Craigsundrum. If it were my money, which would you buy?

"Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain)
08/23/2016 at 00:56 • Filed to: None

$3000 - 1990 Miata* with 101,000 miles

115 bhp | 2,150 lb

0.0535 hp/lb

$3000 - 2000 Mustang GT with 122,000 miles

260 hp| 3,305 lb

0.0787 hp/lb

Both cars have excellent parts availability. Both are manual, rwd, coupes. But they couldn’t be any more different. My brother had a 2000 V6 mustang and it was scary how bad it handled. That said, it seemed curable with the right combo of parts and this one has a v8. So does the Mustang have enough fun-potential to out-fun a miata?

* Frankly, I think Miata prices are out of control but this is an interesting argument now.

DISCUSSION (20)

Frenchlicker > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 01:07

I would go with th Mustang. I've grown to like them lately, however the Miata is just something that exists in my mind as okay. It has nothing that strikes a fire in my heart.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 01:12

So a 2000 GT was only as powerful as a 1990 LS400? Goofy.

I’ll take the Miata. I’ve driven my family’s NA countless times, so I am familiar with it all — even if I’m not big on them. Closest thing I’ve piloted to the GT I guess was a ‘96 V6 with a manual, for about a week. Handled like hot garbage. Maybe a little better than my 1980 pickup.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Frenchlicker
08/23/2016 at 01:17

You’ll feel plenty of fire the first time a bro truck tries to run you off the interstate in a Miata (true story)

Anthony Miller > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 01:19

100% Miata. That Mustang interior will fall apart just as fast as your impression of the handling. If this is the price range you’re looking at, your wallet will be emptied by the amount of work you will HAVE to do to the mustang to make it worth it. Whereas the Miata is perfectly capable from stock with the option to make more out of it, not a requirement.

Nick Has an Exocet > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
08/23/2016 at 01:19

‘96 would be on the same chassis as the new-edge mustang so handling wouldn’t be much different here. Just even more weight out over the nose ;)

Nick Has an Exocet > Frenchlicker
08/23/2016 at 01:19

Yeah, the new edge mustangs have been growing on me. They’re the right size. The wrong weight, but certainly the right size.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 01:21

It’s not that I don’t like Mustangs — it’s that you’ve formed a hypothetical that forced me to choose the Miata. I won’t forget this.

Frenchlicker > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
08/23/2016 at 01:24

I try not to touch the flames as I burn an enemy's property to the ground.

Frenchlicker > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 01:26

I've come to the conclusion that any car is as fun as you make it. But it has to be moveable for everyday use(for me at least). So between those two the Mustang checks more boxes. Plus maybe there is a way to put it on a diet without spending massive amounts of cash.

Birddog > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 01:44

Mustang.

Nothing really against the Miata. The hype surrounding them and the prices they change hands for turn me off.

cbell04 > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 01:44

Why not both?

Kinja'd!!!

I’d have to go mustang just on quasi practicality. Im not a 2 seater guy since I have a wife and 2 kids. Maybe one day but no time soon.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 02:01

Probably the GT. It’s far newer and will probably give less issues down the road. Sn95s feel like they handle just fine outside the track, “adequate” low end power will keep you from getting blown away at the stoplight by every dude in a GTI, and it still has manufacturer support for upgrade and tuning parts. The backseat is virtually unusable though, so not that much of an advantage over the miata. That being said, that’s an extremely low milage NA, and you could possibly flip it after a bit.

Alfalfa > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 02:18

I’ve had my share of overweight 90's cars, so between these I would get the Miata for the sake of change.

Edit: also when you get bored of it...

Kinja'd!!!

Captain of the Enterprise > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 06:16

Are you dailying them?

can you fit comfortably in the Miata?

Do you want a convertible?

shop-teacher > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 07:22

Honestly, it depends on what you want to do with them. As I understand it, those Mistangs require quite a bit of parts to make them handle.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 08:12

I think it depends on what you plan on doing with it. I personally would never want a 1.6 Miata (my Miata is already slow enough, it doesn’t need to be slower lol) but if you just plan on autocrossing it, then that is a great choice. If you are just buying it to actually drive around and your roads are not all that interesting, then the Mustang is going to be a better choice. Still would be fun at autocross and track days because V8.

Don't be surprised if the Miata interior is nicer than the Mustang though, even if its 10 years older! I cant get past how bad the interior is on 90s-00s Fords.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 08:36

I’d be holding out for an AW11, but of those two, obviously the Miata.

Milky > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 09:20

IMHO pounds per horsepower is easier to understand than horsepower per pound. So it’d be 18.69 for the Miata and 12.71 for the Mustang.

But unless you love Monster stickers on your car, I’d get the Miata.

Nick Has an Exocet > Alfalfa
08/23/2016 at 11:29

Yeah that Exocet kit is what had me looking at miata’s in the first place ;)

DynamicWeight > Nick Has an Exocet
08/23/2016 at 11:43

I’ve owned a mustang and a miata.

If this is your only car:

The mustang. The miata is too damn small. You can’t really go get groceries. Bought a TV? Or a chair? Well go ask a friend to go with you because you can’t take them home in the miata. The mustang has a back seat which is great for transporting stuff. Also has a larger trunk. Also is just plain bigger inside.

If this is the weekend fun car:

Absolutely Miata. It’s what I do. There is nothing like stuffing a minimal amount of stuff into that tiny trunk and taking the girlfriend out to some fun roads leading to the beach in a miata. I do it almost every weekend and never get tired of it. The car is so much fun to drive on the twisty back roads at speeds that get my heart pumping but don’t scare the passenger.