I am lucky enough to have just purchased a new F type but it was a close call with the new model Miata.
Asides from price, the Miata was, in my opinion, possibly more fun and from a functional perspective, better designed. Of course, it completely lacked the very special feeling that comes with the Jag, a car, I cannot imagine ever wanting to replace. However, it is quite likely I would have missed the opportunity to purchase my awesome F type if the miata did not have an unexplained manual transmission problem that made me pause on the cusp of a purchase. The problem has resulted, by report, in complete unexpected failures in too many cases to simply blame individual cars. Mazda has not yet resolved the problem and so I had to leave it behind, though I would still like one for zipping around the local neighbourhoods with the dog riding co-pilot.


Has anyone else compared both cars or had thoughts on what I believe will become another defining sports car for those that value fun over stats

 

I was considering either this or the Fiat 124 Spider (if I don't get my BIG promotion by next June, which would result in an F-TYPE ). I wanted it in manual as well, so I'm intrigued by the problem. Have Mazda addressed it at all yet?

 

Apparently they are working on it. The MX5 forum is tracking progress with one individual who seems able to get inside information. I'm not sure if the fiat 124 will have the same problem as I can't recall if they are mating their turbo engine to the same transmission - it'd definitely be worth checking.
Sounds like a fun car with a very different personality to the Miata though

 

AFAIK, the transmission in the Fiata is from the last gen of Miata's, so I don't think they'll have that issue. I find them a lot better looking, which is why I was leaning towards them. Plus, it sounds a lot nicer to say "I have an Italian sportscar", even if it's built in the same factory in Japan as the Miata

 

Italian style, Japanese reliability - a hard combination to beat. I definitely recommend trying out the Mazda as well though, just to experience a very different but also very cool ride.

 

Oh, I haven't ruled it out definitively yet. I've still got a good amount of time before the time to make a decision comes. I'll be test driving both of them and waiting to see if this tranny problem is rectified.