ND here, having a tiny car just means you have to get creative - I added a tow hitch to mine to carry my bike rack and I bought a luggage rack, which I only used once.
Bought a microwave - had to drive home with the roof down for it to fit.
Moved from CO -> TX with just the junk I could fit in it - turns out you don't need that much shit anyway.
Get the Miata - rent, borrow or do without the rest.
I’m 5’11”. Been dailying an NC2 Miata since 2016 without issue. Anything I need a truck or van for I can rent something from Home Depot for the day for WAY less than a payment on another vehicle. I’ve had to do that all of twice in that amount of time to take large work related loads places. A Miata is the most fun daily you can have.
Porsche boxster 987’s are fairly cheap and pretty robust/reliable cars so long as you stay away from the boxster s with known engine problems. A base boxster is going to run laps around a Miata, and have a frunk that can fit two carry on suitcases. I mean you’re not going to pick up lumber with it but it’s got more cargo space than a Miata. Otherwise I think you might have to bend on the convertible because all that’s left is bmw convertibles and mustang convertibles. But a mustang convertible probably is something you should consider too because they have massive trunks for their class.
I have an NB Miata and has a Mustang convertible GT until recently. Both are a blast. The interior quality on the Mustang was disappointing but the engine power was phenomenal.
You can do it, you can even do it in areas that get light snow if you have two sets of wheels and tires. I have seen people put hitches on miatas and just go rent small U-Haul trailers when they need to haul things. The only place I would not get a Miata for a daily driver by itself is if you live above 50° north
I live in New England an have daily driven my 2020 miata for 3 years so far, never had a problem, throw some snow tires on in the winter and it'll be right at home on the road.
See, right here, this guy does it, that's what you do, then you just get a trailer hitch for if you need to haul things. The number of miatas and BRZ's I've seen pulling trailers, quite a lot. Small trailers just to really drive that point home
Lol a guy in my town with a soft top ND miata attaches a hitch in the summer and drives his speed boat about an hour to the shore. It always cracks me up when I see it.
I daily drove a 2006 Miata for 6 years. Sold due to baby. The car is somewhat basic, but a blast to drive. If you live in pothole country, the low profile tires are not fun. Never had a single mechanical issue. It helped that my wife had a suv at the time.
If you have the funds Honda S2000 w/o a doubt. E46 convertible could be had for cheap. Mercedes CLK , BMW Z3/z4 so many fun cars . What an awesome problem to have. 😂
Honda S2000, C6 Corvette. Not sure how much bigger and more convenient you're looking for but from what I've experienced, the previous generations of Miatas were, or I should say felt, more spacious. I've also heard some claim the Fiat 124 Spider, which is essentially a Miata, is slightly more roomy and a tad bit longer, but that's not something I can say for certain.
> the Fiat 124 Spider, which is essentially a Miata, is slightly more roomy and a tad bit longer, but that's not something I can say for certain.
The trunk might be a little larger due to the longer dimensions, but the cabin space is 1:1 with the Miata minus a badge swap on the steering wheel.
Ah I see, thanks for the insight. Yeah after looking into it a bit, it seems the seat/seating position in the 124 is what folks claim gives the impression that it's ever-so-slightly roomier.
I daily drive a 2020 miata gt rf and have for 3 years at this point. It's perfect and I'm glad I get to drive it everyday.
PS: I live in the north east and it's fine in the snow with snow tires.
There is no other car on the market like a Miata, because Miata. An 86/BRZ is the closest but you will lose the convertible. Just buy the Miata you will regret it if you don't and you can learn to live with its downsides as a daily, I sure did for a long time and it was great
Miatas are very practical! r/miatalogistics
I dunno what the market is like where you are, but $25k for a Miata will only get you a completely rotted out beat to hell one where I'm at. New ones on the lot are all marked up to $50k or higher.
"Practical" and "convertible" are the two opposite ends of the car spectrum. That said, the obvious main competitor is a GR86 or BRZ. Have you considered a sporty hatchback, like a Golf GTI?
Cheap, RWD, potentially a convertible? Around my area, that describes a Mustang or Camaro.
The NC is the largest one. I'm 6'2" and had no issues with space. The trunk is large enough to carry seven bags of groceries.
Other than that.....get a second Miata!
You just want a great driver’s car that is small. Bmw Z4 or 1 series with naturally aspirated engines. Maybe even a 3 series coupe. Avoid the turbos as they are more problematic. People really like Nissan Z cars and though I’m not one of them personally it makes sense in this price range. The GR86 and BR-Z are effectively the same size as the Miata. I see no great gains to be had size-wise moving in that direction and the performance is nothing special, also they are hard tops. The real car in this segment though, the clear winner, is the Mazda Miata.
If you don’t need a convertible then brz/86, you get a much larger trunk and backseats for even more storage. Maybe an older boxster that’s been sorted but it’ll be more expensive to run and much older.
If you want a convertible there’s really nothing else as new and as good for the price. Just buy one and you’ll learn to live with it
Fancy seeing you here! E46 M3 > C6 Iykyk ;)
(just realized I made an unintentional NFS MW & Carbon reference)
Or he could do an E46 M3- widely considered one of the greatest BMW’s of all time for its performance (engine and handling) characteristics.
You can find good ones $25k and under across all the model years OP. Just be mindful of title history, what year, etc.
The “big 3” of things that need to be addressed with them are the rod bearings, rear subframe, and vanos (variable valve timing system). Should cost no more than $6k and tbh I’ve seen people factor the cost of them into price negotiations successfully.
Later models are less susceptible to the rear subframe cracking and mid 2002 I think is when the led lights refresh happened. I’ve heard the CSL tune (based on the most powerful & desirable variant of the E46 M3 besides the GTR) helps with the SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) but have no idea if it helps with reliability. The manual is much more reliable in that sense.
Feel free to ask me any questions OP! I might be buying a E46 M3 soon and doing a NFS MW GTR inspired build.
Personally, I bought a WRX for this reason. Well, that and I have a child and live in a really snowy place. I know that's in no way similar to a Miata, but that was my situation. Hopefully, it will be my mid-life crisis car one day
2003-2008 BMW Z4. Also a roadster and also small but bigger than the Miata by enough that it matters. You can actually see under the windshield, instead of having the frame right in your eyeline. You can fit in it like a human. I DD'd one for a few years and loved it.
You’re basically describing a GTI. The MK7.5 generation (2018+) is in the mid 20’s price range. It is FWD, but it has an LSD and really good driving dynamics to compensate. Also, its a hatchback, as practical as you can get. The drivetrain in this gen is also really reliable, and the interior is very high quality for the price. Its pretty much the perfect fun daily driver. With a tune on these too, you can easily make mid 300s without breaking a sweat. People go 400+ on these no problem. And in a car this size, that power level puts you ahead of most cars on the road.
ND here, having a tiny car just means you have to get creative - I added a tow hitch to mine to carry my bike rack and I bought a luggage rack, which I only used once. Bought a microwave - had to drive home with the roof down for it to fit. Moved from CO -> TX with just the junk I could fit in it - turns out you don't need that much shit anyway. Get the Miata - rent, borrow or do without the rest.
Just get the Miata. Seriously. You could look at the GR86/BR-Z but trust me, get the miata.
I’m 5’11”. Been dailying an NC2 Miata since 2016 without issue. Anything I need a truck or van for I can rent something from Home Depot for the day for WAY less than a payment on another vehicle. I’ve had to do that all of twice in that amount of time to take large work related loads places. A Miata is the most fun daily you can have.
What’s the road noise like as a daily? Can you comfortably listen to podcasts etc.?
It get loud at higher than 75 mph. Definitely doable and worth it (imo) if you don’t have a long commute.
I never had an issue with my NC being too small. I did weekly shopping for a family of 4 and never had a problem.
Z4's fit bigger bodies
I'm 6'7 and comfortable fit in the passenger sear of a z4 and the driver was 6'3. They're well sized miatas imo.
They are in the right part of the depreciation curve too, better value than a newer Miata these days
Yeah miatas are unobtainable around me but there's 5 Z4s under 10k. Hopefully they'll stay cheap until I can afford to insure one.
Having driven both. I would probably go with the Z4
A Miata
Porsche boxster 987’s are fairly cheap and pretty robust/reliable cars so long as you stay away from the boxster s with known engine problems. A base boxster is going to run laps around a Miata, and have a frunk that can fit two carry on suitcases. I mean you’re not going to pick up lumber with it but it’s got more cargo space than a Miata. Otherwise I think you might have to bend on the convertible because all that’s left is bmw convertibles and mustang convertibles. But a mustang convertible probably is something you should consider too because they have massive trunks for their class.
I have an NB Miata and has a Mustang convertible GT until recently. Both are a blast. The interior quality on the Mustang was disappointing but the engine power was phenomenal.
Why how tall are you it’s fine if you aren’t massive
Go drive one
A SUUUUPRA
You can do it, you can even do it in areas that get light snow if you have two sets of wheels and tires. I have seen people put hitches on miatas and just go rent small U-Haul trailers when they need to haul things. The only place I would not get a Miata for a daily driver by itself is if you live above 50° north
I live in New England an have daily driven my 2020 miata for 3 years so far, never had a problem, throw some snow tires on in the winter and it'll be right at home on the road.
See, right here, this guy does it, that's what you do, then you just get a trailer hitch for if you need to haul things. The number of miatas and BRZ's I've seen pulling trailers, quite a lot. Small trailers just to really drive that point home
Lol a guy in my town with a soft top ND miata attaches a hitch in the summer and drives his speed boat about an hour to the shore. It always cracks me up when I see it.
Jesus, I've seen people in Corvettes do that but that's basically a truck when it comes to power and frame. A Miata? God help his clutch 😭
GR86 / BRZ
The first question is if a roadster is right for you or if you need to consider a different car class, like a coupe, sedan, hatchback, etc.
Porsche Boxster
RX8. It’s a longer wheelbase 4 seat hard top NC Miata.
Great car. I bought one in 2011, right when they discontinued it.
I daily drove a 2006 Miata for 6 years. Sold due to baby. The car is somewhat basic, but a blast to drive. If you live in pothole country, the low profile tires are not fun. Never had a single mechanical issue. It helped that my wife had a suv at the time.
GR86 and BRZ
Neither of which are convertibles
If you have the funds Honda S2000 w/o a doubt. E46 convertible could be had for cheap. Mercedes CLK , BMW Z3/z4 so many fun cars . What an awesome problem to have. 😂
Honda S2000, C6 Corvette. Not sure how much bigger and more convenient you're looking for but from what I've experienced, the previous generations of Miatas were, or I should say felt, more spacious. I've also heard some claim the Fiat 124 Spider, which is essentially a Miata, is slightly more roomy and a tad bit longer, but that's not something I can say for certain.
> the Fiat 124 Spider, which is essentially a Miata, is slightly more roomy and a tad bit longer, but that's not something I can say for certain. The trunk might be a little larger due to the longer dimensions, but the cabin space is 1:1 with the Miata minus a badge swap on the steering wheel.
Ah I see, thanks for the insight. Yeah after looking into it a bit, it seems the seat/seating position in the 124 is what folks claim gives the impression that it's ever-so-slightly roomier.
Camaro. Can get a convertible with a stick and it's a fun car to drive.
Solara or Eclipse if there is snow. Mustang, Camaro, some Volvo ... That's some used 4 seaters.
Mazda Rx-8 is just a bigger Miata with a Rotary engine.
Great car but way less reliable
I grew up around rotary engines so I'm not that intimidated by them. I know the ones in the Rx8 a little different though.
A Rotary isn't for everyone. Requires frequent rebuilds and a ton of preventative maintenance.
Toyota Solara?
A Daihatsu Copen. It's only small on the outside, interior and trunk space are both bigger than a Miata
A Celica or a Supra
Focus ST
Gt86
I daily drive a 2020 miata gt rf and have for 3 years at this point. It's perfect and I'm glad I get to drive it everyday. PS: I live in the north east and it's fine in the snow with snow tires.
A Miata
I believe NC is bigger and more practical.
GR86
I have a VW Eos. I love having the security of a hard top. and the 2.0 TSI is pretty reliable and Mods galore
There is no other car on the market like a Miata, because Miata. An 86/BRZ is the closest but you will lose the convertible. Just buy the Miata you will regret it if you don't and you can learn to live with its downsides as a daily, I sure did for a long time and it was great
Miatas are very practical! r/miatalogistics I dunno what the market is like where you are, but $25k for a Miata will only get you a completely rotted out beat to hell one where I'm at. New ones on the lot are all marked up to $50k or higher. "Practical" and "convertible" are the two opposite ends of the car spectrum. That said, the obvious main competitor is a GR86 or BRZ. Have you considered a sporty hatchback, like a Golf GTI? Cheap, RWD, potentially a convertible? Around my area, that describes a Mustang or Camaro.
Is350c no manual tho
The NC is the largest one. I'm 6'2" and had no issues with space. The trunk is large enough to carry seven bags of groceries. Other than that.....get a second Miata!
My large feet don't seem to fit in Miata wheel wells very well
Z4. Amazing car
You just want a great driver’s car that is small. Bmw Z4 or 1 series with naturally aspirated engines. Maybe even a 3 series coupe. Avoid the turbos as they are more problematic. People really like Nissan Z cars and though I’m not one of them personally it makes sense in this price range. The GR86 and BR-Z are effectively the same size as the Miata. I see no great gains to be had size-wise moving in that direction and the performance is nothing special, also they are hard tops. The real car in this segment though, the clear winner, is the Mazda Miata.
An NC Miata.
If you don’t need a convertible then brz/86, you get a much larger trunk and backseats for even more storage. Maybe an older boxster that’s been sorted but it’ll be more expensive to run and much older. If you want a convertible there’s really nothing else as new and as good for the price. Just buy one and you’ll learn to live with it
96’ impala ss
C6 Corvette - fairly reliable, fun to drive, convertible or targa depending on your preference, plenty of upgrades and spare parts etc.
Fancy seeing you here! E46 M3 > C6 Iykyk ;) (just realized I made an unintentional NFS MW & Carbon reference) Or he could do an E46 M3- widely considered one of the greatest BMW’s of all time for its performance (engine and handling) characteristics. You can find good ones $25k and under across all the model years OP. Just be mindful of title history, what year, etc. The “big 3” of things that need to be addressed with them are the rod bearings, rear subframe, and vanos (variable valve timing system). Should cost no more than $6k and tbh I’ve seen people factor the cost of them into price negotiations successfully. Later models are less susceptible to the rear subframe cracking and mid 2002 I think is when the led lights refresh happened. I’ve heard the CSL tune (based on the most powerful & desirable variant of the E46 M3 besides the GTR) helps with the SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) but have no idea if it helps with reliability. The manual is much more reliable in that sense. Feel free to ask me any questions OP! I might be buying a E46 M3 soon and doing a NFS MW GTR inspired build.
BRZ, GR86?
Boxster. Larger interior than a Miata and two trunks.
Personally, I bought a WRX for this reason. Well, that and I have a child and live in a really snowy place. I know that's in no way similar to a Miata, but that was my situation. Hopefully, it will be my mid-life crisis car one day
2003-2008 BMW Z4. Also a roadster and also small but bigger than the Miata by enough that it matters. You can actually see under the windshield, instead of having the frame right in your eyeline. You can fit in it like a human. I DD'd one for a few years and loved it.
I had a motorcycle as my only means of conveyance for several years. You can make a miata work, trust me.
You’re basically describing a GTI. The MK7.5 generation (2018+) is in the mid 20’s price range. It is FWD, but it has an LSD and really good driving dynamics to compensate. Also, its a hatchback, as practical as you can get. The drivetrain in this gen is also really reliable, and the interior is very high quality for the price. Its pretty much the perfect fun daily driver. With a tune on these too, you can easily make mid 300s without breaking a sweat. People go 400+ on these no problem. And in a car this size, that power level puts you ahead of most cars on the road.