So I'm not asking to talk myself into or out of my order. I'm totally pscyhed. It's impending separation anxiety.

I've had my Miata (purchased right out of school) for nearly 14 years and put 180K miles on it. Sure it's a little underpowered (especially for today), but the easy drop-top, cornering ability, low center of gravity, engine revability etc., keep smiles on my face every day.

(The Yokohamas and adjustible suspension don't hurt either.)

I was impressed with my two MCS test drives. And the fact the community is even more rabid (and participatiory) than the Miata community convinced me. I'm leaving one group of gearheads for another.

But are there any other ex- or current Miata owners who can set my expectations for the differences/improvements I can expect?

--dwf

 

I've heard a couple miata owners lament the larger size and feel of the "mini".

 

Hey dwf-

I was in the same boat as you a couple of months ago. I'd ordered my MCS & was contemplating the sale of my beloved Miata. I told my wife that I was going to sell it in the spring when prices tend to be higher for roadsters. She let me stew about it for a while & then she said "why not just keep the Miata". What an idea & what a wife. So that's what I'm doing & I suggest that might work for you too.

Edit >> The MINI & Miata are two very different cars. If I could have only one the MINI would be it. It's a great fun car with the ability to be used as a daily driver whatever the weather brings.

Chuck

 

I'll be OK with selling the Miata.

But what's been your take in the driving feel between the two cars? Cornering, ride height, pick-up, and all that?

 

I was in a similiar situation, I had a 78 VW Scirocco that I bought new a couple of years after high school. It was a blast to drive what with all the mods I had in it and "only" had 165,000 miles on it.....LOL. I finally decided to get a new car, the MINI, but I really didn't want to get rid of the VW. But after driving the MINI for a bit I found myself not missing it at all. Even tho the VW was more than 500 pounds lighter, it wasn't near as much fun to drive.

 

I have both a Miata and an MCS. There are a lot of similarities but I lot of differences as well. I feel I need to drive the MCS harder to get real enjoyment out of it. With the Miata, I can drive it either hard or take it easy and get a lot of enjoyment out of it. As far as the handling goes, they both handle like they're on rails but I prefer the handling of the MCS a little bit more than the Miata. My Miata is an '03 with the stock suspension. My MCS experience is with H-Sport springs and rear competition bar. If I had to chose one over the other I'm not sure which I would go with.

The Miata is no slouch when it comes to speed but the MCS easily has it in this area.

The MCS definately has more interior room and that's a plus also. I find myself feeling cramped at times in the Miata; I mainly feel it in the shoulder area. I do like having a choice, and as Crashton suggested, if you can swing a way to have both, do it!

 

Great AutoWeek Escape Roads on the Scirocco a couple of weeks ago. I was amazed that it was only 2000 lbs. No wonder people loved 'em.

--dwf

 

You know, even at 6' and 210, I've never felt cramped. I've always felt part of the car.

A (larger) coworker said just the other day, "Isn't that car a little small for you?" This is sort of like the "isn't it a cute car" thread from a couple of weeks ago. My response, "Well, I'm getting a MINI." He looked stumped as he got into his I30.

The MINI purchase is because we have two kids now and with the youngest heading to day care now, each car (other is a Passat wagon) needs to be able to haul both kids. The MCS seemed the closest thing to the Miata. Yes, I could've gone MCSc, but in the past 4 years I've kept the hardtop on the Miata 98% of the time. So I figure the double moonroof will do me just fine.

Thanks for the tips!

--dwf

 

That VW was a great ride. Especially after spending way too much money on the suspension and engine.......lol.

Thanks for the link. That was a nice read (not to mention flashback !)

 

Heck dwf I forgot to say welcome aboard! Guess I'm only 58 posts late.

The Miata & MINI are different animals & in my ways they are somewhat alike.

Miata vs MINI - Feel - Well you just can't get that roadster feel in a MINI. But put the top up on a Miata & for me it's....yuck get me outa here.

Miata vs MINI - Handling - Mines a 95 that's stock except for KYB AGX's & a set of Panasports wrapped in Yokoblama AVS ES 100's. The cornering is good, but to my mind I feel the MINI may be quicker through my favorte twisties. When the weather goes south & there's snow or rain the MINI is better than the Miata.

Miata vs MINI - Power - The MINI has it all over my Miata when it comes to power. That may be why I think the MINI will be faster in the twisties. In fact I'm thinking an Eaton supercharger would be great on my MIata.

Miata vs MINI - Comfort - Well my Miata actually rides better than my MINI. Chaulk that up to those wretched runflats the MINI has. The MINI is a much better place to be for an all day drive. It just doesn't beat me up like the Miata after 4 hour or so in the saddle. With the Miata you can only car one passenger & not a child because of the passenger side airbag. In the MINI put the little ones in the back. I consider the MINI a 3 passenger car....4 if 2 of them are kids.

Miata vs MINI - Fit - Well lets just say I'm a big guy. I used to drive an 69 MG Midget. After that that the Miata is huge & fits me just fine. The MINI has plenty of room for me too.

I understand your reason for selling. Your kids will grow up & you'll be able to buy another Miata down the road. In the meantime the MINI will keep you entertained.

These are my opinions & worth every penny you've paid for them.

Chuck

 

Wow, it's great to see the number of people that know and own both of these fine cars. As mentioned they have a lot in common but are oh, so different. Both great cars!

 

Sold my 93 before Xmas, took delivery of my MCS last weekend.

Do I miss the Miata? Not yet.

Don't get me wrong, the Miata was great. Classic sports car. But the MCS is just that much a better all round car. It's easily as much fun as the Miata, plus I can put stuff in it. I've been amazed at how this FWDer can be so willing to rotate.

The ride is much more practical for daily driver duty. Granted my Miata had Ground Control coilovers and Konis, RB cat-backk and hi flow cat. . . etc, etc.

The Miata might have been a hair more fun on a road course, but I haven't missed it yet.

 

My 92 also has the KYB AGX's (5? years now, only about 30K miles past the life of the stock shocks) and I think the same Yok tires. I don't have the passenger side airbag, so my 4 year old daughter has enjoyed the car the past year or so once she was in a booster -- I wouldn't take the time to install/remove the other seat(s).

I really don't mind the hardtop. It's got better visibility and I don't bump my head as long as I'm not wearing a baseball cap. Though when I forget, that damn button at the top gives me a nice smack as I lift in the seat over even the smallest bumps.

All great info. Thanks to everyone.

--dwf

 

I've still got my Miata and my new MCS. I like the MINI community more than the Miata people. (No, seriously - not just sucking up here people. Feel the love!)

IMO (important qualification there - I do not pretend to speak for all) the Miata folks seem way too uptight. They have no sense of humor about the "girl car" stereotype, tiresomely bash other cars, and fight amongst themselves about Miatas that have "too much" power. I find their message boards to be overly moderated and quarelsome.

MINI folk just seem way more comfortable with themselves and their cars.

Hartz

 

Can't argue with that last statement, definately agree.

 

Hartz-You hit the nail on the head with that one. There has even been a spin-off Miata forum created for those folks with a sense of humor. I like it here just fine on NAM. Lots of nice folks here.

Chuck

 

dwf,
I too sold a 14 year old Miata and got a MCSc. Mine was a '91, sold in May. I actually waited until the day that I put 200k on it before I let the new owner take it. My Miata was bone stock except for the stereo. In handling and power, the stock MCS wins hands down.

Before buying the MINI, I also drove the '05 Mazdaspeed Turbo Miata. At 700 lbs lighter,10 hp more, and lower center of gravity than the stock MCSc, the turbo Miata was the winner (and cost about $8k less).

In the end, the back seat of the MINI won over the performance of the turbo Miata. I have no regrets. I love the MINI.

I think you will be pleased as well. The difference between your '92 Miata and the MCS will be substantial.

Have fun!

 

I had a Miata for 6 years before I bought my MCS five months ago. I do not miss it one bit I love that I have room to put stuff in the trunk and most of all I love that my butt stays dry on rainy days!

 

Lower your MCS an inch or so, and add a beefy rear sway; the car will handle very similarly to the MX-5 (on steroids). Biggest difference in driving the MCS vs. the Miata is the need to breath for a second in between turning and getting back on the throttle. If the process for the MX-5 is brake, turn, gas; for the MCS it is brake, turn, breath, gas. Do this and you'll avoid any plowing.

 

I went from a '95 Miata with a catback, timing bump, and large flow air intake to my '06 MCS stock and I'm completely happy. The Miata had only 82k on it but little things were starting to bug out on me that would have added up in repairs; like the power window motor going on the driver side, the cd player crapping out, shocks gone, and the air conditioning needing a full recharge each summer to work.
I could have fixed all that but I was getting tired of the cramped space and lack of hauling ability. Yes, the drop top was fun, but only when the weather was in the 70's. There is nothing worse than city driving with the top down in Florida with the temps in the upper 90's during mid day.
I did my research and found the MCS was what I needed to keep driving fun and increase functional use of the vehicle.

 

I'm going to comment on this from a little different angle. I own both a stock 99 Miata and a 06 MCC. A lot of people on this board seem to compare a hard top MINI (usually an MCS) with a Miata and in that respect there is a big difference. The MCS is way faster but the hardtop is nothing like the convertible in open air feel even with a sunroof. The beauty of a Miata is you can ring the engine out and the MCC will give you a similar driving experience with the less powerful engine as compared to the S. I was concerned when I ordered my MCC that it would be way underpowered compared to my Miata, especially in the torque area. That turned out to be not the case at all. The standard Cooper engine and 5 speed Getrag tranny are perfectly matched and will actually pull better than the Miata and can be spooled up faster. The Miata is a fun little roadster but quite coarse and crude in comparison to a MINI. With the top up the MINI is quieter than many hardtops, no road and wind roar like the Miata. The MINI convertible will give you all the fun of a Miata but with a more refined drive and way more practicality.

 

I could go on for days about this, but i'll keep it short due to work commitments.

(for those of you form "over there", darth maulata here....)

I sold my DIY turbo 95 miata around thanksgiving 05 in order to buy my hardtop 06 MCS. I purchased the miata bone stock in 98 and proceeded through the Intake/header/exhaust route all the way through to the turbo (which is how i sold it in 05). Car also had ground controls, koni's light flywheel, roll bar, etc, etc, etc.....

My miata was faster than the stock MCS. I figure that the MCS gives about 80% of what the miata could do in acceleration. The miata just had an urgency about it....it liked to GO!

The handling of the miata was great...but with the extra power i was always a little timid with it....it would step out & bite you if you were not careful. After the turbo, i stopped driving it in foul weather, picked up a beater subaru for that stuff.

The problem with the miata, for me, was that by adding the turbo & the other stuff that I did, i really *engineered* the fun out of it. Sure, it was plenty fast, but i always had to worry about breaking another transmission, spinning, watching gauges, etc. It got to the point where you really could not just hop in & go. This wasn't terrible when i was single, but after getting married I (FINALLY) realized that there are other responsibilities & commitments in life. I really could no longer afford to spend a few hours a week keeping up with maintenance.

So, when we test drove the MCS when shopping for my wife's 05, i knew it was time. It was hard to sell my miata, but a huge relief once i did. The MCS just starts up & goes without a hassle, i can drive it on rain, snow whatever.

As for the power, I have an Alta Intake that I will be adding, and I will do a pulley once i get past break in. There is no way that I will take my MINI as far as i did with my miata, I just don't want that kind of hassle.

Comparing the two, the MINI is so much more refined than the NA chassis miatae (89-98). The NB (99-04) miatae are much more refined than the early cars, I have less exp with them. I would be curious to see ho the new car or the MazdaSpeed turbo cars stack up against the MCS. I thought about driving a new one before i went with the MCS, but decided against it.

Even though it is FWD (which I SWORE I would NEVER own) the MCS is just right. The right size, the right sound, the right power, everything. A lot like the miata, when you come to think about it. (well, of course, until you F with it!!!)

Anyway, I am sure that there will be a tinge of sadness when top down weather rolls back in, but at the same time, i'm sure i'll get over it. My miata did sunny, top down weather well, and not much more. The MCS does everything very well, including having some space for a few folks or some luggage.

All-in-all, i could not be happier with my MCS.

-jac

 

I love these threads asking about miatas/MINI's.
I had a 91 miata with quite a few things done to it. Intake, high flo cat, muffler, racing clutch/lightened flywheel, roll bar, blah blah. i LOVED that car. I can't even put into words how much fun that car was, and not a day went by that i didnt' drive it... except when it snowed. I lived in the middle of no where with a steep driveway. That didn't work out so well.

I ended up getting into an accident. I slid UNDER a 4dr Caddy one day in the sleet after i was cut off by someone trying to move over 3lanes instantly. My dad knew i was extremely upset about my miata, but thought it was unsafe for me. He told he'd feel much better if i bought the mini (that i'd wanted for years) and sold the miata. I ended up doing it, and miss the miata tremendously. It handled amazingly, and i loved the RWD. It had a cute zippy sounding exhaust, and the shifting was so tight and precise.

Now, i DONT have an MCS, so it's a bit more different. It still handles nice, but the shifting is so plush, and it's FWD. It's actually way too roomy for me. The miata was perfect... but i'm 4'11 and under 100 lbs. The MINI suits most people. You can fit a TON of stuff in the MINI, and i believe it's more efficient in that department than any other car i've ridden in.

The gas mileage is much better in the mini surprisingly... but it'd be different for an MCS.. Probably about the same mileage. Agreed they both handle on rails, and both just scream Drive Me!

BUT, i suggest if you have room to spare, hold onto your miata. You've had it this long, why not? Even hold onto it just for a little while. I wish i did. :(

edit: forgot to add NAM is a much nicer forum than miataforum... and the people are much more enthusiastic, nicer, and more comfortable about the car. I feel like most mini owners have an attractive fun personality, and you can go anywhere and a MINI owner welcomes you with open arms.

 

On October 31 last year, sold our '99 Miata (with auto tranny) and bought a 2006 MCS convertible. Due to the Chicago weather, we haven't had much of a chance to ride with the top down, but here's our thoughts so far:
1. Ride - Stock Miata is a softer ride
2. Handling - Mini is quicker (vis a vis Go-Kart); and don't try the Miata in snow
3. Acceleration - Mini is much quicker
4. Features - Mini is more sophisticated
5. Versatility - Mini can accommodate 4 average adults (tightly)
6. Cute factor - Mini gets the attention

 

Very well put darth.

Don't let the pointy heads over on M.net hear you say you like FWD. It'll throw them into a hissy fit. Man how I understand your coments about F ing with a nice car. I learned that lesson a while back, although I do lust after a supercharger for my Miata. Now that I have one on my MCS I think I'll be OK.

Chuck