Drive one....and if you don't feel the 718 is an upgrade, I'll eat my hat.

 

This is what I want I want to hear!

I understand its partly an emotional thing, but what would you say makes it better?

 

The entire package is an upgrade, regardless of engine, transmission, and pretty much all the other bits. Seriously, search this forum and you'll find many comments from those who arrived post MX5....and some who currently have both.

 

So . . . I did just this. I had a 2021 Miata RF, and this past Friday I moved to a 2019 Boxster GTS. Is it an upgrade? If I'm being 100% honest, it's not so much an "upgrade" as a move into a different category, but it also depends on what you're looking for. It's a higher quality vehicle with more power and more bells and whistles. So along these lines it's an upgrade for sure. But the thing about the Miata is you can drive it in the twisties at 8 or 9/10ths and not worry about getting in too much trouble (either with the car or with the law). Not so with the 718. Taking the 718 up to the edge is something that should only be done on track (unless you're a ridiculously skilled driver, and even then you probably should stay closer to 6 or 7/10ths). So if you want to push your car to its limits without going on track, I'd say stick with the Miata. Otherwise - get yourself a 718.

 

Drive a 718 back to back with your MX5 if you can. MX5 is great car in it own right. I think couple members have both a MX5 and a 718.

Here's a thread from one owner's perspective.

https://www.718forum.com/threads/a-few-days-with-a-miata-nd2.31370/#replies

 

Thanks' I am really seeking positive confirmation as I sort of know I already want to make the switch

This is even more circumstantial - but do think the 718 makes a decent enough daily driver too?

In the UK we call people who drive the MX5 'hairdressers' and people who drive porsche's 'knobheads'. So you see its a difficult decision in more way than one.

 

I know nothing about the Miata. But I wouldn't worry about what people say. People will say, make fun of, complain, etc. on any and all topics. Especially online. Drive what makes you happy.

 

I drove an MX-5 for three years and liked it quite a bit but hated that it was so slow. My 718 is twice the car and I no longer worry about moms in SUVs thrashing me at every stoplight.

 

As a previous NC owner. I loved rowing through the gears without feeling like I was breaking the law. The 718 gears are really long, I miss that the most. Both shifters are great though. If I had a ND, I would probably think long and hard.

Just my 2 cents.

 

As a previous NC owner. I loved rowing through the gears without feeling like I was breaking the law. The 718 gears are really long, I miss that the most. Both shifters are great though. If I had a ND, I would probably think long and hard.

Just my 2 cents.

This is a great point. Around town you may not shift past 3rd gear in a 718, whereas you'd easily get to 4th or 5th in the ND Miata.

 

I just (been 30 days) went from a 23 BRZ to a 25 CGTS 4.0... not exactly the comparison you wanted, but somewhat relevant. The BRZ has more power than an ND (weighs a little more too)... also has short gears, great Fun/$$ ratio (sorry Fun/£), and loses every drag race. In short, it is a fantastic 600cc sport bike. The CGTS has far more power, better everything, and feels every bit of a 1000cc superbike.... yes, an entirely different category both in feel and in price. (Roughly 3x the price for 2x the car... but things are non-linear in the car world!)

My big worries were 1) Nose dragging on bumps and driveways (didn't happen) and 2) Looong gears. The latter just isn't true in my experience. My CGTS is happily in 4th gear around town (where the BRZ was in 5th with its short legs)... All my concerns melted away on the drive home from the dealerships... what stayed with me was the wow factor!

I am (still) keeping the BRZ as it is too fun to part with... and the Porsche has perhaps a little too high a profile for all errands. Perhaps this is entirely my perception and no one cares....

 

A Cayman is an excellent choice for a daily driver. I bought a 718 Spyder 2 years ago as my daily driver replacement for my then 17-year old Pontiac Solstice. The Solstice just won't die (252k miles) so I've got the perfect situation where I have 2 daily drivers. I take out the Spyder when the weather is good and no salt on the roads and I drive the Solstice through all weather conditions.
I've never been in a Miata, but I can say the feel of the cabin of the 718 and Solstice are very similar. But it's the insane performance of the 718 that will keep a smile on your face while you're driving it, as well as when you're looking at it.

 

@GT500 went from an ND BBS Edition to a Cayman S. He would be be able to give you his thoughts too. I love the Miata, but for me, it's not really a good comparison. There are a lot of little details about the Cayman that I like more. The seats are better, especially the sports plus, the screen placement is not on top of the dash, it is lower, the clutch engagement is firmer and more positive than the Miata. The size is nice on the Miata, but the top of head would periodically tough the roof crossbar and I'm only 5'10". Even the 2L Cayman gives you some serious push when it's on the boost. They are both going for similar people, especially the base Cayman/Boxster but there is a difference. On the con's for the Cayman, service and parts are more expensive so you have to really appreciate the subtle quality things to make the higher operating costs make sense to you. It's like a tell most of my friends that want and old E46. If they can't tell the difference in steering feedback, brake modulation, nor care about weight, manual gearboxes, they will be miserable replacing the expansion tanks, switches, trim and other things that regularly fail. For me, the cars drive in a special way, that for me the extra cost is worth the time and money. Make sure that the goodness in the Cayman/Boxster is worth a bit more in operating costs is my main thought.

 

At 6’4” I fit in the Cayman but I don’t in a Miata, unless the top is down. Unfortunately that is were the comparison stops.

 

I test drove the Miata, personally I felt ridiculous in it. Truly a ridiculous vehicle for someone my height. I felt like my head was sticking out. Not me, but this is how it felt in it:

The Cayman should feel like an upgrade, but “feel” is subjective.

 

I love this photo! I am a small man so no problems for me. With cars at least!

 

You’re really talking a day and night comparison. Two totally different classes of cars. Miata’s are known for decent handling but the power plant, from a sports car perspective, has been woefully anemic for decades. The best analogy is an old one, a VW beetle vs a Ferrari, that’s how different the two are.

 

Ouch... I dunno man... if Qualcomm was still open for our old autocrosses, I would encourage you to bring your pink slip to San Diego and put your Cayman on the line against some of our autocrossing Miatas... I would be there for you to give you a ride home too...just in case.

These eyes have seen Miatas do things on an autocross course with that "woefully anemic" engine. I have gone to porta-potty at Qualcomm to hide in shame as my 335 HP M car was humiliated by more than one of these, even with me on Michelin Cup tires.

I love my Cayman and prefer it to the Miata, but just saying, the gap between an Beetle and a Ferrari is way too far in my most humble opinion.

 

In my opinion the MX-5 is truly a great looking car. I even like the Mazda Soul Red Crystal Metallic better than my Carmine Red and that is saying a lot.

If comparing the MX-5 to a Base Boxster consider this:

• MX-5 > 13 Lbs/Hp / Boxster = 10 Lbs/HP (much bigger difference if buy S or a GT)
• The MX-5 will cost less than half the Boxster (most likely <$45K vs. ~>$110K) if equipped as is my 2019 base Boxster and inflated (per CPI) to today's Dollar.

I listed only these two items because I think these two items, by themselves, make the statement that they are two entirely different cars and impossible to compare by anyone other than the specific person buying a car.

 

Hi

I did that exact move here in the UK. Had a 2017 mx5 ND recaro edition for 3 years - absolutely loved it despite having cars with much more power, ive always liked to have a fun convertible in the fleet.

The mx5 was small - im 6ft 1 but didnt find it to be a big issue - but nimble with quite comfy suspension. I sold it during covid when prices offered were crazy!

Post covid, i missed having a convertible so much i located a 2.0L boxster 718 with low mileage
and took the plunge.

The 718 is a different class to the mx5. Bigger, more power, more refined and feels more like a car than a weekend toy(both positive and negative TBH).

Its defo an upgrade on the ND mx5 - but i honestly dont have a bad word to say about the mazda at all - -it was ace!!

 

Great taste you have , always like the Sport Recaro MX5 still one of the best looking MK5s, and Boxster in yellow whats not to love

 

It’s a tough choice, but as said above they are very different cars and I love them both. I think which one you choose comes down to few things. Some of the following may seem a bit harsh but best to say as I find (had the car 4+ years).

Costs – You probably know all this but may help. The 718 is an expensive car to maintain, my car is a Jan 17 Base 2.0 and my recent service at Porsche (with no additional work and a clean bill of health) and 12months Warranty extension was around £2.5k. If you want to keep the Warranty valid (in the UK anyway) you can only use OEM Parts including N rated Tyres, OEM Battery etc … everything. MPG pretty good for a 300bhp car especially on a run. Insurance is very reasonable as well.

Where you live/drive – I live on the South Coast and do quite a bit of town driving. As mentioned by others, to me the gearing especially 1st to 2nd is long BUT you get used to them and forget about it completely after a while. The 718 is the only car I have stalled when pulling away that I can remember and I did it a couple of times when I first got the car, I don’t think the Stop/Start helped to be honest. My car gets a lots of attention added by the colour, mostly as far as I know good, it also sounds pretty good in sport mode with a few gently pops and rumbles. If you regularly park somewhere where you wouldn’t want to be worrying about your car while away from it, its possibly not the best choice. Drive the car on a sweeping country road and its pretty impossible to beat and quite fast enough, its also really comfortable surprising as I have 20” wheels. If you are mainly driving in a town environment I would have more fun in an MX5 I think, smaller, nippier, snappy gearchange etc.

Mine has PASM so is lowered by 10mm, not an issue on speed humps round here or my relatively steep drive (if I am careful) but I can’t take the car into the Office as the underground car park is just too steep, so it wouldn’t be practical as my only car.

Quality – now bear in mind my car is a Jan 17 car. The interior is still as new, perfect not a mark and everything works as it should. Foibles, I don’t like the way that the tail and headlights mist up on a regular basis, apparently it is normal, just looks terrible IMO. The passenger seatbelt clip needs to be pushed right up to the top when not in use or it knocks. I have had a couple of odd things happen, the electronic handbrake wouldn’t disengage and I had a few odd dashboard messages that never reoccurred and I assume didn’t show up when Porsche scanned the car – check left tail light, check right tail light. But both were fine. I wonder if this was caused by low battery and the car not be used for 2 weeks – no idea, but all ok now. Everyone has their own thoughts but I wouldn’t own one without the Warranty just incase.

Perhaps I am on the only one that finds this annoying but oddly that when you wash the car the water gets under the hood and sits on the plastic trim surrounding the Frunk, not an issue if you remember to open the Hood at the end of every wash and wipe over, but does seem like an odd design, my 987 Cayman was the same.

Good luck with whatever you decide no bad choice.

 

Well summarised

Ah the 718 misting light feature and the odd electrical gremlin - wish those options had not been ticked on mine too

 

Test

 

Hi ya...I currently run both a NC MX5 and a 718 Cayman and they are different animals but both are superb cars. 718 is not an upgrade to a MX, it's a completely differing beast...more power, better equipped, more refined....just more "grown up"!....However I would not get rid of my MX as folks have said above you can enjoy more of it....if that makes sense?
7000 revs in 3rd is fun in the MX...in the 718 it's licence loosing!.....
Cheers

 

Thanks

 

Miata is a nice, nimble small car which you can daily and make weekend trips. I sold my 2016 ND three years ago and now I’m enjoying a GT Silver Cayman T. I will spare my words on the pros and cons of the both cars, but, the few things I miss from the ND is the open top experience and the maintenance cost. What I like about my Porsche is the comfort, agility, and practicality. Last summer me and my wife made a 6-day trip from the Black Sea all the way up to the western part of Austria and back (some 3 500 km tirp) along the coast line of Danube River, and It was great, when the same trip with the Miata would cost me my back and I would probably do it alone, as my wife couldn’t stand the long trips in the Miata(noise and the cramped space were the main complains). If you can afford the Porsche, just get it. Simply, It is a better car then the Mazda.

 

This hits the nail on the head of the reasons I am considering the 718.

Am more comfortable but still fun ‘touring’ car is exactly what I want for European trips etc.

Also have the problem with the moaning partner in the MX5. But to be fair they would probably moan about the Porsche too.

 

I have a BGTS 4.0 and the wife as a ND MX-5 both are only used spring to autumn
we are in both owners clubs and go to most events and really enjoy the cars. I love driving the Mazda
but as the wife both agree the Porsche is in another league.

 

I owned an NC Miata for 10 years. Taught both daughers to drive in it, and did a ton of track days and autocrosses in it (including a few with my youngest daughter). I've driven an ND a few times - both in soft top and RF guise. I've also been fortunate to own a 997.2 911 C2S, and currently a CGTS4.0.

The Miata is a toy, plain and simple! It's a blast when tooling around running errands with the top down. It's quick but not fast. You can drive it 8/10th on the street and have a good fun, especially on on-ramps and off-ramps. But it's a terrible long-distance cruiser! I'd wear noise-canceling headphones when driving the 2-4 hours to do track days.

The Porsche is in another category entirely! It does everything well, as you'd expect given the price. But is it more fun when tooling around town alone? I'd argue that it's not. But it's so well put together, while being both fast and comfortable. It's truly special. And, it's safer for sure than a Miata. But in a perfect world, I'd probably own both. Toys are fun!

 

This Miata V6 video dropped a week ago

I wish I had a Miata too as the local runabout car, but as I can only have one car, the 718 is definitely the one.

 

Luxury and build quality aside which are obviously excellent on the 718, MX5 is unmatched for learning to push a car due to how progressive it's characteristics are. All that body roll and the softer suspension with highly telegraphed limit of grip make it really easy to learn to drive with your feet. Once you've built that skill the 718 offers a whole other experience with it's mid engine layout and far stiffer chassis that demands you understand those dynamics that the MX5 taught you as it will offer you less obvious feedback about it's limit and is a bit more prone to snap oversteer for those reasons while offering you an incredibly communicative steering rack and what feels like almost unlimited grip.
I still see the 718 as a momentum car, even at the GTS 4.0 trim I have, but one with a lot more power and drama. Zero regrets on this purchase for me!

 

All that body roll and the softer suspension with highly telegraphed limit of grip make it really easy to learn to drive with your feet. Once you've built that skill the 718 offers a whole other experience with it's mid engine layout and far stiffer chassis that demands you understand those dynamics that the MX5 taught you

You mean far stiffer suspension of the 718. Chassis (btw unibody in both cars) is already good and stiff with the MX5 ND.

 

I almost got the Cayman instead of the Boxster because the wife already has a PRHT Miata Club and I didn't much care for it with the top down. Glad I changed my mind, because the Boxster with the top down is a completely different experience - wind, driving noise, vibrations, the sound of the engine - all of these are pluses for me in the 718, but were distracting minuses in the MX-5. I recently got some sound deadening material for the floor of the Miata to try to improve that a little.

For me, as much as I love driving it, I do not use the 718 as a to/from work, sit-out-in-the-weather all day kind of vehicle, but the wife for sure uses the Miata for that.

 

A Cayman is ALWAYS a good idea.