Am I crazy?

Sorry, this is long and kind of rambling. You have been warned.

So, I decided this last winter to sell the Miata. I have had the car for 10 years, and have had some really good times in it. Set some records, won some events. It was the first car I ever auto-xed and took to the track. Heck, it is the first car I ever actually worked on. And, at this point, about the only thing I haven't done is removed the dash.

The plan was, take a couple of years to continue to get rid of all debt, then get either an Elise, Exige. However, now I am thinking about 240Zs again too. Replacing the Miata with and Elise or an Exige made since to me, as I want/wanted a fairly stock, very capable car for the track and street. I didn't want to have to spend my weekends tweaking this, or fixing that. However, the 240Z comes off as a toss up. Definitely cheaper than the Elise or Exige, but would it make since to get rid of the Miata for one? I envision a 240Z with a fairly built, NA motor, good suspension, very track oriented, but with all the old school, street car touches on the interior. But all that goes against what I wanted to get rid of the Miata for in the first place. I would think as long as I didn't go extreme with the motor, it would be fairly reliable. But I know the 240 would need a lot of work to get it where I would want it. Work that is done to the Miata already. But, while I love the way the Miata looks, it isn't a classic Z.

So, Miata is always the answer. And it has been my answer for 10 years now. Is it time to try another answer? Or will I just end up wanting to come back to it? I am fairly sure the Elise/Exige will satisfy, and keep me from longing for the Miata again. But would a Z? In a perfect world, I would have all three (and about 10-15 other beautiful, great drivers cars I could name right now), but just doesn't make sense for now.

I knew the closer to selling the car I got, the harder it would be. :(

An Elise will definitely be a worthy replacement for a Miata. 240Z? I don't know, but I keep looking at CL ads for them...

ManBearSTIG wrote: Am I crazy?

Yup.

Keep the Miata, and buy the Lotus. I bought a C4 Corvette two years ago. In the first year, the Miata spent more time in the garage than usual. By the second year, it was about a 50-50 split. By the time this season rolls around, the Corvette will be gone.

My long term plan includes an Elise or Exige, too. But the Miata will always stay with me.

ManBearSTIG wrote: I have had the car for 10 years, and have had some really good times in it. Set some records, won some events. It was the first car I ever auto-xed and took to the track. Heck, it is the first car I ever actually worked on. And, at this point, about the only thing I haven't done is removed the dash.

You'll regret it forever.

My wife and I argue from time to time over why I feel the need to keep a third car in the family (our dailies are a 530i and an M3). The fact is my Miata is a joy to drive and it costs so little to hang on to - I can't bring myself to sell it.

nderwater wrote: My wife and I argue from time to time over why I feel the need to keep a third car in the family (our dailies are a 530i and an M3). The fact is my Miata is a joy to drive and it costs so little to hang on to - I can't bring myself to sell it.

Haha, I'm not married... But I'm telling whoever it ends up being that there shall be no arguments about cars, what I say goes. That is, unless she's truly interested in cars. Then she gets an opinion. Really the only thing I ever see myself being controlling over. That and brussle sprouts. No sprouts shall ever touch my table.

mtn wrote: ... Then she gets an opinion. ...

Good luck with that.

nderwater wrote: My wife and I argue from time to time over why I feel the need to keep a third car in the family (our dailies are a 530i and an M3). The fact is my Miata is a joy to drive and it costs so little to hang on to - I can't bring myself to sell it.

True.

if you have the room, keep it. If selling it will go a long way to help pay for something else, sell it. The Lotus will be fun, the datsun will be a project. Do you want to wrench or drive?