MS3 + Used Miata or S2000?

[kneedragger241]

Your avator is trippin me out! WTF is that thing??

It's a Robot Chicken... bwak!

The way I see your question way back at the beginning of this thread is that it's not simply which is better, a Miata or an S2000, but which scenario is better, a Miata in addition to your MS3 for two cars in your garage, or going with just one car, an S2000.

Here's an easy way for you to figure it out:
Trade cars with someone who owns an S2000 for a given period of time and see how you "live" with the car on a day to day basis.
If you don't miss the MS3's power/handling/comfort attributes and don't find yourself needing a trunk or room for more than one other person, the S2000 just might be a good only car for you.
If you find yourself needing more room for people and stuff, or missing the MS3's attributes, then you're better off with your MS3 and a toy Miata.


I borrowed a friend's Harley Softail for a few weeks while he recovered from knee surgery.
I liked riding the bike on occasion; it was novel, but I couldn't "live" with it the same way I could a sportbike or sport tourer.
The experienced saved me from making a very expensive purchase that I would have regretted!

 

[MS3077]

^ Precisely

I believe even a Mazdaspeed Miata would have trouble keeping up with a S2000 in most situations expect for autocross perhaps but that isn't really the issue here.

Here's how I'm seeing it:

MS3 + Miata = Fast, good handling, fun comfortable daily driver w/lots of room along with street legal go-cart that isn't exactly fast but its a blast to drive gets good gas mileage and has a lot of after market support incase I want to get nasty.

S2000 = as fun as or more fun than the speed3 in most situations, good looking (at least in my opinion) Awesome ergonomics (Probably the best 6-speed ever) Balance, decent track car if I ever decided to track it. However, it's not exactly practical..

 

[FrequentFlyer]

Actually, I thought my S2000 was much more practical than the Miata was. I couldn't fit anything in the Miata's trunk whereas the S2000 has a fairly good size trunk to fit a small suitcase in, plus a duffle bag or two. The Miata's trunk wasn't large enough to get a suitcase in. You can actually take the S somewhere for the weekend. A golf bag fits also. In the Miata, you'll have to put it in your passenger seat.

 

[staples187]

Actually, I thought my S2000 was much more practical than the Miata was. I couldn't fit anything in the Miata's trunk whereas the S2000 has a fairly good size trunk to fit a small suitcase in, plus a duffle bag or two. The Miata's trunk wasn't large enough to get a suitcase in. You can actually take the S somewhere for the weekend. A golf bag fits also. In the Miata, you'll have to put it in your passenger seat.

The only thing the s2000 is missing is a damn tilt on the steering wheel. Some people have thicker legs then others.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Geesh, if you can swing a S2000 then get a G35 or 37

 

[MS3077]

Geesh, if you can swing a S2000 then get a G35 or 37

I like that the S2000 is a convertible and performance should be pretty similar although the G37 is most likely a little quicker / faster. However, I think the fun factor and handling would be in the favor of the S2000 for me. Never driven a G35 or G37 so its hard to say.

 

[wisniaPl]

If I were you I would trade it for new nissan skyline gtr who cares about g37

 

[Hyun]

why would you get GTR when you can get Ferrari?

 

[MS3077]

If I were you I would trade it for new nissan skyline gtr who cares about g37

I couldn't afford a GTR lol! I wish

So I was doing some calculations... In about 24 months at the rate I'm going my speed3 should be worth 1k more than I owe as a trade in. So at least I wouldn't be upside down I would never do it if I owed more than the car was worth. So looks like I'll have the speed3 up until at least July 2010.
This isn't a bad thing, just hope nothing breaks because by then I should have around 60-65k miles on her.

 

[mckraut]

My friend recently purchased a G37. Pretty sick little car.

 

[MS3077]

My friend recently purchased a G37. Pretty sick little car.

Cool, perhaps I'll test one out in the near future The more cool cars the better!

 

[MS3077]

SO summary if I do what I'm leaning towards doing (S2000 after 3yrs w/ MS3) it's going to work out like I leased the Mazdaspeed3 at a higher than lease price but with extremely high miles and MODS. Of course I'll return the car back to stock and sale my after-market shenanigans.

Would this be the smartest financial move? Hell no but the heart wants what the heart wants, lol!

 

[wisniaPl]

youre leasing it??or financing??

 

[Super Unique]

I hear if you buy a carrera S4 they give you free hair plugs LMFAO.....

 

[MS3077]

youre leasing it??or financing??

Financing.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

They arent even going to be importing the S2000 by then. They are bringing the NSX back and cancelling the S2000. That or they will completely refab the S2000 and put some serious HP in it and sell it for 40K. The car is grossly under powered.

 

[MS3077]

They arent even going to be importing the S2000 by then. They are bringing the NSX back and cancelling the S2000. That or they will completely refab the S2000 and put some serious HP in it and sell it for 40K. The car is grossly under powered.

Grossly under powered? I wouldn't consider a car that cost 35k and runs 0-60 in 5.6 secs and the 1/4 in 14.0 @100mph "Grossly under powered" The S2000's power to weight ratio is almost exactly the same as the Speed3's. It's just as capable as a porshe boxster and bmw z4.

Hell if they improve it and up the price to 40k I'll still buy one.

*Just read some reports that indicate that current S2000 is going to be safe until at least 2011. Perhaps I'll be one of the first to get the new and improved S2000 or get a smoking good deal on a left over 2010 model

The Acura NSX is in a different category than the S2000. It's a Japanese super car.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

You can buy brand new S2000's for invoice and below. I've seen one at a local dealer advertised for $29,999, brand new. Heck, the new Miata is $26,000+ fully loaded.

 

[MS3077]

You can buy brand new S2000's for invoice and below. I've seen one at a local dealer advertised for $29,999, brand new. Heck, the new Miata is $26,000+ fully loaded.

No s***? That's awesome! I was thinking I would have to pay at least 34k for one.

So say I put 3k down and financed 27k for 60months@ 4.5%interest from credit union. Monthly payment would be about $500.00 / month. I can deal with that

Perhaps at even a more realistic 6.0%interest it would still only be $520.00 /month.

 

[Super Unique]

$31,840

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...ional&paId=270348338&recnum=6&leadExists=true