'06 Elise or '07 MX-5?

[tabajay]

Originally Posted by zimm

I need to do a MX-5 test drive this week to help me narrow it down.

I love even a lightly tweaked MX-5 (springs & sways), but know that the stock MX-5 sucks. Very soft.

See if you can't visit your local Miata Club or autox and test drive one so modified.

[CCR Elise]

Sometimes wants and needs are two different things. The Elise is a wonderful car but is certainly more "raw" than any of the Miatas. The NC MX5 is so much more civilized than the NAs and NBs than it has lost it's appeal to many automotive enthusiasts including me. As someone already stated, the new MX5 is way too soft. If I am not mistaken, the new MX5 has SIX cup holders. Sorry but that is going the wrong direction in my opinion. I own one Elise and two NB Miatas. The Elise is far superior when you want to drive aggressively. The NB Miatas are inexpensive and more expendable for daily driving. Since you say you are a newly wed, why not consider a clean used NB Miata which will keep your payments low, your insurance super cheap, and your gas mileage reasonable. Then, once you get established and are convinced that you married correctly, buy the Elise. Personally, I would not want my Elise as my only driver even though I use it that way. Just my two cents.

[Roger]

I'm another NB owner converted to Elise. I use mine as a DD, and it's very occasionally a bit impractical, but not to speak of. I have the benefit of covered parking and haven't had any problems in that regard in 2 1/2 years and 30,000 miles.
A lot depends on your own circumstances. The Miata is cheaper, and somewhat more practical, if any 2-seater sports car is practical, that is! It is also a fine car, just not an Elise.
I can't really advise, as I'm about to retire and in an entirely different situation thasn yours, but if you're nervous about the Elise from a cost viewpoint, get yourself a good NB and drive it like you stole it. You'll get more uninhibited fun that way than pussy-footing around in an Elise.

But don't test the Elise first.

[LARRY]

Originally Posted by NathanE

Lotus by far. The minor drawbacks are far outweighed by the advantages.

Get a Lotus and leave some cash spare for a "hackmobile" that you can take to dodgy places and lug bags of cement in...

The MX-5 is good but it's boring to look at and you certainly won't be terribly bothered about keeping it clean. With a Lotus you will practically have another family member...

MX-5 is slow too. And a powered hard top is heavy.

Yeah...

[apk919]

Originally Posted by sherry711

I live in San Diego, and have put 16k miles on my Elise. I drive it downtown, La Jolla, Fashion Valley, and mission valley. You can see me around. If you are careful parking, it isn't an issue.

I also have 2 miatas. One 92 NA model and a 2004 MSM model. I also have a 2007 S2000.

Out of all the cars, the Elise is my favorite.

Don't listen to Flux. The MR-S is ok, but the REAL MR2 was last sold in USA in 1995.

Don't sell the Miatas short, they are great cars. I am a NA and NB fan, the NC isn't for me.

Good luck.

You might even run into Loanshark once in a while...

[zimm]

I've been cruising on cars.com. Holly smokes, there are a few perfect '06 models for me. I love the grey hardtop with the black interior.

If I wasn't worried about the car loan reducing the amount of my mortgage pre-approval letter, I'd get it right now... Gotta close on a house first.

[swb]

I know that one of the primary reasons you were looking at the Miata was for the power hardtop. But...did you consider checking out an '04 or '05 Mazdaspeed Miata? Turbo and stiffer suspension, among other things, straight from the factory. Pretty easy to up the HP a bit (intake, up the boost a little, and an exhaust), and they look more aggressive than a normal Miata.

Granted, an Elise will be WAY more fun to drive, but it's certainly another option and more fun than your run of the mill Miata. You can find them with low mileage still for pretty cheap (bought an '04 three months ago that only had 8600 miles on it), and insurance is actually cheaper for the Mazdaspeed version of the Miata than the normal Miata.

[tmr]

I would go for the Elise, buy an old Tacoma for a daily driver/Home Depot hauler, and sell the gas guzzling truck. That way you can drive the Elise on nice days and have something economical that will carry stuff for the rest. Get better half a nice sedan and you pretty much have it covered. My two cents...

[zimm]

Originally Posted by tmr

I would go for the Elise, buy an old Tacoma for a daily driver/Home Depot hauler, and sell the gas guzzling truck. That way you can drive the Elise on nice days and have something economical that will carry stuff for the rest. Get better half a nice sedan and you pretty much have it covered. My two cents...

Well I'm going to take the advice of the board and stick with the Elise. As for the truck- I have a lot money sunk into the F250 ($10k worth of mods: lift, tires, wheels, gears, lockers, chip, exhaust, intake, stereo, etc), so selling it will be a bit of a loss. Not sure if I want to do that yet. I'll still need a boat hauler eventually, maybe a tundra or titan.

Better half has a hybrid and wouldn't dream of getting anything else unless it gets better mpg than her 40mpg civic hybrid. I only get 30mpg when I drive it, and I really do try and baby it a bit- but not enough I guess. Those things get crappy milage if you try and pull a bit ahead of traffic from a standstill.

[Timmah]

s2000 > MX-5

[SSRL]

Get a Sky RedLine, do what I did . Walk in and forget that your at a Saturn dealer ask to test drive one and drive the heck out of it in the 10 minutes you have.

I think you will have a smile on your face. In terms of track stars, it does not come close to your other options

[Hanzo]

Originally Posted by SSRL

Get a Sky RedLine, do what I did . Walk in and forget that your at a Saturn dealer ask to test drive one and drive the heck out of it in the 10 minutes you have.

I think you will have a smile on your face. In terms of track stars, it does not come close to your other options

Sky redline is pretty poorly built. The interior quality is sub par in my opinion. I know it's got more power but the miata is a better car in terms of built quality.

[SSRL]

Yes I agree, it is put together with cheap materials.

[DuffMan]

I own a heavily modified (though now naturally aspirated, was turbo'd) '91 Miata, my mother after driving my car was going to buy a friends '05 Miata but it didn't compare to the '91 (the turbo had been removed at this time) in terms of fun factor, so she went out and bought a brand new '06. Do not get the '05 Mazdaspeed Miata. The turbo brings hp up to what the '06+ model year basically already has (but probably more dramatically) and the stiffer springs can be added to the '06+, and also the '06 just has much, much more potential. After driving both cars (my modified '91 and her stock '06) I can agree that a stiffer suspension setup would be a huge benefit (and is on my car). After reading up on the MS-R package, I would go for that in a heartbeat, but the edmunds article said it was not easily available. Also, don't think that they're girls car. The reason they're thought of like that, in my opinion, is due to the '99-'05 model years (even my MOM could tell the difference (literally), and she's old) which is something you generally want to steer clear of. Granted they aren't bad, but they're not as good.

Why have I not even mentioned the Elise? Because it sounds like it's too impractical for you. Yea you want one. Heck, I want one, but trust me when I say a Miata is more than enough car for you and it can be used as your only car, as mine is (granted I make many sacrifices).

Edit: Oh and in regards to other options: don't get the sky or solstice. The GM twins may have more horsepower now, but I'd easily guess aftermarket forced induction for the new Miata will be available. Also, their build quality is suspect and from what I've heard they aren't as fun. Granted, they are faster and they neither have the "girl" car image from the ignorant public. Also, according to JDPower, here is some info you might find funny:

% of buyers male
1) 2007 MX-5 - 67% (2006 was 72% male!)
2) 2007 Solstice - 65%

Also, the S2000 is a wonderful car IMO for one reason: I love that Honda engine. However, I don't think it's worth the added cost. IMO if I could get an S2000 and didn't have a Miata, I couldn't justify it over the Miata, and if I did, I couldn't justify it over the Elise, but I'm very biased.

[Timmah]

You can pick up a very lightly used S2k for 17-20k and that is worth every penny IMO.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Timmah

You can pick up a very lightly used S2k for 17-20k and that is worth every penny IMO.

Yea, but if you're going used you can pick up a great Miata in excellent shape for a quarter of that price ('90-'98). You can get a brand new one for just over 20k. I still can't justify that price.

[FLuXeXigeS]

i think he (the OP) made it clear that he's getting an elise...end of story

[mevistox5]

Originally Posted by TimMullen

As to which is better, it all depends. Only you can decide. I do find it interesting that a large number of Elise owners also have a Miata. But cars have advantages and disadvantages. You have to weigh the pros and cons to decide.

Probably because the miata is easier to live with....................and addictive......................somehow.



Oh yes and look at: Flyin' Miata 1 800 FLY MX5s for the right goodies.

[jbrodek]

I've not driven an MX-5, but I have owned an Acura RSX, and Nissan 350Z, and test driven a Corvette & BMW M Roadster - and I can say the Elise is a special car.

It's raw & pure. I use it as a daily driver, and all the complaining I hear about it is over-rated. I'm 51 years old, and can easily get in and out without a problem. It's very comfortable once you're in.

No way do I want to go back to a normal car like an MX-5.

[tvacc]

We have extensivly driven both the 90...91 and 99 Miatas. And of course my Elise.

I like the feel of the 90 and 91 car better than the 99. And I like both as much as the Elise. It is very Elan like and a great car.

We bought the 99 as it had dual air bags and was more reliable...but in some ways it was a mistake. We should have kpt the older cars.