The Miata is pretty much on its own IMO. Toyota used to sell the MR2 which could be compared, but nothing Mercedes produces is comparable.

One is a light sports car, the other much heavier and plusher, with a lot more power.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

My son started out with the MR2 . . . now he's a Miata tuner . . . go figure.

I bought one of the early MR2s and loved it, then when the first Miatas came out I lusted after one. But , having endured the sales "hype" and BS not long before in buying the "hot" MR2 I passed on the Miata. Instead, I bought a Triumph and found out (by necessity) how to work on cars.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)