I've recently started kicking around the possibility of replacing my Miata and winterbeater with a single car, primarily to free up a little bit of garage/driveway space in preparation for a new teenage driver. My basic parameters are: 1. Must be a competent autocrosser at a local level. Doesn't have to be a national level "it car", but I want to be able to place locally if I'm driving well. 2. I prefer something a little bit more spacious and comfortable than my 94 NA. I'm 6'2" with some nagging back issues, so my NA doesn't always love me as much as I love it. 3. Decent/working AC would be great. 4. Not boring. 5. Unfortunately, must be a 4 season car, and I'm not driving a ragtop in the snow. 6. I hate buying premium gas. It can be as much as $.60 more per gallon around here which is just stupid. 7. Must be a manual. No, two pedals and a "paddle shifter" do not count.
What I've looked at so far: FRS - liked it, might have met most of my criteria, but pricing is still pretty strong around here. For some reason it ticks me off that it burns premium and still only manages sub 200 whp. GTI - liked it, met most of my criteria. Some concerns about persistent issues with the electronics. I suspect there's an element of internet lore to this, but I've known a lot of VW owners with PSDL [permanent supplemental dashing lighting]. That would bug me. (Sorry, bad pun) Focus ST - fast. Numb. Horrible visibility. Premium. Probably a decent 4 season car. Pricing also pretty strong locally. Fiesta ST - on the list, haven't found one to drive yet.
Which brings us to today. Driving past a small "mom and pop" local dealership, I spotted an 08 PRHT MX-5. It's a 6 speed, "Stormy Blue Mica" with the saddle leather interior. It's a relatively low mile example (41K) so it may not have seen a winter yet. It's in decent overall shape, although they should fire their "detail guy". It looks like they turned a monkey loose with some sandpaper and a 20 year old can of turtle wax, but I can remedy most of it with a few afternoons of work. It's currently overpriced, but I suspect I can beat them down on price a little. I've never really thought about them as an option before, and honestly don't really know that much about them. What sayest the hive?
Cliffs: Is a PRHT MX-5 a viable 4 season "fun" car?
I'm interested in hearing opinions on this as well. I came close to buying a softtop NC as a 4 season daily recently, but one of the things that eventually put me off was the idea of a softtop in winter (plus I've apparently gotten soft and weak and want more creature comforts than the base car offers).
I haven't driven a PRHT in the snow, but I'm a fan. It's a good highway car, too.
Why you don't. It's not an RF. 
I drive my NB year round. Rear wheel drive and light weight work fine in the snow, just be sure to buy real winter tires. An LSD would make mine more fun. I run it with a hardtop, so it's like driving a small coupe. I say "Do it !"
Biggest problems with the PRHT: can't put a normal roll bar in it so it's not a great track car; and it's got a little less room in the rear wheel wells for tires.
But it makes a great daily.
The FoST does not require premium. It is "recommended", but it will run just fine on 87.
If you have back problems, I'd strongly recommend taking a very long test drive in an NC Miata if you're considering them. They have seats from hell. I love my car, but hate, loathe the seats.
I've had a 2008 PRHT for 18 months now. I've put 26k miles on it. My snow experience in it is limited, but with traction control it did just fine with the Kumho Ecsta 4X tires I'm running. (An aside: These are the best wet-weather tires I've ever had, though they behave a bit like bias plys in that they flatspot when sitting overnight, even in fairly warm weather.)
The car is definitely happier running premium gas. I get a pretty consistent 30mpg. It took my back a couple of weeks to get used to the seats, but no problems since then.
You'll want to upgrade the suspension. Seriously. Stock stuff is way too soft. With two people and a road trip's worth of stuff in the trunk, mine practically rides on the rear bumpstops. (This is much less of a problem when I'm the only one in the car.) I'll eventually add some Flyin' Miata bits, but my P71 purchase has delayed that for a bit longer.
Check my garage entry to see what I did to make it a better daily driver.
There's lots to love about the NC. They're more livable than the NA/NB cars and way cheaper than the NDs. I liked the '09 Mrs Lux and I test drove a lot. She hated the lack of passenger's leg-room. Otherwise, I'd probably have bought it. I've been in a couple on-track and suspension upgrades really do transform them.
As long as you don't live somewhere that gets a ton of snow you'll be fine. btw the latest generation Blizzacks are shockingly good if you need 'em
My soft top NC Miata survived (suffered?) two NJ winters shod in Michelin Xice3s on 16x7s. It handled the winter weather just fine, and I'm no winter driving guru. Aside from a few days in FWD rental cars, the two seasons in the Miata are my only snow driving experience. The biggest difference I found compared to the FWD rental cars were slushy roads. The FWD cars numbly plowed through, whereas the Miata was hyper-sensitive to steering input, and felt more like it floated on top. Even with traction control on, staying straight on the road in those conditions required continuous steering corrections.
This is how it looked for a four-month period this season:
The mildest weather it faced during a Lake Placid vacation:
The one I was looking at sold, but I'll keep my eyes open.
In other news, I did drive a new Fiesta ST this morning though . . . and I think I'm in love.
kazoospec wrote:
6. I hate buying premium gas. It can be as much as $.60 more per gallon around here which is just stupid.
when your car gets 14mpg (at most) you can complain about having to buy premium. Putting it into a car that gets twice or even close to 3 times that number in empeegees does not count
