New 2016+ ND Miata or AP2 S2000?

As an owner of an 07 S2000, I'll agree that it's a blast. I've done a handful of track days and it's very approachable. I have a test pipe, Hondata Flashpro, Stoptech Street pads, 17x9 +255 square setup, and a bigger front sway...balance is great and I've gotten lots of positive comments about the car from instructors and other folks in my run groups, and I'm purely average as a driver. It's my year round daily here in Milwaukee, snow tires in winter and lots of cold weather top down time. I've been really happy with it...getting the itch for a Cayman so it will probably be for sale in the spring, but of the small roadster options, I'm quite satisfied with my pick. The truly special engine/gearbox and the looks really put me over the edge. I bought one with more miles, like 80k and I'm at nearly 100k now, and it's been trouble free.

Just a data point, I own a 2007 S2000, and it currently has 206k miles. The previous owners kept very, very meticulous maintenance records (10 page Excel spreadsheet) and in that period of time between new, and now, it's required plugs, wires, brake parts, an O2 sensor/cat, one wheel bearing, a clutch master, and a starter motor. That's it.

I drove a S2k from Greensboro NC to Greenville SC and it was a blast to drive. I am 6'4" with a 34" inseam and found it to have enough head room (well enough till I put the top down) but it suffered the same issue as a NA/NB did. My knee pinched between the door panel "arm rest" (I think the quotes are important as an infants arm is wider in most cases) and the steering wheel. In my NA I took mine off and it was an easy fix.

I got in a ND and didn't have this issue but I felt closer to the soft top than I remembered in the S2k but further away than in the NA (I had a foamectomy and the top of my head still was over edge of windshield, made a nice hair style.)

All in all I don't think you are gonna go wrong with either choice. You have a choice between new and supported (it's a Miata, it will be supported to death), or a modern classic that is going to appreciate if you take care of it and don't drive it into the ground.

Choose wisely.

docwyte wrote: You're here in Denver with me? Awesome. Both those cars are going to be dog slow up here, the S2k less so on VTEC. I'm sure the ND's engine will loosen up some, but don't expect a whole lot more power because of that...

I actually thought the S2000 was peppy! Certainly not the fastest car I've ever driven/owned, but quick enough to be entertaining with its short wheelbase. For tight mountain roads, I actually think its a decent amount of power, as its still manageable. I've driven much faster RWD cars on the same roads, (like a C5 Z06) and found that they're certainly much harder to push, making slower cars like the S2000 more fun to drive.