mmarshall

Well, the Boxster is more comfortable, more refined, and has more features on it, as would be expected at twice the Miata's price. But I wouldn't call it any more of a blast to drive....and, unlike the Miata, it has a sealed-off engine compartment with almost no access at all without a multi-stage process.. Don't want to take the thread too far off-topic, but here's how to get to a Boxster's engine....a PITA.

Coleroad

Totally agree MM

Aron9000

I wouldn't call the new Miata slow anymore, does 0-60 in under 6 seconds and runs a 14 second quarter mile. Its faster than its nearest competitor, the Subie BRZ/Scion FR-S/Toyota 86

mmarshall

To put that in perspective, 14 seconds was considered about average for a 60s-vintage American muscle-car. Even the 427 triple-carb Corvette did 13.7 fom the the tests I remember.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

i had an '07 grand touring 6 speed. just an absolutely delight to drive. i didn't expect it to be lexus quiet at highway speed, and it never bothered me except one time i did a pretty long drive (3+hrs) and it got tiresome, but hey, just add some time in to stop for a nice lunch and take some back roads you don't know and thank me later.

dseag2

Mine was an '06 Grand Touring 6 speed. It was the best car I've ever driven for local errands with the top down. However, heading out on the highway with heavy traffic the drone of the engine made me want to poke my eardrums out and the constant shifting in stop-and-go traffic just got to me. I guess I'm getting old. Funny thing is, I traded it for an '06 SC430, which was quiet but drove like a Japanese Buick. I went from one extreme to another.

ISFPOWER

iTrader: (20)

average? 1975 Countach was in the 14s and people thought it was the fastest thing .

mmarshall

Trust me (I lived through those years)...............1975 was a whole different world from the 60s, when Detroit was King. Because of emission controls. engine de-tuning, unleaded gas, and engine downsizing, HP/torque levels dropped dramatically between 1970 and 1975. Almost none of the Detroit muscle-cars, by that time (at least what was left of them) could run with an exotic like a Lambo.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

haha. i swapped out the exhaust on my miata, maybe that made the sound less droning.

ya, i remember driving an sc430 and thought 'my goodness this is slow, heavy, and handles bad' (sorry). but the cassette deck was cute. my brother still has an sc430. he's about 6'6" and i'm not sure how he fits in it.

mmarshall

Probably puts the top down, and just doesn't drive when it's raining LOL.

ecr527

Of all the Miatas, I think the NB (99-05) may be the Goldilocks of the bunch. If you're lucky, you can still find clean examples, with relatively low mileage and since they're older, they can be had fairly cheap.

mmarshall

This, I thought, was probably the best factory color they ever did.....the Mariner Blue of early models.

Aron9000

Smurf blue lol. Personally I'm a fan of British Racing Green, with the tan top/tan leather.

mmarshall

The British Racing Green was done, from what I remember, as a special-production package.

BTW, while I respect your opinion, I disagree with the LOL remark on that Mariner Blue color....I think it is a gorgeous shade of blue. Some recent Mustangs have also used it.

Byprodrive

iTrader: (1)

Much quicker & easier to do it correctly, by simply pulling the bottom of the cables loose from their mounting posts, instead of removing the wire clips on the top cable mounts.