"As a pure driving proposition, it's superior to nearly every other sporting vehicle on the market."

[GAJ]

I've heard great things... but VW's reliability record is beyond sketch. Friend's old 2000 era Jetta was a total POS - I've never seen such shoddy parts design in my life like what was displayed on that thing....

Compared to VW, I'd trust Mazda many times over when it comes to longevity. The Miata, for Mazda, goes beyond being a another car in its lineup. Rather, the entire design philosophy behind the Miata is what trickles down to all of the other Mazda vehicles. Given the importance they place upon that sole vehicle, I can't imagine they'd screw it up.

I've heard great driving impressions of the GTI but, as you say, reliability would be my concern.

I did own a 1976 Rabbit and it was a hoot to drive but ate transaxles for breakfast.

I note that VW reliability is spotty on CR.

The GTI had very poor relliability scores in 2007 and 2011 and even those with good reliability in other years had terrible scores when it came to engine cooling.

MX5's have proven to be bulletproof and inexpensive to own which is another great thing about them.

But, really, nobody cross shops a GTI with a 2 seat roadster.

 

[stan23]

Hang on. Now you're comparing a heavy, big, front-wheel hatch back with the MX-5. You're sure it's apples to apples?

As far as I know, there is no apples to apples when it comes to comparing with the Miata. I'm just saying for 25K which is nothing for a new car, there are some other fun options out there.

 

[Marcoose]

But, really, nobody cross shops a GTI with a 2 seat roadster.

Yeah, why are we now comparing a heavy, big, front-wheel, 4-seater hatchback to a small roadster? Teh BARF...

 

[Marcoose]

As far as I know, there is no apples to apples when it comes to comparing with the Miata.

There are plenty of roadsters on the market.

 

[stan23]

But, really, nobody cross shops a GTI with a 2 seat roadster.

Perhaps a car enthusiast would. Different kind of fun for the same amount of money.

Not someone who wants a car because it looks cute.

On a complete side note, if The X-Bow was released in the states, I would buy one.

 

[stan23]

There are plenty of roadsters on the market.

Maybe i'm not on the up and up, but can you tell me of comparable 'NEW' roadsters for 25K that one would consider apples to apples with the new Miata?

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

Yeah, why are we now comparing a heavy, big, front-wheel, 4-seater hatchback to a small roadster? Teh BARF...

Dunno why it was mentioned, it is a Miata thread, but after all maybe it was mentioned because the GTI is superior to a Miata in pretty much every everyday way, except maybe for being stereotyped?

The Miata has got the GTI plain beat in stereotyping!

Funny thing is about the GTI is that you will read a lot about it's brilliance in every magazine and you will even see it destroy a BMWr in one of the episodes of Top Gear; a show famous for taking down "renowned" cars a peg or two.

..

Not someone who wants a car because it looks cute.

 

[stan23]

I like most of you buy a lot of cars because I am an enthusiast and I enjoy them.

If you think I went through a lot of bikes, you should see my car list.. hahaha

 

[Marcoose]

Maybe i'm not on the up and up, but can you tell me of comparable 'NEW' roadsters for 25K that one would consider apples to apples with the new Miata?

But that's silly. If you're looking for exactly the same key characteristics to compare two products, why bothering comparing?

The MX-5 is a sporty rear-wheel two-seater roadster. Regardless of price --which I already acknowledged you can't beat the fun/price ration of the MX-5-- there are plenty of sporty rear-wheel two-seater roadsters on the market, new or just out of production: Z3, Z4, SLK, F-Type, S2000, TT, 370Z (2+2, tho), Boxster, Elise, etc, etc. That's what "comparison" is all about, Stan.

 

[Reli]

Dunno why it was mentioned, it is a Miata thread, but after all maybe it was mentioned because the GTI is superior to a Miata in pretty much every everyday way, except maybe for being stereotyped?

Superior in what way?

Sure it's got 60 more HP, but it weighs like 800 more pounds.

The last GTI I drove was like a 2011 I think. I tested both a DSG and a stick shift. It's a nice comfortable cruiser, but the turbo lag was not my cup of tea. More importantly, there is no way you can take a FWD breadbox and make it handle like a Miata.

 

[stan23]

But that's silly. If you're looking for exactly the same key characteristics to compare two products, why bothering comparing?

The MX-5 is a sporty rear-wheel two-seater roadster. Regardless of price --which I already acknowledged you can't beat the fun/price ration of the MX-5-- there are plenty of sporty rear-wheel two-seater roadsters on the market, new or just out of production: Z3, Z4, SLK, F-Type, S2000, TT, 370Z (2+2, tho), Boxster, Elise, etc, etc. That's what "comparison" is all about, Stan.

I guess I was in the 'what would you buy new for 25K boat that is just as much fun'

I would still like to drive the new Miata though. It may be so much fun that i'll pick one up on my way home from work one day.

 

[TheRobSJ]

Hang on. Now you're comparing a heavy, big, front-wheel hatch back with the MX-5. You're sure it's apples to apples?

I'll even compare the Mini Cooper to it. It's just as fun (to me) to push one on a twisty road. If you want to get all trackwhorey on me, then sure I bet the Miata is better. But just for dicking around on the street and driving spirited? Car like the Mini or GTI are plenty fun.

Torque steer is a bitch though.

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

Superior in what way?

Sure it's got 60 more HP, but it weighs like 800 more pounds.

The last GTI I drove was like a 2011 I think. I tested both a DSG and a stick shift. It's a nice comfortable cruiser, but the turbo lag was not my cup of tea. More importantly, there is no way you can take a FWD breadbox and make it handle like a Miata.

The GTI fits 2 hot women, 1 more passenger, 1 driver, kid seat, 2 suitcases and more airplane bags compared to the Miata?

While I hear you can't even go get groceries with the Miata if you have a girlfriend. Didn't want to get there, but if we're comparing...

Looking forward to the "new MX5 is always superior to a GTI" link from a respected source when you find it.

I'll be waiting.

 

[TheRobSJ]

While I hear you can't even go get groceries with the Miata if you have a girlfriend. Didn't want to get there, but if we're comparing...

This is actually true. Back when she had the Mazdaspeed MX-5 and I had only a Corvette, care to guess what car got used for all the trips to the mall, the grocery store, or pretty much anywhere that involved having to carry more than just her purse?

 

[Archimedes]

And which handles the best?

Well... That depends on the car, and the particular task involved. For tight backroads?...

With the same skill driver, both of the top cars will beat or flat destroy a Miata almost anywhere, except the heavy one on an autocross course. They will turn faster lap times on any real race track, pull more g's on the skidpad and run quicker times in the figure 8. And the more the environment allows you to stretch the car's legs, the bigger the gap would be.

Again, they're wayyyy more expensive than a Miata, so the bang for the buck is certainly in the Miata's favor. But the hype/myth of the Miata as an amazing sportscar is just nonsense.

 

[Archimedes]

For me, power to weight alone doesn't say enough about the car.

I've owned cars that made over 400hp and as little as probably 95. Different cars are fun for different reasons. Power to weight alone doesn't tell me enough about a car to make any decision about it.

Response matters to me more. I've driven cars that were fast but the engines felt "lazy" and they weren't very fun. And I've driven cars that don't have much power but are very responsive.

I agree 100%. I own both of the first two cars I referenced, and the lower powered, lighter one is far more rewarding to drive, even though they're a pretty dead heat in speed and lap times.

 

[flying_hun]

there are plenty of sporty rear-wheel two-seater roadsters on the market, new or just out of production: ........., TT, .......

Wait! The TT is RWD?!?!?! Learn something new everyday!

 

[Reli]

Looking forward to the "new MX5 is always superior to a GTI" link from a respected source when you find it.

I'll be waiting.

I don't know why you keep asking for a "link", when even if there was, it wouldn't prove anything. "Superior car" cannot be proven. It's opinion only.

BTW, most GTI drivers I see are skinny-ass white dudes with no muscle.

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

This is actually true. Back when she had the Mazdaspeed MX-5 and I had only a Corvette, care to guess what car got used for all the trips to the mall, the grocery store, or pretty much anywhere that involved having to carry more than just her purse?

OMG a Corvette in a mall, hope everything was fine re: door dings!

The Line about Miata and groceries I've actually heard from this short Italian dude I knew, who literally said the same. (Long time ago if I recall correctly): if you have one more person you can't even get groceries.. "[he] hate[d] it" so he had just bought a German C230 hatchback.

 

[Reli]

You do realize the Miata has a trunk, right?

And you do realize most Miata drivers have another vehicle, right? Just like most Corvette drivers do.