Miata Musings

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake) 08/01/2018 at 22:16 • Filed to: None

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I’m kinda considering swapping my Mustang for a Miata

Economically it makes a lot of sense. I could easily trade in my Mustang and come out ahead on a Miata. My Mustang is on an unsecured auto loan, so I presumably wouldn’t even need to deal with getting new financing as I could just continue to pay the balance for the Miata on the same loan.

The t ires are the real saving: a good autocross tire is as much as $200 less per tire than the Mustang. Considering I buy at least one set of tires a year, that’s a solid $800 annual saving.

Then there’s insurance. A 2013 MX-5 would be half as much to insure as my Mustang. That’s another $600 or so saved annually.

Of course there’s fuel economy: a Miata would save at least $600 in fuel a year, assuming I average about 23 MPG compared to my Mustang’s 16.

So in a year, putting aside the financial cost, a Miata would save close to $2k a year in fuel, tires, and insurance.

Miatas are fun, and I like the way they look. Given that my daily commute is only a few miles it’s not like I’d be that uncomfortable. I don’t carry much most of the time so practicality is kinda moot.

The problem is I love my Mustang. It looks great, sounds better, and is genuinely a nice car. I don’t really want to give it up but financially it’d be a good idea, and part of me thinks saving money for a few years just means I can accelerate adding a GT350 to the garage. If I swapped the Mustang for a cheaper Miata, saving annual cost and paying off my auto loan sooner, then I can funnel savings into a future GT350 and keep the Miata as a daily.

I’ll need to go test drive some and give it more thought. What does Oppo think?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jayhawk Jake 08/01/2018 at 22:58

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Mmm Miata. If I could ad a Miata to my stable I would finally live the dream of having FWD,RWD, and AWD cars. Maybe in two years. 

What about a Fiata?

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Jayhawk Jake 08/01/2018 at 23:10

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How about an s2000?

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Jayhawk Jake 08/01/2018 at 23:10

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Lets all get Miatas!

Milky > Jayhawk Jake 08/01/2018 at 23:12

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Would you be faster at autocross in a Miata?  

WRXforScience > Jayhawk Jake 08/01/2018 at 23:16

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Being in Kansas, you might miss the power of the Mustang. An NC isn’t terribly practical either, but it doesn’t sound like that’d be too big of an issue for you.

Miata are great for autox (the NC is in a classing limbo at the moment and really isn’t the best car for any class, but it is close enough to have fun with).

Tire costs are what kept me away from considering a Mustang, Camaro, or Corvette when I got my BRZ (I’m going through 4-5 sets per year with all the autox and trackdays that I do). I love being able to go to as many events as I want without worrying about tire costs (sets run from $500 to $700, so my yearly budget is equivalent to one or two sets of tires for the big cars).

A great condition NC can be found for under $10k, they’re a great deal now.

Nibby > Jayhawk Jake 08/01/2018 at 23:26

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Miata
Is
Always
The
Apocalypse

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jayhawk Jake 08/01/2018 at 23:30

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Giving up a car you love to save a mere 2 grand annually sounds like something you may ultimately regret.

Jayhawk Jake > Milky 08/02/2018 at 00:27

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Idk. Stock no, but if modified for a street touring class maybe.

Jayhawk Jake > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 08/02/2018 at 00:28

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Overpriced for what they are 

Jayhawk Jake > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 08/02/2018 at 00:31

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Maybe. $2k annually in running cost, but also like $8k+ saved in purchasing the car. And after a few years I'd own the Miata, allowing me to add another Mustang back to the fleet

MrDakka > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 00:31

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S ell your mustang for a Lotus Elise and experience the British lifestyle

Jayhawk Jake > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 08/02/2018 at 00:32

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I don’t really see what a Fiata offers better than a Miata. I’d prefer an NA motor

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 00:39

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Mmm. I missed that part.

[sits down]

trmoore09 > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 02:13

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I’m in this situation now also. Considering trading my mustang (16 GT PP) on something cheaper and better on gas, potentially a Fiesta ST or GTI. Main reason is that my wife is going back to school for the next 3 years (and will be working very limited part-time) , and the Mustang is just more than I need. My current options are to refinance the mustang, or swap it for something cheaper and more efficient. I considered adding the Fiesta ST to the stable alongside the mustang, but the gas savings would only offset the cost of insurance, so I would still be out the monthly payment (~$200/mo).

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 02:48

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The NC will also depreciate slower  because it’s older.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 03:49

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Couldnt have said it better myself

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 03:54

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You can make NC’s fast too

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 06:16

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For me it’s the turbo and the looks. But you were talk Ming NC cos that’s quite a bit less money 

daender > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 06:47

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NC Miatas are better cars than earlier Miatas but it’s not a better Miata than previous Miatas due to its weight. NCs can be quite fast out on course, especially if you find one with a LSD.

Thoughts on rocking a NB Miata?

Jayhawk Jake > WRXforScience 08/02/2018 at 08:26

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There’s a possibility I leave Kansas in the next few months that may play into all of this...

Jayhawk Jake > trmoore09 08/02/2018 at 08:46

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I thought about adding a Miata, but like you said the increase in insurance and adding a payment don’t offset the savings.

Part of my consideration is that I'm getting married soon and plan to buy a house, so extra cash for the next few years could help a long way.

Jayhawk Jake > daender 08/02/2018 at 08:54

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I would have a hard time giving up a very nice, newer mustang for anything 15+ years old. I have considered adding an NA or NB and making it a daily/ autox car, but right now it’s not really practical.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 09:03

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Fun fact NBs have larger trunks than NCs or NDs.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 09:04

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$700 piggyback ECUs that bump it to 200hp

Andrew > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 09:47

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I would say go for it, the cost alone would save you so much and you could always get another mustang in the future, they’re literally everywehere. I would consider a hot hatch like the gti or fiesta st just because of a little more power, practibility and safety . Picking a used one of those are pretty cheap. Let us know what you’ll get it’ll be interesting to see. Best of luck -Andrew

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > trmoore09 08/02/2018 at 10:06

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If you can fit it, go FoST for the extra capacity behind the seats, unless you don’t really care about the extra storage space. Sure, it might be slower than a Mustang or FiST, but the extra space does come in handy, plus you’ll be in the same territory as the VW.

Arrivederci > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 10:09

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I can comment on this, since I traded a Mustang on a NC Miata many moons ago. I’ll be perfectly honest - the *only* time I missed the Mustang was cranking it up every day. The Miata doesn’t make lovely V8 sounds echoing off your garage, but it does everything else extremely well.

My NC Miata is still the only car I regret selling.

Arrivederci > daender 08/02/2018 at 10:10

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NC is faster everywhere than any NB, save the MSM.

CobraJoe > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 10:44

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The problem is I love my Mustang. It looks great, sounds better, and is genuinely a nice car. I don’t really want to give it up but financially it’d be a good idea, and part of me thinks saving money for a few years just means I can accelerate adding a GT350 to the garage.

Now, are you seriously considering this to save money, or are you considering this to justify owning a different car?

I’ve done that a lot, convince myself that I need something different for some reason or annother, but it mostly comes down to wanting a little variety in my vehicles.

The only sustainable solution I’ve found is to own 2 cars instead of just one. It gives enough variation to enjoy both vehicles and eliminate most of the want for a different vehicle.

Besides, it can be a fairly cheap option too. I’m sure you can find something interesting to drive and in decent mechanical condition for under $2000, and if you spend any time shining it up or fixing its fauilts, it will be worth that much when you go to sell it. 

seoultrain > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 10:49

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Have you driven the NC? Only you can decide how much you’d want to make the switch. For me, as soon as I drove an NC, I had to find one.

You should also add in the lower interest paid on the NC and the difference in depreciation. 

Dyllan > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 11:46

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Got rid of a 2014 GT with a lot of suspension work for an NA Miata and have no regrets. T he Miata is so much more fun 99% of the time. The 1% of the time the M ustang was more fun was WOT which I’ll fix soon with a supercharger that I can afford thanks to no car payments.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Arrivederci 08/02/2018 at 12:11

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MSMs are utterly terrible at autocross though

Keylube > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 13:09

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Funny, I own a GT350 and NB Miata as a daily.

Get the Miata, you won’t regret it. 

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 13:17

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Go drive a couple (NC soft top, hard top, perhaps even a 2019 ND with the upgraded engine), you might not even want to go back to the Mustang afterwards. ;)

There’s also plenty of aftermarket support available if you’d want more oomph in the future: N/ A, turbo, SC, LS swap, ... It’s all been done and documented.

Jayhawk Jake > CobraJoe 08/02/2018 at 13:31

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Nah, it’s entirely to save money. 

CobraJoe > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 13:41

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If you want to save money, then save lots of money !

This one looks like a lot more fun though:

Arrivederci > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/02/2018 at 13:56

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I always wondered why - is it the gearing?

Ezpotato > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 14:04

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I did this. Traded my GT ‘12 for a Miata Club. Still had some nice stuff inside, way more fun to drive. My goal is to save for a gt350 as well. I will say the only reason I sometimes have regrets is that I have a daughter and my wife, kid and I, can not ever take the "fun" car together. So I miss my Mustang in that manner. That back seat. But if you don't have a kid, it's worth it with a goal of getting another mustang in the future. I do miss the sound and power. But in Colorado, the Miata is better for canyon carving. 

Ezpotato > daender 08/02/2018 at 14:07

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As a main car the NC is so much better. Bigger interior, nicer features, just better. As a track only car, it's still awesome. But NB is slightly more nimble. I love my NC. 

Ezpotato > Jayhawk Jake 08/02/2018 at 14:08

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Def recommend a later model Miata. If you're replacing. If you're adding, NB is the way to go, or an early NC for cheap. I have a 13 club and love it. Just added a bt head unit. 

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Arrivederci 08/02/2018 at 14:38

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Gearing and redline, mostly. MSM is made for canyon carving and mountain passes not autocross.

daender > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/02/2018 at 17:45

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It can be lethal at autocross if the course is a low-speed setup, IE: never needing 3rd gear in a MSM, IE: 45~ 50-mph max speed. Our region has a stock MSM that has achieved FTD multiple times provided the c ource favors his car and the modified Kart doesn’t show up.