Which Answer is the Answer? (There is no wrong answer)

Dilemma of the day:  I had finally made the choice to give my automotive ADD a rest when, out of the blue, a friend called me to let me know he's picking up his new ND within the next week.  Do I want his 03 Shinsen NB?  He brought it over tonight.  It's not perfect, but it's in overall solid shape.  To be 100%, it needs a new top and a new rear bumper cover (and maybe a new or straightened bumper support).  It has less than 52k on the clock.  It is STUPID clean underneath.  To buy it, I'd need to sell my NA.  Here's the specs and pros/cons as I see them:

NA - 1994 M Edition.  Interior is VERY clean, everything except the AC works.  It has very clean leather seats.  (Note: The fact that the AC doesn't work occasionally prevents me from driving the car on hot days)  On the other hand, the interior is very dated, and I HATE leather seats in the sun.  It's pretty well tricked out.  It's got a FM front bar, Koni Sports, 93 LE BBS's with pretty much brand new 615K+'s on all 4 corners.  It has a Hard Dog M2DD, harness bar and Schroth "street harness" for the driver's side.  I bought the Hard Dog so I could track it, but finances mean that hasn't happened much.  The bar actually hurts the car in autocross, which I do a bunch more than track days.  It was re-sprayed about 5 years ago.  It is a solid "10 foot" paint job, but the paint isn't as durable as the factory paint, so it has a fair number of scratches/stone chips.  It previously had rocker rust, but it was cut back to good metal, had new metal welded in and was repainted after.  That said, the underside and most of the fasteners are rusty.  (This is a pet peeve of mine.  I hate fighting rusty bolts on EVERY FREAKIN JOB)  It's loud, and I like it that way.  My neighbors, maybe not so much.  Pic: 

The NB: As mentioned above, it needs a top and bumper cover.  The seats are more comfortable and NOT LEATHER, but aren't quite as clean as in my current car.  I like the layout of the interior better than the NA.  It has a little more power, but not enough that I'd make the switch for that alone.  It is, however, much more "refined" than the NA.  It's free of all the squeeks and jiggles that I both like and hate in the NA.  The chassis is so much stiffer  I believe Keith T summed it up best: "The NA is the better Miata, the NB is the better car."  Obviously, the NB doesn't have a roll bar, but I actually enjoyed the extra seat travel during my test drive.  I also suspect that the NB has much better autocross potential.  (Yes, I know the Shinsen isn't the "it package" for autocross, but I generally only compete locally)  It also feels much more adult than the NA.  I'd really like to be able to work on a clean car for a change.  I'd also be gaining 9 years of age and 50K miles by making the switch.  I expect, even with the repairs, it would cost about $1000 to make the switch. Pic for reference: 

I love nbs. Strongly dislike nas.

Seems like a no brainer for your intended preference and use

I own a 94 so I should say keep the NA.  I really like the style of the NB, however, I've never cared for the plastic add on cladding many of them have.  Despite that, based on your summary, unless you're an "NA is the only real Miata" guy it sounds like you should go with the NB.

Swapping a Miata for a Miata. You can’t go wrong.

Honestly, they're much the same car underneath. You can play parts lego and make that NA awfully close to the NB or vice versa. What doesn't transfer is the chassis stiffness and the exterior design. You can swap the interior and the roll bar if you want 

I personally prefer the style of the 1.6 cars, but it sounds like this NB is a better choice for you. If you're going to get an NB, the 2001-05 is the one to get and the Shinsen is an interesting car. I don't see how you can go wrong.

It depends more on you than us.  This is another one of those emotional issues- which of the two do you like driving better, which of the two do you fit in, which of the two do you see yourself spending hours working on and enjoying it?

Personally, I prefer the NB, but that's just me.

The real logic in this decision is that both are amazing cars.  So there's no real point in listening to logic- as it does not answer the core question.

This is your car, don't let me buy it for you.

It sounds like it’s mostly down to how attached you are to your NA.  

If it was me, I’d get the NB in a heartbeat, because I think they look better than the NA, and I’d much rather work on a non-rusty car than a rusty one.  

For me, it comes down to style versus practicality. The the NA just looks "right" to me. The NB looks weird and I can't really put my finger on why. It does sound like (at least in this case) the NB is objectively the better car, but who cares?

From what you've described, this is pretty much a weekend toy type of car for you. In that case, I'd go with whichever you think is cooler or have more passion for. The whole "head over heart" approach makes sense when you're looking for a daily driver or work truck...but not so much in this case.

Well, I'm pulling the trigger.  I guess what it comes down to is I'm a Miata guy, but maybe not a "classic car" guy.  I'm sure I'm going to miss the NA sometimes, but I can't pass up newer and more refined.  The good news for all you other NA Miata owners is they will no doubt double in value about 3 months down the road.  

I haven't put up an official "for sale" thread, but my NA will be looking for a good home.

I agree with your choice. Had an NB for 4 years. Have an NA now. Much preferred the NB for everything.

I’ve not owned an NB, but have driven a few. As the PO of mtn’s car, I liked it, but never loved it. Owning a 90 now though I totally get it - there’s a visceral rawness to it that the NA8 and NBs both lack, especially lacking the amenities of CC/PW/PL/radio. 

However, unlike a Locost(which I was originally planning on building from my parts car), the 90 still functions as a (mostly) useful vehicle. Yet it can deliver a large portion of a Locost-type experience, especially when pushed toward the limits. 

9 years newer and 50k less miles for $1k...yeah good move

This is funny. The black and white proclamations of which of the two generations is markedly better when they're both really the same basic car with some evolution. They're more alike than different!

The only thing that would keep me out of an NB are the "appearance package" body enhancements.  I don't really like the six-speed, either.  My son's '99 NB with the 5-speed is a lovely car, though.

Keith Tanner said:

This is funny. The black and white proclamations of which of the two generations is markedly better when they're both really the same basic car with some evolution. They're more alike than different!

Indeed. I see shades of ND vs Fiata arguments here.

Those are more different than the NA and NB in my opinion. The engine character is quite different.

^^^^Current situation.  Blue one is officially for sale. 

Blue one is tentatively sold.  Sadly, it's going to someone who wants it more as cruiser and inexpensive "classic" car than someone who wants to race or autocross it, but hey, his car, he can do what he wants. 

Think I'll pour some 10w30 on the curb in memory.  

The good news is we'll hopefully be done playing "driveway Tetris", and I'll actually be able to drive the new car.  

The guys who want cruisers and classics are the ones who preserve cars for those who want to build race cars later.

So, tonight I discovered my "new Miata" is even more rare than I thought.  Yeah, it's a Shinsen, yeah it's the proverbial low mile "old man's car", but it was only tonight as I was doing my pre-autocross checkup that I realized how truly rare it is:

Miata peeps will understand.

In a related note, does anyone know how to get the smell of old man cologne out of a car interior?

Its got a dipstick handle!!!

Can't be factory. Never seen a mazda with one. Dealer option maybe?

Nah, I had one once.  Found it in a junkyard and gave 5 bucks for it. 

My 93 is still intact.

Sooo . . . I autocrossed it today.  With the stock suspension and Conti Extreme Contacts, I'm sure I left some time on the table, but I don't even care.  The car is a total hoot.  

User's note: Apparently, they aren't used to drifted corners at PCA events. Note #2: Conti's seem happiest when they are sliding, so what's a fella to do?  It makes me wonder if, with the Koni's, roll bar, big front sway and 200tw tires, I modded some of the fun out of the old NA.