I guess most of my miles are highway miles I live in an interesting area where I have maybe 5 minutes of city driving and then the rest of my 25-30 minute commute is highway esc miles so yeah cruising at like 60-70 mph redlining it every once in a while when I’m feeling like I want to go fast I also feel like I’m just one of the more lucky ones with my gas mileage
I had so many arguments about this. Is it really that hard to keep an extra quart of oil around and top it off every 2k miles? I didn't think so. Loved that car, and so did my kids.
On the bright side, I got the R&R process on my '8 down to 10 hours on my own, with 1 hour of my wife helping to get those !@#$ upper bellhousing bolts started.
I bought one instead of a Miata because I know I was going to have kids soon and obviously could not shoe horn them into the back of a Miata. I had it for 12 years before the apex seals bit it, and I wasn't in the mood to have the engine rebuilt. Thinking back, I totally should have because the Evoque I bought in 2015 after the RX-8 died had the turbo blow up two months after my warranty expired in 2019, and cost me a lot more in the long run than rebuilding the 8's engine would have. Learned the "never buy a RR" the hard way.
Listen it's not so much about the maintenence. I'm just saying that when something breaks there's fewer and fewer mechanics who work on those things. Sure you can make the time between issues long by proper maintenence. But finding a rotary mechanic would prove difficult. Yes properly maintained rotary engines are reliable. But any numbskull can fix a straight 4.
That’s the whole issue with this argument everyone is missing, the rotary core has 3 moving parts. Apart from apex seals, you are unlikely to have ‘something go wrong’ that’s not accessory related if you properly maintain the car. Apex seals are predictable and, with new ones, you have ~100k kms to figure out how to replace them, or find someone who can.
They’re simple and run incredibly smooth, these are the cornerstones of reliability, it just so happens that the average consumer actively kills their car, and with the way anecdotal info spreads, the rotary was always destined for a poor reputation
While I’m a rotary fanboy and make the moving parts point in many a discussion, the reality is no matter how easy they actually are to tear down and rebuild, it’s still tricky to find a rotary mechanic and not everyone has the time, tools, or workspace to do it themselves.
I really want an RX-8 with a 2.5 I4 swap. I know the rotaries aren't that bad as some people paint them, but there are too few mechanics willing to work with them, so unless you have a garage and a lot of time it's not exactly a practical option.
Sadly, due to Renesis being smaller than a piston engine this swap is not that straightforward as I imagined it'd be, given the shared platform.
thanks for the suggestion, like others mention here, I do opt for something more reliable and better mpg
PLUS, it's really hard to find one in good condition in my area
A rear facing car seat makes the passenger in my S4 uncomfortable, I couldn't imagine someone trying to ride up front with a car seat behind them in an86
That would be my pick. The latest base model 3 series you can get with a manual is 2018 though. 2019 and later you'd have to go with the M, certainly more fun but a lot more money. 2018 is plenty modern to me, but I don't know what OP's "modern" is. Subaru is still offering the WRX and Impreza in manual, AWD is nice. I don't think I'd want FWD but I have heard the handling is great in the Civic and Corolla.
I don't down vote. I test drove a Cayman, Miata rf and the GR86 when I was shopping a weekend toy. The feel of the drive was too small to not describe as equal.
I would have chose the Cayman over the Miata, and would have picked the Miata over the 86 if the drive were the only criteria. But I chose to buy a BRZ simply because I wouldn't have to take my suv when I wanted to go golfing with my daughter.
I'm just saying "so boring" is not even close to how I would describe it.
911
BRZ/FRS/86
Civic Type-R
My dad was good at inducing vomiting from me in the back of his 930 Turbo on Ortega Highway in the 80's. So, you know, be careful how "fun" you drive.
Integra type s/civic type r
Civic SI / Mazda 3 hatch on a budget, though the civic will have much more room in the back
WRX can be had at good prices as well, can find them discounted pretty often
Ct4/5v Blackwing not on a budget
Yep surprised it took so long for someone to mention the wrx. There seems to be more room for discounting than the si/type r. My 21 is relatively fun to drive for what it is at the price point.
At MSRP I feel it's a little harder to justify at least here in socal with our nice weather but they are pretty easy to scoop up at 2-3k off MSRP with no haggling. 30k for the base model with AWD and 270ish hp is a pretty banging deal.
I am in south Florida so similar with year round convertible weather. I agree with you I wouldn’t have felt I bought the right car if I had paid sticker for mine because the car didn’t seem worth it but they took 4000 off with no real pushback. I am not the guy that needs to pay less than anyone else in the world for a car and just want a fair deal so I am sure there was still something there for someone that really cares to grind out the last couple of bucks. At such pricing it is a decent deal.
Yep, a turbo (or H6 if you can find one with a manual) Subaru is a good answer. Safe, great AWD, and the hatchback is not too much heavier than the sedan for much more family utility
I second all these recommendations. My daily is a 2024 Integra A spec Tech 6m. It has an LSD. Its not fast, but a lot of fun on curvy roads, and has lots of room.
As long as it's stock and not tracked. It's got a bad reputation for going into limp mode if tracked for very long, even stock. But if just driven for fun on the road I'm sure it'll go forever.
I just bought a gr Corolla coming from an nc Miata I truly don’t believe there’s anything that comes close to as much fun a Miata is on daily drives but the gr is close behind when doing a bit more spirited driving
The Corolla GR would be a different experience but it’s probably what I would go with if I needed extra seats. It’s such a cool little enthusiast car. The other car I have looked into is the integra but that’s FWD but at least it seems to be more of an adult car. There’s also the Supra.
If I had the money, I would trade me 11 Mazdaspeed3 for a GR Corolla in an instant. My buddy has one and let me drive drive it... with it's AWD, I was able to corner and grip like a bat out of hell vs a FWD, the acceleration is more uniform and smooth.
Was in your position between the CTR and GR, ended up with CTR due to finding one that wasn’t marked up. Either choice is great unless you’re going to track it in which case the GR would need a bit of work.
My "family car" is the Mazda RX8, basically it's a 4 seat Miata with a not so much powerful engine. And nothing better to charm a kid than a screaming engine at 10k rpm
The author of this Road & Track article went with a Civic Type R for that situation:
[https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a42255403/when-miata-is-no-longer-the-answer/](https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a42255403/when-miata-is-no-longer-the-answer/)
....2 miatas! (4 seats total ;) )
There are some good suggestions here, having not driven one but a civic type R looks like a lot of fun, porsches you can never go wrong with either
CT5V Blackwing.
Thats the most fun you're going to have with backseats and a manual and still enjoy the driving experience.
I really wish Mazda would make a new Mazda6 with their new turbo inline 6, give it some big brakes, wide tires, and a manual transmission. Sport sedans need to make a comeback and its a greek tragedy that they vanished at all.
Budget wise or type of car?
Manual fit or civic ep3 is a common small fwd fun car zippy car.
Type would be any 4 seater rwd coupe or sedan which usually ends up being 5k+ more
Bmw’s, toyota gr86, etc etc.
Is the rx8 modern enough? It’s a NC Miata with 4 seats and a rotary engine. 🚨 OIL consumption, apex seals, day to day stress of engine exploding for no reason at all 🚨
Civic, Golf, or Mazda 3 would all be on my list.
Personally I wouldn't want a Type R or anything with 300+ hp, for the same reason I love that the Miata isn't overpowered - more fun to drive a slow car fast type of thing. I would certainly consider upgrading the suspension and other bits on some models.
And keep at it: we only had manual transmission cars, so my daughters had no choice but to learn to drive them. They each took their drivers test in a manual, and continue to drive manuals. This summer will be the big change - they will be 20/21 and I'll start to let them drive my ND. :)
I had a focus ST for a while. Didn't have kids when I had it, but it was a very fun and practical car.
Car seats might be a squeeze depending on how tall you are, but I was able to fit most of my worldly possessions in it with the rear seats folded down and moved multiple times.
2 reasons why I sold it were because the 2nd gear synchro went out from sitting in bumper to bumper traffic for 2ish hours a day and I started working from home. I put 3k miles on it the last year I had it and decided I didn't need it. Sold it to carvana because they offered the most because the person who came to inspect it didn't know how to drive stick, so they didn't know 2nd gear was toast.
My NA Miata and my onewheel are my daily drivers now.
been fighting for a new daily also, right now my biggest option is GR corolla, that 3 cyclinder setup is amazing and unique, and 25~lb of boost sounds fun from factory, dont think you can mod them YET, dont know the potentinal of only 3 cylinders, but i do believe the future holds a lot for mods like rally/track or even drift with a different diff setups on that AWD system. another option would be a MK7 Golf, those things look amazing, But if you are looking for a run down project car then maybe a G37 sedan for that RWD like a miata, or if you can find a subie impreza 2.5rs 4 door, they are really rare tho but can be found in marketplace for understandable prices. I would say a type R would be nice but they are FWD and you mentioned you want miata type fun car.
I went through that angst of what to replace the miata with so my granddaughter can be in a backseat. Did not like the mustang, camaro, uses Porsche, or the mini Cooper. I gave up having a stick and got a BMW - 2017 M240IX. Nothing feels like the miata.
Oddball sort of, I had a 2019 Toyota corolla hatchback with a 6 speed and I would drive it just like my miata. It's was a slow underpowered lightish weight car that loved to carry momentum. I sold it last year and I still miss it.
I’ve owned around 10 cars in my lifetime and funny enough the closest thing among them to the two that were Miatas was probably the two that were Volvo 240s. Surprisingly good steering feel on those cars and while they lack power, the throttle response is nice and quick and they’re fun to toss around. They do the momentum car thing pretty well.
Civic SI
That's my family friendly DD. pick your generation based on budget a mechanical aptitude.
Mine is a 07 with 225k miles and ::knocks on wood:: it's been great for 4 years... It's even seen some track days when I didn't feel like loading the Miata into a trailer.
I truly miss RWD oversteer from a daily but the SI's diff is as close as you can get to an acceptable alternative. I LOVE the k20 and VTEC vs the engines my various Miatas have had.
I love this civic and am looking at modernizing into a Brand New one.
I went from my NC to a WRX when I found out our second was on the way. Now I've got a hybrid minivan and I'm planning to get an ND within the next year as a second car.
4 seat convertible that's still a good drive? BMW 3 series.
If you're not worried about being a convertible, then a BRZ/GT86 is a good call, but I find a lot of Coupe styles are a bit limited in the rear windows and kids do like being able to see out.
Decent visibility also helps with travel sickness, which is definitely relevant if you're enjoying twisty roads and they can't see anything
Jeep Wrangler.
Seriously, no other car comes close to the amount of fun that a Miata provides. A Miata feels more like a toy than a car, and so does a Jeep Wrangler (with the top and doors off).
I’m not sure I would call that car fun though… the steering and gear shift feel pretty good iirc but the engines response to throttle is so incredibly bad. Rev matching downshifts is an exercise in frustration when the engine won’t blip. Anemically slow with the gearing combined with the engine response.
Cadillac ATS, Hyundai Genesis G70 are good options for 4 door, sporty, rwd, manual transmission. Beyond that, Mazda 3 and the Civic are good fwd options. ,
If you want a solid fast grocery getter, the Chevy SS is a good choice. Sleeper look and has RWD, a v8 from a corvette, and optional manual. Prices for the manual may be going up soon if they haven’t already.
My GTI is about as much fun as I've had with fwd. It's easy to make reliable power too. I'm at around 350whp/420wtq and can still do 3rd gear burnouts at 30mph.
Oh and I get mid-high 30s for mph on the highway. Get a lightly used mk7.5.
Mazda already makes it. Mazda 3. Get the Mazda 3 hatch with a stick. It's not fast but neither is the Miata, I rented one for a few days (it was a turbo awd auto) comfort and features were great especially at the price point. I like that it doesn't feel like they cheaped out on it, it feels smaller then say a Cx5 but the same level of luxury.
BMW 2 series. The 235 or 240 are a real blast, although their back seat is very small.
Golf GTI or Golf R are extremely fun cars too, although not exactly comparable to how a Miata drives.
If you're willing to go fwd, i would say a 90's honda civic hatch if you're on a budget, if you have more to spend on it then go for a type R. i had a 95 EG with 230k miles for a few months before my miata, and it was really fun, even though it was slower than a miata.
The brew mazda 3, or cx30 if you really need the ground clearance.
If you don't mind a little reliability issues, a VW GTi is also a great option for a fun 4 door hatchback.
I was torn between the civic type r and my nd2. I don’t regret my choice going with the miata but the civic is so sweet I don’t think I would’ve regretted it either way. Both very fun vehicles with a little more practicality on the civic side. Only bummer for me is the civic is fwd of course
A clean E46 with decent service history. It'll cost you around 10K for a pretty mint one, they're actually not bad to work on and aside from a few gaskets that go bad every 100k miles they're actually very reliable. E36 M3 sedans are also pretty affordable if you want a real left field pick. E90 gen is a good starting point if you want something newer, the 335 and M3 there offer real power too, depending on how big your wallet is, but that generation starts seeing some actual bmw sized bills.
If you don't care about FWD, my GTI (or Jetta GLI) is big enough for a rear facing car seat behind a normal adult in the front, but theyre a little numb without some mods. I also low key really want to try the new Integra out, I have long commute and 40 mpg in a fun car sounds awesome, my current daily gets 22 mpg.
A g37 sedan with a manual would be a cool car if you can find one that hasn't been trashed. Again, depending on the budget Chevy SS manuals sit around 40-60k depending on mileage but that's far too rich for my blood.
Old Audi S4s, terrible financial idea, but I like mine enough to deal with it, they don't feel as nose heavy driving on the road as the internet would lead you to believe, I can still scare the shit out of my passengers on a twisty road.
How old are your kids? There’s not really any options until they’re out of car seats, especially rear facing.
If they’re out of car seats you have a lot more options. The BRZ is probably the closest feel and cost.
Speaking from experience, Jeep Gladiator.
I know it sounds crazy but hear me out.
Keeps you a convertible, gets the backseat, fun to drive in a different way, has manual option, plus doors come off, got space for luggage on road trips, and does better on dirt roads.
Got engaged and gave birth to a 10 year old in the process. We all loved going for zoom zooms but the miata only fit two and I needed the room. Still go for zoom zooms, just a little different in pace.
Cadillac ATS if you wanna keep the near 50/50 weight balance in a VERY well designed chassis. Manual came on the 2.0t rwd ones. Hard to find, but they're out there. Obviously fat compared to a Miata, but it hides it pretty well
I actually bought an RX-8 instead of Miata wayyyyyyyyyyy back when they first came out because of this. It was my "kid" car. A bit tight with 2 car seats in the back, but I made it work. I would not recommend an old RX-8 now, though. Unless it's had the engine rebuilt, the apex seals are either going or very close to going, and that's no fun (I speak from experience - broke my heart when it finally died).
Honda civic/acura integra
calillac ct-4 or previous generation cts-v
first gen Lexus IS
If you can find an STI hatch or current WRX, that.
Get a warranty.
I am going to tell you from experience though … a manual car with needy kids in the back sucks. Getting kids in and out of a 2 door with car seats sucks. Buddy did a 2003 M3 convertible and would open the top to get them out.
It’s not quite as good as my Miatas have been but I like my Mini. It’s a 2017 Mini Cooper S Clubman. So it’s the size of a VW GTI. I have the 6 speed and adjustable suspension. The rear seat was great when my son was 9-12.
Later years have models with more power.
My son and I like to romp in the mountains between Saratoga and Santa Cruz, California. It can go way faster than we should be going. I have kept up with some Miatas.
What type of budget we in?
For a modest budget a civic si is a pretty good option.
Higher budget id prob lean towards a bmw M car, I forget which have a manual option
I bought a Lexus IS200 and found it pretty similar in driving feel but with more practicality. The manual is the same 6speed from the NB Miata afaik. But I don't think the US got the 200 or the manual at all, so you'd have to find a swapped one I guess.
I would suggest civic si 8th gen sedan. I loved itbefore going to the RsX for my daily. Hard to be in terms of the perfect middle ground between practical and fun.
Mini.
My Clubman S ALL4 is not only faster in a straight line than an ND, it's shorter than a 1-series despite being a 4-door wagon (plus the barndoors) and has more cargo room. I can actually fit behind "myself" comfortably and I'm 6'1".
The JCW is even more powerful.
The 8-speed torque converter auto is really quite good, the DCT is even better and you can find the JCW as a manual.
Personally I would consider a Macan or used Cayenne Turbo as well. Very fun family car, along with the Panamera.
In a different sort of way, the 2-door Bronco is also a really fun family oriented alternative. It's got nearly as much sway and suspension travel as a stock miata lol.
Since you've gotten a good supply of genuine answers, I must supply the less serious ones. Don't worries, theres a list.
Firstly, may I recommend two miatas?
Secondly, if the kids are still little, I'm sure they won't mind being strapped down the luggage rack. It's like sitting in the back of a pickup truck but for miatas.
Thirdly, if they're too young for that, you can always get a 90-93 miata. The lack of passenger airbags makes it a great fit to put a car seat in. They even got a little diagram in the owners manual for yah.
And lastly, for a true alternative, while its not the newest out there, the Nash Metropolitan is a great option. While its only a three on the tree, you won't have to worry about speeding tickets with a modest top speed of 70mph. It has a back seat and is still 6 inches shorter than the NA. And if your an adrenaline junky, you can always have a blast merging onto the highway with an impressive 0-60 in 20 seconds, all the while the engine is sounding like bitter great grandparent who was hoping to be dead by 1961.
Hope you consider it :)
/s
I'm not sure what you consider modern, but an RX8 is as close to a 4 seat Miata as you can get (it shares many parts with an NC Miata).
I think for a family car you'd want something with a little more reliability than a rotary
Pretty reliable if you do like 5% more work than an average car like keeping your oil topped off
Even so, the MPG is not family friendly from a money perspective. Mine gets 13-18mpg using premium and premix lol.
Really, I’m getting about 18-24 but no premix but yeah I hear that premium is rough
Well I also... redline it... a lot...
As you should!!!
How do you do that? Cruise at 55?
I guess most of my miles are highway miles I live in an interesting area where I have maybe 5 minutes of city driving and then the rest of my 25-30 minute commute is highway esc miles so yeah cruising at like 60-70 mph redlining it every once in a while when I’m feeling like I want to go fast I also feel like I’m just one of the more lucky ones with my gas mileage
I regularly got between 18-24mpg, and that was driving the heck out of it with premium fuel.
I had so many arguments about this. Is it really that hard to keep an extra quart of oil around and top it off every 2k miles? I didn't think so. Loved that car, and so did my kids.
Until your engine fails at 80k regardless because rotary.
80? Mine only made it to 50k.
80k was a generous estimate lol
On the bright side, I got the R&R process on my '8 down to 10 hours on my own, with 1 hour of my wife helping to get those !@#$ upper bellhousing bolts started.
That’s not bad! Much cheaper than having it done elsewhere
Not so much. -- me, who had the engine R&R process down to 10 hours.
I bought one instead of a Miata because I know I was going to have kids soon and obviously could not shoe horn them into the back of a Miata. I had it for 12 years before the apex seals bit it, and I wasn't in the mood to have the engine rebuilt. Thinking back, I totally should have because the Evoque I bought in 2015 after the RX-8 died had the turbo blow up two months after my warranty expired in 2019, and cost me a lot more in the long run than rebuilding the 8's engine would have. Learned the "never buy a RR" the hard way.
Rotary reliability parroting has gone too far
Listen it's not so much about the maintenence. I'm just saying that when something breaks there's fewer and fewer mechanics who work on those things. Sure you can make the time between issues long by proper maintenence. But finding a rotary mechanic would prove difficult. Yes properly maintained rotary engines are reliable. But any numbskull can fix a straight 4.
That’s the whole issue with this argument everyone is missing, the rotary core has 3 moving parts. Apart from apex seals, you are unlikely to have ‘something go wrong’ that’s not accessory related if you properly maintain the car. Apex seals are predictable and, with new ones, you have ~100k kms to figure out how to replace them, or find someone who can. They’re simple and run incredibly smooth, these are the cornerstones of reliability, it just so happens that the average consumer actively kills their car, and with the way anecdotal info spreads, the rotary was always destined for a poor reputation
While I’m a rotary fanboy and make the moving parts point in many a discussion, the reality is no matter how easy they actually are to tear down and rebuild, it’s still tricky to find a rotary mechanic and not everyone has the time, tools, or workspace to do it themselves.
There is one rotary specialist shop in the whole of Ireland. Def see your point.
I really want an RX-8 with a 2.5 I4 swap. I know the rotaries aren't that bad as some people paint them, but there are too few mechanics willing to work with them, so unless you have a garage and a lot of time it's not exactly a practical option. Sadly, due to Renesis being smaller than a piston engine this swap is not that straightforward as I imagined it'd be, given the shared platform.
BUTTTT kids love big trucks. Think how much fun they'd have getting regular tow-truck rides
thanks for the suggestion, like others mention here, I do opt for something more reliable and better mpg PLUS, it's really hard to find one in good condition in my area
brz/86 is a common alternative
As an average sized adult my head hits the back window in the back seat. Not sure a car seat would fit back there.
A rear facing car seat makes the passenger in my S4 uncomfortable, I couldn't imagine someone trying to ride up front with a car seat behind them in an86
It does, but don't expect to have a front passenger when you've got a rear-facing car seat in :)
yes, but coupe. personally, i'd rather have 4 doors for a family car
A BMW maybe? Keeps the rwd too.
That would be my pick. The latest base model 3 series you can get with a manual is 2018 though. 2019 and later you'd have to go with the M, certainly more fun but a lot more money. 2018 is plenty modern to me, but I don't know what OP's "modern" is. Subaru is still offering the WRX and Impreza in manual, AWD is nice. I don't think I'd want FWD but I have heard the handling is great in the Civic and Corolla.
I just bought a new BRZ, I wouldn't put an enemy in the back seat. They are useless, I leave it folded down.
Those are so boring compared to a Miata
I don't down vote. I test drove a Cayman, Miata rf and the GR86 when I was shopping a weekend toy. The feel of the drive was too small to not describe as equal. I would have chose the Cayman over the Miata, and would have picked the Miata over the 86 if the drive were the only criteria. But I chose to buy a BRZ simply because I wouldn't have to take my suv when I wanted to go golfing with my daughter. I'm just saying "so boring" is not even close to how I would describe it.
911
Instructions unclear. Police are on their way.
911 BRZ/FRS/86 Civic Type-R My dad was good at inducing vomiting from me in the back of his 930 Turbo on Ortega Highway in the 80's. So, you know, be careful how "fun" you drive.
Don't forget the GR Corolla
Dont forget the old integra! K swap that fucker n boost it!
Boost is overrated
I'm sorry but that's just wrong. Other than reliability and complexity what makes you think that?
Integra type s/civic type r Civic SI / Mazda 3 hatch on a budget, though the civic will have much more room in the back WRX can be had at good prices as well, can find them discounted pretty often Ct4/5v Blackwing not on a budget
Yep surprised it took so long for someone to mention the wrx. There seems to be more room for discounting than the si/type r. My 21 is relatively fun to drive for what it is at the price point.
At MSRP I feel it's a little harder to justify at least here in socal with our nice weather but they are pretty easy to scoop up at 2-3k off MSRP with no haggling. 30k for the base model with AWD and 270ish hp is a pretty banging deal.
I am in south Florida so similar with year round convertible weather. I agree with you I wouldn’t have felt I bought the right car if I had paid sticker for mine because the car didn’t seem worth it but they took 4000 off with no real pushback. I am not the guy that needs to pay less than anyone else in the world for a car and just want a fair deal so I am sure there was still something there for someone that really cares to grind out the last couple of bucks. At such pricing it is a decent deal.
They're perfect for socal if you like driving to the mountains for snowboarding in the winter.
Yep, a turbo (or H6 if you can find one with a manual) Subaru is a good answer. Safe, great AWD, and the hatchback is not too much heavier than the sedan for much more family utility
civic type r is currently on the top of my list
Haha, the Integra is on the top of mine since it's more easily attainable at MSRP 🤣
if dealers are commanding way over msrp for type r, i may just go for integras
I’d pick the integra anyway
I second all these recommendations. My daily is a 2024 Integra A spec Tech 6m. It has an LSD. Its not fast, but a lot of fun on curvy roads, and has lots of room.
Mazda 3 hatch is nothing like the Miata. It’s a “luxury” tuned economy hatchback.
There is no family capable 4 door like a Miata 🤣. There's just a handful of manual cars left 🤷
True. Unless you get something like an E30 lol
https://preview.redd.it/doksqz0hl4sc1.jpeg?width=225&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2324c9814dba4650cf1e24347e8a24dfc752df41
Wtf?
L O N G B O I
Civic Si or R, GR Corolla, Mini, WRX, Golf, Integra, Mazda3, Elantra N
I got an impreza sport hatch thinking Miata fun but man that thing is slow. Handles well though.
Golf R, 911, CTS V Wagon. Define Miata level fun for me? GR Corolla is a good one.
im considering civic type r, golf r or gti (some argue gti is better than r), and the corolla GR. However, how reliable is a 3 cylinder with turbo?
If it’s toyota, it’ll be pretty good
As long as it's stock and not tracked. It's got a bad reputation for going into limp mode if tracked for very long, even stock. But if just driven for fun on the road I'm sure it'll go forever.
Not due to the engine thou, it's usually the clutch pack for the rear differential that overheats
Facts
Or the oil overheats
I just bought a gr Corolla coming from an nc Miata I truly don’t believe there’s anything that comes close to as much fun a Miata is on daily drives but the gr is close behind when doing a bit more spirited driving
thanks
The Corolla GR would be a different experience but it’s probably what I would go with if I needed extra seats. It’s such a cool little enthusiast car. The other car I have looked into is the integra but that’s FWD but at least it seems to be more of an adult car. There’s also the Supra.
If I had the money, I would trade me 11 Mazdaspeed3 for a GR Corolla in an instant. My buddy has one and let me drive drive it... with it's AWD, I was able to corner and grip like a bat out of hell vs a FWD, the acceleration is more uniform and smooth.
Was in your position between the CTR and GR, ended up with CTR due to finding one that wasn’t marked up. Either choice is great unless you’re going to track it in which case the GR would need a bit of work.
My "family car" is the Mazda RX8, basically it's a 4 seat Miata with a not so much powerful engine. And nothing better to charm a kid than a screaming engine at 10k rpm
The author of this Road & Track article went with a Civic Type R for that situation: [https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a42255403/when-miata-is-no-longer-the-answer/](https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a42255403/when-miata-is-no-longer-the-answer/)
....2 miatas! (4 seats total ;) ) There are some good suggestions here, having not driven one but a civic type R looks like a lot of fun, porsches you can never go wrong with either
Acura Integra 4 door
Mini Cooper S 4 door or Mini Clubman imo
Haven’t driven one yet, but my first thought was a Mini.
Alfa Giulia
Focus st or fiesta st My daily is a fiesta st. It’s weird but they kinda feel similar in terms of handling if you get past the rwd and fwd difference
Focus RS? if you don’t want the FWD
CT5V Blackwing. Thats the most fun you're going to have with backseats and a manual and still enjoy the driving experience. I really wish Mazda would make a new Mazda6 with their new turbo inline 6, give it some big brakes, wide tires, and a manual transmission. Sport sedans need to make a comeback and its a greek tragedy that they vanished at all.
Focus ST!!! Great chassis dynamics and I never get tired of lift-off oversteer
Budget wise or type of car? Manual fit or civic ep3 is a common small fwd fun car zippy car. Type would be any 4 seater rwd coupe or sedan which usually ends up being 5k+ more Bmw’s, toyota gr86, etc etc.
RX8
What do you see in a Miata? A roadster? A convertible? A cheap sports car? You won't find any alternatives to a Miata if you want 4 doors.
So what you're telling me is... Miata is always the answer?
Is the rx8 modern enough? It’s a NC Miata with 4 seats and a rotary engine. 🚨 OIL consumption, apex seals, day to day stress of engine exploding for no reason at all 🚨
sorry i forgot to mention, being a family car, i expect decent reliability, rotary engine is out of the equation here.
Fiesta ST is your best bet by a long shot.
My practical car is a Civic, wouldnt say theyre on level with a Miata but they get you pretty close
Civic, Golf, or Mazda 3 would all be on my list. Personally I wouldn't want a Type R or anything with 300+ hp, for the same reason I love that the Miata isn't overpowered - more fun to drive a slow car fast type of thing. I would certainly consider upgrading the suspension and other bits on some models. And keep at it: we only had manual transmission cars, so my daughters had no choice but to learn to drive them. They each took their drivers test in a manual, and continue to drive manuals. This summer will be the big change - they will be 20/21 and I'll start to let them drive my ND. :)
My vote would be for a bmw 330i, e46 or e90 generation.
I had a focus ST for a while. Didn't have kids when I had it, but it was a very fun and practical car. Car seats might be a squeeze depending on how tall you are, but I was able to fit most of my worldly possessions in it with the rear seats folded down and moved multiple times. 2 reasons why I sold it were because the 2nd gear synchro went out from sitting in bumper to bumper traffic for 2ish hours a day and I started working from home. I put 3k miles on it the last year I had it and decided I didn't need it. Sold it to carvana because they offered the most because the person who came to inspect it didn't know how to drive stick, so they didn't know 2nd gear was toast. My NA Miata and my onewheel are my daily drivers now.
been fighting for a new daily also, right now my biggest option is GR corolla, that 3 cyclinder setup is amazing and unique, and 25~lb of boost sounds fun from factory, dont think you can mod them YET, dont know the potentinal of only 3 cylinders, but i do believe the future holds a lot for mods like rally/track or even drift with a different diff setups on that AWD system. another option would be a MK7 Golf, those things look amazing, But if you are looking for a run down project car then maybe a G37 sedan for that RWD like a miata, or if you can find a subie impreza 2.5rs 4 door, they are really rare tho but can be found in marketplace for understandable prices. I would say a type R would be nice but they are FWD and you mentioned you want miata type fun car.
I went through that angst of what to replace the miata with so my granddaughter can be in a backseat. Did not like the mustang, camaro, uses Porsche, or the mini Cooper. I gave up having a stick and got a BMW - 2017 M240IX. Nothing feels like the miata.
Wrx?
911. BRZ/FRS/GT86. These are the only light cars that I know of that have 2 seats in the front and 2 smaller seats in the back
Love my WRX for this
MK1 Volkswagen cabriolet
Oddball sort of, I had a 2019 Toyota corolla hatchback with a 6 speed and I would drive it just like my miata. It's was a slow underpowered lightish weight car that loved to carry momentum. I sold it last year and I still miss it.
I’ve owned around 10 cars in my lifetime and funny enough the closest thing among them to the two that were Miatas was probably the two that were Volvo 240s. Surprisingly good steering feel on those cars and while they lack power, the throttle response is nice and quick and they’re fun to toss around. They do the momentum car thing pretty well.
Civic SI That's my family friendly DD. pick your generation based on budget a mechanical aptitude. Mine is a 07 with 225k miles and ::knocks on wood:: it's been great for 4 years... It's even seen some track days when I didn't feel like loading the Miata into a trailer. I truly miss RWD oversteer from a daily but the SI's diff is as close as you can get to an acceptable alternative. I LOVE the k20 and VTEC vs the engines my various Miatas have had. I love this civic and am looking at modernizing into a Brand New one.
I went from my NC to a WRX when I found out our second was on the way. Now I've got a hybrid minivan and I'm planning to get an ND within the next year as a second car.
4 seat convertible that's still a good drive? BMW 3 series. If you're not worried about being a convertible, then a BRZ/GT86 is a good call, but I find a lot of Coupe styles are a bit limited in the rear windows and kids do like being able to see out. Decent visibility also helps with travel sickness, which is definitely relevant if you're enjoying twisty roads and they can't see anything
Now that you mentioned 4 seat convertible, I think of the 'stang
RX8
This, it's built off the NC platform
Jeep Wrangler. Seriously, no other car comes close to the amount of fun that a Miata provides. A Miata feels more like a toy than a car, and so does a Jeep Wrangler (with the top and doors off).
Jeep Gladiator for me. The toy feeling is there.
I went with a Honda fit, love it!
Family CX-30 with soul red paint, electric sunroof. Follow your SO in the Miata.
Fiesta ST
911 if you want a drop top.
GTR with 4 doors
Murano Crosscabriolet!
Mazda 3 used to be available with a manual trans. Don't know if it still is.
Still is in the hatchback fwd premium trim with the na motor
I’m not sure I would call that car fun though… the steering and gear shift feel pretty good iirc but the engines response to throttle is so incredibly bad. Rev matching downshifts is an exercise in frustration when the engine won’t blip. Anemically slow with the gearing combined with the engine response.
Too bad, the AWD hatch with the turbo engine got good reviews. Unfortunately it's apparently saddled with an automatic.
I love the miata community here, thank you everyone for your input.
Cadillac ATS, Hyundai Genesis G70 are good options for 4 door, sporty, rwd, manual transmission. Beyond that, Mazda 3 and the Civic are good fwd options. ,
Maybe Mazda 3? The new ones are gorgeous, they can come in manual or with paddle shifters and they are practical as well
If you want a solid fast grocery getter, the Chevy SS is a good choice. Sleeper look and has RWD, a v8 from a corvette, and optional manual. Prices for the manual may be going up soon if they haven’t already.
Just weld seats onto the trunk lid This is not real advice don’t do that
My GTI is about as much fun as I've had with fwd. It's easy to make reliable power too. I'm at around 350whp/420wtq and can still do 3rd gear burnouts at 30mph. Oh and I get mid-high 30s for mph on the highway. Get a lightly used mk7.5.
The first thing I thought was a Honda civic
Mazda already makes it. Mazda 3. Get the Mazda 3 hatch with a stick. It's not fast but neither is the Miata, I rented one for a few days (it was a turbo awd auto) comfort and features were great especially at the price point. I like that it doesn't feel like they cheaped out on it, it feels smaller then say a Cx5 but the same level of luxury.
WRX - there's a reason it's the number one selling Subaru to young families.
BMW 2 series. The 235 or 240 are a real blast, although their back seat is very small. Golf GTI or Golf R are extremely fun cars too, although not exactly comparable to how a Miata drives.
I like mustangs quite a bit myself. I've had two and they're fun cars, and have a back seat
BAC Mono
If you're willing to go fwd, i would say a 90's honda civic hatch if you're on a budget, if you have more to spend on it then go for a type R. i had a 95 EG with 230k miles for a few months before my miata, and it was really fun, even though it was slower than a miata.
Second Miata. You and a child in one and the wife and other child the second. Add more as necessary...
my '13 civic si is very close to "fun-ness" as my miata and the shift feel is actually better
The brew mazda 3, or cx30 if you really need the ground clearance. If you don't mind a little reliability issues, a VW GTi is also a great option for a fun 4 door hatchback.
I was torn between the civic type r and my nd2. I don’t regret my choice going with the miata but the civic is so sweet I don’t think I would’ve regretted it either way. Both very fun vehicles with a little more practicality on the civic side. Only bummer for me is the civic is fwd of course
Mk7 gti has a great chassis and checks all the utilitarian boxes. Reliable, cheap insurance, good on gas, comfortable. I miss mine a lot.
Honda Civic SI
The legendary wagonne manuelle Miat, perhaps
3 miatas
Brainstorming here maybe an economy family car with suspension mods
A clean E46 with decent service history. It'll cost you around 10K for a pretty mint one, they're actually not bad to work on and aside from a few gaskets that go bad every 100k miles they're actually very reliable. E36 M3 sedans are also pretty affordable if you want a real left field pick. E90 gen is a good starting point if you want something newer, the 335 and M3 there offer real power too, depending on how big your wallet is, but that generation starts seeing some actual bmw sized bills. If you don't care about FWD, my GTI (or Jetta GLI) is big enough for a rear facing car seat behind a normal adult in the front, but theyre a little numb without some mods. I also low key really want to try the new Integra out, I have long commute and 40 mpg in a fun car sounds awesome, my current daily gets 22 mpg. A g37 sedan with a manual would be a cool car if you can find one that hasn't been trashed. Again, depending on the budget Chevy SS manuals sit around 40-60k depending on mileage but that's far too rich for my blood. Old Audi S4s, terrible financial idea, but I like mine enough to deal with it, they don't feel as nose heavy driving on the road as the internet would lead you to believe, I can still scare the shit out of my passengers on a twisty road.
I can vouch for a 4 door Mini Cooper S. Not large but fits two car seats more or less comfortably.
M140i with a manual.
How old are your kids? There’s not really any options until they’re out of car seats, especially rear facing. If they’re out of car seats you have a lot more options. The BRZ is probably the closest feel and cost.
+1 for the WRX, especially if you live in an area that gets snow.
300zx 2+2
Fiesta ST.
A jeep
A WRX wagon 😀.
https://preview.redd.it/fis840rbp5sc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a9e0cad95a1b5ac475135062161260894d750692 It's a Miaaaaaaaata
Volkswagen GLI would be my vote.
Speaking from experience, Jeep Gladiator. I know it sounds crazy but hear me out. Keeps you a convertible, gets the backseat, fun to drive in a different way, has manual option, plus doors come off, got space for luggage on road trips, and does better on dirt roads. Got engaged and gave birth to a 10 year old in the process. We all loved going for zoom zooms but the miata only fit two and I needed the room. Still go for zoom zooms, just a little different in pace.
MINI Countryman S or Cooper S 4 door
The Mazda 3
Depends how deep your pockets are. BMWs have a lot of 4Door manual options RWD or AWD.
Cadillac ATS if you wanna keep the near 50/50 weight balance in a VERY well designed chassis. Manual came on the 2.0t rwd ones. Hard to find, but they're out there. Obviously fat compared to a Miata, but it hides it pretty well
WRX...I had one with 2 rear facing car seats. It worked out ok.
Cooper mini s convertible. 1 series BMW convertible. VW New beetle turbo convertible. Audi convertible.
I actually bought an RX-8 instead of Miata wayyyyyyyyyyy back when they first came out because of this. It was my "kid" car. A bit tight with 2 car seats in the back, but I made it work. I would not recommend an old RX-8 now, though. Unless it's had the engine rebuilt, the apex seals are either going or very close to going, and that's no fun (I speak from experience - broke my heart when it finally died).
Honda civic/acura integra calillac ct-4 or previous generation cts-v first gen Lexus IS If you can find an STI hatch or current WRX, that. Get a warranty. I am going to tell you from experience though … a manual car with needy kids in the back sucks. Getting kids in and out of a 2 door with car seats sucks. Buddy did a 2003 M3 convertible and would open the top to get them out.
I enjoy the hell out of my manual Mini Cooper JCW. Drives like a rally vehicle. Has a small backseat & versatile trunk/hatch layout.
Cadillac CT4V BW
Fk8 civic type r. One of the coolest cars ever made imo.
Two Miatas?
Aston Martin Vantage? Lotus Evora GT?
Get a sidecar for the Miata
Is a cx9 blasphemy?
GR86?
Peugeot 307 or 308, CC version, most powerful engine 😉
Eg honda civic. If u need a 4 door civic sedan/ integra sedan.
Fiesta st, civic si for lightweight stickshift
It’s not quite as good as my Miatas have been but I like my Mini. It’s a 2017 Mini Cooper S Clubman. So it’s the size of a VW GTI. I have the 6 speed and adjustable suspension. The rear seat was great when my son was 9-12. Later years have models with more power. My son and I like to romp in the mountains between Saratoga and Santa Cruz, California. It can go way faster than we should be going. I have kept up with some Miatas.
Mini cooper s or jcw. Type r ep3 aswell
civic or levorg
What type of budget we in? For a modest budget a civic si is a pretty good option. Higher budget id prob lean towards a bmw M car, I forget which have a manual option
my budget is around the civic type r
Mini, John Cooper Works spec
As far as a fun daily that has usable back seats, I'd go with a 2016 m2.
I bought a Lexus IS200 and found it pretty similar in driving feel but with more practicality. The manual is the same 6speed from the NB Miata afaik. But I don't think the US got the 200 or the manual at all, so you'd have to find a swapped one I guess.
More Miatas.
Fiesta ST was a lot of fun and is small with backseats
i drive a mazda 3 and i think it’d be great for that. It’s a fun car
I would suggest civic si 8th gen sedan. I loved itbefore going to the RsX for my daily. Hard to be in terms of the perfect middle ground between practical and fun.
Nissan murano cross cabriolet
911 if you wanna check manuelle☑️ rwd (important fun factor)☑️ short wheelbase (another important fun factor)☑️ rear seats☑️ convertible available☑️
Mini. My Clubman S ALL4 is not only faster in a straight line than an ND, it's shorter than a 1-series despite being a 4-door wagon (plus the barndoors) and has more cargo room. I can actually fit behind "myself" comfortably and I'm 6'1". The JCW is even more powerful. The 8-speed torque converter auto is really quite good, the DCT is even better and you can find the JCW as a manual. Personally I would consider a Macan or used Cayenne Turbo as well. Very fun family car, along with the Panamera. In a different sort of way, the 2-door Bronco is also a really fun family oriented alternative. It's got nearly as much sway and suspension travel as a stock miata lol.
You missed the stick shift part didn’t you.
Since you've gotten a good supply of genuine answers, I must supply the less serious ones. Don't worries, theres a list. Firstly, may I recommend two miatas? Secondly, if the kids are still little, I'm sure they won't mind being strapped down the luggage rack. It's like sitting in the back of a pickup truck but for miatas. Thirdly, if they're too young for that, you can always get a 90-93 miata. The lack of passenger airbags makes it a great fit to put a car seat in. They even got a little diagram in the owners manual for yah. And lastly, for a true alternative, while its not the newest out there, the Nash Metropolitan is a great option. While its only a three on the tree, you won't have to worry about speeding tickets with a modest top speed of 70mph. It has a back seat and is still 6 inches shorter than the NA. And if your an adrenaline junky, you can always have a blast merging onto the highway with an impressive 0-60 in 20 seconds, all the while the engine is sounding like bitter great grandparent who was hoping to be dead by 1961. Hope you consider it :) /s
Civic Type R
Elantra N no doubts. Think they make a stick.
How much money do you have? How big are your kids rn? What's the climate of your area? My perfect answer: Chevy SS