What is closest thing to a Miata fam car?

"G. Homer" (goyshahomer)
11/04/2014 at 20:20 • Filed to: None

my dad has a 91 miata that I love. Nothing like driving it. I have two kids though with carseats so clearly I cannot daily drive a miata. What would be closest thing that would work for a family of four? The Mazda 3 with 2.5 and a 6 speed might be fun, but I feel like backseat might be pretty cramped. What about a new 6 touring with manual? Does anyone have it? Or should I go for a honda accord sport with manual? I do really love the miata and how it drives- want to try and get something as close to that clutch and fun to drive factor. Your thoughts oppo?

DISCUSSION (32)

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > G. Homer
11/04/2014 at 20:24

A Miata. Case in point:

Kinja'd!!!

G. Homer > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
11/04/2014 at 20:25

haha does that actually exist?

Jagvar > G. Homer
11/04/2014 at 20:26

Kinja'd!!!

This.

promoted by the color red > G. Homer
11/04/2014 at 20:27

Lexus IS300 with a manual transmission.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > G. Homer
11/04/2014 at 20:28

It actually does, believe it or not.

G. Homer > Jagvar
11/04/2014 at 20:30

yea the s4 is great especially the wagon but it is way out of my price range and really rare in wagon form.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > G. Homer
11/04/2014 at 20:31

Your kids will fit in the Mazda3 just fine. They will also fit in a FiST.

G. Homer > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
11/04/2014 at 20:32

what is a fist?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > G. Homer
11/04/2014 at 20:34

Fiesta ST.

G. Homer > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
11/04/2014 at 20:36

oh that's really tiny. Plus would be a bear to deal with in Minnesota winter. Haven't sat in a new Mazda 3. I saw a hatch at work and it was pretty small. Sedan looked bigger, definitely longer.

AM3R > G. Homer
11/04/2014 at 20:39

what's the budget? An A4 wagon can be found with 3 pedals. Can't go wrong with a 328i with 3 pedals, also could be had as a wagon.

The new accord sport is pretty sweet if you must go new

Flat Six > G. Homer
11/04/2014 at 20:41

I traded my NA Miata for a Mazda 6 wagon when my daughter was born 9 years ago. The 6 is a great car, super practical and not depressing to drive. The V6 was zippy and had a nice growl when revved. Its no Miata unfortunately. I've been missing it ever since. I just bought a 911 (which amazingly cost the same as the 6), which reminds me of the Miata. So that is my recommendation for family car - 911!

LugNutz > G. Homer
11/04/2014 at 20:44

Get a MS3 and be done with it. Two adults or three teenagers ride no problem in the back of mine. Handles great, loads of power, and is a Mazda.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > G. Homer
11/04/2014 at 20:46

Yeah, but they'll fit. I mean, it's tiny compared to cars being made right now and considered a subcompact, but compare it in size to a midsize from 20 years ago. We got on just fine back then. The accord never felt tiny in the 90s.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AM3R
11/04/2014 at 20:53

I second manual 328i. I told this story the other day, but when I was testing cars earlier this year, I drove a manual 2011 328i. White over red leather, 13k miles, off-lease custom order CPO car. The price was $25,000 negotiable because it didn't have a sunroof. Considering free maintenance and the fact you'd be able to get the price down, that's proof this can be a really good value. I also think it's the last 3er worth caring about (come at me bros). Smoothest car ever, but handled well and was plenty fast with a screaming I6. Anyways, if you go that route there's now a way to have 300+ reliable whp for $5,000 down the road (ESS supercharger).

Also, they are super reliable.

AM3R > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
11/04/2014 at 20:59

yes! I own one and I love it. Buy a 2009+ because the facelifted E90's look much better. Very reliable, very smooth, And the handling is superb. They can be had under $20k all day too. They sound great, although the stock exhaust is so quiet.

lucky's pepper > G. Homer
11/04/2014 at 21:02

Previous generation WRX. Fast, fun, plenty of room for kids in back and groceries in the hatch. Plus used so cheaper. You will need a set of snow tires.

Kinja'd!!!

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AM3R
11/04/2014 at 21:04

Yeah, awesome cars. I remember you saying you have an automatic, and they also have very good automatics from what I've heard. The best deal possible would be a 2006 330i, though. Even though it's pre-facelift, it makes 255hp and is somewhat rarer and less expensive. You should supercharge the 328i—335i performance, 328i reliability/response/power delivery/smoothness/sound!

AM3R > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
11/04/2014 at 21:08

the auto is pretty good, also fun in manual mode but I still wish I waited for a manual. A stick 330i would be awesome, just as reliable as my 328i but with more power. They can be had under $15k all day too!

If my 328i was manual I'd definitely consider a supercharger. If I had a manual E91.. I'd definitely do it.

You're in the DC area right? There's a manual E91 on CL.. It's nice. Lemme find the link.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AM3R
11/04/2014 at 21:13

Yeah, I know what you mean. I spent hours trying to find a newer 128i stick for my mom and came up with only one ok car. A manual E91 with headers, exhaust, and a supercharger would be amazing... Unfortunately that's way out of my price range, though. A manual E91 328i is hard to find, there was a really nice black/dark brown CPO sport package manual E91 328i at a dealership but it was overpriced and xDrive. Great looking car, though.

AM3R > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
11/04/2014 at 21:19

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/472442…

M3 wheels, mtech kit, manual, nicely optioned, but it's xdrive.

1 series are great. I don't know what your budget is but definitely try to pick up a manual N52 equipped car. Very good engines. I want a performance exhaust!

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AM3R
11/04/2014 at 21:26

I convinced my mom into an N52 Z4, so hopefully I'll be able to buy that one day. My current car is worth somewhere between $5-6,000, and that's about where my price range stops, but I'm basically raving about the greatness of the N52 engine on here every other post so I definitely am on the same page as you! It kills me how expensive it is to get into a manual E91... I love those things and the car in the ad is gorgeous. Definitely something I'd be interested in if I had more money to spend on a car.

AM3R > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
11/04/2014 at 21:28

oh, if it's 3 pedals the z4 is awesome. I love how they look. I really want a Z4M coupe. It's basically a lighter E46 M3 and its stupid cheap.

Hey you're basically hakfway there. $12k can get you a ~75k 330i.

Glad someone else likes the N52. Most just go straight for the N54.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AM3R
11/04/2014 at 21:38

Yeah, manual M sport! Review link below. Also here's some of the stuff I post about the N52, although there are lots of other posts and comments haha

http://jayzayeighty.kinja.com/search?q=N52

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/2011-z4-sdrive…

As much as I like the 330i, I like my current car enough to break my back and really exercise my left leg and right arm driving it for now. It'll turn 30 soon, and it's going to be a long, long term project.

AM3R > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
11/04/2014 at 22:27

There we go, I remember reading the review, I just couldn't remember whether it was manual or auto.

That's great, keep the car alive! I'm looking into picking up a project car so I can get some experience wrenching. May end up with a datsun (another inline 6!)

phee_the_emcee > G. Homer
11/05/2014 at 11:52

the FiST is actually very roomy. Have you sat in one? I'm 6 ft 200lbs and i was COMFY

superhappyfuntime > G. Homer
11/05/2014 at 12:01

FR-S/BRZ has two backseats!

peter.k > G. Homer
11/05/2014 at 20:56

forester XT (04-08) , saabaru,

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AM3R
11/06/2014 at 17:22

Yeah, I have very little experience but I think the C4's a good combo of challenges and simplicity. My dad drives a slushbox Miata, though!

AM3R > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
11/06/2014 at 18:03

how is the slushbox miata? Definitely not very common to see one.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AM3R
11/06/2014 at 18:14

For good reason, I'd have to say. It's not a terrible automatic—6 speeds with a selectable mode with steering wheel button paddle things. But it takes every bit of pleasure out of driving the car. I don't care whether it's a DCT or CVT or 4 speed PRNDL, just don't put it in a Miata!

AM3R > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
11/06/2014 at 18:19

yeah with a car as gutless as the miata, you really need a manual to have some fun. The BRZ/FR-S is the same way too.