DON'T Buy a Honda S2000 - The NC Miata is BETTER!

In this video I discuss why, although the S2000 is a much more powerful and special car - buying a Miata is the better choice. At least for most people... The S2000, while great, is aging, getting more and more expensive, and requires more sacrifice in that it is a one trick pony - it only performs incredibly at being a sports car, but not well at anything else. The Miata is similar, but because it was more mass marketed it has more features, more interior space, more storage, more availability, more customizability, and all of that with incredible driving dynamics, a convertible roof, and great manual transmission for HALF the price or less of an S2000.

I will say - as a second car the S2000 makes far more sense. But for those wanting a daily that they can affordably and easily buy the Miata does it better.

I love both cars, but ultimately my purchase says which I would choose. Let me know what you think?

0:00 Intro
1:05 Interior Comparison
2:20 Trunk Sizes
3:00 Convertible Tops
4:05 Exterior Looks
4:58 Engines
5:45 Driving the Miata
7:45 Driving the S2000
13:48 Conclusion

[vlenhoff]

FYI the NC Mx-5 is also a front-mid engine roadster as well. The very front of the engine ends at the front axle. The MX-5's engine has variable valve timing, similar to a v-tech engine. The higher it revs, the quicker it revs. Als0, the NC Mx-5 was not built from the ground up, it was derived from the RX-8. It is a shorter, lighter version of the RX-8 and it even shares some of its parts. The Miata has perfect weight distribution once the driver sits in it. You can perfectly balance the car in the middle. 2009+ NC miatas have forged internals, and it wasn't done for reliability, but for smoothness. This i is why so many turbocharge their NCs. I love the S2000, but I can never let go of my NC2.

[DriveFreedom]

You are spot on. I think the S2000 is a more serious car but given the fact they are getting more and more expensive, they are going to become garage ornaments in the near future.

[JJF]

The Miata is just more usable as a daily driver because of the torque. You really have to wring out the S2000 to get a lot out of it. It is definitely impressive as hell. Savageese said the S2000 was twitchier and scarier at the limit. He did own one I believe. I think the later models were much more stable than earlier models. I think you’re right though in your summation though. The S2000 is absolutely brilliant but for a much smaller percentage of people. The Miata is truly perfect for most everyone. Great video! I think you got both these cars down perfectly.

[cobie]

I had an S2000 from 2001 to 2005 (Silverstone w red leather), and I now drive a 2014 Miata GT 6-speed PRHT. I think your analysis is spot-on. The Honda was a great car, but I always felt disappointed driving it around town. It was great on highway on ramps and country roads, but I have more fun in my Miata. Like you said, it's just a little less serious and more playful. Plus the Honda had some reliability issues which I didn't expect, having owned Hondas before that. I can feel the lightness when I drive the Miata, and I don't feel like I'm really missing the extra power except on those on ramps. Also you're right about the shifter and clutch; the S2000 was the best I ever drove and I do miss that a little. Thanks for the vid and keep up the good work, as my Dad used to say.

[gibsonisthename]

standalone chassis like the miata and the s2000 provide for the BEST type of cars...they get to be 100% of what they were meant to be

[John-dumq]

Yup, please go buy the miatas. Stop clapping out the Honda

[SnoopiFL]

No comparison, S2000 is a far better car in every aspect. All things considered far more special car too there’s a reason the miata is half its price at half its price s2000 is still a bargain for what you get will eventually be a 6 figure car my opinion clean ones.

[Savorychicken]

I had two miata's and two s2000. But s2000 is way more special and better in my opinion. The only way to make the two more competitive is to k swap the nc miata's. The ND is a better comparison. But I agree with your review.

[anmol]

The trunk test had me cracking up 😂 well done I do love the S2K speedometer

[philspaghet]

I'm a S2000 owner and I am building mine into a track special but it's not going to end up being as hardcore as I would've liked. It's going to be a track day car instead of a competition car. The biggest problem is transmission parts availability. It's near impossible to rebuild a S2000 transmission from scratch the same way you can a Tremec or Miata trans. So S2000 owners basically have to either take care of the transmission, swap in used S2000 transmissions and hope for the best, or swap entirely and lose the Honda feel. Personally, I'm going to keep the S2000 transmission and track it as hard as I can because I bought it for $9k in 2018 and it's gonna still be my silly little $9k 9k track weapon :P

Parts are getting harder to find as time goes on but now is the time for me to be stockpiling key parts while they're still here. If you want a real track beater, get a Miata or a Mustang ;)

[endless_touge]

Miata is the Temu's version of the S2000 😮

[Skorpio]

The only reason anybody would ever choose a Miata is because they've never driven an S2000. I've driven both and used to own an AP1 S2000. In term's of "driving feel, " there's absolutely "no comparison!"

[marlo]

"There are no cupholders"
*shows a cupholder*

[danielkim]

Great video. I also like how you thought out your conclusion. Solid take. That S2000 does look really nice though! But I agree that the Miata is more car for your buck. Although, as an asset that goes up in value and delivers just as much fun, the S2000 is very appealing as well.

[GebreMMII]

Should I get an S2000? Found one for 23k near me with 60k miles. Only downsides for me are if it’s reliable to daily, and if it’s worth financing

[mikechau]

Ap2 owner, and my sister have an nd Miata. Although great car I will pick the s2000 every time . There’s no explanation other than how it makes me feel

[darkhorse]

13:49 Just look at them, the Miata looks good but the S2000 is completely on another level, the proportions of this car are perfect.

[rcmakingtracks]

Yep, nice video. I love my Mx5 nc2 kendo in mica black. Never selling it...

[repingers]

NGL jaw dropping when you put down the top and back up holy shit..

[jtnwwmq]

I always wanted an s2k but now that i finally have a job i cannot afford them anymore. So i bought myself an nc2. I fucking love the thing, i just wish the engine was smoother and more eager. A k20a would be perfect. Also the miata is much lighter than the S. I drove both and i prefer handling of the nc.