[zimm]

I've been researching for a month on the internet. I read all the search results from miata and elise drivers here on the forum. Most Miata's mentioned were pre-2006 model (NC) though.

Big question: Elise will be $35-38k. A used '07 MX-5 touring goes for $18-20k, or a new power hardtop touring has an MSRP of $25k. I'm trying to gauge if the Elise is worth the extra money- I know it's the "better" car.

I just moved to San Diego. I'll be selling my sport bike (riding for 11 years). I'm used to canyon carving, but with age, my sense of mortality has now got me thinking I need a car with seatbelts and airbags vice hitting loose rocks on a blind corner on a bike. So I need to replace that fun, zooming around corners feeling. I'll also be commuting 15 miles of freeway, exit/entrance ramps, some bumper to bumper to traffic, and a few miles of bumpy 25mph zones, etc getting to Coronado every day.

I'm also somewhat image conscience, in part because I'm a Naval Aviator, the second because I live and breathe cars and believe they say what kind of person you are. (I've owned 300ZX's, a Subaru STI, '71 Cutlass Convertable, and a few trucks)

I also have a "green" wife who wants me to get the most MPG I can and to help the environment (both MX-5 and Elise get close to 30mpg). That offsets my 14mpg diesel truck.

I need a small car for the micro-sized parking lots around here. The roads are pretty rough around there too.

I've sat in both cars and like the a lot.

So pluses and minues:

Lotus- Plus: looks by far the best, faster, handles better, more exotic, rare, pride of ownership. Minus: Cost, confort, inability to leave it parked somewhere in a not-so-good neighborhood, dealership is 45 min away, not easy to put top up when running into a store.

MX-5- Plus: Price, top goes up quickly so I don't need to hide my radar detector and Garmin GPS every time I go to the store. More practical. Oh yeah, cheap. Minus: Very worried about girl car image, slower, doesn't look as cool at the lotus.

Every day I change my mind on which one I should get. I'd love to hear some advice. I keep thinking, "go for it" and get the Lotus, but if it's miserable to driving in slow traffic, I might not be happy with it. I could get the MX-5, drive it for a few years, and upgrade later.

I need some help.