Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests s2000 vs mazda speed miata

Then the Z4 is for you.

Give a look into the 2006 Miata. Styling is different and less of a chic car in many people's eyes. Not too sure when that is being released. Can't be too far away.

The MSM is a fantastic overall package. 3k miles on mine and not one issue. I absolutely love it. I completed a road trip from Boston to Baltimore 2 weeks ago with the wife and the car was superb. Lots of mods available and Shiv from Vishnu Tuning is making serious progress on a 300 RWHP street-legal tuning program.

http://www.mazda-speed.com for more information!

A serious bargain for the 05 models. And as for the 06, I don't like it as much. Seating position is bit better, but visibility is a bit worse. I also don't like the interior materials. They are supposed to be resolving some issues with the MSM version of the 06 model and releasing later this year or early Spring.
Expect ~240 HP

I drove the 06 and was VERY disappointed with their new 2.0 motor. It is no where near as responsive as the MSM even tho the HP is really close. I actually liked the interior, but felt that the dual exhaust looked like an afterthought and it needs a lower more aggressive stance. The blue is very pretty tho.... and I do really like the new top design.

My MSM makes me smile everytime I get in it... the ride is harsh, there is no cruise or tilt, but I don't care.. its just a blast. I am getting the midpipe/downpipe upgrade and larger intercooler later this month that will push it over 200 hp as well as the cowl intake conversion. From what I hear, the HP increase, although minimal, is VERY noticable...

I DO wish at times that I had a titanium one, but the red goes well with the red stitching in the interior... And I think the cloth top is a nice touch

i've been on this fence for a while now. having had a 2000 miata LS for a while and very much enjoyed it, i've been fancying another miata as a fun-to-drive toy/weekend warrior/sometime DD ever since i got rid of my G35c and bought the jeep. however, i do remember the kidney-busting ride quality and the unbearable highway noise factor of mine and noted the same thing in a red MSM i drove a while back. awesome cars, but a bit tedious in daily driving on interstates and less-than-perfect roads. all those faults disappear when you drop the top, but....i'm not one of those hardcore miataphiles who brag about having had the top down for months nonstop and such. when it rains or gets cold - i put the top up. when it's really hot and i want a/c, i put the top up. at that point the car gets noisy and a bit unpleasant.

so, while i'm still very much considering an NB miata or maybe if i can swing it an NC over the winter, i've also begun considering the S2k as another option. never driven one, but i doubt the ride quality will be MUCH better - but maybe a little less of a teeth-rattler? <shrug> not sure on that one.

i'm kind of torn because i absolutely love the driving enjoyment of a lightweight roadster like the miata, but i also know that putting that car in its element is not something i do on a daily or even monthly basis. trips to the dragon are nice but necessarily infrequent...

so i've also been considering other heavier cars like a mustang GT or cobra convertible (on sound alone! ) or perhaps a C5 vette if i can get past the sit-and-polish stigma that particular car has.

MSM vs S2k....hard choice. for me, budget might play a role in that choice if not for you - new/slightly used MSM's can be had in the $20-22k range, where as a new/slightly used S2k (04+?) would be pushing $30k or more. i much prefer the revised styling and such of the '04+ S2k's, so that eliminates the older but cheaper models from my consideration....plus i'd rather have a newer-and-under-warranty car than spend my whole budget on one that's got 50k miles on it or something.

IMO, the ride in the MSM is less harsh than the LS. I drove both back-to-back before purchasing and the LS had a lot more road noise and a lot more road vibration translated through the seatssteering than the MSM. Could be tires? Also, the cloth top is the way to go. It looks better and masks more of the sound than the vinyl. Although I agree, the car is noisier with the top up than with it down. The caveat is that you can't have the cloth top without the leather seats; they are both part of the Grand Touring package. The cloth seats afford you about an inch more room due to the material and amount of padding installed.

For the record, I am 5'11" 190 lb with an athletic build and I *just* fit in the MSM. It's my weight maintenance program. If I grow in *any* dimension I won't fit in the car.

I had a '96 Montego Blue Miata for 2.5 years as my daily driver and still miss it severely. I did fit pretty well at 6'2" 195# (at the time, more like 210 now) and fit much better when I took 2" of foam out of the seat bottom and adjusted the lumbar to my liking. Not fast in a straight line but the most fun I've ever had on 4 wheels. I was one of those hard-core types who drove top-down in the winter and rain, crank up the heater and wear some decent driving gloves and it's a much better experience. I did get tired of baking my head on 95+ degree days towards the end of my ownership though.

My toy list is topped by a cheap, cosmetically-challenged '93-'95 Miata that I could give the full Flyin' Miata turbo treatment to. I love sleepers...

Scott

I traded in my 02 LS for my speed, but I do think that the ride of the MSM is stiffer.. but I also prefer it since it gives it that sure footedness that I like....

My sister likes, but not loves her S2000. She thinks the interior is cramped and still prefers to drive her prelude day to day...

i dont notice a lot of road nice with my top up, even in the rain, although there will always be some with it being a rag top. I agree, the cloth top/leather combo is great, although the leather will melt your ass in the TX sun. I too ride a lot with the top up, AC on... and enjoy it just fine.

By far the biggest advantage is going to be the price. There is no reason, at least around here, to buy a used one, with the new ones being priced after rebates in the low 20's. As I said, I got mine for 18K out the door... I would rather pay that than 33K for an S2000.. and I even thought about going used.. but I wanted something new with a warranty. And damn it can do some kick ass donuts!!!!!

If you like the miata, and can fit in one... I recommend the MSM to anyone BUT.. I AM biased a bit.