The New Mazda Miata

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

I wrote an email to excellence last week about the term "entry level" when referring to the boxster/cayman ( referring to story about gts vs the R)..

The funny thing is that people very rarely seem to use the term "entry level" when talking about mass produced cars like BMW/Merc/Audi/Porsche....
This term it seems is usually seen when discussing very expensive cars well into the six figures Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls, Bentley, etc.
I'm not saying it doesn't apply to mass produced cars, but its seems that the term is nearly always used when discussing a non-Carrera Porsche. Meanwhile when discussing a roadster or roadster coupe from BMW, Audi or Mercedes ...not as common. Good job Porsche marketing dept.

[Giller]

Never been a fan of those sports cars that have the big, long hood and tiny rear end. Drove a Z3, Vette and Miata before settling on my Boxster - it was just night and day. The Boxster blew them all away with it's vastly superior handling.

Yeah, it costs more, but you get what you pay for. And I'll take a slightly higher running bill to keep this smile on my face!

[DWBOX2000]

Yup bottom up the porsche hierarchy.

Another +1 for the miata. Beautiful car.

[Jim Rockford]

I've had experience with NB's (including the Mazdaspeed turbo'd Miata), and NC's (including a Skip Barber spec NC around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca), and also quite a bit of seat time with the ND on canyon roads outside LA. No experience with the NA. I currently own a 2000 non-S Boxster.

Each of the Miatas had a common thread, directness. Absolute unmatched precision in the shifter, and laser like road connection. They were all also inadequately tired. The NBs and NCs really felt like short wheelbase cars, and the ND is less direct and actually more vague, but ultimately feels like it's gained grip levels far beyond the former cars and doesn't feel as eager to let go in the snappy fashion that the former cars did. Feels more like an RX-8 in wheelbase behaviour (another car that I have extensive experience with).

The Boxster has a slop in the steering at low speed and a shifter that cannot come anywhere near the Miata, but once the steering weights up at speed, the road feel gets far better, the feeling of mechanical grip over the Miata is considerable and the balance is even better (which is hard to believe). Keep in mind these are viewpoints from all vehicles that are not modified, or mildly modified.

The brakes on the Boxster are really something special. Like nothing I've ever felt before. Pedal feel is firm and has a real heft to it, whereas the Miata is dainty and you can modulate the brake with your big toe but it's lacks that built of pure granite type feel. Ultimately I prefer the Boxster brakes.

Power obviously goes to the Boxster which pulls out of the corner with some reasonable level of authority versus the Miata which is fun but you always feel you want more. The Mazdaspeed Miata was the answer for that but the NB chassis wasn't a formidable match, and was a terrible fit for 6ft plus drivers. I'd like to see how the ND feels with that engine chassis combination. As a prior poster mentioned the ND is also much more accommodating of longer individuals.

Ultimately my take is that they're both great fun cars, but they're both different cars. And I would salute owners of each with equal respect.

[Fintro11]

I haven't had to deal with many Porsche owners looking down on boxsters or 944's / 924's.

The people that do tend to be the people that buy the car for the name not because they are an enthusiast. They don't like it when you ask them if thats the case why did you not buy a gt3 or a 911 turbo

[jdraupp]

Originally Posted by Fintro11

I haven't had to deal with many Porsche owners looking down on boxsters or 944's / 924's.

The people that do tend to be the people that buy the car for the name not because they are an enthusiast. They don't like it when you ask them if thats the case why did you not buy a gt3 or a 911 turbo

Agreed. Difference between actual enthusiast owners illustrated here. Guys who really know Porsches know the price pecking order and the handling pecking order. The guys who just want a Porsche because it's a status symbol I think buy panameras and cayennes now.

[Gelbster]

"Yeah dude, that's it; you have too much power and that's what makes my 200hp girly car faster. :-)"
Wonderful !
The puzzled 911 guy probably didn't even know the mid-engine configuration of the puny 2.5l

[steved0x]

At my last track day I noticed that the moment a 911 got behind me the blue flag would come out, even though I always give a quick point by at the next passing zone. But I can be stuck behind another boxster, Cayman, or 911 for 2-3 laps and never see a blue flag. Sometimes we just don't get no respect

[Perfectlap]

my old NA. Selling it was a mistake. To be honest, it was more fun to drive than the Boxster. Certainly on a $ per endorphin ratio.
I should have kept both. That might have lowered the running costs on the Boxster.

[Smallblock454]

Saw that video of the Mazda MX-5 ND RF today. Wow, i think i like that. This could be a good daily driver. Will do a test drive when it's available.

https://youtu.be/4XjamioT-Gs



Regards, Markus