True enough, and I was excited when they used it; It's too bad the project they tested didn't pan out, because you get a hell of a discount being a tester!
I can understand why they're removing the line, the cars are aging and the market is dwindling as more cars are junked/scrapped. It doesn't make it any less of a blow though, I recommend you grab a few sets of the bronzoil bushings if you intend to stick with MX-3s for a while.
Honestly, I would never turbo a car that was destined to be driven on the street. I may be nearly alone in that decision, but I am firm in my choice; The benefit just doesn't touch the cost, especially when you can't fully enjoy the benefits without being ticketed constantly...
However, a dedicated track car... I hesitate to think of a better choice than a supercharged FE3 Miata. $7,500 would build a car worth envying from any angle.
I still wouldn't drive it on the street, because temptation would get the better of me quickly.
My biggest regret about newer Mazda models is the 4 door obsession, with exception for the RX8's suicide doors, which almost beat a 2 door in my book...
The styling just isn't there any more, not like it was in the 90's. Short of the MX-5, which has kept itself ahead of the pack.
Yeah, they aren't a particularly fast car, but an uncommon enough sight to be proud of. I'm not building it like my Mazdas however, I'm keeping it original.