hey guys,
 
just wanted your honest (biast) opinion as to why an MR2 (any rev) is better than an MX5 (or vice versa! :o).

A lot of people seem to prefer the MX5, as it is "more forgiving" over the edge, and supposedly better at handling. But I'm not sure if thats because most people are simply not as familier with the MR2's as they are with the MX5's.
 
the obvious argument is the MX5 is a hairdressers car, so we can probably leave out these posts in this thread.
 
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(also, thanks heaps to everyone who has helped me out on this forum, and answered my noob questions! I intend to help out some other people on this forum as soon as I know enough about MR2's to actually be of any help!)

I had a 98 NB mx5 for a good number of years. It had a very different feel to an mr2. The simple answer is test drive both, as you will quickly figure out which one you prefer.

For me, the mx5 felt very easy to drive hard straight away. Feel like centre of gravity is lower and less weight shift overall. Very adjustable in the middle of a corner, lift accelerator slightly or dab brake is all fine in the mx5.
Part of that is also the lack of power, with less power you have the sensation of being able to thrash it safely.

I drove a couple of older mx5 NAs when I when I decided to get this mr2, and the lack of power turned me off them. Our 2008 Ford focus family car felt a lot faster ;p , couldn't see the point of getting a slower "sports" car.

I am comparing to a Turbo mr2 so it is a whole different league. It feels quick, it handles like a light sports car, but definitely more weight shift than the mx5. It takes longer to feel comfortable, but still handles nicely. I don't get the sensation of being able to drive it flat out on the road though like an mx5.
I think I would still prefer an NA mr2 over an NA mx5.

A big thing the mx5 is so much easier to work on, nice big engine bay with a small engine :p, bulletproof engine too but not very refined.

Looks wise is not even close :) mr2 looks way better. Mr2 interior much nicer too.

The convertible thing was never a big deal for me either, I had hardtop on the mx5 by choice.

A very tight winding road like Mt Buffalo in Vic, ill take an mx5. Everywhere else ill take the mr2.

I do quite a few runs and withmx5 club and on the mx5 forum and am comparing them to my Spyder. The two cars are very similar but I have noticed they seem to pick up a bit quicker, but may be turbo ones? The Spyder is definetly quicker on the twisty road sections like putty rd. They all look the same to me too, other than the early ones with pop up headlights but I couldnt tell you one from another and there are a lot or variants. Getting parts and work done on them is not a hassle like it is for the MR2s especially the Spyder.  If I could start again with my track car I may have gone down the mx5 road as there is so much back up and have their own race series. But thats also a negative, I counted 12 I passed on the 1hr trip home yesterday. Do you want something so common? I like my MR2s because they are not as common and have their quirks. If you are going that way a later model 1.8 that has been turboed is the go .

I owned a late model n/a SW20 for over 10 years and now have a '99 n/a MX5. In my opinion the MX5 is a much better balanced car and handles better whilst lacking the power of the MR2.
The MX5 SE model (2004-2006) is the turbo model and is the one to go for if power is your thing and a good one of these cost around $18,000 to $22,000.
If you want a 'gentlemans' sports car with a nice open top (rather than targa) that is quiet and refined you can buy a good '98 to 2000 1.8 litre basic car for around $9,000 to $12,000. I personally prefer these to the newer models as I think the later ones lost some of their personality.
The MR2 is a different animal and sometimes I miss what it represents so if you prefer a nicer looking car (IMO) that is noisier (in a nice way) that tests your driving skill at speed then buy a good condition SW20 n/a or turbo.

A slightly left-field view but if you are looking for a daily drive don't overlook that an MR2 has significantly more luggage space than an MX-5. In particular I dropped the idea of an MX-5 when looking for my 'post children' car when it became obvious there was no way of getting even one golf bag in it anywhere other than the passenger seat, whereas I can get two in the boot of the MR2.

Yeah, the boot space of sdubs is surprising.
 I am a muso, and I can easily fit both my guitar and amp in the boot.
When I was first looking to buy an SW20, the boot space was the clincher.
 

As far as the SE turbo ones go the Turboed NAs are a lot better option being cheaper and more power.

When I had my na sw20 off the road for a few months, I was lucky enough to borrow my brothers NA mx5. Fun little car. Luggage space is rubbish. Steering is much sharper than the mr2, especially that initial turn in. Steering ratio is also quicker so that helps too. Gear ratios make much more sense than the mr2 which I feel is geared way too tall (2nd gear hits 100kph and 3rd hits 150!!!). Goes some way to making up for it's power deficit but it's still a fair bit slower than an na sw20. Also had the pleasure of taking the mx5 out on a few track days. Handling is balanced. Easy to make it oversteer or understeer. With the mr2 you need to make your intentions clearer for the car to step out. Mx5 has better turn in, especially in the tighter corners where the mr2 tends to understeer. It's definitely faster than the mr2 through the final turn at Wakefield. Mr2 has much better traction on corner exit. 

Cool didn't realise they have stock turbo models.
I play music too and I can fit my drum kit. My guitar case fills the boot completely flush :D and my 50w valve amp fits the passenger legroom flush too (but a PITA cos they're heavy).
NB. My drum kit is a Roland HD-1 lol
This boot was filled with BBQ items for roughly 20 ppl including a ~8kg gas tank!

 

Wow, i never realised the boots were *that* big!
 
I also am a guitarist, though engineering + SAE (look it up if you don't know what that is) takes its toll time wise. As a daily, I think the MR2 (SW20) would be a better bet. Also do want a car with a bit of power, just don't have the funds for an M3 or M5 yet :P
 
Even if the MX5 is "quicker around corners/at the track", "easier to control for a less experienced driver", "more forgiving on the edge" etc, it doesn't mean the MR2 is rubbish!
Also, went out for my birthday last night, 7 free drinks from the local club :D, 5 drinks in, I imagined myself to be buying either an MR2 or an MX5, and thought,  MR2, no question! :P
 
It is surprising that a two seater MR is more *practical* than a two seater FR! one day (when the government lets me) i'll go around test driving all the n/a and blown MR2s and MX5s I can. It is a bit ridiculous to think a good comparison can be made purely on internet forums! (but it's a good place to start)