For those of you that have driven the s2000/ Miata and sat in/ driven the frs/brz how does it compare? Just trying to get an idea cause the nicest one I've driven is a 5th generation mustang, 4th generation GLI, and a 2nd generation RSX.

S2k was the best one, the worst one for me was the old GC coupe. And to the question above technically they are the same transmission with minor changes so it might be hard to tell. At least for me it wasn't that different. Can't tell you for sure I've only been in automatic BRZ.

Short throws, but goddamn is that transmission NOTCHY. Miata is like shifting through butter or honey compared to that.

Reviews have called the brz's tranny notchy. I'm sorta noob when it comes to manuals so how is that bad?

To be clear, I was talking about the Mustang transmission. My opinion was that it took a lot of effort to shove the gear change into gear, whereas the NA Miata didn't really require effort, it just slid into gear very smoothly.

cars in manual I've driven (cars with asterisk I own or have owned):
FC*, FD, RX-8, S13*, S2K AP1, NC miata, DC integra, DA integra, 02 WRX, Mazdaspeed 6, EK civic*, chevy cobalt ss, 08 bmw 328i (and 328xi), 4th gen prelude, CR-Z*

out of those, the best probably were the RX-8, the Miata, and the AP1s. Real direct and crisp feel.

Hated the MS6 though. Clutch felt like I was stepping in jelly and the shifter throw was like an old Jeep.

Hey, Dadhawk, you think you're old? My first car back in highschool was a '31 Model A Ford roadster. Totally non-synchronized transmission. Double clutch going both up and down through the gears. The skill in matching engine speed came in handy a few years later in college when the clutch linkage on my 544 Volvo crapped out and I had to shift without the benefit of a clutch. Looking forward next year when I get back to the States in picking up a good ol' back-to-basics FR-S and enjoying driving as it was meant to be.

For me...

• Best -- Honda S2000 (AP2), Acura NSX (MY 2000), Mazda Miata (NC, both 5-speed and 6-speed)
  
• Really good -- Acura RSX, Honda Accord 6-speed, BMW 330i (E46), BMW M3 (E90), Audi R8 V8
  
• Good -- Porsche 911 C4S (996), Porsche Cayman S, Audi A3
  
• Meh -- Infiniti G37, Nissan 350z, Hyundai Genesis Coupe 6-speed, Scion tC (1st gen), Nissan NX2000, Subaru WRX (GD), VW Jetta (A4)
  
• Ugh -- Audi A4 (B5), Audi S4 (B5), 1960s VW Beetle

So far my favorite was between my moms MRS or my old 944 Turbo S.

The MRS gears are so close and I LOVE it. Its also very smooth.

The Turbo S I had, well with the OEM transmission cooler, LSD, tranny in the rear, and a top speed of 162, it could take, and was made for a nice beating!

Miata NC and father's 911 - latter was longer throw but amazing. Of course so was the whole expereince of driving it.

VW Golf was the best I have driven

1. Acura NSX
2. S2000

I'd say the RX-8 is good... but it feels notchy compared to an S2000. I drove a 996 GT3 a few times too, and the shift action and clutch feel was just as good, maybe even slightly better than the S2000. Never drove them side by side for comparison though.

friends 400rwhp lotus :D