Welcome back! Today’s cars hail from that decade when the music got grungy, the fashions got baggy, and the cars all looked like jellybeans: the 1990s. They’re both drop-tops, they’re both stickshifts, and they’re both a whole lot of fun.
Hopefully, that all means you’ll have a tougher choice between them than you did with yesterday’s Germans. I honestly thought this one would be closer, maybe because I personally like them both. But as it turned out, that poor Audi showed up to a gunfight with not a knife, but a piece of al dente linguini. It didn’t stand a chance, cool aftermarket wheels or not.
When it comes to these two particular examples, I agree, but I still would love to have a five-cylinder Audi at some point. That GT would be a fine choice – at half the price. And I do like the 924 an awful lot. In fact, I looked pretty seriously at a 1977 924 Martini Edition before I bought my MG. This one would be a lot better starting point than that one was.
Now, I know it’s generally considered the wrong time of year for convertibles for most of us. But there is something weirdly pleasant about driving a convertible in the snow with the top down. If you’ve never done it, you should try it sometime. Crank up the heat, put on a nice warm hat, and away you go. And with these two being rear-wheel-drive, snownuts in a parking lot are just the flick of a wrist away. A one-horse open sleigh? Hell, we can do better than that. Let’s check them out.
1995 Ford Mustang GT – $3,800
Engine/drivetrain: 5.0-liter overhead valve V8, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Odometer reading: 116,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
The rear-wheel-drive V8-powered Mustang as we know it famously almost died at the end of the 1980s, but received a reprieve after an uproar from angry fans who couldn’t bear to see the Mustang name on a front-wheel-drive Mazda. I didn’t much care one way or the other at the time, but looking back over the past thirty years of Mustangs, I think Ford made the right call.
The SN95-era Mustang GT is usually associated with Ford’s 4.6 liter overhead cam V8, but for the first two years, it carried over the “five-point-oh” from the previous generation, as immortalized in the songs of old. It was available with either Ford’s AOD automatic, which was what you got if you rented one, or a five-speed manual, which this one has. It runs and drives great, the seller says, and has had some recent work to keep it that way.
It looks decent inside, except for a bad spot in the leather steering wheel rim, and a rip in the passenger’s seat. The seller says everything works, including the power top, which appears to be in fine shape.
The outside is clean as well, and I like the dark green. It’s pretty subdued as mid-90s colors go, but it’s a hell of a lot more interesting than silver or black. I didn’t think much of the SN95 body style at first, but it has grown on me over the years.
1999 Mazda Miata – $2,999
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8-liter dual overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: San Leandro, CA
Odometer reading: 250,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well, but has a check-engine light
Miata, it is said, is always the answer. Having owned one for years, I can’t quite agree; instead, I would say Miata is usually the answer. Commuting? Yeah, it can do that. A fun drive on a twisty road on a nice day? Of course! Picking up lumber from Home Depot? Well, it can do it, but it ain’t pretty. Taking more than one friend along? Not gonna happen.
The second-generation NB Miata carried over a lot of the mechanical bits of the first generation, including its 1.8 liter four and five-speed manual, but everything was improved just a little bit. This car goes and stops just a little bit better than the old NA Miata did. The beauty of the Miata is that it’s not only ridiculously fun to drive, but it’s also dead-reliable and lasts a long time. This Miata has a quarter million miles on its odometer, and it’s still going strong. It sounds like it might have been sitting for a while; the registration is long expired, and the seller says it has a check-engine light code for a misfire. New plugs and wires should solve the problem, and if not, troubleshooting info is just a click away.
250,000 miles does take its toll on the soft parts of a car, and that’s where this car needs a little help. The seat upholstery is shot, and the top is held together with duct tape. However, the air conditioner and heater work fine, and this is a fancy Miata with power windows, locks, and mirrors.
It’s a bit scruffy outside, with dents and scrapes and faded paint that tell a story of years of enjoyment. Spotless cars are boring. I’d rather have something with some character. Those headlights really could use polishing, though. There’s scruffy, and then there’s not being able to see a damn thing.
These both look like fun to me. Even better, they’re both reliable enough to drive every day, if you so choose. Granted, if you live in a really snowy part of the country, they might not be the best choices for year-round fun, but I had a Miata as my only car for two years in Oregon, and I know plenty of people who have spent the winter in a Mustang. You’ll get good at controlling oversteer, if nothing else. So which classic RWD sports car will it be?
(Image credits: sellers)
Factor in the cost of a new top, and the Miata is suddenly more expensive than the Mustang. I’ve already voted with my real wallet and own a Miata, but my internet bucks go to the well-kept Mustang today.
If it’d been an NA Miata, it would have been super-close for me. But a 5.0 SN95 in good shape is fairly rare at this point so too hard to pass up.
I own a 4.6 New Edge, and while I used to dislike the original SN95 styling, I’ve come around to it. I think I like how it continues the sporty-but-unaggressive styling of the Fox Bodies, which is now such a contrast with the more contemporary in-your-face look of everything in the pony car genus.
Mustang. It has low miles, needs nothing to drive, and isn’t too beat up. $3,800 seems like a reasonable price.
If these cars were in equal condition this would be a tough choice. I think the Miata is sketchy, though. The car has sat unregistered for several years. Further, based on what is written in the original ad, the title is lost and it does not appear the title is in the seller’s name. I don’t want a car that was left to rot, particularly if it is not 100% obvious who legally owns the car. The original ad references a clean Carfax report, but I don’t care. A cartoon fox may think this car is fine, but I think it is risky and not worth $2,999.
A V8 that isn’t ragged out for under $4k. I’ll take the Mustang by a Texas mile. If it were closer and if I had a garage I’d be scooping it up right now in fact.
Funny cuz I saw a Miata just yesterday, top down, a big piece of lumber sticking out of the passenger seat, 40F and misting. You go, Dude. Picked the Mustang on condition only
That Miata reminds me of why I don’t like convertibles. Sure they can be fun sometimes but eventually they’re going to rip, tear, jam up, and leak.
And if I’m ever going to own a Mustang it would be a late fox body.
I dunno, today’s a pickle.
Mine’s a hardtop, so at least the rip and tear is out of the picture. The mechanism is rock solid and simple, so jamming is likely also not an issue.
Not enough curvy roads around here to exploit the Miata’s handling. It’s all Midwest straight shots, the perfect environment for a V8 with a manual transmission.
The SN-95 is not my favorite Mustang, but this one at least has the best features of that generation- the dark green, the tan leather, and the 302. Nice to have spark plugs that stay with the engine.
The Miata has too many minuses. The high miles, trashed interior, and bruised body all point to a frenzied ownership history. Flip the conditions and the Miata would win.
I appreciate the Miata, but the GT is for me. Having one with the old 302 is a bonus, and combo with the T5 would feel like coming home to my dearly departed ’85. I never had a problem with the styling – actually prefer it to the New Edge look, and the interior in these was better as well. Appreciate the stock look too.
2 year only engine?
Manual?
Tri spokes?
Yes, yes, and yes. Mustang gets my vote
This might be the one time where the Miata is not the right answer.
I’m 6’2″ and never want to own a convertible…Miata is pretty much never the right answer for me.
I’m 5’11”, all legs, and I can’t fit in this gen Miata either.
I’m 6′ but all torso, short legs. The one time I sat in a Miata I was practically looking over the top of the windshield. 🙁
Count me among the many who simply don’t fit in a Miata.
Saying “no” to a 302 and a five-speed is difficult … but not impossible. The Mustang is in objectively better cosmetic shape, but driving the SN95 feels like sitting in a bathtub, and it has (arguably) aged the least gracefully of any Mustang generation. And I appreciate that the Miata has been well-loved.
So for today, Miata Is Actually The Answer.
Previously owned an ‘02 Gt convertible with the stick, and can confirm your assessment of the feel. It’s the only sporty car I’ve ever owned that felt like it was actively resisting spirited driving. Voted Miata today.
I’m 6’4″. I’ve tried to fit in Miatas in the past and been hysterically unsuccessful. So Mustang it is. No end of aftermarket support to make up for whatever you see as shortcomings, although the Miata is no slouch in that department either. But for a car with half the mileage and I can easily jump in and drive without preforming minor to major surgery to the interior to comfortably fit the Mustang wins hands down.
I have so much the same answer that I have to ask “are you me”?
Or if you prefer, “Am I you?”
I too cannot fit in a Miata so the Mustang wins by default. Miata is never the answer if you are an XXL human. I’m sure they are great if you are 5’6″ and thin, though.
Mustang takes this one for me. Being a 95, it will certainly need some subframe connectors added to stiffen it up a bit.
I am curious what else is done- its lowered for sure, and has caster/camber plates installed. Seems like there may be some more surprises to find.
I like both, which is a rarity for me in these.
Tie usually goes to the one in better shape, which is the Mustang. I don’t share Mark’s appreciation for a dents, scrapes, or bad paint. Unless there’s a trick of the light, the Mustang’s hood looks pretty bad, but the Miata either needs to become a track car or get some work done.
The SN95 ‘Stang is not my favorite, style-wise, but they were good runners and, as far as I know, reliable pieces. Also, fewer miles, which means something when you get into the six-figure range. And the 5.0 is a dandy powerplant that responds nicely to upgrades.
If the Miata was an NA version, I’d change my mind, once again for the looks. Also, I have a feeling that the Mustang got more love and care from past owners.. Can’t really go very wrong with either.
I would normally say Miata, but that one has a lot of miles, and the Mustang is just a good example of a decent spec car with relatively low miles. Gotta go for the 302 and stick on this one!
I was never much of a Mustang guy, but find myself looking back at SN95 Mustangs with nostalgia and a convertible in this exact color combo always catches my eye. Nicer condition and lower miles just er…top it off.
Yup, if I’m gonna drive an SN-95, it’s gonna be a green & tan one.
I have a much softer spot for Miatas than I do for Mustangs. Sometimes I’m just a glutton for punishment.
This is a tough decision.
On the one hand, the Mustang is a 5.0 with decent paint, and lower miles. But I abhor that body style. It did not age well.
On the other, we have an End-of-Life Miata. It’s a project car by any standard. Yes, I know they’re getting more prized, but this one is about to cost way more than the price on the hood. I’d rather spend a few more bucks and get a newer Miata that will have fewer issues.
Soooo, this one goes to the Mustang, since I won’t have to look at it while I’m driving it, anyway.
This is a tough call, as that Mustang is a deal for the price, but I’m going Miata simply because I can’t find one that even runs and isn’t made up of five different Miatas for that price in my neck or the woods.
I will note that an old boss had a ’95 Mustang GT ‘vert and despite the roll hoop it had all the structural rigidity of wet noodles. While the thing will sound great with that 302, even a worn-out Miata will handle better in the twisties.
Welding in aftermarket subframe connectors makes a world of difference.
I remember back in the day, Ford Racing itself even offered them.
They did! I believe that is what was (poorly) added to my Mach 1. It has a lot of legit Ford Racing parts on it I have found. The original owner really spent some coin on it somewhere around 2006-2008.
My favorite mod to my New Edge has to be the rare Ford Racing high-flow cat back I picked up – factory spec so it fit perfectly, stainless, and a nicely augmented but not obnoxious rumble that sounds more appropriate than the too-quiet stock setup.
It was the first thing I did, about a year after I got her. Still makes me happy every time I start her up.
My Mach 1 has the old Ford Racing FR500 camshaft kit. It came with Ford Racing FR500 intake camshafts, Ford Racing valve springs, ARP headstuds, larger valves, and Ford Racing billet coil covers. It retailed for somewhere around $6-7k with install based on the info I have found. Very nice piece of kit with a factory warranty(not that I ever got that).
My favorite thing I have done is definitely the swap to the 04 Cobra IRS. It also came with a Bassani IRS catback which is nice.
I’m a card carrying Miata lover and probably 95% of the time I’d take the nicest Miata I can get for the same price over a pre-hooned Mustang, but in this case I’ve got to go Mustang. It’s in much better shape, it has less than half the miles, and it’s in a great color. NA, NB, and NC Miatas are all available in BRG over tan, which is the correct way to have one.
Plus this old V8 will probably be fun to ring out because it’s underpowered by modern standards. You can bang it off the rev limiter all you want without risking your license. Good luck doing that with a Coyote or LT1.
This is a tough-call morning.
I checked off Mustang: V-8, better condition, a li’l more room for audience participation. I also like the murmuring idle of that 5-liter.
I think I’m obligated to say both, never thought I’d see one of these that nearly mimics my own garage
my 95 mustang is a hardtop and an auto, but otherwise identical down to the rips in the leather.
Wife’s Miata is is 3 years newer and only has 20% of the miles, but otherwise identical (alibiet without the damage)
As the owner of both a 2004 Mustang(have had 3 total Mustangs), and 2 Miatas(1999 and 2004, have owned 7 total)..I recognize the Mustang is the better choice here from a driver perspective. However, I will take the Miata although I am paying nowhere near that for it. Realistically that’s a $2000 Miata at the most given that top and mileage. However, I have every part I could ever need for it and just have very little interest in a 5.0 SN95. I would take that Miata, remove all the carpet, bedline the interior and add some drain holes, add a rollbar, and lift it. A new top is easy enough to install and I have been wanting to add a lifted Miata for offroad fun. I also have a spare engine with a turbo setup on it that I could swap in when/if that drivetrain needs replacing or I just feel like it. Bonus is that tan top manual means it has a Torsen LSD. Even if it turned out that somebody had taken it though I have 3 of them in my parts pile. I may have a hording problem.
Was hoping for your insight on this one, didn’t disappoint!
This article had my name all over it. I am likely adding a totally new make/model here soon though, time to expand.
3k for a running and driving stick Miata is a deal regardless of mileage. Sure the top is roached, but the body is straight with minimal scuffs, and being clean title and seemingly completely rust free based on location, this would be a 4500+ car on the east coast, so it wins easy for me.
Maybe the northern part of the east coast. In the southern part of the east coast this is tippy top of the price range.