Miata and Boxster Experience

[Lil bastard]

I love both cars. Have had extended experience with the MX-5 (2 month loaner) and I've pretty well made up my mind that come spring, I'm gonna try and trade my pristine '99 Boxster for an '06+ MX-5 even up. If a dealer will do it, I'm sold.

[grantsfo]

I have owned two Boxsters and one 2006 MX-5 long term. The Mazda MX5 is definitely a well engineered car, lighter, more responsive etc, but it wore on me over time as a daily driver. Quality of materials were not close to Boxster, seats became deformed, little trim pieces broke, top rattled. Ride felt cheaper and less controlled. The motor in the new MX-5's is sort of truck like too. Doesnt really make pleasant sounds and top end is nonexistent. Pretty much makes all its power from about 3500 RPM to about 6000 RPM. I'm more of a Honda engine fan.

Boxster to me just offers much more satisfying ride for daily driver. It handles poor surfaces better etc. Motor revs nicely and smoothly no truck motor feel like the MX5. Interior is much nicer to live with as well.

I actually traded the MX5 for car I'm much happier with, a 2007 Nissan 350Z GT Roadster. Now thats a car that is fun and easy to live with day to day! Talking about a nueteral great handling vehicle. I ran the 350Z roadster off showroom floor on Infineon and I was hanging tail out with reckless abandon! Wicked fun car out of the box with 307 HP. Boat loads of torque makes commuting an easy task. Funniest thing is I get far more compliments on the 350Z convertable than I ever did with Boxsters or the MX5.

[scribe]

Originally Posted by grantsfo

I actually traded the MX5 for car I'm much happier with, a 2007 Nissan 350Z GT Roadster. Now thats a car that is fun and easy to live with day to day!

That's interesting that you went from an MX-5 to a 350Z GT Roadster. I traded in a 2001 Miata on an '05 350Z GT Roadster, which I later traded in on my '06 MX-5. The Z was an awesome car, no question about that, and I put almost 30,000 miles on it the year I owned it. But I missed the lightweight, tossable feeling of the Miata (especially during autox) and always kicked myself for trading in the '01 Miata. And it's largely because of that remorse for trading the '01 Miata and my enjoyment of the '06 MX-5 that I'm probably going to keep the car for a good long time. I'll probably do the same with the Boxster so long as it doesn't turn out to be a money pit.

I'm glad you mentioned the 350Z, especially the Roadster ... in a lot of ways the Boxster feels like a hybrid of the 350Z Roadster and the Miata. The Boxster has the lightweight (but not flimsy), tossable feel of a Miata but also manages to have the solidity of the 350Z. The Boxster is also roughly halfway between the Miata and the Z Roadster in terms of weight and power.

[JTP]

I saw an interesting Miata last year. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by JTP

I saw an interesting Miata last year. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I'm sorry to say that your contribution may say more about you than the topic at hand.

For me, the Boxster has been a good car, not a great car, and certainly far from the pinnacle.

Since the day I got it, I've always considered it to be just another stop on the journey, but never the destination, afterall, what fun would that be?

[JTP]

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

I'm sorry to say that your contribution may say more about you than the topic at hand.

Well, it was just a joke no harm meant. That car pulled up next to me when I was visiting San Diego last year. I actually think the Miata is a decent little car, a capable fun sports car like my old 914s.

As an engineer I appreciate good design in all kinds of cars and as a person I appreciate all kinds of people too.

[mts]

Thanks for the fun comparison write up. I own a couple Miatas in addition to the Boxster S and have always found them very fun to drive.