life after the miata?

So I have this miata, it's a 2007 and I've owned it since new. It's only got 50k miles, has a turbo kit, and a bunch of light mods. 

For years I've hummed and hawed about selling it, but then nostalgia takes over and I end up taking the listing down. 

The real issue is that I haven't done a HDPE event in 10 years or so. I have no urge to do one. I live in a prairie city, there's no corners for hours, the pavement here is absolutely garbage. I have a dog and a wife. So the miata increasingly doesn't make sense to own. Right now it is my special weekend car, for when the weather is just right and I go out alone. But these days are rare, and if I'm only using it for that purpose I could think of a few other things that could replace it and take up less space in the garage. Like a sportbike, which having club raced for a number of years I could feel confident not killing myself on. 

So ex-miata owners, what did you replace it with? A bigger convertible? Or a hot hatch? Did you regret it? Did you go back? 

I had an NB Miata I used for autocross and track days.  I sold it, along with my GTO with the intent of buying a Corvette to scratch both the big motor itch and the motorsports itch with one car.  I ended up down to one car for quite some time, a Mk7 GTI.  It did everything well, and was a lot of fun, but wasn't nearly as fun as the Miata (or the GTO for that matter).  The GTI was off limits for HPDE, since I couldn't justify putting a car on track that still had payments left, but saw plenty of use as an autocrosser.

I miss both the Miata and the GTO dearly.  Still haven't gotten that Corvette, thanks to, well, life, but did pick up a 128i to help with the motorsports itch.  I also have a Wrangler, which is fantastic for those roof off good off days.  If speed isn't what it used to be, take a Jeep for a ride.  Perhaps there are trails in your area you could use it on.

FRS.

Motorcycle personally. Actually 2 of them. I'm in the middle of middle America as one band said so straight is the norm. If you aren't going to motorsport then what makes you smile? My problem is as I get older, the crap roads around me are just getting to be too much and not feeling having 2 cars so it may end up with a boost buggie.

My plan is to give up my miata when they take my keys away.

twowheeled said:

So ex-miata owners, what did you replace it with? A bigger convertible? Or a hot hatch? Did you regret it? Did you go back? 

After the Miatae, I started with a 2005 Mustang GT 6MT convertible, and currently have a 2008 128i Sport 6MT convertible. I can't exactly say I "regret" replacing the Miatae with either of them, as the Ford/BMW have allowed us to make the experience and memories a full-family occasion... But if/when 4 seats isn't a requirement, I'd take any Miata over either in a heartbeat. The only thing I've driven recently that gives the all right sensations, short of the open air experience, is a (F/B/G)R(S/Z/86). 

It sounds to me like yours may just be over-modded for the current mission. I'm sure you have plenty of corners, thery're mostly just tight and 90 degrees. Good territory for a Stockish Miata on stockish tires... Which would also help deal with road condition.

If I didn't have a need 4 seats, a motorcycle would be on menu again as well. Similarly it would be selected for street feel over outright speed.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that you can also have one of each and still take up only one garage space.

I'm thinking about replacing my NA with:

• A NB - better enough to be a daily
• A boxster
• A C5 convertible
• A Caddy XLR, but don't want to make that big a financial commitment to get a clean one

I'm following this thread looking for other ideas.

So... what about a big old V8?

It was a different kind of fun to drive, but in a land of flat straight roads and crappy pavement I found it more enjoyable than a taught sporty car.

If I still had that old station wagon and a Miata in the driveway, I'd probably drive the wagon on most fun car days.

What I'm hearing you say is that a 2 seater won't work for you.  So an apples to apples replacement for the Miata won't exist.  The bigger question is what style/genre of car do you want to replace it with?  Sports coupe, sports sedan, muscle car, etc...  Having owned countless Miatae, the closest thing to them are other 2 seaters, namely the Boxster, IMO.  But in "feel" for a car that's got more than 2 seats, maybe look at the Mazda3 S 6spd?  Also depends on your budget.  I love my 128i more than any Miata I've ever had...and that's saying something.

I have an 08 Miata, purchased new, lightly modded, 27K miles.  As i get older I drive it less and less.......maybe 300-400 miles per year. I live in Michigan so I store it from October to April and only drive it in the summer on sunny dry weekends. It's never going to be sold. I tell my son when I go it's yours and then you can give it to your son. It's a family heirloom. On the few weekends when I drive it in the summer, it is a glorious experience and clears my head out. A reset and a middle finger to winter. I know this doesn't help you at all with your decision but some things are just permanent.

I tend to go to something completely different and then back to a miata.

Miata -> 1st gen CTS-V -> Miata -> Corolla -> Miata -> Ram 3500 -> Miata -> Sprinter...on and one. I've had 9 or 10 miatas at this point.

Currently have a turbo NA that I love dearly, but I've only taken it out twice this entire year. Evo IX and a second gen FR-S would be the only replacements I would consider, but I'm not willing to spend $30,000+

For OP, NC's are at the bottom of the depreciation curve, we're heading into Fall, and it sounds like yours has signifcant mods, which will limit the market. I'd hold onto it.

Ultimately, the car that replaced my Miata(s) in spirit was the FD. I've never once regretted that evolution, but it helps that there are other old clunkers to play with too.

I had an NC that I sold off, went several years Miata-less, and then about 5 years ago, bought a ratty NA, and don't want to go without ever again.  If your roads are straight, and under maintained, though, I can see it not being fun to drive.  I think in that circumstance, I'd look for a comfier cruiser.  If you want the top down experience still, maybe a 4 or 6 cylinder Mustang (without the performance package suspension). 

RX-8?

Not Miata related, but similar:

I live on SoCal, and over the years, with autocross events and real race tracks (for HPDEs) closing (translation: needing to drive further), coupled with more and more traffic in general, it was death by a thousand cuts for my hardcore sports car infatuation. It got to the point where I was making excuses not to drive Midlana, which was a shock because I thought that I was all about elemental sports cars - well, I was. Also, it turns out that I enjoy the journey more than the destination, and once the car was completed, my interest, in combination with the above, started to wain. It's not entirely gone, but I decided that maybe it was time for something more suitable for being stuck in traffic, something with a good sound system, AC, windows, a roof, you know, an old-person's car. Hence, there's now a 2015 Jag F-Type R in Midlana's place. It still feels very special, but only time will tell if will fill the void.

I had a '95 NA that was an obsession. The car was not perfect, but was just nice enough to keep up the effort to not let it dissolve into being a hashed driver.  Built it to compete in our local SCCA events and had a great time, up to it not being a competitive ride. I sold the car for very good money, right before the market went completely nuts and also sold the accumulation of most of the spares to would not be appropriate for an "ES" car.

Then with the freed up funds I jumped into a project that is almost done but, after driving it I am not convinced it will do its intended job.  Or, be as rewarding.

I have been profoundly lucky with the combination of cars that I have owned and driven over the years.  Most of the "what if's" and "I wish I could" are not haunting me. The features and benefits of what I want are now more important. And not stressing about the car has become, just as important.  Because it is back.

It's parked in front of the house, under a car cover. It has been rained on. Putting the trim parts back on the car that were removed to solve the rattles that never bothered me, might happen.  But driving a car with a sweet stick, A/C and a soft top is now something to be enjoyed. And the brakes. Never under estimate the stopping power of your '60 something rebuild, will never have,

I am looking forward to having a driver. I will still wash it. But it will no longer be pampered.     

Bigger garage.

If you own the car outright, how much is it really costing you to hold onto?  

I've not driven my Miata seriously since 2014, but I don't see any reason to sell it. 

Bicycles.  I replaced my Miata with a garage full of bicycles. 

Had an NA8, sold it. Built an NA6 up the way I'd wished I'd built the first one. Sold it in August after driving it less than 20-miles total over the last 2 years. 
 

I sort of replaced it with an RV, although I bought it a year ago. I don't really have any desire for another toy/fun car, though that may always change at some point in the future. 

Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:

Had an NA8, sold it. Built an NA6 up the way I'd wished I'd built the first one. Sold it in August after driving it less than 20-miles total over the last 2 years...

Sounds like you have the same affliction that I do, in it for the challenge of the build, but once it's over, interest fades.

alfadriver said:

Bigger garage.

If you own the car outright, how much is it really costing you to hold onto?  

I've not driven my Miata seriously since 2014, but I don't see any reason to sell it. 

I guess that's part of the problem. We already have our 2 DD's which I'm getting to the age where I'm sick of wrenching on myself. And 3 motorcycles. It's gotten to the point where "I'll keep the spares in the shed" is starting to resemble a junk yard. 

In reply to twowheeled :

I admit having a messy garage, but after parting with my two endless project cars, I'm ok.  And since the Miata is so cheap to own, well....

And given the free time I have, I've gone though the period that I didn't want to wrench on projects, lol- it's a matter of working when not traveling.

Anyway, good luck with the position you are in- it's a tough one, for sure.

Daily driver and autocross was a 95 Miata. I was looking to shake up autocross, I had kids. 

Basically, I got an f500 for racing and had a bugeye sprite and a mustang. It didnt have much purpose, only thing might have been HPDE, but kids meant no time for a few years and what time I had was going to go to running the f500. Bugeye for closer convertible fun, mustang for fun weekend speedy street car.

Got an expedition as a DD dad mobile, just ordered a maverick to replace the expedition.

I do miss it. It was a great car, but I wouldn't have driven it more than a few times a year and I didn't have covered parking room, so it was going to just rust and I'd hate myself watching it deteriorate. Selling was the right call. Maybe someday I'll have another.

BlueInGreen - Jon said:

So... what about a big old V8?

It was a different kind of fun to drive, but in a land of flat straight roads and crappy pavement I found it more enjoyable than a taught sporty car.

If I still had that old station wagon and a Miata in the driveway, I'd probably drive the wagon on most fun car days.

With the right shoes those go from being some of the ugliest cars made to some of the most attractive Detroit iron around.  Those wheels aren't far off but I'd lose the whitewalls.

With quad headlights on each front corner and some vinyl wood wrap, that could serve as a Wagon Queen Family Truckster! One of my favorite quotes: "You think you hate it now, just wait 'till you drive it."