For the sake of perspective, I've been in these roadsters:-Miata 2nd gen
-Miata 3rd gen (the new one)
-BMW M Coupe (Z3 + hardtop + 333hp engine)
-BMW Z4I've driven all of those except the M Coupe. My first convertible experience was behind the wheel of the 2nd gen Miata at the first Mazda Rev-it-Up two and a half years back. It was fantastic. It felt unlike anything else I had ever driven and it felt uniquely Miata-ish. Then I drove the Z4, of which I had high expectations for its better handling, faster engine, better interior refinement, and all the usual bells and whistles we've come to expect from BMW. Honestly, I was left without feeling the kind of magic that I got from the Miata. It drove not unlike my 3-series on the city roads, and while it certainly felt nice to open up, it still wasn't uniquely Roadster-ish to me. I didn't feel like I could stick my hand out and touch the road when I was stopped. I didn't feel like I'd lose control if I pushed the car too hard. Purists tend to like the Z4 in comparison, because it "doesn't feel claustrophobic." And there's no doubt it's great on the track. But to me, it's too big. It's too loose. It's not even very easy to get in and out of, which reflects the actual size of the car, but it doesn't dart around on the road like a small car should. With that in mind, I was psyched to get behind the wheel of the new Miata......and was surprised to find the exact same thing as I did in the Z4. It feels big, roomy, and easy to drive. It's getting the same anti-claustrocity praise the Z4 did upon release, and it bugs me all the same. It's still easy to toss around (I actually ran a really good lap at the most recent Mazda event) but it doesn't feel as raw as the 2nd-gen. To me, these cars feel like a band's album that gets overproduced, or a cute girl who wears too much makeup. When I learned to drive Roadsters, I learned to enjoy a car that was small and claustrophobic, a car that you had to make sacrifices to drive, but one that rewarded you if you could overlook its faults. Now, the general public has had its way with these cars, and in a word, they're heavy. Too much stuff got put on 'em. They all made space for GPS systems, extra-heavy frames, more spacious interiors, wider dashboards - all stuff that a purist's car doesn't need. That's why when I come up with the money for a roadster of my own, I'll go get a Z3 of a 2nd-gen Miata. They're older, typically slower, smaller, and have lots fewer bells and whistles, but that's the sacrifice I have to make if my roadster is to make me happy. They might have drab interiors, sure, but between the curvy roads and the open sky, the interior is the last place I'll be looking.
-Miata 3rd gen (the new one)
-BMW M Coupe (Z3 + hardtop + 333hp engine)
-BMW Z4I've driven all of those except the M Coupe. My first convertible experience was behind the wheel of the 2nd gen Miata at the first Mazda Rev-it-Up two and a half years back. It was fantastic. It felt unlike anything else I had ever driven and it felt uniquely Miata-ish. Then I drove the Z4, of which I had high expectations for its better handling, faster engine, better interior refinement, and all the usual bells and whistles we've come to expect from BMW. Honestly, I was left without feeling the kind of magic that I got from the Miata. It drove not unlike my 3-series on the city roads, and while it certainly felt nice to open up, it still wasn't uniquely Roadster-ish to me. I didn't feel like I could stick my hand out and touch the road when I was stopped. I didn't feel like I'd lose control if I pushed the car too hard. Purists tend to like the Z4 in comparison, because it "doesn't feel claustrophobic." And there's no doubt it's great on the track. But to me, it's too big. It's too loose. It's not even very easy to get in and out of, which reflects the actual size of the car, but it doesn't dart around on the road like a small car should. With that in mind, I was psyched to get behind the wheel of the new Miata......and was surprised to find the exact same thing as I did in the Z4. It feels big, roomy, and easy to drive. It's getting the same anti-claustrocity praise the Z4 did upon release, and it bugs me all the same. It's still easy to toss around (I actually ran a really good lap at the most recent Mazda event) but it doesn't feel as raw as the 2nd-gen. To me, these cars feel like a band's album that gets overproduced, or a cute girl who wears too much makeup. When I learned to drive Roadsters, I learned to enjoy a car that was small and claustrophobic, a car that you had to make sacrifices to drive, but one that rewarded you if you could overlook its faults. Now, the general public has had its way with these cars, and in a word, they're heavy. Too much stuff got put on 'em. They all made space for GPS systems, extra-heavy frames, more spacious interiors, wider dashboards - all stuff that a purist's car doesn't need. That's why when I come up with the money for a roadster of my own, I'll go get a Z3 of a 2nd-gen Miata. They're older, typically slower, smaller, and have lots fewer bells and whistles, but that's the sacrifice I have to make if my roadster is to make me happy. They might have drab interiors, sure, but between the curvy roads and the open sky, the interior is the last place I'll be looking.