Need Help Deciding

[NaOH]

Graduating soon and looking to add a roadster to go with my Civic for pleasure. I just graduated so limited on funds so trying to keep a budget around 15k. I have found some pretty clean S2Ks for around that price (granted the mileage averages around 65K) and A LOT of Miatas for a lot cheaper.

The things I like about the Miata are that it's cheaper, supposedly handles better and sort of breaks the norm of the young asian ricer driving another Honda. It also has a big community and plenty of cheap mods.

The S2K on the other hand has a nicer interior and exterior. It also produces more power and over all just seems more refined IMO. I'm not sure how it handles because I've never driven one and I won't get a chance until I move and settle.

The purpose of this is to gather opinions from experienced people and form a discussion about the two. Thanks!

 

[thedarkwolf]

I really wanted a S2000 myself but $15k for a nice s2000 vs $4k for a nice miata kind of settled things . That leaves a lot of room for mods which on the miata are pretty abundant. If you are shopping in the $15k range then no contest I'd take the s2000. I've never driven a s2000 so I can't really compare them but I do love my miata. Mines came pre-turbo charged so I never had to deal with the underwhelming power they have stock. Everytime the discussion pops up on miata.net everybody raves about the shifter in the s2000s. The one in the miata fells pretty damn good to me but then I had an 89 5.0l mustang before it which is about as crude as they come.

 

[NaOH]

Is your miata a mk1? Is there something I should know about each gen?

 

[thedarkwolf]

NA mines a 94. http://www.miata.net/ spend a good hour or two screwing around on there and you will know just about everything there is too know about miatas. There are +s and -s to each year which is covered pretty well in the FAQ section.

 

[NaOH]

Coool thanks =) The miata seems to have a cheaper upkeep as well.....Dang...decisions decision.....

 

[DivideBYZero]

The Miata is very modable from a performance standpoint, too.

 

[StageLeft]

You said funds are a concern and therefore this isn't even a debate;S2k is out of the running.

 

[Throckmorton]

If you buy the S2k, won't the fun be ruined by thinking about how much money you wasted vs a Miata?


Buy a Miata and put roll hoops and maybe some bigger wheels on it so no one mistakes you for a gay.

 

[MiataNC]

S2000 = More power, more "street cred", more refined (if by refined you mean better feel to the materials in the interior), more expensive to buy and maintain

Miata = incredible after market (unless you get a 2006+..still waiting for a turbo/SC option), cheap to maintain, best bang for the buck if your main goal is to own a roadster

You can't go wrong with either car. Get the one that stirs your soul and fits your budget.

 

[theeedude]

Miata gets you everything you need from a roadster. S2000 is a better car, but you are getting into a diminishing returns situation.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: MiataNC
S2000 = More power, more "street cred", more refined (if by refined you mean better feel to the materials in the interior), more expensive to buy and maintain

Miata = incredible after market (unless you get a 2006+..still waiting for a turbo/SC option), cheap to maintain, best bang for the buck if your main goal is to own a roadster

You can't go wrong with either car. Get the one that stirs your soul and fits your budget.

Miata aftermarket is also incredibly cheap.

 

[Ns1]

If you got the money s2k, if you don't get the miata

s2k is definitely a more refined car, and the shifter is pretty godly; miata's shifter isn't bad though

resale value on both are pretty good

 

[NaOH]

Yeah, the miata seems like it'd be a lot of fun to own. I would probably get the later of the 99-2005 models. Is the base miata noticeably slooow...

 

[Funyuns101]

Originally posted by: Ns1
If you got the money s2k, if you don't get the miata

s2k is definitely a more refined car, and the shifter is pretty godly; miata's shifter isn't bad though

resale value on both are pretty good

Agreed, the shifter on the s2k is awesome... nice short throws and a very nice sounding engine when it hits vtec. it's like sitting a cockpit - everything is digital and all the necessary buttons are right there.

if money really isn't that big of an issue, try to find a 2003 or newer, stock & babied S2000. I think the ones before had a weird plastic rear windshield (or whatever it's called) that got really foggy.

nothing "wrong" with the miata, but the s2000 is a bit more "rare" and will get you more "street cred" as noted above.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: NaOH
Yeah, the miata seems like it'd be a lot of fun to own. I would probably get the later of the 99-2005 models. Is the base miata noticeably slooow...

Define slow? It won't tear up the drag strip or impress the woman in the Odyssy next to you, but that is part of the fun.

If I were you, though, I'd get a Mazdaspeed and the Big Enchilada from Flyin' Miata.

http://www.flyinmiata.com/tech...hilada_stock_turbo.pdf

 

[NaOH]

The thing I hate about most honda is the underwhelming amount of torque available at the lower rpms. Which makesme have to rev a lot just to get around town. I know the s2k has this trait. I'm sure the mazdaspeed or any turbo miata wouldn't reallly have that.

 

[NaOH]

looking at graphs look like the peak torque is at 5k rpms as well for the base.

 

[yelo333]

Originally posted by: NaOH
The thing I hate about most honda is the underwhelming amount of torque available at the lower rpms.

I thought that was the definition of a Honda? See, now you *have* to rev it. :evil:

Read somewhere on the 'net awhile back:

H = Horsepower = Honda
T = Torque = Toyota

And didn't some of the s2k's have a 9000+ rpm redline? That must sound sick...

 

[Shawn]

Definitely a miata.

 

[nonameo]

I have a miata. I love it. It is reliable and easy to work on when you have to. It's hella fun to drive as well. I think the added value of an S2000 over a miata would be pretty small.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: NaOH
The thing I hate about most honda is the underwhelming amount of torque available at the lower rpms. Which makesme have to rev a lot just to get around town. I know the s2k has this trait. I'm sure the mazdaspeed or any turbo miata wouldn't reallly have that.

That's half the fun It's no daily driver, but that's what the civic is for right?


do you plan on tracking it?

my friend has an s2k and when he went to the track he said the miatas were raping that shit

 

[NaOH]

Yeah, I'll probably be tracking it once the dust is clear

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: yelo333

Originally posted by: NaOH
The thing I hate about most honda is the underwhelming amount of torque available at the lower rpms.

I thought that was the definition of a Honda? See, now you *have* to rev it. :evil:

Read somewhere on the 'net awhile back:

H = Horsepower = Honda
T = Torque = Toyota

And didn't some of the s2k's have a 9000+ rpm redline? That must sound sick...

It sounds about like you would expect: A well-balanced Honda 4-cylinder at 9000 RPM, with two exhaust pipes 4 feet behind your ears, an intake 4 feet in front, and nothing getting between them. You feel like there's nothing but you, the windshield pillars, the digital tach exploding in your peripheral vision, and the straight suddenly getting VERY short, VERY fast. I loved both the 2.0 and the 2.2, and found the final rush towards the redline on the hottest VTEC setting to really get my blood going, but tastes vary.

Bear in mind that complaints about low-end torque are relative. The S2000 will feel faster than the OP's Civic at any RPM, even if it won't blow his socks off. But after tooling around a bit, there will definitely be a "where the fuck did THAT come from?" moment when he finally gets a chance to run it into the power band. It's a bit Jekyll and Hyde.