Mazdaspeed Miata 04 or 05

Insurance will be high on the S2K

You will be able to find just the car you are looking for, if you are patient.

I did not care for the S2K, which was very surprising to me.

I owned an early Miata and daily driven an S2000 for many years along with my stupid trucks. I still think the Miata lacks power across all generations (still a great BTW). The later ones are much faster but its no S2000. The S is really a torque-less wonder. It drives like any other Honda in low revs. I really have no idea what people are talking about when they say it doesn't go in low revs? Just keep the foot in it for another 1/2 second and you are flying. If you are going to shift at 2500 rpm, then that's not the car for you since they red line at 9 (my AP1 will do just that). For cruising the back, roads with the top down, that's all you need to keep up with faster traffic without issues. The handling is insane. Better then any of my late 80s and earlier 911s. I have a Cayman now, so the Honda doesn't get driven much. My Cayman is a much more car in every way. For those that say it has no go they maybe expecting more from a 240hp motor that's only a 2.0L. Honda designed that to be a true sports cars without too much in way of comfort. The AC is cold that's for sure.

I can't seem to get rid of mine. The local kids don't have enough money to buy, The middle age folks want new with a different hood badge. I have not tried really hard, but I see nice example of S2000s out there for not a lot of money.

Nothin "girlie car" about these Miata's!

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The Miata is the best choice:
-Parts and modification availability is huge!
-Cost of parts & repair is prolly half of that of a BMW and 1/3 of the S2k.
-Tech support for repairs and upgrades will be far higher with the Miata.

Image/looks? Ask me if I care what other people think. I buy a car to please me as opposed to impress others. I have a lifetime Man-card membership and don't care what anyone else thinks.

Resale? Are you buying investment stocks or a car to drive? Thrash it. Wear it out. Get another.

I like both choices (well, I like the NB Miatas better)

I spent about 5 months looking for an S2000 a couple years ago. My criteria was, good paint, straight body, less than 100k miles. I could not find one under $20k. I found 2 in the $34k range. I thought that was dumb, so I broadened my search and found an AMAZING e36 M3 cab.

It was a fantastic touring car / cruiser. It had better power than the S2000, better feel, and better fit & finish.

Boxster is actually a really solid car. Yes there is the potential for expensive repairs, but they are relatively slight. I would still take the Porsche all day long over the BMW, better car and better made as well. With that said, Miata will be by far the lowest ownership cost. Don't take my post to be disparaging, they are fantastic little cars. I came really close to getting an NC Club PRHT, but ended up with an RX-8 R3 for roughly the same money.

I'd get a Miata.

As you said, an appliance, but a mighty fine one. I owned a Mazdaspeed for awhile, and while I didn't ever feel love for it like I love Porsches, it was a bunch of fun.

The S2K is cool as hell, but not much fun in many real world situations. Boxsters are cool but I've seen too many eat their engines, and affordable ones have been through many hands, some of whom will likely have neglected them.

I have no experience with the BMWs, except I hate the looks of the Z4.

I only know what I have driven.

I have driven two NB's with stick and an NC auto.

The NB's were flat out fun. The NC auto was "meh". Surely a manual would have made it more fun.

Yep, leaning that way as well (Miata). Now a matter of finding one!

I have little doubt that the Honda S2000 is a great car but don't forget this is an older car namely at least twelve years old. The Miata can also be had from close to 30 years old to brand new. Parts are readily available for the Miata and can be readily modded.

Having owned my 2013 NC for three years I am happy with it but I can understand why owners mod it for more power. However once started it is a slippery slope as thousands can be sunk into the car and when time to sell the subsequent buyer will not appreciate the $$ sunk into it. The engine will be more stressed but the engine of the Miata is very solid.

Having said that I agree with one whipped puppy that the Boxster is a great car and is a bundle of fun right out of the box. It does not need to be modded(90 mph in third gear).

The Boxster S is even more fun. But with any Porsche you need deep pockets if something goes wrong particularly if you do not wrench yourself.

I still look at ads for Porsche cars. The new Boxster and Cayman are outstanding cars. The new Miata ND or ND/RF are also outstanding with an additional ten more hp in 2019. 0 to 60 mph in an ND Miata is great at less than six seconds.

In my mind the roadster competition is great nowadays. Enjoy your search.:)

I have owned both.

I think the S2000 gets an unfair rap in that…
If you drive both cars Conservative, (imagine a non-car enthusiastically driver), and shift before 4500-5000 RPM, you will find they driver very similar.
The unfair rap that the S2000 gets is the Mr Hyde that comes out to play at around 6000 RPM.
The “Normal” driver will say both cars drive “Nice”
The more performance orientated driver will say, “they pull similar until the Vtec engages, then its party time in the Honda!”

In fareness, I had the gen 2 S2k with BIG 2.2 ltr motor which help side step the low end torque issue.

Plus for the Miata.
Stone dead reliable.
WYSIWYG car. Very fiew supprises with a Miata. (A HUGE complement to Mazada designers here) HVAC controls are dead simple to under stand, and the HVAC works without any supprises. Glove box is exactly where you would assume the glove box would be. The ride will not beat you to death (but if you modify it you are still a threat at the local autocross). The gas pedle makes the car go faster, the break pedle make the car go slower, the shifter is a delight.
Unless you are very rediculas with speed, they are stealth, hmm, or so I have been told because I never exceed the posted speed limit!
Great aftermarket (remarkably simple bolt in and boom, you have a Chevy LS motor in your stock looking miata)

Plus for the S2000
Honda reliablity.
Bit classier interior, but does hold some (plesant) supprizes (the hidden glovebox, for example)
More unique car. You will see multiple Miata’s a day (again a tribute to their success), you MAY see 1 S2000 a day.
The Shifter is amazing (frequently voted, back in its day, as one of the indistries 10 best production shifters)
Power top. fast to go up and down. Nice day, I am at a red light, lets go topless!

Only has a couple of down sides with the Honda.
I found I rarely had to turn the AC down. Mine tended to blow cool, not cold, air. May have just needed a recharge.
I drove a Lotus Elise. With the exception of getting into and out of the car, the Lotus was just more of an event to drive. (and by event I mean the little angle on your shoulder seems to be asthmatic and the little devil on your other shoulder bough a megaphone!)

Summary. There is no wrong choice. Buy the newest, best condition, version of either car and you will not be disappointed.

^ exactly. Except my AS in the S2000 blows cold. In the deal middle of socal summer, its on the third notch. I think there are 8.

A fellow car enthusiest buddy of mine had a Honda S2000 and for him the car was uncomfortable that was his biggest gripe . I have never driven one or a Miata so don't have any real world advice on those two . However I will say my Boxster is the best Porsche I have owned and I've had five . But my engine is far from stock :D

The answer is always Miata... unless you need to be looked at, then go for the S2k or a Porsche... if you want solid reliable grin inducing joy with limitless potential go for the Miata.

A nice NC CLUB PRHT would be a mature joy, need a bit more fun factor call Flyin Miata and get the Targa kit.

If I was smart, and not such a Porsche fanboi, I would have built a Gen 1 Miata with a Honda K24... and never stopped smiling without expensive worries. ;)

+1. Guilty as charged!

Drive them both, and I think you should be able to decide easily.

I prefer the S2000.

Is size important? Both of the options are on the small side.

How about a Mustang? ;)

If you are still in the market, I still have mine. Black on black. I am not a big guy so the seat has no wrinkles in it and no wear and tear on the bolster with 76xxx miles on it. Its the first gen, so red line is 9000 if that matters to you. I drive it once a month, then it sits. 15k its yours Its time for someone else to enjoy it. Top is in great shape but rear plastic window can use a new piece of vinyl(I think they are Vinyl). Some people install glass in them, but not sure if that be done. I do know the later years has glass. The stupid after market amp has a loose ground so it whines along with rpm. I have all receipts, original purchase receipts and window stickers if that matters to anyone? Let me know. I like to have the extra room for my 72. Its getting build as we speak.

If you decided to get the S2000, make sure that diff oil is changed every 20-25000 miles with HONDA OIL. I usually change that every third oil change at 5000 motor oil changes.