the oil regularly and you're done. So I've heard, anyway. My MK2 MR2 has never been trouble, even after sitting for 2 years. It does have a bit more space to work on the engine than an S.

I'm a died-in-the-wool Miata nut, but I'd really like to own an MR-S one day. For equal money, I'd have bought an MR-S in a second. Reliability would be a toss-up between the two I think; they're both a safe bet on the used market.

Unfortunately (or not ) Miatas are crazy cheap to pick up, durable, and fun. Like Joe said, you can buy a clean car and a top-of-the-line turbo kit for under the going rate for a clean MR-S around here.

Parts availability has got to be better for the Miata as well, at least until the Spec Miata guys use them all up.

-EDIT- I looked closer at the link you posted; If you're considering buying an MR-S, that seems like a good one to pick. I wonder what a new soft top for one of those costs?

Now I have a 1st generation MR2, so I really like the whole line, BUT, with the humongous aftermarket support for the Miata, I'd get a Miata.

The coolest MR-S I have ever seen was caged, with a hard top, a wing and a front splitter painted in the blue/orange Gulf colors. It looked like a do it yourself Daytona Prototype. AWESOME!

broken_cynic wrote: I didn't think to mention that part... I'm 6'1, and I definitely fit more comfortably in the MR-S than I did in my NB. It's been a long while since I sat in an NA, so that is definitely something worth testing.

I'm 6'1" 180lbs and I fit in my NA just fine. I did mod the seat foam when I had the stock seat though.

The Raleigh MR-S is cheap enough that it it a little scary! I sent the guy an email to see if I could get any details though.

After a conversation with my wife last night, the Miata is entirely off the table. She can't explain what she has against them, but it's just not worth pursuing a car that is supposed to be fun when she has such a visceral dislike of them.

On the other hand, the other car (along with the MR-S) that I've been drooling over this whole decade is ok with her: a WRX wagon. I have yet to actually drive one, so I'll see about remedying that error later this week. It would be a good deal more practical and I love a sporty wagon, but it doesn't go topless and there are half a dozen of them (no wagons though) in our apartment complex alone!

Edit: The cheap MR-S is a scam. Show of hands, who is surprised?

Osterizer wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote: Personally, i found the MRS to be a better performer stock vs. stock. It's a newer car, if you find you don't want it a year or two down the road, you'll probably get out of it with minimal loss. It's newer, theoretically you'll have less headaches. Almost anything you can do to a miata, you can do to an MRS. LSx swap might be harder, but you get the idea. And with a hardtop, nothing (in my opinion at least) looks as cool as an MRS.

HOLY CRAP! I'm selling the wagon.

Yep.. see what i mean? There's just something about them that turns that cute little roadster into something that looks like an ominous beast ready to claw on anything in it's path.

Something else FOR the MRS...

Yeah... you can turbo it, just as you can turbo a Miata.

BUT... 2zzge swap with the 6-speed tranny to match in that thing? I guarantee that the power bump, with ivvtl-i, and that close ratio 6-speed would have a lot of high dollar machines crapping themselves.

They're LIGHT.... and to put it in perspective, a properly driven 2000-2005 Celica GTS (FWD, 400lbs heavier) will run down to a 14.7 in the quarter mile, STOCK.

Chop the weight off, and make it rwd. Before bolt ons, you're probably looking at a 14 flat. The Celica guys are getting mid 13s with bolt ons and tuning. Would make for a very serious machine, with n/a bolt on reliability.

Being an MR2 guy ('87 w/20v), and having owned a car with a 2ZZ ('rola XRS) in it, i have a genuine lust for an MR-S with a 2ZZ swap. The hardtop just makes it even more...OOOoooh.

You guys just had to get me looking at MR-S pics didn't you...

Yum!

broken_cynic wrote: a WRX wagon. I have yet to actually drive one, so I'll see about remedying that error later this week. It would be a good deal more practical and I love a sporty wagon, but it doesn't go topless and there are half a dozen of them (no wagons though) in our apartment complex alone!

Join us, brother!

Osterizer wrote:

broken_cynic wrote: a WRX wagon. I have yet to actually drive one, so I'll see about remedying that error later this week. It would be a good deal more practical and I love a sporty wagon, but it doesn't go topless and there are half a dozen of them (no wagons though) in our apartment complex alone!

Join us, brother!

Take this with a grain of salt considering this man just said he wanted to sell his wagon for an MRS.