I bought a 95 miata 3 years ago based on material I read in GRM, and I could not be happier with my purchase. I will keep the miata until the wheels fall off, but now I need something bigger. What 4 seat hardtop best provides miata fun? It should be cheap, reliable, handle well (and respond well to suspension tweaks), and of course be available with a manual trans. I was thinking maybe an older focus?
BMW 330i ZHP
BMW e30 should be tops on the list. For front drive, Mazda has made some pretty sweet sporty commuter cars.
Frisbee, though the rear seats are a joke. RX8. Murano cross cabriolet
P71. Not Miata handling but fits many other criteria save for manual (which can be a big one for many).
The most Miata like 4 door I've driven is the Mazda2. Yeah, it's FWD, but it's got the same "feel" as an NA.
I think that the RX-8 replicates the feel of the NA or NB the best of a 4 seater.
captdownshift wrote: Frisbee, though the rear seats are a joke. RX8. Murano cross cabriolet
Hmm Murano Cross Cabriolets are very miata-esque ...
In reply to 84FSP:
between the 3 suggestions provided I covered all the bases.
In all seriousness, at this point unless state registration fees and or insurance is ghastly, I don't see a reason to get rid of an NA or NB to replace with something else. I'd just opt to get something in addition to the miata.
Another vote for BMW here.
I would personally go for an E46 (doesn't have to be a ZHP as mentioned above, although supposedly fantastic they tend to bring a fair premium) over an E30 or E36. E30s are reaching classic status and can be hard to find in good shape for a reasonable price, and you will be hard pressed to find an E36 that isn't totally clapped out these days. The E46 is just a touch softer than the E36 (same thing goes for E30->E36), but seems to be the sweet spot in the market right now - new enough to find decent ones but damn near the bottom of the depreciation curve. Buy on condition and maintenance records, its worth spending a bit more up front to avoid spending a lot more down the road.
RX8 is the obvious answer, as it and the NC Miata share a chassis architecture and it was widely described as being like a bigger Miata.
I've also got an 05 Focus that is pretty good to drive, but is a very plain, boring car as far as interior goes. Mine's been very reliable. A $300 SVT suspension and rear sway bar (for 05-07, only the SES and ST came with a rear sway) help the handling for a very low cost. I bought that suspension as mine was getting worn and creaky and it's quite good, but far from coilover stiff. The Duratec is a Mazda engine that Ford builds, select 03 and 04 models got the 2.3 and all 05+ cars got the 2.0, with the ST getting a 2.3. The 2.3 makes a bit more power, but has a significant fuel economy penalty.
E46 3 series is a good choice as is the RX8. The RX8 is closest to the Miata out of the box in terms of handling, probably better. The E46 3 series is more practical. I've owned them both and if I was going to get a practical fun daily I would go with the E46 3 series as it's just more fun to drive under the limit with the RX8 being better at the limit. The RX8 is a terrific car, but it just doesn't do the things that a daily should do particularly well. Fuel economy is terrible and it's just not good unless you rev it up and you get few opportunities to do that during daily usage and it's not particularly good at negotiating stop and go (at least pre-2009 when they altered the gear ratios).
Klayfish wrote: The most Miata like 4 door I've driven is the Mazda2. Yeah, it's FWD, but it's got the same "feel" as an NA.
This. Fun as hell in STF too.
I originally wanted an NA but needed practicality. No regrets!
Very fun raw timing half the field with the "slowest" car there.
RX8, Mazda2, Mazda3, E46.
Furious_E wrote: Another vote for BMW here. I would personally go for an E46 (doesn't have to be a ZHP as mentioned above, although supposedly fantastic they tend to bring a fair premium) over an E30 or E36. E30s are reaching classic status and can be hard to find in good shape for a reasonable price, and you will be hard pressed to find an E36 that isn't totally clapped out these days. The E46 is just a touch softer than the E36 (same thing goes for E30->E36), but seems to be the sweet spot in the market right now - new enough to find decent ones but damn near the bottom of the depreciation curve. Buy on condition and maintenance records, its worth spending a bit more up front to avoid spending a lot more down the road.
I bought a ZHP and paid the ZHP tax, (coincidentally from another active forum member here.) It's 'worth it,' if you want the best 4-door E46. I think the premium will carry through to resale. It was a $4k option package that still seems to carry a $3-4k premium. The upside is that there are more OCD enthusiast owners in the ZHP pool, so it's easier to find one with a 3-ring binder full of receipts. The 330i is the bargain winner, though. $4k will buy you some nice upgrades or take care of deferred maintenance.
The ZHP is one of those cars that has so many little things tweaked that it exceeds the sum of the parts. It grows on me every time I drive it. Even after the 'hey I got a new toy' halo is gone, it feels a little bit special.
I think the measure of a good car is when you smile just a little after every drive. It's not ridiculously good at any one thing, but it does everything really well. I've had some outrageous cars that I would get amped up to go drive, but then tire of quickly.
You can jump in an E46 and go do just about any damn thing you want and it will deliver, whether it's an HPDE or taking the kids to school.
Back on topic: It's nothing like a Miata, but it's a 4-door car that won't disappoint a Miata enthusiast.
AE86.........
Do you want a 4-seater than handles well, or do you want a 4-seater that handles like a Miata? A Focus can certainly be made to handle well, but it's nothing like a Miata. :)
RX8. Both built with the same philosophy. Probably one of the best implementations of 4 seats in a 2+2 car ever (very nice rear seats).
Suburban, no wait Astro, how about Reliant Robin?
In truth, nothing. I would say the NC and RX8 feel about as close as you can get but still far apart, but I would say that isn't the root of your question.
The 3 series feels nimble and will reward you for driving it, but I wouldn't call it a Miata. The shorter wheelbase has a lot to do with it. Of the suggestions here I haven't put in time in a Mazda2/Fiesta. Maybe that is the way to do.
I believe the true answer to your question is, "there isn't, but this will be good enough"
As far as the Focus, I had a 2004 ZX3. Awesome awesome awesome little car. With stock suspension the P-Zero Nero, stock tire for the Mustang GT for 2005, balances perfect. You set the car right you can compress the suspension to the stops, you want play you can get the tail to step out. Focus is a great DD/Street car, and because people are stupid can be had used cheap.
Tyler H wrote:Furious_E wrote: Another vote for BMW here. I would personally go for an E46 (doesn't have to be a ZHP as mentioned above, although supposedly fantastic they tend to bring a fair premium) over an E30 or E36. E30s are reaching classic status and can be hard to find in good shape for a reasonable price, and you will be hard pressed to find an E36 that isn't totally clapped out these days. The E46 is just a touch softer than the E36 (same thing goes for E30->E36), but seems to be the sweet spot in the market right now - new enough to find decent ones but damn near the bottom of the depreciation curve. Buy on condition and maintenance records, its worth spending a bit more up front to avoid spending a lot more down the road.I bought a ZHP and paid the ZHP tax, (coincidentally from another active forum member here.) It's 'worth it,' if you want the best 4-door E46. I think the premium will carry through to resale. It was a $4k option package that still seems to carry a $3-4k premium. The upside is that there are more OCD enthusiast owners in the ZHP pool, so it's easier to find one with a 3-ring binder full of receipts. The 330i is the bargain winner, though. $4k will buy you some nice upgrades or take care of deferred maintenance. The ZHP is one of those cars that has so many little things tweaked that it exceeds the sum of the parts. It grows on me every time I drive it. Even after the 'hey I got a new toy' halo is gone, it feels a little bit special. I think the measure of a good car is when you smile just a little after every drive. It's not ridiculously good at any one thing, but it does everything really well. I've had some outrageous cars that I would get amped up to go drive, but then tire of quickly. You can jump in an E46 and go do just about any damn thing you want and it will deliver, whether it's an HPDE or taking the kids to school. Back on topic: It's nothing like a Miata, but it's a 4-door car that won't disappoint a Miata enthusiast.
Nailed it. The ZHP was the best overall car I've had out of my 27 vehicle history. Its just right. You have to drive one to appreciate just how good it is.
In reply to Storz and Tyler H:
Now you jerks have me looking at CL/eBay, thanks a lot
I miss my Bimmer...
Maybe Protege ES/Protege5/MP3
Another vote for E30. The E46 325 is competant, but not playful. E46 M3 is fun because big torque and grip. But neither put a smile on my face like an E30 does.
Like the miata, it doesn't have tons of traction. So you can play with it on the street at non license endangering speeds. It doesn't have huge power, so you can floor it and not instantly be going 110.
RWD - E30 FWD - DWB Civic
From a competitive/classing/parts availability standpoint... Civic.
There are still pampered E36s around in good shape for very reasonable prices. I love mine.
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