MGB vs. MX-5: Does the spiritual successor live up to the original?

I think that a Miata was a lot closer to a Lotus Elan than any MG.

Independent suspension all round, DOHC engine, 4 wheel disc brakes?  Hmmm - none of that on an MGB, but all of that on both Miata and Elan.

The Elan did cost more than the MG, mind you.

We are planning a three way comparison test with an Elan, a Miata and an MGB. Personally, I think while the Miata might have been modeled after the Elan, it has a lot more in common with the mass produced MGB.

I own both an Elan and a Miata (well three Miatas actually). The Elan is super cool to drive, but is built to a different standard than an MGB or Miata.

Perhaps a later model MGB would be a more relevant comparison.  '62 is pretty early in the series.

Very interesting stats.  Comparing a 1962 car to a 2016 car isn't really fair to the '62.

I would certainly hope that the 2016 had better technology and performance.  I own a '74 MGB, chrome bumper and 78 bhp (due to emission control) and even though the performance doesn't compare with the Miata MX-5 I love driving the MGB every time I do so (unless it's raining).  Although it is purely subjective, I also feel the the MGB, which I own, looks a lot classier than the Miata.  I love driving with the top down and can guarantee that I get a lot more complements and looks at my car than the Miata.  For it's time, the MGB was very, very cool.  Yea, MGB!

I started thinking about the horsepower and just checked it out.  My '74 MGB was manufactured in September, 1973.  It's horsepower was not changed until the September, 1974 models were produced with rubber bumpers.  The model with the ugly black "sabrinas" was a transition model and had slightly reduced horsepower.  The very early '74 MGB had 92 Horsepower which was the same as the '73 model.

Really is interesting how the on-paper specs are so similar in a lot of ways. But man, that 0-60 split 

nderwater said:

Really is interesting how the on-paper specs are so similar in a lot of ways. But man, that 0-60 split 

Comparing with the wrong MG model.

A stock 1958 MGA Twin Cam would do 0-60 in the 9 second range and had 4 wheel disc brakes like the modern cars.

MGBs and MX5s, both great choices for fun affordable cars in their respective eras, and a very interesting comparison.  After retiring a few years ago and having (likely rose tinted) fond memories of my old MG and Fiat 124 Spyder from many years ago, I was considering buying an affordable classic sports car.  However, not so rosy memories of time under the hood or stuck on the side of the road convinced me that what I really needed was a new ND MX5 -- one of the rare smart automotive decisions I've ever made.  Which brings me to the point of this comment: Miatas are consistantly ranked as some of the most reliable cars you can buy in the US, while MGBs, although far from being the least reliable cars in their time, are not likely to be associated with a term like "most reliable."  

In reply to The Staff of Motorsport Marketing :

Apples and oranges. 
    Why not compare the Miata to a MGTC?   
 Time and technology has to be a factor.  
The beloved MGTC is extremely crude compared to its immediate successor.  The MGTD  that's because the TC was built exactly like the prewar TB  while the TD was improved by all the technology of the 2nd world war.  
   Advance 40 years to the Miata  and little other than the sporty nature of the car was unique compared to production sedans in production at the same time.  
    I agree that the Miata is superior  to the MGB.  The suspension geometry of a MGB is identical to that 1950 MGTD. Add the Monique chassis plus a slightly more powerful engine with disk Brakes and little has changed sine the 1950's 

I've had my '65 B since 1972 and driven it regularly (and sometimes as my daily for post-divorce intervals since college) nearly all my adult life.  The reason is I never get tired of the top down, full throated exhaust and road feel driving experience that it provides.  It turns heads more than the newer high$ sports coupes that are sometimes in my vicinity.  The Miata comes closest to that experience.