So I drove an MX-5 Mk3

[DrCactus]

I have never owned one or anything but I have been in the passenger's seat in one and it is pretty nice. It handles pretty well and little slow due to the engine size and all. The one negative I found was the size of the interior... Im 6'1 and I felt like I was being squeezed and when the top was up even worse... needed the window down to breathe! (little dramatic I know...hehe) I think the important part is to look at the costs and service issues - end of the day we all want to drive whatever car we have and not have it sitting in a garage.

[Perfectlap]

I don't think it's surprising at all because it's probably the most common previously owned car (or raced) among Porsche owners. Here in the U.S. it is a pretty rare occurrence not to see at least one generation of Miata at any SCCA (or other club) track day or autocross (our version of parking lot time trials). The new MX5 Cup car looks like a ton of fun for small money. I grew up with karting as a kid, I've not driven a Lotus Elise but I would say that of all the Porsches, BMWs, Japanese and Domestics I've drive, the Miata is still the closest thing you will find to a "go kart".

When I first got into my Boxster S, (it was the first Boxster I ever drove) one of my first thoughts was that it doesn't feel that much different than the pre-996 Carrera as far as feeling like a "full sized" road car. Part of me was hoping that the first purpose built Porsche roadster since 356A#1 (the first Porsche ever) would still have that more compact, shorter wheel base roadster feel that Miata and Elise drivers love. You know what I'm talking about, no waiting for anything to happen or come around, you turn the wheel hard and the car is already there before you. But instead the Boxster to me felt more like a 993 with the roof cut off. Until of course I took it to the local autocross that weekend and realized why mid-engine Porsches are the most special to drive. But still I can say without hesitation that the Miata is a lot more fun to drive than all but maybe one or two Porsches I have driven... which is only logical because the Miata is closest thing we have to a kart for the street with some presence of safety.

[BOOTLEG]

Neither of my 2 MX5s ever even heard of IMSB issues. They are well behaved, easy to work on and cheap to keep. I keep the Box in a separate garage near my tools!