Considering a Miata vs. P5. Help.

[Kurtanius21]

It's been a long time since I posted here. I've been at Miata.net mostly, but I just wanted to drop by and provide the results of my Miata-Protege5 ordeal. I bought the Miata on November 12 2009 and sold the Protege5 on December 12. It's been nearly three months of Miata ownership. I can say with great relief I haven't regretted my decision whatsoever. Here's the info on the car.

'92 with 118k miles.
Red with black top.
Purchased for $2400.

The car has been a wonderful experience. The joy and fun the Miata brings just out-does my Protege5 by a longshot. The Miata is a kind of car I try to make an excuse to drive, MANY excuses. There have been days where I have felt upset and sluggish before getting in my car, but upon driving it I will exit feeling refreshed and satisfied. I never realized I was a convertible-junkie either. I drive top-down every chance I get. A gorgeous sunny morning immediately brings to mind, "It's gonna be a great drive today!" For those of you that ever wondered how great the Miata is, well it's not something you want to die without ever have experienced.

http://www.yourdiscovery.com/video/greatest-ever-sports-cars-no-2-mazda-miata/

Don't get me wrong though. I still love the Protege5. It is a great car underneath the unsuspecting looks. Every P5 I see on the road, recalls my roots. What a great car it was.

I still don't have great pics of the car =/

 

[thecrash91]

id love to get a miata but im in central new york, so i get snow like a mofo =[ and rwd is not the best choice in snow. guess what has two thumbs and jealousy? this guy *points thumbs at self*

 

[bazooka joe]

i have the best of both worlds...02 p5 and an 04 msm...love the miata!!

 

[m626gt]

No doubt the Miata is more fun to drive but somethings to consider if you use it as a daily driver. If you are big and tall it might be a hassle getting in and out it and make sure the one you get has a glass back window otherwise the plasic will turn yellow and cloudy and you won't be able to see out of it. The plastic windows on mine isn't as clear as I would like it to be so I decided to zip it down and drive with the heater on full blast cause it was cold in the morning and I trying to push the plastic window down and it cracked on me cause the cold hardened the plastic. Other things I love having a rear wiper on the P5. With the top down and parking in a public place I am always worried about my stuff so you have to lock your stuff up or put the top back up. I am also always carrying a drink in my car and I know the Miata has cup holders but your shifter is right there so a drink might make shifting a pain. I was going to get rid of my Miata but it is truely fun to drive and I got it cheap.

 

[mx-p5]

i see your points and want to argue them

Miata or hard top car, keep your stuff hidden. Just cause you are in a normal car, windows break too.

Me personally, I ALWAYS kept valuables hidden, in the p5 or the miata. Just smart move


as to getting in and out, it really isn't that bad. My 6'3" buddy at work has no problem getting in or out when we take my car to lunch.

As to the windows, i couldn't agree more. . . get glass if at all possible!!!!!!

 

[dtre83]

I own a 03 p5 and sold my 91 miata last year. As far as driving experience miata wins hands down. My 1.6 was quicker than my p5's 2.0 but the miata was 5spd and p5 is auto. p5 handles pretty good but no where near the miata. You can throw the miata sideways around turns at 50+ mph with ease with bald tires. But if you need to go grocery shopping then you won't be buying much in the miata. I miss my miata but we had a baby last year and i couldnt afford to keep both cars. No one ever tried to break in my miata except for some stray cats trying to get in the torn plastic in the back and i lived in some bad appartments. Plus im in houston where it rains ALOT and had a leaky top so it filled up with water alot. I think the miata looks good too. so basically like everyone else said:
miata=fun
p5=practical
keep your p5 if your only gonna have one car

 

[andrew2]

Recently test drove a 2000 Miata... it was a lot of fun since to me it was pretty much a go-kart (I'm 6'2...). I was actually even looking at trading straight up for a 2001 Miata before the other guy backed out.

Miata is tons of fun, P5 is definitely more practical (I still am wondering where I would put my hockey gear if I actually traded).

To have both would be awesome.