Turbo Miata replacement with four seats

Hail fellows. My beloved turbo Miata is no more. It was run over by a utility truck at a powered out light in the last week. Thanks Irene. Also, thankfully I'm safe.

So let's get to the point.

I'd like a four seat Miata with 200hp as I loved the performance of that car. 10lbs of boost is addictive in a 2000 lbs ride. Four seats is required as the wife and I are expecting our first child in Nov.

I'm thinking E30. How hard is it to up the performance of an E30? Will I be able to match my Miata's straight line speed without a massive cost/effort? My definition of massive cost/effort is an engine swap. I'm just not interested in that level of modification.

Any thoughts? Wild notions? Half-a$$ed internet experts are welcome.

E36 M3? ...if it fits your budget, + maintenance budget.

When I drove a BMW 318i (E36), the first thing I thought was it is a fat Miata.

Price range?

I do not have a turbo Miata, but I am enjoying the giggle-factor and utility of my WRX wagon.

Plenty of room to mod, if you're not going to turn it into the new Factory Five creation...

RWD a must? It would be cake to get a 1st gen protege to feel the same in every way, except it'll be FWD.

E30s are even easier than miatas to turbo, and can generally make more power more easily. They can also be easily made to handle even better than a miata with some off-the-shelf suspension components.

To get this past the wife I think a good idea would be a E36 M3,4,5.
M3 with 4 doors and 5 speed. Rare but available.

jrw1621 wrote: To get this past the wife I think a good idea would be a E36 M3,4,5. M3 with 4 doors and 5 speed. Rare but available.

This. Unfortunately all of the nice ones are expensive. Which is why I'm building a 5.0 powered 325. I think of it less as a miata sedan, and more as a ghetto CTS-V

I can't argue with E30. I figured the answer was E30 before clicking through. I'm just widening choices.

Not nearly as quick witted as a Miata, the 89-95 SHO has 220hp out the box. Cheap too - try to find a very clean, low mile 1995, though manuals are a little bit harder to find after automatics became available in (IIRC) 1992. Owned a 1991 at the same time as my 1997 Miata, and it was more of a straight-line car.

I counted them twice to be sure - the RX-8 has four doors...

And because I don't have a budget: Just as quick and nimble as a Miata, plus safe and roomy like a minivan: A Miata and any minivan of your choosing. Adjust the value and condition of each to get to where your budget needs to be.

1st gen protege is already informally known as a 4door miata, if you do your own work the engine's the same, you can buy your miata back from the ins. co and swap the motor right in. You might need a different exhaust manny but that might be the cheapest way to get to what you're looking for. Find an awd version for even more fun but I'll shut up about that...

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2599486, for anyone who wants to see a pair of old awd Mazdogs

I've been sorta in the same boat since I sold my Miata (albeit without the turbo).

The best 4-seat replacement I've found is the '86-'88 Porsche 924S. I know the rear seats are hardly usable, but you can put baby seats back there, and I have seen more than 2 adults shoved into them. All the best parts from the more popular 944/951/968 are interchangable, but you can get the lighter weight 924 for a lot less money. They're not as simple as a Meetata, but there's a pretty good following for the Porsche front engine cars, so you can find all the info you need to do just about anything. The tough part is finding a nice one, preferrably without a sunroof. Dropped on a nice set of Fuchs they can be a sexy ride.

The rare 2+2 RX-7's are another good option.

I don't know much about them, but I parked a '90s 300ZX yesterday, I never knew any of them had a back seat, but this one did, all-be-it small but it was a back seat, 2+2.

They're a "sports" car right?

• Lee