[Deslock]

Originally Posted by Marrk

How is 2700 lbs. "lightweight"?

It's all relative. It's the lightest 2+2 RWD car we've seen in a long time.

Originally Posted by pastuch

NA Miata for life... My favorite car of all time based on sportyness-per-dollar. 2100 pounds of awesome. My Miata is 21 years old and everything still works like it did when it was new. We paid $19000 Canadian for it in 1990. That car is magic. 140hp never felt so terrific.

This.

Originally Posted by Blokatos

As a Miata owner, I can see the comparison but if Toyota got it right, GT 86 will be a better car overall.

On the plus side there are:
- More power and more torque. Miata critics always complaint about the car being way too underpowered for the potential of the chassis.
- A boxer engine. It is very important on many things. Linear delivery, smoothness of operation, more rev happy.
- Coupe body. More rigidity which helps handling and more safety. Long distance cruising also will be more quiet and more comfortable. Ask Miata owners about road noise in long trips...
- 2 more seats. For those who want only one car, it is quite important, even if the rear seats are a bit small and suitable for smaller people and/or children.
- Bigger boot. Adds to the total practicality/usability of the car.
-Low center of gravity. A primary goal of every suspension/chassis designer/engineer. Keeping low solves many problems for the dynamics of the car.
- Performance. Both top speed and acceleration will be better than the Miata and this makes the sport feeling enhanced.

On the minus side there are:
- Front suspension. Struts are a compromise for the boxer engine to fit although the rear tilting forward lower arm may be a good feature giving the car a "wishbone" feel.
- Larger dimensions. Miata's agility cannot be matched by a larger car no matter how well setup it is.
- Weight penalty. Weight is the holy grail of fun to drive cars, actually of all cars. You cannot change laws of physics.

There are both rwd sport cars with Torsen diffs aimed at those looking for driving fun, to those who want to control the car themselves and not by electronic gadgets.
Ultimately it is a trade off between agility and practicality/usability. It remains to be seen if the Toyota has that special feeling when you are behind the wheel, that rare connection you get by being one with the machine. Miata has it in tons. No press kit, no spec can tell you that. This is something each and everyone of us will find out when eventually we will drive the car.

I am not going to sell the Miata. I want to buy the GT 86 and give the Miata to the wife (she loves it). If GT 86 is even close to how the Miata drives and feels, then...Toyota take my money too.

The FT86 produces less lbf*ft per lb than the NC (nothing I'm concerned about, but noteworthy since you mentioned engine torque as an FT86 advantage).

I'd also add the FT86's longer wheelbase to your list of disadvantages (it'll help with high speed stability, but will make the car a little less exciting at low speeds).

Likewise, I consider the FT86's fixed rood both advantageous (for the reasons you mentioned) and disadvantageous (the MX5 is awesome with the top up, but even more awesome with the top down).

Having written that, I will almost certainly sell my NB. I adore it, but I don't drive enough miles to justify having two cars, nor do I have enough time to turn it into a track toy. The FT86 probably wont be quite as exhilarating, but should still be fun. I need more than 2 seats and I figure it's as close to the MX5 as I can get.