Looking for some mid life crisis advice.

[The emperor has no clothes]

My wife has been desiring a new younger plaything.  Instead of old, fat, and bald she has been looking at young, skinny, bald things. She wants to replace our aging Scion XB with a new convertible. We've been looking them over for 8 months now. Started as a Mustang fetish and has finally been sorted down to a Miata. I have been leaning to a 2015 GT with the hardtop. I think she has started leaning towards the 2016 GT . They unfortunately don't come with the hard top. Any knowledge out there about these 2 models ?

[cookiedough]

I'd pick the more conservative, and cheaper, Mazda over a Ford Mustang GT.  Mazda makes some good vehicles nowadays. 

Anything will be better looking than that old Scion.   

ONLY thing YOU can do is test drive them both for 20-30 miles with even some dealerships allowing for you to take it home overnight to get a better feel with family opinion vs. a 10 minute test drive. 

Before I bought my first EVER Toyota in 2007,  I went to a dealership and they let me take for the entire weekend,  without even asking to, a new completely redesigned 2007 Toyota Tundra brand new off the lot.  I told them we had plans to drive 300 miles up north and 300 miles back and they did not care.  Some 700 miles later back to them on Monday,  was sold on that truck and still own them today over 25+ years being a chevy silverado owner.  Only thing I did not like and still do not like about the Tundra is the so-so mpg, now gets the worst gas mileage of all 1/2 ton trucks on the market today. 

[hubcapsc]

They're not going to keep making these, get one while you still can!



I'd love to have one...

-Mike

[Patrick]

Not much help. All I can say is everyone I know that has one likes it.  Mazda certainly showed Ford how to make a small vehicle.
I didn't realize there was that much difference in the '15 and '16 until now.
Tough choice huh ?  In more ways than one.

[msb]

Not a new one, but this is what I bought my better half about 5 years a go for her 50th birthday. After she decided that after all these yeas she would give up on the thought of finally getting her motorcycle liscence and own bike, I wanted to give her a "new plaything" on her 50th to park in the garage beside the Valk. Was looking for something a little older - a classic if you will - but in good enough shape to drive for 6 months out of the year trouble free. I lucked out and found this pristine 1992 Miata with only 62,000 km (37,000 mi) on the clock. Everything other than a new paint job I had done a few years back is original, and drives like a dream...she absolutely loves this car and we've taken several Summer trips in it...has about 120,000 km on it now. She keeps it tucked away for the Winter months and then its her everyday car from April or May until October each year.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Not a new one, but this is what I bought my better half about 5 years a go for her 50th birthday. After she decided that after all these yeas she would give up on the thought of finally getting her motorcycle liscence and own bike, I wanted to give her a "new plaything" on her 50th to park in the garage beside the Valk. Was looking for something a little older - a classic if you will - but in good enough shape to drive for 6 months out of the year trouble free. I lucked out and found this pristine 1992 Miata with only 62,000 km (37,000 mi) on the clock. Everything other than a new paint job I had done a few years back is original, and drives like a dream...she absolutely loves this car and we've taken several Summer trips in it...has about 120,000 km on it now. She keeps it tucked away for the Winter months and then its her everyday car from April or May until October each year.

She's a beauty 

[Stanc770]

My wife has had two miatas, a 1999 and a 2012. The main thing I can tell you is that they are extremely dependable!
Having the Miatas from two generations of cars gave us the distinct impression of value over the entire ownership period. She racked up a lot of mileage with very little besides normal maintenance and the occasional brake job. The 1999 had 134000 on it with the original clutch. The 2012 was traded in at 45000 miles due to my wife breaking her back and could no longer enjoy te 6-speed.
If you get the Miata I hope you enjoy it at least as much as we did ours.

[cookiedough]

A now 60 year old lady I work with owned a Miata and just loved it being a convertible.  She thought she was a kid all over again, but her older husband's health issues forced her to give it up recently since was too hard to get in/out of it if he wanted to go along.  Other than that, she loved it while she had it and enjoyed it very much. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

My wife has had two miatas, a 1999 and a 2012. The main thing I can tell you is that they are extremely dependable!
Having the Miatas from two generations of cars gave us the distinct impression of value over the entire ownership period. She racked up a lot of mileage with very little besides normal maintenance and the occasional brake job. The 1999 had 134000 on it with the original clutch. The 2012 was traded in at 45000 miles due to my wife breaking her back and could no longer enjoy te 6-speed.
If you get the Miata I hope you enjoy it at least as much as we did ours.

Thanks 

[The emperor has no clothes]

They're not going to keep making these, get one while you still can!



I'd love to have one...

-Mike

JCW Roadster ? She's got a few mandatories. Convertible being one of them. Nice looking car though they are rather proud of them ? 42k is out of our range. 

[f6gal]

The problem with a hardtop is that you can't be out and about and just decide to put the top down.
The problem with a softtop is durability (including thugs potentially slicing them).  

For these reasons, I chose a car with a retractable hard top.  Love it!

[solo1]

Miata is my number 1 choice.  I'm on my second one, a 2002 with only 30k on it.  Six speed manual. light weight, dependable, and cheap to drive.  It is a Blast to drive through curves.  Since I don't park it in bad neighborhoods, the soft top, easily manipulated by hand, is no problem.  It has fully taken the place of my motorcycle, even including storing it in winter.

The new Miatas are even better.  Lighter weight, direct fuel injection, good fuel mileage, and can even come with a RETRACTABLE  hard top now that takes up no room in the trunk.

You can pay more,  Mercedes, you can get lots more power, Mustang V8, a smoother ride  BMW Z4, but you cannot beat the dependability and handling of a Mazda Miata AND the price.

Low on horsepower but the light weight more than makes up for it.

[The emperor has no clothes]

The problem with a hardtop is that you can't be out and about and just decide to put the top down.
The problem with a softtop is durability (including thugs potentially slicing them).  

For these reasons, I chose a car with a retractable hard top.  Love it!

Very nice !

Miata is my number 1 choice.  I'm on my second one, a 2002 with only 30k on it.  Six speed manual. light weight, dependable, and cheap to drive.  It is a Blast to drive through curves.  Since I don't park it in bad neighborhoods, the soft top, easily manipulated by hand, is no problem.  It has fully taken the place of my motorcycle, even including storing it in winter.

The new Miatas are even better.  Lighter weight, direct fuel injection, good fuel mileage, and can even come with a RETRACTABLE  hard top now that takes up no room in the trunk.

You can pay more,  Mercedes, you can get lots more power, Mustang V8, a smoother ride  BMW Z4, but you cannot beat the dependability and handling of a Mazda Miata AND the price.

Low on horsepower but the light weight more than makes up for it.

Some of your stories of your Miata are why I steered her towards one  . Unfortunately the 16's don't have the hard tops. But I really like the updated body style.

[solo1]

You're right Meathead.  The 2016 Miata doesn't have a retractable hardtop (for Now).

Interesting that the question came up.  Motorcycles don't have any top and I never parked my cycle in a bad place if I could help it.  I do the same for the Miata. Soft top convertibles are stolen at not more than 5% above the rate of all cars.  The thieves are after the contents, so a soft top makes it somewhat easier but  I sure won't have anything of value in sight in either my Miata OR my Mazda  Six. 

I strongly suspect that thievery is a selling point for the manufacturers of the  few convertibles that have retractable hard tops.   Makes sense, I guess, but that sure wouldn't have me spending a lot   more money based on a big "IF'

Just my .02

[The emperor has no clothes]

We can get a new '15 GT hardtop for a couple thousand less than a '16 GT. Here in AZ the thing that bothers me about the soft top is the sun. I see a lot of sun damaged tops around here. Right now she is leaning towards the red 16 GT. It is pretty sharp. I've bought 2 motorcycles since she's had a new car so I will go with whatever she picks. 

[big d]

Being the proud owner of a 2014 Mustang GT convertible that I got last year for my 50th birthday, I say you can't go wrong with a mustang GT. That motor is incredible. BUT, if the spousal unit is dead set on a convertible you can't go wrong with the Miata. Out of @ 28 vehicles the Miata made it into the final 4 of esquires car of the year. The field included ferrari's Mercedes a viper and an array of other high end cars. Not bad considering the price tag. Handling and reliability are what Mazda are known for. Best of luck in deciding.

[msb]

We can get a new '15 GT hardtop for a couple thousand less than a '16 GT. Here in AZ the thing that bothers me about the soft top is the sun. I see a lot of sun damaged tops around here. Right now she is leaning towards the red 16 GT. It is pretty sharp.

I've bought 2 motorcycles since she's had a new car so I will go with whatever she picks. 

Don't ever let anyone tell you that Valkyrie riders aren't intelligent 

[Robert]

The negative its a small car take it for a test run and drive it make sure its ok for size and feel. They are reliable and easy to fix and fun to drive. The Mercedes SLK, CLK, SL are choices but there are others Like the BMW Z4, Nissan 370Z roadster and many more. I can agree about the convertible top fabric in AZ but the flip side is the convertible hardtops have hydraulic rams that do leak with age. Not cheap to fix and actually much more expensive than replacing a fabric top. Stay away from the VW EOS top is not really repairable and BMW mini does make a convertible that does go out sometimes but a cool looking car and fun to drive also. Good luck and happy hunting.  

[Jess from VA]

You want a white or tan top, not black.  My black interior and ragtop vette had really poor ventilation and no AC, and you cooked in there in SoCA.  Still, most summer days, it was cooler with the top up than down(all windows open).  And it's hard to keep a wide brim hat on with the top down (need chinstrap).  I hope there is no skin cancer in the family history.

I had five convertibles, the problem was not security, the problem was they all leaked (and you froze in winter).  I got new tops for most of them, which helped.  You get no rain or cold, so you're probably fine.  

They usually leak at the front-windshield connection, so when you hit the brakes, the water runs forward, then down inside, and makes you look like you peed your pants.  But wet pants are cooler than dry ones on hot days.

One other thing, you simply can never pick your nose when driving a convertible.

What about a Jeep?
 

[The emperor has no clothes]

You want a white or tan top, not black.  My black interior and ragtop vette had really poor ventilation and no AC, and you cooked in there in SoCA.  Still, most summer days, it was cooler with the top up than down(all windows open).  And it's hard to keep a wide brim hat on with the top down (need chinstrap).  I hope there is no skin cancer in the family history.

I had five convertibles, the problem was not security, the problem was they all leaked (and you froze in winter).  I got new tops for most of them, which helped.  You get no rain or cold, so you're probably fine.  

They usually leak at the front-windshield connection, so when you hit the brakes, the water runs forward, then down inside, and makes you look like you peed your pants.  But wet pants are cooler than dry ones on hot days.

One other thing, you simply can never pick your nose when driving a convertible.

What about a Jeep?
 

I think she would keep driving the Scion before she would consider the Jeep. She is 54 years old and I think wanting to feel young and sporty again. Not like a lumberjack  (she is still pretty sporty though)

[solo1]

Interesting comments.

 My last Miata, a 1999, had the original tan soft top and I, in a moment of sheer stupidity, took it through a car wash.  The only leaks were around the top of the side windows.
My 2002 was driven back from Columbus Ohio in a pouring down rain with no leaks.  It also has the original top , 13 years old.

Having said that, my second choice would've been a Mustang GT, bigger, all the horses that you'll ever need, and sporty.

At any rate, a convertible is the way to go, IMHO. 

[Jess Tolbirt]

I got Bev a 2007 saturn sky redline,,only problem i have with the car is there is NO trunk room,,a couple bags of grocerys is all you will get in it, top up or down,, its a rag top,, but a fun car when the turbo kicks in..

[wild6]

I like this 'Miata'......