Alfa Spider vs. MGB vs. TR6 vs. Miata | Which One Should You Buy?

We took an early Miata, Alfa Spider, MGB, and Triumph TR6 out on the road to compare and see what one takes the crown as the ultimate classic roadster.

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[martininsf]

Alfa, , no doubt! I've driven a '78 Spider...into my 5th decade now! (since 1986). Everything about the car fits perfectly, for me...mid sized person. You're at the beautiful cockpit of an intelligently put together moving machine that require all limbs to control and direct, you feel as one and together experience the joy of driving together. Arms reach, at a glance, casual cruise that can get sexy too, I've removed my not-needed rear view mirror to open fully the view (why restrict that?). I love that all the gauges are surrounded by chrome, and that they all actually measure something! The gearbox is smooth, not bothersome in the city, and clearly conveys "I'm a sports car" when on open windy roads. Incredible value to cost to joy to frustration ratio over 37 years; just one of dozen things of internal giddiness of getting to have one of these beauties. Before choosing the Alfa, I'd investigated and driven the others - MG too tiny, same with the Triumphs and T and Fiats had bad reputations repairwise. The littler cars were cute, but for me didn't also "double" as a regular everyday car, where I can load a ton of stuff in the trunk and the dog behind the seats (still doing that today). The fuel injected Italian Alfa was a clear choice when I was 20, it's still working out. Love this car!

[gregkimura]

I've been a subscriber to Classic Motorsports magazine for many years. The articles they have a fantastic. In fact, I remember an article about the guys buying a S2 Spider and driving it thousands of miles home. I owned a few Spiders at the time, but the furthest I had driven one was about 50 miles. So I bought a 1973 from a gentleman near Rochester, NY and proceeded to drive her across country - in July! We took our time and had a great vacation! In fact, we had such a good time, we did the same thing a couple years later with a 1971 Spider - this time in New Jersey!

The guys at Classic Motorsports cleaned up some things on their S2 and they wrote about the upgrades. Fantastic!!! These guys pick a car and spend a lot of time making the car right - all chronicled in issues of the magazine.

I recommend any car guy to take a look. It's a classic car magazine written by car guys! You gotta love it!

[DavidM-mbvx]

Alfa by a country mile. Gorgeous design, twin cam aluminum engine, 4 wheel discs. All have their own virtues but Viva Italia.

[estban]

I owned a triumph and an Alfa. Had a girlfriend with an MG which I often drove and a friend with a miata. None compare to the Alfa. Power, handling, and comfort the Alfa is way above. I remember the first time I drove the Alfa having had experienced only with Mgs and Triumphs I was blown away as to the power the Alfa had. It didn't seem like any 4 cylinder engine I had drove before. The closest comparison was to a V8. With Weber carbs the Alfa is that powerful.

[twomustangs]

Next year I will have owned my '91 Miata 20 years. I've had a blast driving, upgrading, and generally owning it. I'll turn over 200K within the week. This car is fun, reliable, and I've loved owning it. Drive a Miata and the shifters on those other cars feel like broom handles. You can't beat that gearbox.
Wouldn't trade, but I would make some room in the garage for an Alfa. Those things are gorgeous.

[hotchkissart]

A Chrome bumper MGB is much more "timeless" than the later ones.

[geraldbly]

What a great group of cars! I don’t think any one of these cars could be considered a “best pick.” They all have their high and their low points. Having driven an Alfa and a Miata they are both very enjoyable and more modern roadsters. In high school I always wanted a TR6 because they seem so muscular and raw. I currently own an MG identical to the one in your test( I’ve owned several) and find them to be great, affordable rides. I really think you can’t go wrong with either of these cars. Once you put the top down and feel the wind in your hair as you drive down a windy road, all that matters is that you are enjoying the experience of driving a roadster. There is no better driving experience. Great video, thank you!

[chrisadams]

The MGB is my choice, mum gave me her 74 B GT chrome bumper car which she bought in 1977.
I'm gradually restoring it, the most surprising thing is the performance.
It's completely standard and ran very badly.
I've stripped and rebuilt the carbs, it ran better, still not great, checked the ignition timing which should be 12 degrees before TDC, it was actually set to 10 degrees after TDC.
It now goes like a jet and with a stainless exhaust with very small first silencer sounds fantastic.
People I take out for a drive are amazed by it.
And this is the point I'm trying to make.
Many classic cars are in a very bad state of tune because mechanics now do not know how to adjust and tune them.
When Mum gave it to me Dad said, "the steering is really heavy, I cant understand it.
I greased the 6 nipples and the steering is now really light.
I think the garage dad took it to for 30 years didn't posses a grease gun.
They certainly did not know how to adjust the valve clearances.
They'd fitted some new components like a water pump and a fuel pump and a radiator but missed lots of things .

[andrewp]

Between the years 1973 and 1981, I owned a TR4, a TR5 PI, and a TR6 PI here in the UK. I currently own a '93 MX5 ( Miata ).
The MX5 is clearly the more advanced, particularly in the chassis/suspension area, compared to the TR6 here. I've never driven an MGB or an Alfa Spider. Apart from anything else, certainly back then, the Alfa was out of my price range, I didn't like the looks, and I viewed it as vaguely a car for girls. The favourite for me amongst these 4 would always be the TR6. The sound of a straight six does it for me, and the fair amount of low down grunt. Like most 16 valvers, in the MX5 nothing much happens till 4000 rpm.

The guys in the video, like most dealers and traders, have great interest in talking up how prices will go on the MIata. In reality, apart from these, for decent, OK, MX5 Mk1's, (other than the beautiful, always garaged, drooled over by their doting owners who never drive them in a spot of rain..., cars.) .., prices will take a long time to go up significantly. Like the MGB, there was just too many of them built.

[kevinharper]

I enjoyed reading the story and watching the video, as an Alfa collector I was pleased with your analysis. It is kind of funny that when the Alfa was new it was regarded as a not very good looking car and the styling was derided as boring and kitschy. How times change and the design is now considered classic and the most valuable one is the round tail which earned the spider the nickname cuttlefish. I think you tested one of the best years I own both a Duetto and a 74 Kamm tail and the Kamm tail is really better resolved and has a lot of design improvements.
I have several Alfa's and enjoy them but I will say a Fiat 124 gives it a solid run for the money and looks are subjective but an early chrome bumper 124 has more than a hint of 275 GTS in the design is a nice looking car.
I do wish you had thrown in a bigger wild card, a Lotus Elan, A Lancia Scorpion or Chevy Corvair. I think the Corvair would have been a good choice of something just a little different.

Oh next time go for something smaller Fiat x1/9 or 850, MG midget, Triumph spitfire, Honda S800 and maybe a Crosley hotshot

[richardcarter]

I've owned them all. A 1750 spyder for 10 years, MGB, a couple of MX5's and still own a TR6. The Alfa was pretty and I wish I kept it. They're all great. I've still got a TR6 because it goes great, is tough, fun and makes a great noise. Any of them are special though and way better than any EV ever will be.

[ericcriteser]

I've owned three Miatas and three MGBs. I own two MGBs now. A '64 and a '77. Wonderful cars.

[LeopoldoNotarianni-rkvv]

Not comparable directly when they were new was an understatement.
The MGB was upper working class/lower Middle class with the Midget being below that.
The Sunbeam Alpine could rival both the MGB and the Triumph TR whereas the V8 Tiger version was comparable to the later MGC or arguably the Volvo, Alfa Romeo Spyder on a performance basis of not finish. Certainly the sports offering from Rootes Group was a robust and well built car and with the V8 it gave performance in abundance.
The Triumph TR was definitely well etched as a middle class sportscar. Above an MG clearly.
The Lotus Elan, Alfa Romeo Spyder and the Volvo "The Saint" was clearly upper middle class.
Alvis, Aston Martin, Facel, Porsche 911, Maserati and Ferrari were upper class.
The Jaguar E type was lower upper class. Above the Alfa Romeo, Volvo etc but very slightly below the Aston Martin, Alvis, Facel, Maserati.
Mercedes-Benz SL "Pagoda" or 190SL were upper class as was the Mercedes-Benz 300SL.
This may seem irrelevant today but at that time it was a very distinct way of working out the hiararchy of the sports car on the English Sports Car Market in the sixties.
My personal favourites would be the Alfa Romeo Spyder, Lancia Flaminia Spyder, Mercedes-Benz 300SL, Maserati or but I'd definitely be tempted to a Pagoda.
I do love the Jag and the Triumph not only for their charming British styling and charm but also for their sophisticated mechanicals.
For the dollar, the Alfa Romeo Spyder was by far the best value performance Sports Car at that time, which provided the wheel heeled buyer a performance standard within and sometimes exceeding the upper class sportscars and making a mockery of the performance limitations of its direct rivals and the offerings marketed beneath them. Handling, cornering were world class. The hooded instrument cluster in the Kamm Tail was difficult to better as was the charm of the rear end styling of it's predecessor, the Duetto.
Certain colours enhance the appeal of The sportscars. Silver or Silver Grey or Gunmetal Grey or Argent looks fantastic on the Aston Martin, Jaguar, Facel, Maserati and Lancia. The Red is most suited to the Alfa Romeo Spyder, MGB, Sunbeam Alpine and in a darker shade, the Triumph TR. British Racing Green appeals most on the Triumph and Jaguar. White or Light Silver is most desirable on any Mercedes-Benz SL. Gold looks superb on many of the upper class sportscars.

[mgbsandotherstuff]

Funny thing, I always notice that very few Miata drivers give a wave while most MGB drivers and other classic cars owners do. I like the Miata very much and have always thought it would be nice to own one for an everyday driver.

[jacopofbargellini]

I have that Alfa since 25 years and every time i open the garage door it takes my breath away

[albertfroggett]

Can't beat a 1974 MGB with over drive . But would take anyone of the four . The B is a great car to get into the hobby . Eazy to work on and great parts availability.

[VirtualGuth]

Of these cars I find myself torn between the Alfa and the Triumph (though I also really like the older chrome bumper MGB's). Of course the Miata's have their benefits as noted in the video and relatively speaking they'll always be the great inexpensive alternative given the production numbers. The reality is that I could have plenty of fun driving any of these cars — with the top down whenever possible of course. I love roadsters and am grateful for all of these cars.

[jakobmarley]

There really is existing only one, the Alfa Romeo Duetto/Spider, he has the most intensive character, 2nd the Triumph and the rest nevermind.

[bobbyread]

I have an NA Miata, and TR6 and would love to get an Alfa Spider one day.

[alastairwatson]

I’d have any of them, to be honest. But I wouldn’t sell my X1/9 to make room for one, either!