[wbradley]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

I think you're right... there simply isn't one. I've driven Miatas, including some pretty "built" ones, and an S2000. Given the driving I do and the skills I have (or lack thereof), I actually enjoyed the stock Miatas more than the ones built for racing. The S2000 was a blast to drive. My stock '13 FRS doesn't have that last 5% "I'm driving a PURE sports car" feel, maybe, but it's still a LOT of fun and certainly feels like a sports car in handling and layout.

And... I drive it all year round in the snow/salt belt of Syracuse.
And.. I use it for gigging, loading a full 88-key heavy keyboard, an SWR Workingman 12 amp, a smaller amp, crate with cords, throne, keyboard stand, music stand, mic stands, blah blah blah in it.
And.. my wife and I tent camp in it, loading a fairly large tent, cooler, stove, and enough other gear to have a great time in the OBX for a week or two.
And ... I take my wife and my Kelpie to local establishments for fun, foam, and frolic frequently in it.

None of those things are possible with a miata or S2000 (well, with snows, winter driving would work, although parking outside in the snow belt with a soft top to clear off would concern me.. but none of the hauling stuff).


And.. when I'm not doing any of that... it's still a fun, cheap, manual, RWD sports car. It's that WHEN I'm doing all of that.

Nothing else can do all of that. I admit I was a little disappointed when my 325i finally got eaten by salt, and I couldn't another one that wasn't ridiculously priced (was looking for an E36 specifically). "Settled" for the FRS, even though I'd never heard of it, because it popped up when I was searching specifically for RWD/manual. Enjoyed the test drive and figured it'd do, but wasn't as hooked then as I am now, 70K miles and six years later.

I will buy another one when this one finally succumbs to our winters. It'll be a while.

So now I know you are a jazz keyboardist. I used to work with Oscar Peterson's daughter-in-law.

I'm an amateur drummer but only on practice pads for the past 30 or so years. Took swing lessons when I had my last kit so I can definitely appreciate the genre, whether it's bebop or any other type. I actually had Glen Miller music blasting through the house for a couple of hours yesterday. Gotta love it! But I gotta love more abstract artists like Miles Davis too. Guys like that appear once in a century.

Chic Corea RIP