You're over the Miata... Now what? V8? Turbo? Super? Or new car?

[Jeff Goji]

I was contemplating something tonight...
You guys all know how the Miata is a fantastic car for what it is, it's a lightweight fun to drive roadster at a very reasonable price point.
However, there will come a time eventually, when you crave something higher up on the food chain... We've all been there at one point or another.

Louis traded in his NA for a NB. Then he turbocharged it.
Scott traded his 93 in on a very lovely 2000 SE.
Stan upgraded from a turboed 91 to a 99 Sport.
Jack and Julia traded up from their NA to a NC.
I traded up from my 91 to a Mazdaspeed (yes I still have the 91.)

But where does one go from that point?
I have to wonder, what is it going to take to keep me interested in Miatas when I've had my fill of the Mazdaspeed MX5 and crave something a step up?
Naturally, my first instinct is to mod the car.
And I've been thinking heavily about my Mazdaspeed's future... Originally I planned to keep the car and drive it to the 100,000 mile mark and then sell it to avoid having to replace or recondition the turbo.

And now I'm thinking a V8 swap would be in it's future once the Turbo explodes into a million pieces and is ingested by the engine and destroys it. 

So short and sweet, I'm thinking my car is going V8 in about 5 years...
What are your future plans with your cars?
And what will it take to keep your attention in the Miata world when your interest starts to drop off?

[MX5]

How dare you utter such words, sir!! Read my personal text under my handle..

[Byrdmen]

Jeff, step away from the blowtorch...
 
Wouldn't you be happier with beautiful maroon 2000 with a V8?  I'll make you a good deal for your boring gray car.
 
Sorry man, best I can do for humor.
 
I am lucky that I don't drive the Miata every day.  I have the luxury of only driving on good weather days, by my self (or with Kimberly), and where I want to.  I have considered a Mustang but don't think it would lend itself for spur of the moment hops out to Montgomery.
 
I also consider other people who have modified and either sold the car or returned to stock within a year.  I have noticed this especially with superchargers being sold used with "very little miles".  I suspect the main reason we don't see more turbos being sold that way is the difficulty taking off.  Of course, the for sale section of mt.net is loaded with turbo systems and parts.  That said, I have seen posts from Freddy that date back quite a while, I guess doing it right the first time has a lot to do with how satisfied you are down the road.
 
For me, the problem is spending $5,000 for turbo/super which puts me well into the neighborhood of a MSM, S2000, or even a reasonable Z3.  And, you cannot deny that the Miata has a MUCH lower cost of ownership/upgrades than most others.  I choked when my Dad told me he spent $2,200 for headers!  Makes me not mind paying $500 for a set of JR headers.
 
Maybe he is a good example why I am happy with my car, after a 12k engine rebuild, new headers were added and cats removed.  The car was not retuned as the engine needed to be broken in, he was told "drive it 500-1000 miles, change the oil and bring it back and we will tune it".  It appears that the car saw the far side of 150 mph and is now in pieces with burned valves being replaced, wanna guess what the total bill is so far?  My Dad uses the car in his quest for happiness, it would not matter if he had a Mustang or a Pinto, he enjoys upgrading the car.  Unfortunately, most people have a hard  time knowing when you have gone too far.
 
When I made the decision to sell the '93 I was just about done upgrading it, I realized that "as it sits" was as good as it was gonna get.  There was probably a little depression involved too.  Human nature leaves us wanting more be it cars, your house, job, and sometimes spouse.  I think one of the keys to happiness is to realize when you should be happy with what you have, to reconnect with why you bought it.  Of all these choices, the Miata is by far the cheapest to upgrade.  Heck of a lot easier to say than to do I suppose.   

Sorry for the ramble, waaaaaaaay past my bedtime.

[Jeff Goji]

True, some of us do indeed have the "MX5 Forever" mindset.
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. 
Heck, I had that mindset for the longest time... Almost 8 years... Wow how time flies when you're in love with something.

LOL Scott, lol. 
Well, keep in mind if I had the money for a V8 swap, I wouldn't bother doing it myself.
I agree a non-MSM Miata would make for a better swap, but the MSM just has that "mean" look that screams V8. 
Plus if the engine and turbo are blown, there goes allot of the uniqueness right there.

Good points on the MX5 being a cheaper base car to tune with.
I also get what you mean about it being human nature to want more.
Personally though, I bet your 93 would have caught and passed just about any other Miata on the loop run with just a few more mods. 

[Flores]

Jeff, your going to end up doing what a lot of people do. Your going to get out of Miatas in a few years, because they aren't practical cars...

I predict a sedan in your future.

then, about 15 years later, you will remember how much fun you had in your 91, and start looking for a 40 year old car... and you won't be able to find one ...



 

[Mikeymx5]

I miss my stock car... I would like to upgrade to a stock car with about the same amount of power... So I'll hold off for a ND.

As for changing cars, I only care for small cars so if anything replaced the Miata it would be a Porsche. I would however love it if i could have two cars and use the miata only for fun days.

[miata_racer]

i just get wider wheels and tires...then my car is faster around turns and feels faster elsewhere.

Or gut the 91 to a bare bones car

[Jeff Goji]

lol, since when have I EVER complained about the car not being practical? 
Nah, sedans bore me silly... Gotta be a Sports car and has to be faster than the MSM if I ever upgrade... Thinking 370Z. 

[Mikeymx5]

If the 370 is anything like the 350z we owned I'll pass. Its like trying to drive in a bathtub!

[cjshem]

" I think one of the keys to happiness is to realize when you should be happy with what you have..."
 
That says it about as well as it needs to be said or maybe I've gotten too old to want to hustle as much as I use to.
 
Modding up the MSM will give you more power than you can usefully apply    At some point the cost of modds just replaces the car payments.

[Jeff Goji]

Modding up the MSM will give you more power than you can usefully apply

If I upgraded the car to a bigger turbo and a built motor, you would be 100% correct.
a V8 car however, yeah.... That's something else entirely. Useful power EVERYWHERE. 

[pitlab77]

sometimes I get bored of my 99. I think about turboing it but then I realize that eventually i'm going to get to a point where I have a used DD car and a track car. The best of both worlds.

I think i've come to realize that no where in the future do I see a car that is as affordable or as easy to upkeep as the miata.
 
Dont kill me but I would like a RWD Mini turbo or a 350Z, (although I am interested in seeing the new 5.0 mustang)

[miata_racer]

I'm thinking of a FFS M62 coldside for my 92   IF I can get the weight down to about 2000lbs and the power up to 170-180rwhp that should scoot a-ok

should be about as fast as most 210-220whp turbo miatas in a straight line and a TON faster in the turns


AND...it should be noted while other cars are a lot of fun to drive (Boxster and Boxster S come to mind)...they are a different fun. The miata is a crazy ragged edge no power i could wad this up and replace it next month kind of fun. The Porsche is a grips like hell, goes well, stops like hell but I should be careful kind of fun

ANY larger car like the Z, or a BMW or a P will all be like that. A 1st gen MR2 would be a good track beater.....or something like an AE86 or even a 240. But not the same fun

The miata fun is unique...that's why after 2 years without one I got another

[gospeed81]

It's hard to find anything quite like a Miata.

The only other "fun" car I've ever considered is an S2000.

[Slartibartfast]

Since I lucked into a Viper, I think I'm good.  I just need to get the header installed.
 
Winning a lottery completely changes the picture...