So I recently sold my Lotus Elise for a 2009 R3, which I love. And I'm enjoying this forum very much...

On to the bribe, my wife wants me to do something I don't want to do and she has offered to buy me a less practical sportscar to compliment the R3. There is a 2005 mazdaspeed miata available for my budget, but she thinks I should get something totally different and old.
I think it would be cool to have a Black RX8 and a Black Mazdaspeed MX5, she thinks it would be cool to get a real old car like an MG or Alfa Romeo.

This is a great problem to have, what would you guys do?

 

I can't say as I'm not familiar with either car, but older does not always equal better.

Btw that wife of yours have any sisters as cool as her? :p

 

In this case, older is really not better. An old european car is slow and requires a lot of maintenance, but they have looks and character. On the other hand the Turbo Miata is a lot faster and should run well for years to come, it's just very similar to what I already have.

Thanks for the compliment on the wife.

 

I dont get it... that's not a bribe... go google "bribe"... also your dilemma makes no sense.

 

Unless he hasn't really told us what his wife wants him to do:
Personally, I really like the character and style of older roadsters, but I wouldn't get an MG over a MS Miata.

 

I say get something radically different!

You've already got the RX-8... and I'm assuming you're not going to drive the new car THAT often, so reliability should not be you're determining factor..

Nothing is sexier then an Alfa from the 70's!

 

I call BS on this, compared to other cars of the same age!
You should try an old fiat x1/9 which is amazing to drive but i don't know if you have them there. They're also bulletproof with an engine that can home-maintained for free or even less
I would go for a toyota though, an mark I mr2... but that's me, and i love that car.
I mean, it's rear engined, rwd and fun to drive and will accept newer toyota units if you like upgrading your cars.
just my 2cents

 

Get the 06 or newer Miata (NC). They are better cars. An Alfa or an MG will be sitting broken down in the garage.

 

Get a Mazdaspeed 3 or 6

 

If there's something you don't want to do bad enough that she has to bribe you with a car... my curiosity is pretty piqued right now.

 

I have owned an Mg Midget, MGB, MGB GT, and a Triumph TR6. I would go for a Triumph TR6 if I wanted a British roadster. It's a pretty quick car with the inline six, solid lifters,and some had electric overdrive. You will however have to perform regular maintenance, to keep it running well. The things you have to stay on top of are the solid lifts.Regular adjustments. The carbs can be troublesome . The weight of the dashpot oil in the carbs will need to be changed if you drive year round if your outside temps go from really cold to warm. The MG'S are great little cars except for the crappy lucas electrics from those days. Bottom line. Cars from that era require lots more tlc than todays cars. stiil wish I had my Tr6 though.

 

I'd skip the older cars if I were you- the only MGs I've ever known have spent twice as much time being worked on as working, and my (admittedly unexpert) understanding of the Alpha Romeo is that they are the same way. Besides, who in their right mind would pass up and 8 AND a Mazdaspeed Miata??? That's like my dream combination!


Though, it really depends on what she wants you to do...if it's a threeway with another guy, for example, I don't think anyone here would tell you to accept the bribe.

 

I wouldnt get a old MG. my brother in law is restoring 2 1970's model mg's and having a very hard time fiding replacment parts for them. btw they are both MG Spitfire's. Actually they are Triumph Spitfire. so yah buy the MG lol.

 

is he restoring them there or in europe?

 

"she thinks it would be cool to get a real old car like an MG or Alfa Romeo"

Yeah she would, she wouldn't be the one doing the work on it would she? Remember, the MX-5 was designed from the ground up to be a more modern version of those old roadsters, and is superior to them in almost every way.

The MS Miata is the better roadster to get by far. It's also more expensive than an old MG or Alfa Spider, so I'm not sure why this qualifies as a bribe...

 

in texas.

 

The 1st car I ever bought was a 68 MGB roadster. I loved the looks, handling and it was a fun car. But, I spent a lot of money upgrading and repairing the car to make it more reliable and powerfull.

I sold my MGB when my wife got pregnant with our 1st and I do miss it so I will replace it one day, but when I do I will probaly replace the entire drivetrain including suspension and brakes with something from a modern day car. I might even put in a rotary.

My point, the old british cars are great if you have the money and time to invest in them. If you just wany a turn key sports car, keep looking however if you can find a well restored modernized older british car then it would be the best of both worlds.

 

These people have the parts.
http://www.victoriabritish.com/

 

why not a slightly used one owner elise? i bet you even know where to find one....

 

I say MS Miata because if I'm gonna be wrenching on a car, I want to be doing mods, not keeping it running. But the big question hasn't been answered... what does she want you to do??? (LOL at Elara's guess, that was my first guess too... mind in the gutter)

 

You know, I think that your wife has this all figured out.

She's going to get you to do something that you don't want to do, and as a reward she's going to "buy you" a car that she wants to drive.

You're being manipulated, my friend

 

OMFG, your WIFE is BRIBING you to get a mazdaspeed Miata and YOU dont want to do it?

WTF.

Your wife sounds like the coolest women in existence!

 

Depends how much you like to work on cars. Given mechanical inclination and a functional daily driver, a "project" car like an old MG or Triumph can be fun to both drive and work on. If you JUST want to drive, though, or don't have the will or know-how to work on it, an older car will let you down.

If it were me, I'd build a Caterham (or a Locost- google it). But I've wanted to do this for some time, this may not be your cup of tea.

 

Unless you want in the shop all the time don't get an Alfa or an MG.

 

I can't believe you sold the lotus in the first place.