Miata vs MR-S-Page 2: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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April 6, 2011 8:25 a.m. racerdave600 HalfDork

I've always been an MR2 fan, and a Miata fan. And have owned bunches of both. Given the choice and your circumstances, I'd go MR-S. It really is a better driver if you don't need the "large" storage capacity of the Miata, and like the looks ok. The seats are so better as well, and the interior feels more upmarket. The later versions had a limited slip while the earlier ones do not. So if that's important, keep it in mind.

With that out of the way, I'd also shop condition. If the MR-S on the lot is in poor condition, it's not that much superior to the NB to warrant choosing it over the Miata.

They're very close in driver appeal, with the nod going to the MR-S, in my opinion of course.
April 6, 2011 9:06 a.m. Matt B HalfDork

I gotta say, it's refreshing to hear a car get compared favorably to the miata on this board (says the mr2 fanboi). I really like the MR-S, as they are sort of a superior Mk1, minus the storage space. I haven't been out yet this season to autox, but there's a couple of guys in Atlanta (somebody here probably knows them - Wayne & Ben) that had been getting 1st place repeatedly with one in C stock. I think they're in STR now.

That said, I can fit a whole grocery trip the trunk of my AW11, not really an option with the Spyder. If the significant other is going to be pissed at every trip out of town because she can't carry a satisfactory amount of womanly paraphernalia then I'm sure you'll have just as much fun in the mazda.
April 6, 2011 9:22 a.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

Oh, SWMBO wouldn't be in the car at the same time as myself if we were going anywhere of consequence, at least not until Rev. Jr is old enough to go sleep at someone else's house.
April 6, 2011 10:49 a.m. nderwater HalfDork

Matt - Any chance you'll be at the upcoming Evo school? I'll be there with my turbo Miata but have always wanted to get behind the wheel of an MR-S. If you're interested, maybe we could swap for a quick drive.
April 6, 2011 10:57 a.m. Matt B HalfDork

Sorry if my post was confusing. I don't have a MR-S, but instead it's grandaddy, the Mk1. I've had a chance to try out a friend's spyder, but I've never owned one myself. That said, if you're still interested I'm game, but I won't be offended if not.

I really want to do that Evo school this year, but my work commitments seem to be in conflict right now. Still trying to get around them. I should be at points 4 the next day either way though.
April 6, 2011 11:11 a.m. daytonaer Reader

Luke wrote:

US-market MR-S's came with the option of a stick shift, right? That'd make it a viable Miata alternative in my mind.

I'd love one, but all ours (in Aus) were silly sequential auto-clutch nonsense cars.

NO us MR-s's came with an auto box. Some had an optional clutchless manual, none had a torque converter slush box.

I want a mr-s with a 2zz swap bad.

I think of a miata as a scaled down corvette (size, $, upkeep etc) MR-s is the last of Toyota's fun engineering, and a scaled down elise...
April 6, 2011 11:52 a.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

I didn't think Toyota made any slushbox MR-Ss... my understanding is there wasn't enough room for a true auto, which is why the "auto" option was a sequential manual.

I've also heard the sequentials are really bad, especially when it comes to shift speeds. I want to test drive one and see for myself, though.
April 6, 2011 11:54 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

ReverendDexter wrote:

I didn't think Toyota made any slushbox MR-Ss... my understanding is there wasn't enough room for a true auto, which is why the "auto" option was a sequential manual.

I've also heard the sequentials are really bad, especially when it comes to shift speeds. I want to test drive one and see for myself, though.

The early ones were awful... added literally a second and a half in the 0-60 acceleration.

The later ones were faster, but still not as fast as the manual.
April 6, 2011 3:48 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

I test drove an MR-S with the auto-manual a while back. As I recall, the shift speeds were comparable to when I'm shifting slowly and smoothly while just cruising around town. Not so much slow as just generally lazy.