I think you're overestimating the role of focus groups. Automakers saw which trims of their sport cars sold in larger numbers and adjusted.

I think you may be underestimating the role they played in the 80's and 90's.

-Justin

I think its time the Korean automakers actually step up and do what the Japanese automakers of old did and produce some exciting cars. But Koreans by nature seem to be obsessed with numbers/specs and design rather than actually building a quality car.

The golden era of pencil thin a and b pillars with maximum visibility are gone :( Also bladder pump lumbar is sorely missed. Flip lights will never again be seen on a new car :(

I think it's a big opportunity for Hyundai and Kia. I think Hyundai should use the Genesis Coupe to be the alternative to american muscle and make a nice GT car. And then Kia should make a lighter sports car to be the FRS/BRZ fighter.

you dont know how much a miata costs do you?

Flip lights were just to comply with US laws requiring the use of those sealed-beam headlights.

Now the DOT will approve molded lights, so automakers don't need to find a way to fit those big rectangles without ruining the look of the car. I've owned several cars with flip-ups and I'm happier without them. By the time I got my hands on the cars, it was a roll of the dice every time I turned the lights on.

-Justin

Last I checked they started at 23k.

pretty close. i just dont understand how someone can say that the miata doesnt offer enough for its price and then go spend 25k on the frs.

It's just preference. There's plenty of Mustang/Camaro owners calling us buffoons for getting an FR-S/BRZ.

I don't care for a convertible, so there's one strike. It's lighter and less powerful, but still gets excellent fuel economy, the cabin is nice on the NC. I don't really like the fascia, they've looked like they have a smiley face since the NA. Year ago I wanted to buy an NB, and I still consider them the most attractive Miata.

When it came to the 3K difference, I thought it was worth it for a slightly more powerful car, a hard top (sure I could get the hard-top convertable, but that starts at $28k). The back seats, while arguably useless, have already been used a handful of times for me. The trunk space is gigantic in comparison, no 'girl car' stigma, and a first-year car, unlike the Miata which is one of the best selling sports cars of all time, meaning they're infinitely more common, for now.

It was a contender when I was looking for a new car, but I just felt the FR-S/BRZ had much more to offer at the same price point. The Gen Coupe was another one I was looking at, but it was just too hideous on the outside to stomach.

Not saying the Miata is a 'bad' car, or that it "doesn't offer enough for its price", but I thought the FR-S was a better all-around value. If the Miata was in the 18-20k range, I would have given it more consideration; it was one of the few cars where I felt like the Cabin was designed specifically for me (FR-S gave me these feels too).

sorry, but I don't get what this means in context of what you had previously quoted

can you see why im confused? its fair to say its not what you want but i dont think its fair to say it too expensive considering that it is probably the most affordable car that does what it does

I kind of think we're getting there again. The American big 3 brought the fire back to the muscle car market, Hyundai has pumped out the Genesis, the Miata has stayed relatively constant through all three generations, you have two great sports car from Subaru, the Ford Focus and Fiesta STs, the Mazda Speed3, and of course the Volkswagon GTI. I gotta tell you, I had a heck of a time settling on which car I was going to buy. I was tempted by them all.