THSCC Forums

I'm considering selling the M3 and buying a Miata to autocross. I'd like some input, especially from those of you who have driven/owned both.

Why would I do this? Well, I really only use the car for autocrossing and I'm having a hard time justifying it. I could sell the M3, buy something else or just race the civic again and put the rest of the money towards other needs.

Keep in mind that I had fun racing the civic. The Miata is an option as I really enjoy RWD.

Also, what's the best miata forum? I know there are many, but I thought there was one in particular to take a look at.

Thanks!

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Phil... Now I miss the ITR and the M3!!!
1990 Honda Civic SI

Not having driven a M3 in anger, I can't give you a comparison there, but the Miata is a ton of fun and cheap to operate.

Check Miata.net for the largest Miata forum.

Talk to Dustin or Mike. They both have raced Miatas and M3s.

Don't buy a NB Maita and ask to run STT.

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Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

miata.net

It depends on how much a priority saving money is to you. Both will seem slow compared to the M3.

STS seems like the logical choice. Tons of competition, you already have the car.

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

IMO

autocross only = miata
autocross + track = m3

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05 MCS

Miata dot net

I've owned both (and a Civic and a Type R-- I'm sensing a pattern here with you Phil ) and honestly one of the few cars I regret selling was the M3. But not as a track/race car. I liked it as a street car and would probably get another one if only they had cupholders!

But seriously, if you like the power of the M3, you'll probably be a little disappointed with the Miata even though it is RWD. Have you driven one before? I'm sure there is somebody that would let you co-drive for an event to see if you even like it.

Stock for stock, the NB cars are much nicer IMO but the early cars can be a hoot as well. If you're going to start modifying it, it probably doesn't matter so much.

I may have a clean red PEP NB for sale again real soon...

Jim

+1

If you're keeping the M3 only for autocross (last time I saw you the car had kid seats in the back -- ??) then go for a ragtop for an autocross/fun car.

You should really consider an S2000.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

I'm so glad I wasn't the first one to bring this up. I'm starting to sound like a broken record. I'm very biased, but they really are wonderful cars.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

^Ditto. Or a Solstice/Sky. (I'm a Miata guy myself, but only because it was straightforward/cheap to bring it up to the power level of A-stock roadsters.)

Well, I can only imagine cost is a factor in this, in which case the NB Miata is obviously the best bang for the autocross buck out of what's been mentioned. Plus a lot of people who have driven a lot of cars say things like "I drove a well setup Solstice and it just didn't do anything for me in the fun department." Obviously some folks disagree with that, so YMMV.

The S2000's are getting very affordable, but still also not near that of an NB Miata. Heck, they still aren't a ton cheaper than an NC Miata, though obviously faster and definitely more "inspired" than both.


--Donnie

Phil, just buy another Type R.
http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2312762

Chuck, Here's your chance to follow one of Donnie's posts. (Sorry, just couldn't resist)

I've autoxed quite a lot of different cars and the Miata is by far the most fun, the handling is incredible, its cheap to own and operate and you have unlimited head room with a helmet on

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91 Miata STT #28
05 Subaru Impreza RS - The Wife's

Having JUST gone the opposite direction..... my take is that the M3 wins if for no other reason than it's perfectly worthy of a car seat, and the Miata gets little attention for that reason. I had a blast with the Miata, don't get me wrong, but we brought both to the test-n-tune at the beginning of the year, and even Malia left knowing she was going to run the BMW instead of the Miata as planned.

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Dustin Fredrickson
-- I'm a nobody --

sell the M3. they are way over rated and sooooooo expensive to maintain. JDM FTW yohe. Sorry, everyone has been so helpful i felt the need to intervene.

could be just a guess here Phil, but i don't think the M3 ever really rocked your world. it is heavy and it probably pushes like a pig.

go the S2000 route. i think you were probably born for it.

get a crew cab pick-up for the car seats.

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BenchWarmer Motorsports

another one of those damn LeMons heads

just another Chump

we are an Autocross Club Dammit............

OK, I'm going to try and not be biased here.

I think I've made it clear that I absolutely adore my S2000, and I'd buy another one tomorrow if I were shopping for a car. There are, however, some downsides to consider. So, in the interest of full disclosure...

1. You can't really do track events in one. I mean you can - Hard Dog makes a bolt in roll bar for them now. But it's a very non-trivial install, and the directions are written in 80 steps (no joke). Might not be something you want to do to a fairly expensive car, and as far as I can gather, it's pretty irreversible.

2. It's not a great car if you've got small kids. As far as I'm aware, there's no way to disable the passenger airbag on any of them except maybe 2006 and newer.

3. The tire budget is not for the faint of heart. But you get that problem with any car these days, since 17" wheels are so commonplace. Budget $1200 for a set of Hoosiers.

4. If I'm honest, it is not a fantastic long distance car. It's pretty loud and it rides kind of hard. But I don't think it's any worse than a Miata would be.

I've actually got a fair amount of seat time in a BSP M3 and a CSP NA Miata. The S2000 makes me giggle a lot more than either of them did.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)