I traded a 1999 Mazda Miata for my 2005 Crossfire Limited Roadster with the 6 speed manual.

The Mazda Miata is generally considered to be one of the finest drivers cars on the road today. It's very light (about 2,300 lbs in 1999 model year trim) with one of the finest gearboxes in production today. It changes direction like a housefly, is beautifully balanced, extremely communicative, and supremely tossable. It is the single most raced brand/model of car sold in the USA. Those who complain about it being underpowered are the same people who insist on nothing less than a Viper or Z06 yet are the first to stuff those in the wall on a track day because they have no clue how to handle 500 HP. But they think it makes them look like real men. Newsflash - real men don't mate their sports cars with Armco or K-rails.

The Crossfire outweighs my old Miata by about 800 lbs, a not insubstantial amount. It outweighs the current gen Miata by about 500 lbs, which is getting closer. It also generates some 50 more HP than the current Miata (which already has about 25 HP more than mine did) and nearly 100 lb-ft more torque than the current Miata (which already has about 30 lb-ft more than mine did). This additional power so overwhelms the additional weight that the weight difference is meaningless. The suspension of the Crossfire is much more supple in every day driving than that of the Miata, yet the overall grip offered by the incredibly stiff chassis - substantially moreso than the flexible flyer based 1999 Miata - and wide, sticky tires makes the Crossfire every bit as tossable on tight mountain twisties as the Miata. Now add that extra power and torque and the fun quotient rises even higher in the Crossfire. When the road opens up and you can seriously put the power down, the Miata quickly becomes a fading spec in the rearview mirror of the Crossfire. I knew the Miata very well and it was always in its element on local mountain roads. I've spent hours and hours playing around on these roads, but the first time traveling them in the Crossfire was a revelation. Hell, I even had an aggressive four wheel alignment done on the Miata and the Crossfire will, I swear, match it move for move.

Now add in the additional luxury of the Crossfire, the much higher build quality, the quieter cabin, the truly unique and gorgeous styling, and the fact that you can get a loaded Limited Roadster for the same price as a base model 2008 Miata and there is no comparison in my mind. Add $10,000 to the current asking price of the Crossfire (I just paid $21,000 for my 2005 Limited Roadster with 32 miles on the clock) and it's still a bargain. I used to put about 2,500 miles a year on my Miata and enjoyed the hell out of it. I've put almost 2,500 miles on my Crossfire in less than 3 months and am loving every second of it. I see Miatas on the road all the time and know the owner is enjoying one of the finest "pure" sports cars on the planet, yet there is no longing in my heart for "the good old days" because for me, "the good old days" are right now baby. I have not regretted replacing the Miata with a Crossfire for a fraction of a nanosecond. My friends were collectively shocked, stunned and amazed that I'd get rid of that little Japanese roadster, but they can see it my eyes, hear it in my voice. I really, really liked that Mazda, but I abso-freakin-lutely love the Crossfire.

The Miata is one of the finest pure sportscars on the planet. The Crossfire is perhaps the most misunderstood and underappreciated car on the planet. I am thrilled to be one of the fortunate ones to have owned a Miata, and even more thrilled that I "get" the Crossfire.