[M235ForNow]

I've spent FAR too much time lately wondering "Should I purchase my M235i at lease end or get something else?" And since this car is 90 percent of the time just carrying me or me and my dog, I decided I had to seriously consider a two seater. Boxster means Porsche costs and that's a no for me. But the new Miata ...?

A cooperative dealer agreed to let me take a pre-owned '16 model out overnight. Drove it on the highway, in the city, on the fast tight twisties, slow tighter twisties and the just right twisties. Drove it enough to fully acclimate.

And at the end of the day, after getting back in my 235 and comparing, the only win that I could see for the Miata was that the off-throttle turn in at lowish speeds is more grin inducing than the 235. And surprisingly to me, that was IT. In every other category the 235 was the better car. Well, except for parking in a really tight space - I guess the Miata wins that as well.

But overall I was surprised at how decisively the 235 owned the Miata, even in those performance metrics that it's known for. Looks like I simply have to buy it.