You're not obligated to drift a rear wheel drive vehicle, so that shouldn't be a concern. The handling dynamics are incredibly different. While they both handle great, the MSP and 8 handling characteristics are incredibly different. The Miata isn't designed to be "fast" in the traditional sense and neither is my 8. It's all about it's ability to handle a turn from beginning to end. The MSP, for example, takes a bunch of effort to maintain lines and speed while on the Dragon, whereas the 8 flows faster- fast is smooth and smooth is fast. Sure, a lot of that is due to the fact I'm probably doubling the WHP and an open differential trans, but ultimately, it's because it's FWD. I've never driven an AWD car the way I drive my cars, because I've never owned one, but my friend couldn't keep up with me in the twisties this weekend in her WRX- coilovers, chassis brace, full exhaust. Not only that, but that WRX (automatic) can't even hang with my 8 on the highway. The handling characteristics is why I own the cars I do, not for WOT, straight highway pulls. For that, I'd go a large displacement domestic.
I'd really like to have a Miata and my plan is, if I get one, to boost it. I do like speed and the bike allows for that. I can't, for the money, have a car that will come anywhere near a bike in acceleration and top speed. And the Jeep, it's what I used to be into a long, long time ago. I've owned 10 Jeeps, 9 of which were CJs, and I'd like to have another. I don't wheel as aggressively as I drive and other than one roll-over, wheeling wasn't expensive other than tires and initial expenses to get it trail ready.
These are things I'm still contemplating, but the decision has been made that the MSP is moving on to a new owner.
