Scotty, I'm an old fart looking for a smaller fun car.
My two main competitors are the MX-5 and the BRZ/86 (manual only for these!). I really lean towards the Mazda, but there are two key things that are making me consider the BRZ8/86.
First I live in Colorado and the car will be a low mile daily driver (pre-COVID I was running about 8K/year), so cold weather and a convertible is a minor concern.
Second is I track my current daily driver and will do the same with this, which means a roll bar will be required for the Mazda. I would consider the RF for the cold, but roll bars and the RF do not go together as you cannot retract the top with one installed.
We keep our cars longer than most, but not to the level you talk (typically more like the 10-15 years and 100-125K mile range). Is the BRZ/86 worth considering at that kind of an ownership period.
In the end I think I will end up with a soft top MX-5, but options are always good in car buying.
@bucketfoote
From someone who owns a 2001 MX-5 with hardtop/soft top, the car does NOT drive in any sort of snowy/icy conditions without proper snow tires...My FWD Accord and Prelude do pretty darn well with summer tires on during the winter months, but my poor little MX-5 wont hardly go anywhere! That being said, winter tires are an obvious, and easy fix, just wanted to throw this out there.
Its a GREAT car with exceptional weight distribution fore/aft, and is quite a nimble machine. It doesnt have exceptional speed in a straight line when stock, but the power curve is extremely linear and pulls great through the entire RPM range clear to redline, and really hugs corners well...I have 88,000 miles on mine and haven't had to replace anything except brake rotors because of Idaho/Utah winters, and front axle hubs (didnt need to be done just did em cus they were cheap and I was already doing the rotors)
Highly recommend the MX-5; its a BLAST to drive and can really keep up with much higher HP machines, esp in the corners
Winter tires are a given. Heck I have them on my AWD BMW and have been sold on them for awhile now.
Go for the MX5, esp. if you're in Colorado! Guess who is based in Colorado: flyinmiata.Their expertise is in demand on several continents, e.g. in Netherlands.
@mazda_787b
I thought they were on the western slope (Palisade - Grand Junction area)...
Miata all the way!
What generation of the MX5 are you looking at?
@catfan01
Would be a brand new ND2
MX-5 might be a litte less practical but overall it's a better car and pretty bulletproof. I'd go with the Miata myself if you don't mind the two seats.
@rpmartin32
This is one of the big selling points of the Miata for my wife. She does not have faith in a Subaru lasting 10-15 years, or that I'll want to keep one for that long. The Miata could very well outlast me and I cannot imagine tiring of it.
Had my BRZ since new for three years now. Miata's have poor visibility and no head room unless the top is down. I am six foot and can put a helmet on when at the track. There is also a back seat for the dog when you have to gun it to the vets in an emergency.
@fedor
Have a Honda Pilot for the dog 🙂
@fedor
But I'll add that the extra space in the BRZ is a huge plus for things like track days. I really hate driving to/from the track with my track tires on the car.
Have my Z for extreme handing and braking. Any nutter can drive an insane HP beast in a straight line until they wrap in around a tree. Funny note, my Subaru sales buddy would not sell me a Z unless I was absolute. And he drives an older model Miata to and from work. LOL. Winter is here of the road now.