The Best Non-Miata Miatas

"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
05/22/2015 at 11:05 • Filed to: Miata, Roadster

The classically perfect configuration of 2 doors, 2 seats, a soft top roof which can be stowed in a cubby behind your occipital lobes, a small displacement engine with enough power to “feel” faster than your co-workers’ Corolla, 5 or 6 speed manual transmission to handle the power that will inevitably reach the rear wheels is the winning formula of the Mazda Miata. The best selling roadster to date that has never been quite matched but countlessly copied.

What Mazda gave to its costumers was the ability to have all the fun of the weekend sports car with the reliability and ease of ownership of the daily driver. It may be your track weapon, the Sunday toy, mechanic project or even your only way to get to work but in every situation it will be assured that you will reach your destination with a huge smile on your debris infested face.

But even after the Miata offers all that for a very low price some people can’t deal with it in some way or another. It may be its cute asian bear-like styling, the shame you will feel when comparing spec sheet to your Mustang driving pal, or the spartan internals. There is nothing wrong with not liking the cuddly Miata though (Only if you are a hipster), as different tastes are what brings diversity and choices in this world. So, if you want the delicious recipe of the Mazda Miata MX-5 done by another chef to achieve similar (or in some cases better) results these are your picks.

I am going to make this more informative, so I will use 5 criteria in which the Miata shines and compare them to the other choices in the segment. Points are scored out of five.

Driving Entertainment: How fun it is behind the wheel. How much do you giggle when you arrive places. How many tears do you get of pure joy when nailing a rev-match downshift, that sort of thing.

Affordability: How much does it cost me to buy/maintain.

Reliability: Can I use it everyday, or only when the 3rd lunar eclipse of the year?

Community/Brand: Will I meet with insufferable douches? Is the brand cool?

Let’s put the benchmark first:

Mazda Miata

Driving Entertainment: 4.5/5: This is the party piece of the Miata, with its weight distribution, excellent shifter, decent power and a liveliness yet seen in this age of know airbags and brltlines higher than the rockies. The only criticism it can get is the “lack” of power, but I think this is absurd given the feel of the car.

Affordability: 5/5: Pretty much ANYONE can afford a Miata. They come from less than a grand to a brand new near 35K ND. The parts are cheap and the thing is so easy to maintain it won’t cost more than the previously mentioned co-worker owned Corolla.

Reliability: 4.5/5: The engine is reliable and dependable enough to be a daily. The car loves to be abused and will feel thanked if you do. More things are prone to break as the generations get newer and with more toys. Very solid overall.

Community/Brand: 4.5/5: When have you met a Miata owner who is an asshole? Exactly. Community will help you out for pretty much everything and you will be part of a loyal following.

1. Alfa Romeo Spider

Driving Entertainment: 4/5: The Alfa has the zing and feel of an italian car. Much of its charter comes from the country it was built. It is very light, although the twitcam engines don’t offer much grunt.

Affordability: 3/5: Prices start a bit more expensive than your average Miata, and parts can be tricky to find. Pristine ones can be had for $10K plus if you feel the car is worth that much.

Reliability: 1.5/5: It’s Italian, old and sporty. What do you expect?

Community/Brand: 4/5: Alfa Romeo owners are extremely helpful and seem to be the kind of guys who truly appreciate automobiles. The brand itself is also very elegant and nice at the same time.

2. BMW Z3

Driving Entertainment: 4/5: Although not up to par with the Miata, the Z3 is by no means a dreary machine. But instead of delivering you the fun through fine inputs or telepathic handling, it does with it’s straight sixes. The engines on the Z3 are a treat, and combine that with the other components done by BMW in their true “Ultimate driving machines” era it is a fantastic drive you will have.

Affordability: 4/5: This roadster has fallen in price to very reasonable levels and is able to deliver a more premium brand than the Japanese. If you want the ///M convertible it will cost you, but their collectible status will surely rise. Parts aren’t cheap, but the chances of them breaking are not many which defined the net section.

Reliability: 4/5: I am going to put it this way: The engines fitted in the Z3 are the most reliable engines BMW has ever built. The 4 cylinder is a dependable companion, as well as the quintessential sixes never needing any major work other than regular maintenance. Some components are more prone to fail, but once they are replaced the Z3 should not cost you more than your average Ford or Dodge.

Community/Brand: 3/5: The forums are a great tool for the BMW driver, but the thing is that the community that also drives BMW’s may be tools as well. The stigma of a BMW driver is not great so if you want one of these be sure to indicate before lane changes, before any movements or even before spitting to either side of the vehicle.

Added comment: The looks are extremely sexy, and I think they are way overlooked.

3. BMW Z4

Driving Entertainment: 4/5: Stil trailing the Miata in the liveliness department, the Z4 is a more serious roadster with higher capabilities. This is not a teenagers tailgating, winter hooning sled but a car that was bought with a good amount of coin and was well treated. Meaty steering and great inline sixes provide a faster more aggressive drive. It is just perfection in the ///M.

Affordability: 3/5: This was not an expensive machine new, but sales prices can start within the 10K range. Good ///M ones are expensive though, but they are treasures in BMW’s history. Parts will be expensive, but it isn’t that unreliable.

Reliability: 3/5: Less reliable than the Z3, but not too bad if it was well cared for. Parts will be more expensive as stated above, but the forums are helpful to find anything.

Community/Brand: 3/5: The same as the Z3, the forums will be helpful. But, this is a more modern BMW that will make you look a little doucheier. Either way, it is great backup you will have.

4. Chrysler Crossfire Roadster

Driving Entertainment: 3/5: A Miata will pass this car in the giggle-meter without a lick of effort. Even though it is more powerful and stable it doesn’t inform the driver as much. Still, it is a RWD coupe than can be enjoyable in the right road. Get the manual.

Affordability: 4/5: It was a semi-expensive car when it launched but prices have fallen down to comfortable levels and the car still looks extremely fresh. You can find these in pretty much any configuration preferred for the right price so don’t skimp.

Reliability: 3.5/5: It is a SLK dressed up as a Chrysler, so it will have it’s faults. Either way, the community is helpful and parts are not that expensive.

Community/Brand: 3/5: I don’t know how the Crossfire community is, but I guess they aren’t bad. People must be helpful as this car was only alive for some years and completely disappeared from the lineup.

5. Honda S2000

Driving Entertainment: 4.5/5: This is an engineering marvel. The 4 cylinder you get either in the pre-facelift S2000 or the newer ones is a treat shouting at 9,000 RPM. The gearbox is Honda’s best as well as the chassis. It is a seriously good performer with almost twice the horsepower the Miata of the time had with a similar sense of agility and finesse. It is a fabulous drive, but only if you are caning the hell out of it, which will be VERY often.

Affordability: 4/5: It isn’t as cheap as a Miata and it will never be. But even after that, it isn’t expensive to buy one used and pristine ones haven’t reached ridiculous levels. Parts or spares will be easy to find and affordable.

Reliability: 5/5: It’s a Honda without an automatic. That’s all I have to say.

Community/Brand: 2.5/5: SICK S2000 BRUH! I need no further comment.

Added Comment: V-Tec Kicked in Bro!

6. Mercedes Benz SLK

Driving Entertainment: 3/5: The SLK inherited more of the wafting qualities of his father the SL than the barnstorming nature of any of the other roaststers listed. It was available with a hardtop compared to anything else here, and it shows that Mercedes was more inclined to make a cruising machine. If you opt for the AMG, then it will be the blast of your life, but anything else falls a bit short. Handling is secure and capable without being that engaging.

Affordability: 3/5: The oldest SLK’s are not the most reliable things on the planet, so if you really want one it will cost you. Newer gens are more dependable obviously, but with high prices for parts and maintenance be prepared to lay some cash.

Reliability: 2.5/5: As I said, it isn’t that reliable other than the older V6 models. They will have to be well maintained and if anything electronic breaks it will cost you.

Community/Brand: 3.5/5: It doesn’t have a bad stigma per-se, but it has been called the ultimate secretary car and it looks less masculine than the others. The Mercedes badge is enticing though, and it will fool lots of folk if that’s what you want.

Added Comment: The new SLK is the only Mercedes to come with a manual transmission.

7. Nissan 350Z Roadster

Driving Entertainment: 3.5/5: A great handler and capable car for the car enthusiast who wants to feel raw. The VQ engine in this is the type who shaves without cream and eats nails with their fruit loops. Good steering but hard ride will ensure you the drives will be memorable for the better or the worse.

Affordability: 3/5: 350Z’s are coming down in price and are comparable to the prices of a Crossfire. 10-15-Low 20K and without much trouble in the cost of ownership. Very decent.

Reliability: 4/5: It is a Nissan engine with simple components which was used in an array of other vehicles. Easy car to live with, but not completely worry-free.

Community/Brand: 3.5/5: The Z car community is strong and big, but you end up with guys who like stance and eat Doritos for breakfast. You have to meet the right people, but the forums are very helpful.

8. Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky

Driving Entertainment: 3.5/5: Both cars are plenty capable, even more than their 4 cylinders would suggest. The gearbox is out of a Colorado though, so it isn’t as nice as a Miatas. The sexy curves of both will impede in the sense of agility but it is capable of cornering. A good drive that anyone would enjoy, even more if the engine’s turbo’d.

Affordability: 3/5: The price of both is decreasing, but it can go lower if you are patient. These cars were half bespoke half GM parts bin so it won’t be that hard to keep on the road. Monetarily speaking.

Reliability: 4/5: Solid drivetrain and not many issues I know of.

Community/Brand: 3.5/5: I think this falls into a similar category as the Chrysler Crossfire, in that it was a one-off time of a car. Community would be helpful, and owning a dead brand cool in a weird way only car enthusiasts appreciate.

You want a Miata but you don’t want a Miata? You have 8 flavors to go for!

DISCUSSION (19)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Vicente Esteve
05/22/2015 at 11:07

Kinja'd!!!

All the nopes.

Vicente Esteve > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
05/22/2015 at 11:09

I purposely put that picture there. I think white and hats work on that car.

Milky > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
05/22/2015 at 11:10

dick.

Milky > Vicente Esteve
05/22/2015 at 11:13

Holy shit an actual review of the Crossfire that isn’t biased! Honestly I agree with everything you said, except the community. I’d rate it higher, everything is on the forum and if its not people respond quick with answers.

Also way to get a pic with an old guy behind the wheel.

Kinja'd!!!

daender > Vicente Esteve
05/22/2015 at 11:16

Needs more Honda Beat and Suzuki Cappuccino. Small? Very. Entertaining? Of course, when your car is 2/3 the size of a Miata with 2/3 the power of a 1.6L NA. Affordable? They’re affordable Japanese Kei-cars, these cars are all about being bought up by people who can’t afford to pay taxes or gas for larger cars. Reliability? Unknown on the Suzuki but the Honda is typical 90s Honda bulletproof. Community? Does not exist in the US but they have a cult following in Japan, especially the time-attack/trackday owners.

Kinja'd!!!

Jayhawk Jake > Vicente Esteve
05/22/2015 at 11:19

How did you not actually include the Corvette in your list?

A C5 Corvette is the best alternate

Driving Entertainment: 6/5

Just drive one, you’ll get it. The car handles well, especially with the Z51 package. In a straight line it’ll embarass everything on this list with a satisfying V8 growl behind you.

Affordability: 5/5

You can easily get a C5 for less than $15k. Once you own it parts are fairly inexpensive (at least from what I’ve read) and it gets 25+ MPG on the highway easily

Reliability: 5/5

It’s an LS motor. Shits indestructible.

Community/Brand: 4/5

Maybe the only bad thing about the C5 is its stigma as a midlife crisis mobile driven by old men. That being said, in my experience those old men are nice, so Corvette meets will be pleasant if not boring.

Vicente Esteve > Milky
05/22/2015 at 11:20

I love the Crossfire as well, and we were extremely close to getting me one but the automatic scared me away. I will change the score of the community.

And no, I wasn’t looking for an old guy, but a pic in which the car was white and looked decent.

Vicente Esteve > daender
05/22/2015 at 11:22

These are also very cool, but they were only offered in Japan right?

Vicente Esteve > Jayhawk Jake
05/22/2015 at 11:23

You know, I thought long and hard about including the Corvette/Viper but due to their much more powerful engines they sort of veer from what the Miata is. I know, they are technically similar but the end results is a much different driving experience.

I have yet to drive a Corvette :(

daender > Vicente Esteve
05/22/2015 at 11:27

...For now! They’re eligible for importing next year!