Ruminations of newer cars that i may never actually buy, but it's fun anyways

Test drove a 2014 MX-5 PRHT Grand Touring last night. Black, Spicy Mocha leather interior (SO GOOD!), but didn't seem to have the diff or the Bilsteins.

Car was kindof wallowy, the clutch pedal SUCKED, NO feeling to it whatsoever. Brakes were AWESOME, stereo was good enough we wouldn't feel the need to upgrade it, interior felt very well put together. Car felt like a vault compared to the 95 i'm driving now. It was slow, but not nearly as bad as i was expecting. Looked good, was comfortable, and sticker price at $30k was kindof.... not so appealing.

SWMBO loved it. But... wasn't sure if she loved it as much as the 09 RX8 Sport we drove awhile back. The RX8 felt lighter and more nimble somehow, and was blatantly faster in every way. The RX8 interior didn't feel as nice as the MX5.

Obviously, we know that the MX5 gets better gas mileage, will be more reliable, rotaries suck, blah blah blah. But in a car that will struggle to hit 10k miles a year, how much does it matter? Not much.

I think IF we were to order new, we'd probably go with a PRHT Club, but i hate the idea of spending that much on a car, and if spending that much, the BRZ/FRS would get a long hard look.

Used, no idea if an 09+ RX8 or 09+ MX5 would get the nod. Pricing seems somewhat similar, RX8 a little cheaper.

Next week: We test drive an FJ Cruiser.

I'm very excited I get to keep my NC now.

I can't wait to see what it's like on wider, stickier tires, more HP, and high end coilovers.

FJ cruisers have the dumbest ergonomics. To make the styling "work" they have three wiper blades and to see traffic lights you have to lean waaay forward and peer upward. I refuse to compromise my comfort to look stylish in a car.

z31maniac wrote: I'm very excited I get to keep my NC now. I can't wait to see what it's like on wider, stickier tires, more HP, and high end coilovers.

That's what i was thinking while driving it. "This would be epic with +50hp, some rubber, more noise, and a suspension that doesn't suck."

KyAllroad wrote: FJ cruisers have the dumbest ergonomics. To make the styling "work" they have three wiper blades and to see traffic lights you have to lean waaay forward and peer upward. I refuse to compromise my comfort to look stylish in a car.

Happy wife, happy life.

We'll see if she likes it or not.

Swank Force One wrote:

z31maniac wrote: I'm very excited I get to keep my NC now. I can't wait to see what it's like on wider, stickier tires, more HP, and high end coilovers.

That's what i was thinking while driving it. "This would be epic with +50hp, some rubber, more noise, and a suspension that doesn't suck."

Unfortunately, from what I'm reading it seems that an intake/full exhaust/tune tends to net around ~25whp.......which should definitely make a difference in a 2500lb car.

Maybe in a few years the 2.5 swap will become an option for me.

Once entering the realm of $30k on a toy for two, I'd be hard pressed not to be looking at used cars like the C6 Corvette, 987 Boxster, or E89 Z4.

As much as I think they're fantastic cars in their own right, the NC Miata and BRZ would both have to be significantly discounted for me to justify purchasing new as a weekend fun car. Buying as a daily driver might help their case though.

I loved mine. Have you driven one of the frisbee twins yet? I thought my 2013 club was way more fun. The build quality also seems a lot better in the Mazda.

My brother-in-law recently traded in his RX-8 and got a 3 series. He and his wife loved the RX-8, but wanted a car with 4 real doors. There other vehicle is an FJ Cruiser. Not only does it have three windshield wipers, but they are different sizes.

Mazda has a lot going for it (might want to wait for the 2015 new styling) if you want to buy new. Otherwise there are lots of options (I'm partial to the Solstice GXP myself - 260 BHP and 290 is $500 away or 320 is only about $400 away if you want to go with an after market tune, but there are other options in low mileage used - a low mileage Mazdaspeed 3 perhaps?)

Driven5 wrote: Once entering the realm of $30k on a toy for two, I'd be hard pressed not to be looking at used cars like the C6 Corvette, 987 Boxster, or E89 Z4. As much as I think they're fantastic cars in their own right, the NC Miata and BRZ would both have to be significantly discounted for me to justify purchasing new as a weekend fun car. Buying as a daily driver might help their case though.

Oh there's no way we'd spend $30k on it. Bear in mind this would actually be a daily driver, though. It's for two, there's only two of us, and would work just fine as a daily and to run errands in 95% of the year.

Used is definitely the way we'd look unless one of those mythical Club deals came up.

rotard wrote: I loved mine. Have you driven one of the frisbee twins yet? I thought my 2013 club was way more fun. The build quality also seems a lot better in the Mazda.

I haven't driven a frisbee yet. I need to. I'm a little afraid i'll like it too much, though.

wspohn wrote: Mazda has a lot going for it (might want to wait for the 2015 new styling) if you want to buy new. Otherwise there are lots of options (I'm partial to the Solstice GXP myself - 260 BHP and 290 is $500 away or 320 is only about $400 away if you want to go with an after market tune, but there are other options in low mileage used - a low mileage Mazdaspeed 3 perhaps?)

We already have plenty of hammers (see the WTT thread for our built turbo Miata for a 2zz powered MR-S), and FWD doesn't really interest us at this point. Especially a turbo FWD. (We have the obscenely boosted MX6, and her KLZE-powered-but-not-really Escort)

Short list for our uses is really the FRS/BRZ, NC2, and RX8. Not much else is interesting in the target $15-$20k area. Maybe a Sky Redline. I like those, but i don't think swmbo does.

S2000? Bueller? Bueller?

Seriously, I can't imagine buying any other 2 door roadster besides the S2000.

HiTempguy wrote: S2000? Bueller? Bueller? Seriously, I can't imagine buying any other 2 door roadster besides the S2000.

We don't like convertibles. Hardtops for S2000s are beyond obscenely expensive. The only reason the NC2 is being considered is because of the PRHT.

I'd be ok with an S2000, but she'd have to drive one first, as whatever we end up would be HER daily driver, not mine.

What about a genesis coupe? More power, good brakes, decent suspension.

Rob R.

FJ Cruiser recently ranked best resale value (slowest depreciation) of any vehicle sold in America.

wvumtnbkr wrote: What about a genesis coupe? More power, good brakes, decent suspension. Rob R.

Also more bigger, which means more do not want.

chuckles wrote: FJ Cruiser recently ranked best resale value (slowest depreciation) of any vehicle sold in America.

My wallet is painfully aware of this.

wvumtnbkr wrote: What about a genesis coupe? More power, good brakes, decent suspension. Rob R.

I will also throw in a C5 because it has a better chassis than the Genesis Coupe.

Holy crap, I just looked it up.

about 3200 pounds for the Genesis Coupe. About 2525 for the PRHT miata.

700 frickin pounds different. WOW!

Rob R.